Calvin (Raz) and Sheryl Sugita

Razbeads

Raz’s fascination with fire goes back to his elementary school days, when both Raz and his Auntie would frequent the Waikiki International Market Place to watch the local glassblowers. At an early age Raz learned his fascination for glass and developed a “I can do that” type attitude. Now, many decades later, Calvin and Sheryl Sugita of Razbeads share their own love of glass and passion of nature in every lampworked glass creation.

Before Razbeads was formed Calvin and Sheryl spent timeless hours excavating an old 1890s Hawaiian train dumpsite back on the Island of Oahu. Everything imaginable emerged from those digs, old Hawaiian carving tools, painted china, old marble-stopper’s (soda bottles), and dozens of vintage Hawaiian clay marbles. We joined the Hawaiian Historical Bottle Society in 1994 and were married shortly after. In 1998 we found ourselves on the mainland California) where we met a very talented lampworker, Mr. Jim Thingwold, now the editor of Glassline Newsletter. Raz quickly learned the “how to lampwork glass process” step by step with JT at the torch. His superior techniques with glass easily rubbed-off on Raz, and to this date, Calvin and Sheryl have not forgotten the sharing Na’au (heart) of Mr. Thingwold, “Mahalo” Jim!

Raz’s specialty and love is the lampworking of marbles using borocilicate and Italian glass. Raz’s repertoire includes “one of a kind” perched top frog marbles, mouth-blown hollow beads, first ever-glass hair sticks, ancient style vessels, Pa-ka-ua (raindrop) Frog beads and Raku style beads.

The Museum of American Glass in West Virginia wishes to thank Calvin and Sheryl Sugita for donating to The National Marble Museum. Their very unique designs are now an eye-opening part of the marble display.

Come see us in Weston, West Virginia.

Windwalker frog marble