Lampwork glass artist Lezlie Winemaker's work is fanciful, exotic, fascinating and in keeping with the 2008 theme of the popular Dundas Studio Tour: Let Us Entertain You.

For 2008, Ms. Winemaker is a featured Studio Tour guest at Beads of Colour, the studio of Dundas bead artist Debi Keir-Nicholson.

Ms. Winemaker began her lampwork in November 1996 at a time when no one in Canada knew of the technique. She is now an internationally renowned expert in the field, as well as a widely known and respected teacher. Her work has been displayed and sold worldwide, and her artistry has been featured in many popular publications.

Ms. Winemaker creates a myriad of lampwork glass pieces from small beads worn on chokers, to large perfume bottles, paper weights, candlesticks and goblets for home decorating and entertaining. She combines her glass with many other materials, such as metal, leather and fabric, which complements and enhances the beauty of her glass.

Lampwork is a type of glasswork that uses a gas-fuelled torch to melt rods and tubes of clear and coloured glass. Once in a molten state, the glass is formed by blowing and shaping with a variety of tools and hand movements. It is also known as flame working or torch working, and became widely practised in Murano, Italy, in the 14th century. In the mid-19th century lampwork technique was extended to the production of paperweights, primarily in France, where it became a popular art form.

Says Ms. Winemaker, "Lampwork is my passion. I am so absorbed in each piece, that I am unaware of passing time.

"They are my meditations, deeply rooted in personal experience. My little treasures or amulets speak to the hopes, dreams and wishes we all have. They are symbolic, much like the ancient beads used for adornment, rituals trade and prayer. They stand for beauty, innocence, power, and strength of our world."

The Dundas Studio Tour runs Saturday, Oct. 4 and Sunday, Oct. 5 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. There are seven studios and 28 artists.

Also featured at Beads of Colour are potter Jonathan Harper and fashion designer Judy Joannou. The theme for 2008 is Let Us Entertain You with each studio featuring recipes, food, table decorating and home entertaining ideas, as well as the opportunity to meet the artists.

For further information visit www.dundasstudiotour.ca or call 905-627-8632.