Boro & a Big Torch

I seem to go in cycles... learning cycle, then creating cycle. For the past few months I have been in a learning cycle, studying flameworking with Jake Vincent at the Worcester Center for Crafts. This awesome class launched me onto a much bigger torch (a Carlisle)and had me using boro consistently, learning torch-based glass blowing techniques. Now I'm all psyched to get into my creating cycle, hoping to refine what I've learned. I especially love making implosion technique marbles, and small blown ornaments. Pictured here is a little blown glass bell in amber that came out of the kiln last week.

ATCreative Outlet

I am an art media junkie by anyone's definition of the term. When I moved my art supplies home from my former mill digs I completely filled our basement and then some. I have worked in every conceivable media over my lifetime including all painting media, then branching into collage, fabrics, wax, photography, digital stuff and eventually finding my way into glass.

Glass has been a new experience for me. Such a contrast from my Artistic A.D.D of the past. I have been focused (for the most part) on this one art form for the past five years.... with no sign of getting bored.

Nevertheless, there is a part of me that always yearns to play with media that I can get my hands into... get messy with... and paint, glue bind and sew together. But every time I entertained the idea, I talked myself down off the ledge. I hate worrying about frames... where do I put it... who wants it? ... I have enough already.

Then my daughter introduced me to ATC cards (ATCs) and Land Mail Art Objects (LMAOs). After visiting two sites that she suggested: ATCards.com and Nervousness.org

Now I can make tiny works of art (a standard 2-1/2" by 3-1/2" in most cases - although there are exceptions to EVERY rule in the art world). No frame to worry about; and even if I do a lot of 'em I can carry them around in a shoe box or put them in an album.

If you're curious for more info, wikipedia (of course) has a nice overview on how this movement got its start in Switzerland by M. Vanci Stirnemann around 1996.

(Photo is of my "Flamingo Beach" "Heavily Embellished Theme" for a recent ATC swap on the Nervousness site.)

This is June???

OK, so I guess I might as well just say that this is my "monthly" blog. Seems like that is just the way it is going... speaking of going, where is June going? This is June? All rain and chilly, drizzly, crap weather. Usually you can count on June to be one of the better months in Central New England! Not this year.

Still, the plants seem to like it; and happily I did most of my planting before the rains came. The pansies are certainly happy - they like it cool and shady. These little blue pansy faces seems to be smiling about it.

I'm in a summer mood for lampwork design and am working out a "Bahama Beach" set. Folks may not realize just how much time is spent by lampwork artists when they are trying to bring an idea in their head to fruition. I have been edging closer and closer to what is in my mind, having gone through progressive experiments with different kinds of glass to get just the right effect. I'm sure that the end result will be just a pretty little bead set to the casual viewer, with not a hint of all the "almost there" beads that have been cast into the "slight seconds" jar.

Spring Siren

Well the siren of spring dragged my spirit into the garden and wouldn't let me loose. I have spent every free moment in the garden during six perfect mild sunny spring days. Not too hot, not too cold and no bugs. It can be a short window of opportunity in New England. So now the screenhouse is up, weeds are in the compost, the soil is enriched, new stone walls have appeared and new perennials have taken their place in the beds... bee balm, cardinal flowers, sweet william, lupine, pinks, delphinium, Gold Dust allysum, columbine and red creeping thyme. Now we'll have nearly a week of drizzle and intermittent showers, a gentle watering by mother nature. I couln't have planned it better if I were in charge of the weather.

HOWEVER. I haven't checked my email in five days. My lampwork order is still almost done. I am behind schedule for the Lampwork Carnival posting. The house is as it always is. I am still afraid to look at the email. Does anybody know where I can find a clean towel? I'm hungry.

Carnival of Lampwork

Wowie, Ive been so busy trying to promote everyone else's lampwork blogs that I have forgotten about my own blog! Happily, the Premier edition of the Carnival of Lampwork made it online today (almost on schedule) and I am getting good support and suggestions for improvement. Whew!

Note to Self: Go thank everyone over at Lampwork Etc. forum that helped refine the AH link bomb idea. Bombs Away...

ADVISORY - ALL JEWELRY DESIGNERS TAKE HEED - ADVISORY
Several foreign entities are selling mass produced chinese imported beads and marketing them to jewelry designers in the US and abroad. Word to the wise: know your supplier!

Ahhhhh, that feels good.

Disturbing Report on Chinese Production Methods

This news item from the LA Times: Stifling in Jade Dust has been posted on several lampwork forums and deserves your attention. Those of us who are in the jewelry industry, as independent self-representing artists, have been touched deeply and directly by these issues. Many of us have, in the past, unwittingly purchased these products. Many of us now are changing our buying habits to support fair trade practices that will not support the companies who practice such woeful disregard for their workers' health and well-being.
Please help us to support the fair trade movement and add your voice to this welling tidal wave of outrage against these practices. Here are a few links:

> The Fair Trade Federation
> Co-Op America
> Make Trade Fair (On-line petition)

Thank you from my heart if you decide to help.

Mass Production Can 'o Worms

A superhot topic in lampwork forums is the chilling effect of mass quantities of cheaply produced lampwork beads from china being slung into the US lampwork category on eBay and thereby burying high quality beads by legitimate US studio artists. Think the "WalMart Effect" applied to lampwork artists.

ALL lampwork artists that I know do not mind legitimate competition. Most of the time you can observe for yourself if the design work on the bead is well done. We do mind when lampwork beads are misrepresented as kiln-annealed and properly cleaned when they are not. These things are important. Here are some guidelines:

A properly made bead has been kiln annealed and will not break under normal conditions, or when cleaned in hot water. Because I am a klutz, I routinely drop my beads on the cement floor of my studio from waist height. They NEVER break. If someone claims that their beads are kiln annealed, but then says not to clean these glass beads in water they are either INSANE or LYING.

A Fine Bead had smooth, dimpled end holes. Period.

A Fine Bead is well-balanced, even all around, not "wonky" or off kilter.

A Fine Bead has few or no bubbles (unless they are intended as in my "soda fizz" beads), and with no surface scum or unwanted grit or inclusions.

A Fine Bead has been cleaned properly of the bead release that is inside of the bead hole. And why is this important? Glad you asked: bead release is a silicate suspension; when dried and airborn it is a carcinogen. Reputable beadmakers carefully clean this residue from the bead the only safe way... under water so that the particles of bead release residue do not become airborn. Duh.

These obviously mass produced beads are showing up at the major bead shows and on auction sites. Buyers Beware!!