This is a reader participation post. I would love for you to comment and add to my ideas for what is needed when you're starting out to make glass beads.One of my friends, who is a fuser, wants to teach herself. She has a kiln and has decided upon a Hot Head Torch. I think she has this book by Cindy Jenkins, which is my favorite beginner book already too.
So I asked my facebook friends what do they suggest as items that are needed when starting out and here are the responses, which I've edited for space reasons.
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glass assortment bundle
mandrels
Fusion bead release
safety glasses
how-to books
rod rest
iPod
cookie sheet to put under the torch to keep rods from rolling in your lap
tungsten pick
Whimzishapers
graphite paddle
ear plugs
patience
water bowl
pliers or tweezers
tweezer mashers or barbecue mashers
aloe or burn cream
But now I'd like to ask you for your advice. What does she need? What are some pointers that you'd like to add? Think "beginner". What do you wish someone had told you, when you first started?
You know Marcy - when I started a lot of what I was told by someone here was 'wrong' or rather 'partial advice' not willingly given. So I started with the very bare minimum & no tools to speak of.
ReplyDeleteIt seems I learned everything the hard way. & an awful lot by trial & error. lol!
At a loss of what to do while I was waiting for basic tools to arrive - I purchased a second hand brass letter opener....it is still the tool that I use the most.
The best bit of advice I was given was a whole lot later & at the time I thought that it was too late for me to learn anything from it. It was to spend the first few sessions (or days) just pulling stringers from every colour of glass you have available - in order to learn the consistency of each colour & how it reacts in the flame, before ever trying to make a bead.
A few weeks ago I finally did this, in order to gain some insight into the the ever elusive (for me) stringer control.
It was the best thing that I ever did. I gained so much from doing it - both in awareness & now being able to pull consistent thickness stringers in whatever colour & size I choose. I do wish I had this advice & the self discipline to actually do it at the start, because (on a Hot Head especially) it would have also given me an idea of how different colours react in that particular flame environment.
Sorry, no advice here...this is something I would love to learn...but have the time to. Kudos to all you wonderful glass artists out there though...!!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed a dual action marver - an easy way to make neat shaped beads. I also really enjoyed Cindy's second book - it has a lot of good step-by-step instructions in it.
ReplyDeleteThank you Marcy and all that added input :)) I am still working on what I will need and very good at taking advice and learn very quick. I did have a dream I was watching someone lampwork and they burned themselves on their sleeve and it went to their wrist Yikes- scared me awake LOL I'll keep you posted Marcy as you know I follow your blog close thanks tons
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