Atlanta Cake Design

If you are in Atlanta this evening, the Museum of Design is hosting Lisa Humphreys of Couture Cakes. Patrons will join Lisa in creating a floral decoration for a Spring Cake.  The festivities begin at 6pm.  Tickets available.  Click here.

Halloween Already?

Well, nothing like having enough lead time. But truly I am working on samples for one of the three classes I am teaching for GlassStock East at Carlisle Machinery. This one is a half day of Halloween Beads. I will shoot some of the samples of my other two classes. Both are new offerings as well.

Big Frit

I promised more photos of my Blue Moon purchases and that includes this pile o'Frit. During the Christmas holidays, I make so many blown ornaments. It is easier to get the big containers as I get low. And as you can tell, non traditional colors excite me more than just red and white ornaments. A little orange, purple and turquoise are usually available. And even a touch of yellow.

See you soon and I will grab my new tools so you can see what I bought.

Yummy New Glass

I can't seem to leave Austin without new glass and tools. It's like working in a candy shop. So here is some of the glass I bought at Blue Moon. The coral really excited me. I bought some new clothes and it goes perfectly. And yes, that's evil purple in the pile. I will handle it carefully and hopefully coax the beauty that I know is within. CiM Electric Avenue and Atlantis (more yum), complete the picture.

Other colors not shown...red roof tile, which is one I use often as well as opal yellow. I buy that one two ways...sometimes I look at the core for the pinkish tones and sometimes to have less of them. It just depends what I am making. And copper green and dark ivory round up my pile. I love both and their great reactions.

So that's the glass... Will show you my new tools in the future. And by the way, we had two great classes. Color Mixing and Intro to Murrune, Twisties & Stringer, and Sculptural Pets. Loved the beautiful work the students made and highlights are always seeing the big smiles from their accomplishments.

Class Pound Puppies

I had three fun filled days of classes in Austin, Texas this weekend. Yesterday wrapped up my glass Pet class. Here are some of the first beads made. Each pet that we make builds skills, so by the second day, the students design and make their own sculptural glass pet. It's really fun to see their excitement as they pop them into the kiln. Thanks to Blue Moon Glassworks for hosting me!

YouTube- World's Largest Blown Bottle

I'm a member of a group on LinkedIn that chats about interesting things about glass.  Recently this YouTube video was posted for the World's Largest Blown Bottle and it shows you how they machined the mold, and blew and constructed it.  Pretty interesting and about 6 minutes.

I am on my way to Austin for the two classes today, so I might not blog every day, but I'll save up some photos and give you the details on my return for sure.

Class ... Color Mixing and Murrine for Newbies

I promised I'd talk a little about my other class that I'm teaching for Blue Moon this week.  It's a one day class for people with zero or little torch experience.  Color mixing, twisties, murrine, stringer and all kinds of things that fit into those categories.

Blue Moon has a lot of mosaic and fusing students, so this one can give them more fun and exciting ways to stretch what they are already doing.  Isn't that what we look for...how can we broaden our artistic vocabulary?

It is also fun for beginning and early intermediate beadmakers.  It's a laid back, feel comfortable with soft glass, its elasticity, heat control (one of my favorite topics!) and learning how the traditional color mixing we did as kids in painting, doesn't always work in glass.  I find in my work, often I need a specific color that isn't offered in our rods, so sometimes mixing is the best way to achieve it.  (What I would give for the perfect Golden Retriever opaque glass!) But you know, necessity sometimes teaches us great lessons, and I'm having a lot of fun, passing it on to others.