Pino Signoretto on Youtube

Glass master, Pino Signoretto's youtube video, "Octopus" is always a delight to watch.

From furnace to completion, watching this artist sculpt this creature using very few tools and a lot of talent, enthralls me.

Check it out!

Three Band-aid Night at the Torch

It was a three Band-aid night last night with a slosh of ice water and a touch of burn creme. Jeesh.

I knew I should have been focusing on my studio table instead of laughing at the jokes on Last Comic Standing. It was just one little stringer that did the damage- I grabbed it (and dropped it), but it seared me and I could barely finish my bead before hitting the kitchen for ice water and supplies.

But the cup is half full- I got to decorate my bandages, blog about it for sympathy, (I'm expecting you to tell me much worse stories than this paltry excuse for a whine) and I'm debating a new series of sculptural burned fingers beads for the glass artists who need a talisman to ward against this perennial problem.

So nothing like a little cheese with my whine...see you tomorrow. I expect to be fully healed by then. (...now tell me, are margaritas medicinal?)

Manuela's Presses

Manuela Thoma's website, Bavarian Beads has been a lot of fun to check out.
She has some interesting and different presses that have me intrigued about the possibilities. For example, the Angel Wing pictured above, would look so pretty with transparent glasses, translucent and a host of various decorative touches.

My favorites tend to be found on the left side of her press homepage. Go down about 2/3 of the way and see her "New" section.

Now, what I'm pondering is that the dollar is strong right now in Europe. Will a German based purchase be a good buy for someone in the States? I'm going to have to check that one out a little more thoroughly. But meanwhile, enjoy the photos and dream a little like I am.

Finders Keepers

DeMoss Glass Art has a wonderful program that I recently read about in a thread on LampworkEtc. It's their "Finders Keepers" program.

They list on their website where they have left these organic pieces with their art embedded in it. The pieces have their website inscribed on it, to help the finder find them. What a delight that must be.

Josh Simpson has been hiding his gorgeous glass planets for quite a while too. In fact, my daughter was chosen to do one- at an archeological dig in Hell Gap, Wyoming.

And the ISGB (International Society of Glass Beadmakers) has been doing something similar too. Asking beadmakers to place their beads in a small bag with their card and info telling the finder to let them know that they received it.

So let me know. Do you leave your art in places for folks to become finders keepers? Tell me about it.

Traffic Barrel Art...Stolen Joy

College student, Joseph Carnevale lifted some traffic barrels from a construction site and created this fun monster from them. Although arrested and having to perform community service for the $360 theft, apparently the construction company commented that had they known it would be so cool, they would have given them to him....ah street art. Gotta love it.

Seattle Center - Chihuly Possible Collaboration?

So have you seen in the news that the Space Needle folks are considering a Chihuly proposal for the Seattle Center? I read that they are asking the city to consider an art inspired playground and every local eight grader receives a free field trip to the Seattle Center. Wow!

I guess this is one of many proposals for the site, but the financial return includes $24 million over 20 years.

I've always been impressed with the Chihuly team's marketing skills. This seems to be another fantastic way to keep his name in the public eye and still benefit both sides. As artists, we often turn away from marketing- think it's too over the top or perhaps too much. But realistically, most artists need income to be able to make their art too. And many of us sell our work. So what do you think? Have an opinion? Here is the full article for you to read and then weigh in. I'd love to hear what you think.

Remote Controlled Cooler...Just What My Hot Studio Needs

I know some of you are lucky enough to work with other folks, but for me, I fly solo all the time. And I came across this remote controlled cooler that just sounds like fun.

I'd give it a robot name like Rosie or Elroy, and probably decorate it a little Jetson-ish, but wouldn't it be fun to push a button while working at a hot torch and have a cool drink at your fingertips? There's room for 12 cans or bottles. That's a lot of diet cokes, and I know I'd be working at warp speed with that amount of caffeine in me.

If you are in the market for one of these glass studio essentials, you can find The Remote Controlled rolling Beverage Cooler, (with a lifetime guarantee) at Hammacher Schlemmer. Just $69.95 plus shipping, it's yours to command... as long as it's forward, backward, left or right.

See you tomorrow!