Glass is melted in the intense heat at the focal point of the giant lens. Gravity and surface tension pull the glass into a lobe that cools as it falls and stretches into the Sundrop shape.

Single colored Sundrops
Some drops are made by simply cutting glass into strips from bottles or art-glass scrap. These strips are melted drop by drop to make simple single-color jewelry.

Multi-colored Sundrops are created by a more complex process. Art glass is melted together in a kiln to form a striped strip of glass. This strip is then twisted into a rod. Finally this twist is melted under the lens. To make multicolor drops with a "feather" pattern, the spiral is melted on the side so it curls into a ball with radiating stripes. This ball of molten glass is then dripped to form a Sundrop.

Finishing a Sundrop
Once the drop is separated from the glass rod the drop is held upside-down using tongs. The broken tip is melted until it forms a small ball, finishing the Sundrop.


Finally, the Sundrops are wrapped with sterling silver wire and incorporated into unique Sundrop jewelry.