a little time at the torch

I am still working through that batch of Czech glass I was given  last summer. I spent a few hours this holiday weekend over at Dream Fire Glass studio making donuts and discs. It may sound boring but it certainly was not. The crazy weather we have had here lately comes with unpredictably electrical. We lost power twice today while working. The first time came just as Sam was contemplating what we might do if a power outage were to occur. Good thing she was thinking about it. When it happened we were able to act to keep the kiln temperature from dropping too fast. Every piece of fiber blanket on the table went in the kiln and around the kiln.  My beads were all small and would survive fine in a fiber blanket but I'm hoping it was enough to save the four BIG beads Sam had put in the kiln this afternoon. After the second such event we packed up our bags and called it a day. It was enough excitement for one afternoon.  

P.S. It's kinda weird when the room goes completely pitch black with just the torches on and something half made in the flame.

 

A Gallery Filled Weekend

 

 

 

Two beautiful days in the Texas Hill Country. The country sides is green with this years abundance of rain.  On these little back roads, I am close enough to see purple thistles blooming along the roadsides, wild turkeys out in the cool morning with their tail feathers fanned out on display and water filled creek beds that had been dry for years. By the time I arrive at Artisans in Fredericksburg I am calm and relaxed. 

Sunday I got a late start, having been kept up half the night by a thunderstorm that left a couple inches of standing water across yard. Once at Roadhouse I found the perfect pair of earrings I just had to have. Garnet is after all my birth stone. Thank you Francisca, I think these were made for me.

I wouldn't want to forgot how...

It has been so long since I have worked on the torch, I was afraid I might have forgotten how. The communication between my head and hands was a little off.  Doing the repeated exercise of making icicles helped to brush off some of the cobwebs. It's a great way to practice heat control and reignite ones mussel memory. I know if I got back on the torch again tomorrow I would be 10 times better.  Practice, practice practice...

Pretty Pink Flowers

It was a beautiful Spring day in the Texas hill country. The perfect day to visit Artisans. As the days get warmer, yellow and red  flowers dot the landscape.  It will not be much longer till the wildflower season comes to an end. This group of pretty pink flowers will last despite temperature or rain. The mosaic my glass flowers accompanies was made by the sister team of Kart and Studstill. Aren't they pretty?