Holiday Show - Today & Tomorrow

Meditation on Fire

When I'm working on the torch everything else begins to melt away. For a few hours my stress leaves my shoulders. The running list in my mind of things I should have done or need to do stops playing, and all the chatter in my head goes quite as my focus narrows to the sweet spot in the flame. After a while I find a rhythm as I repeat the same motions over and over. This stillness in motion becomes a kind of meditation. For me it is a way to pray and praise. I'm grateful to Sam at Dream Fire Glass for introducing me to this skill set. Working with glass in the flame has increased my understanding of this material and in some ways of myself. Thank you Sam.

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.

 

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...

Czech Glass Gift

 

 

This Sunday I had a chance to sit and work on the torch for a few hours over at Dream Fire Glass Studio. I was thrilled when I arrived to find a package of Czech glass rods, left for me as a gift from a friend who focuses on working in borosilicate glass. It was a case of "one man's trash is another man's treasure". Working in borosilicate he had no use for soft glass. I on the other hand was thrilled to receive such a wonderful assortment. This will be a bit of a stretch for me since I generally work in COE 90 and this glass ranges from COE 104-115. I took three transparent rods and made icicles to get an idea of what to expect. The transparent colors are absolutely beautiful, so clear and vibrant. Now I can apply the notes I took about working with Czech glass from Lisa St. Martin's lecture at this year's ISGB Gathering. Perfect timing.

 

 

I immediately took inventory noting the color name, number and COE of each rod. Now I can take notes along the way about what I use and how I like it so I can make educated decisions about if/how to use this material in the future.  What an opportunity. I am as excited as a kid with a new box of crayons. The BIG box, you know the one with 64 colors and the sharpener in the back.

Luminaria 2012 - Glass Alley Recap

It's been well over a week since Luminaria and I still feel like I'm basking in the glow of lights. San Antonio has a long rich tradition of being a parade and festival friendly city. Match that up with the local art scene and it just doesn't get much better. Once again Glass Alley was complete with flame workers,  Larry West demonstrating in his mobile glass blowing furnace, the Brother of the Flame, the San Antonio Society of Artisan Lampworkers (SALSA), and  members of the San Antonio Glass Art Guild (SAGAG). We occupied space between the Institute of Texas Cultures and the Tower of the Americas. With a view of the Tower and the fire dancers, members of the local glass guilds demonstrated flame working techniques and educated the public on the local art glass movement.

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Members of SALSA demonstrating on the torch.

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Thank you Louise and Denise, devoted SAGAG members, for all of your time and effort without which Glass Alley 2012 would not have been possible.

Glass Craft Expo - Day Two

Multi faceted TA that I am, today I was on the other side of the exhibit hall helping Sam with a full class for Twist and Shout. I was thrilled to find both bead makers and fusers expanding there skill set with this workshop.

Happy St. Patricks Day

Today was Bead I at Dream Fire Glass Studio. In the spirit of St. Patrick's day all my beads were green. I used opaque and transparent spring green, jade, mineral green, adventurine, and Sam's new rolling in clover frit blend. It just seemed fitting, not to mention fun. 

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Creative Solutions to Traveling with Glass Rods

This past week I had a couple opportunities to get on the torch and create some flame worked components. As much as I love to work in the flame it is still a pretty small percentage of what I do. With that in  mind, I have made conscience decisions not to add a torch to my personal workspace. Instead I rent torch time from Dream Fire Glass. This does mean taking my materials to and from the studio. Here's what I found works for me.

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I use a canvas paint brush holder to store and carry glass rod. You can find inexpensive versions at most hobby/art shops. If you can sew a straight line you can easily make your own.  The compartments of this one fit about a 6-8 dozen rods each.   I'm able to sort, store and carry my materials to and from the studio pretty easily.

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With workshops, studio time and guild meetings, I know I'm not the only one traveling with a stash of glass rods. So here' my tip. What do you use?

Presentations and Demonstrations

This coming weekend is back to back events sponsored by the San Antonio Glass Art Guild (SAGAG). These events are open to the public. You need not be a member to attend.

The SAGAG moved it's regularly scheduled general meeting to Friday, March 2, 2012 especially to  host internationally known guest artist Mark Ditzler.  He will be teaching a workshop at Wired Designs Studio March 2-5. This is a great opportunity for those of us not in the workshop to hear from Mark.

Friday, March 2, 2012

at Absolutely Everything Catering

Dinner 6:30pm 

please RSVP from the SAGAG website

Meeting begins at 7:00pm

Single strand necklace made with one of Amy Waldman-Smith's Ottoman Beads

Visiting Canadian artist Amy Waldman-Smith will be demonstrating a signature lampworking technique Saturday, March 3. This will be a chance to meet Amy and see her lovely Ottoman beads in person. Amy will be in San Antonio to teach a workshop at Dream Fire Studio March 2-4.

 

Saturday, March 3, 2012

at Dream Fire Studio
Meet & Greet 6:30 pm
Demonstration 7:00pm

 For more information visit http://saglassguild.com/.

Inspiration and Aspiration

Perusing the stacks of a used book store recently I found this book on glass paperweights. With my recent focus on murrine making, I considered this find very fortuitous. Glass paperweights are fully of murrine and millefori. The book gave me a cursory background on glass paperweights which was fairly interesting. More importantly to me it is a wealth murrine examples. With torch time at Dream Fire Glass scheduled for tomorrow, I am studying this book as I work out a plan for how to approach my time at the torch. Spring is just around the corner, so millefori maybe...

Paperweights: The Collector's Guide to Identifying, Selecting, and Enjoying New and Vintage Paperweights by Pat Reilly

What a Weekend

Saturday

The official grand opening of Dream Fire Glass's new studio was a fun filled day of activities. I'll show you...

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Throughout the day there were demonstrations, food, drink, and socializing among old and new friends.

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In the late afternoon a crowd gathered to break the pinata. Stuffed with more then just candy. Grown adults elbowed there way for prizes. The last time I hit a Pinata was in elementary school. This was too much fun.

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As the evening approached there was a visit from some of the Brothers of the Flame. These guys are just amazing. If you ever have a chance to see them perform you absolutely should.

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Sunday

I spent the day at Wired Designs Studio taking an introductory welding workshops. It was a nice change of pace to be taking vs. teaching a workshop at Wired Designs.

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I learned the basics of the established welding processes available and had a chance to use an oxy-acetylene torch and two different MIG welding set ups.   Based on what I have learned so far I think the oxy-acetylene may be the right option for me. Fire good...

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Next Sunday I'll be back at Wired Designs to teach a fused glass workshops on sanblasting iridized glass.

Practice, Practice, Practice

When it comes to flameworking you can't just understand it conceptually you have to be able to execute it physically. I find this terrible frustrating. What! You mean you can't just sit down at the piano and play Chopin! Having made a somewhat focused effort with my time on Firey Fridays, I think I have finally gotten the twisted cane thing down sufficiently to move on. So Sunday I spent time taking a murrini workshop at Dream Fire Glass. I had made simple murrini before but was very pleasantly surprised at how much of a difference this full day of focused instruction made. I think I might actually be getting this heat control thing down. I don't want to get ahead of myself though. Practice, Practice, Practice... already contemplating murrini making with my time next Fiery Friday. Little by little my hands will learn what my head knows. 

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Twisted Cane and Latachino

Twisted cane and latachino ranging from 6-24" in length.

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Last night I had the opportunity to sit for just a couple of hours at the torch over at Dream Fire Studio. Torch work can be very relaxing and even meditative. For that window in time you concentrate on just what is in front of you forgetting the other actives of the day. This was just what I needed. With no specific plan in mind I selected a color pallet of emerald green, Egyptian blue, and black. Laying the colors over a white center I pulled a handful of latachino and a few twisted canes. These seem to be begging to be used a piece of stringer fabric or a glass weave. I'll just have to come up with some special use for them.

Uptown Art Stroll

Saturday 10am-5pm & Sunday 12-5pm

November 5-6, 2011

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Uptown Art  Stroll, in the historic neighborhood of Olmos Park Terrace, has continued to grow in popularity and importance becoming a can’t miss event for art collectors, historic neighborhood aficionados, budding artists, and those who appreciate and support San Antonio’s unique art scene. This two day event gives you access to over 50 artists working in a variety of mediums at 21 locations throughout Olmos Park Terrace.

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Olmos Park Terrace is in the center of San Antonio located between McCullough and San Pedro avenues, south of Basse Road and north of Hildebrand. Each location will be numbered and have a corresponding sign to make identification easier. Parking is available throughout the neighborhood. Visitors will be able to catch a RiverCity Pedicab to make getting from one end of the Art Stroll to the other even easier.  RiverCity Pedicabs are provided by the artists participating in the Art Stroll and the Olmos Park Terrace Neighborhood Association (tips are appreciated). The number to call for one to pick you up is: 279-7306.

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Members of the San Antonio Glass Art Guild (SAGAG) will be at 5331 Howard Street, location #21 on the Art Stroll map.Participating Glass Guild Members include:

Louise CraigDesigns  

Glass Touch, Nicole Vachier Lozano   

Dream Fire Glass, Nina "Sam" Hibler

Fire and Glass Design, Valerie Larson-Lohr  

Little Song Art& Fused Glass, Denise Liedtka

Le Crone Walston,Dona Walston

Folck Art, MaryFolck

Glitter & Glass Studio, Jill Wilson

LJK Designs, LindaKirk

Anne Burtt

Barbara Brooks

Kay Lorraine Johnson

Laura Ensign  

Vicki Munie

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There will also be hot glass demonstrations by Dragon Fire Studio, Larry West . If you have never seen a glass blower at work this is something worth seeing.

McAllen Adventure

Mosic Cube by McAllen Stained Glass
Hackberry & Main in McAllen, Texas

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This Labor Day weekend I headed down to the valley with Nina "Sam" Hibler from Dream Fire Glass.  Sam was teaching glass bead making I and II  at McAllen Stained Glass. Although I may not be skilled at making glass beads in the torch, I was not without my contributions. Drawing on my skills as shop girl, studio tech and kilnformed glass instructor I was able to lend a hand having a good time along the way. The McAllen Stained Glass studio and gallery is located in a lovely Art Village. Galleries stayed open late with music and dance in the courtyards for McAllen's First Friday Art Walk . As visiting Artist Sam's work, including an entire herd of glass pinata donkeys, where on display.

Bead making I and II workshops on Saturday and Sunday included a fabulous group a folks.  I love to see how people respond to their first experiences with glass in the flame. Some people are immediately drawn in. Others take a more cautious approach. By the end of day I think everyone was hooked.
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Marilyn watches the color of spring green glass change from orange to deep red as she learns to judge heat control while making  one of her first glass beads. Constantly turning the mandrel the glass naturally forms a do-nut shape. 

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Liz took to the flame almost instantly. It may not be long before we see flameworked glass beads incorporated into the wonderful work she is doing at Hecho Por Liz. By day two she was looking right at home behind that hot head torch making beautiful pink hearts.

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Sam demoing a new technique during glass bead making II.

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Dedicated day one and two survivors. These guys are hooked.

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To pass time on the drive between McAllen and San Antonio I read from The Secret Lives of Men and Women a  Post Secret project compilation. Although it certainly entertained, I was left feeling as if I had  snooped through someones drawers. Shocking... I'd vacillate between "really  someone actually did that... people make these up right" and every now and again "I know". I remember stumbling onto the Post Secret site years ago and seeing a postcard that could have easily been written by me. I printed it and for several years it sat next to my compute screen, a reminder I was not the only one who felt that way. The copy of this book came to me from a surprising source. I'll just same thank you and leave it at that.

Fire Good

Sam from Dream Fire Glass making a glass snowflake bead

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Waiting and wishing for cooler temperatures while the sweltering summer heat consumes everything like fire. Fall can't come soon enough for me this year or like this snowflake I may melt. Looking forward to lighting the torch this fall at Dream Fire Glass Studio.  Every time I stop by for a visit more and more progress is made. I'm certain there is a Fiery Friday in my near future and I can't wait. In the mean time. I'll be accompanying Sam on a teaching trip down to McAllen Stained Glass. I'm looking forward to being in a room full of torches for the first time in a couple months. More to come...

Vitrigraph Twisted Cane

 Nina "Sam" Hibler from Dream Fire Glass pulling cane

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Bucket full of twisted vitrigraph cane

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kiln reaching 1786 degrees Fahrenheit

Because Texas isn't hot enough already, might as well crank up that kiln full and start pulling some vitrigraph. Sam and I set up my little Olympic Hot Box kiln  to pull some pretty sweet black, white and coral wig wag (twisted back and forth) cane. Granted sitting on a step ladder is not the most ergonomic choice but it got the job done.  Now what is to be done with this cane? Thought I might use some in a glass weave I've started.

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For more information about vitrigraph:

- Check out Bulleye Glass Technotes #2 

- Consider a skill building workshop at Wired Designs Studio, vitrigraph is  scheduled for October 6th

SAGAG April Meeting

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April 28, 2011

Dinner at 6:30pm

Meeting at 7:oopm

at Absolutely Everything Catering

3915 San Pedro, San Antonio Tx 78212

Presentations highlight San Anontio Glass Guild Cookbook tutorial contributors will including; Gail Stouffer of Wired Design Studio on Modern Glass Jewelery Design, Nina "Sam" Hibler of Dream Fire Glass on Flamedworked Leaves, and myself on Power Wafers. 

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Proceeds from the sales of the SAGAG cookbooks go to fund scholarships to workshops and conferences for SAGAG guild members. Cookbooks are available at SAGAG meetings or online on saglassguild.com.

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Yulefest

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Yulefest Arts and Craft Show

Sponsored by the Seguin Oakwood Art League

Tomorrow

Sunday, December 5th

from 10am to 5pm

at

the Seguin Coliseum

810 S. Guadalupe Street in Seguin, Texas

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Nina "Sam" Hibler from Dream Fire Glass and I will have glass jewelry, functional and art items for sale at this one day event in Seguin, Texas. This is a great opportunity to enjoy the charming town of Seguin and do some holiday shopping. Handcrafted items make unique one of a kind gifts that stand apart from department store finds. If you make it out please stop by, say hello and take a look at the wonderful glass items on display. Hope to see you there! 

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