Join Me In Vienna, Austria!

Cornelia Bock is hosting me in Vienna, Austria to teach classes.  I am so excited and am hoping that there will be fellow, non country citizens who want to join me on this gorgeous adventure.  Such a lovely country and so much to see and do either before or afterward.  And with the exchange rate being pretty favorable, I'm always happy to see another part of the world and teach sculptural glass.

We have chosen to do Christmas holiday ornaments and regional related sculpture- a woodland forest related bead or two.  I'll make sure you can take these skills and translate them to other sculptural glass beads and work, as I always do.  And of course there is the Marcy style of teaching- I draw what we're going to do, then I talk and demonstrate what we are doing and then....(ha sounds like a lot of teaching, doesn't it?), and then I walk around the classroom to be available if you need me, so you get the most out of your class. The class is always a lot of fun, but I want to see you pleased with your new skills too.  It's important to me.

So the specifics are...it will be either this September on the 8 - 9, or next September 20-21, 2013.  If we can quickly fill some classes, then it will be a go this year, but in case we can't, then it will be next year.  I know, it is a little crazy, but we're both optimists and I am voting for both years, personally.

So this is how you find out more...first you contact the delightful Cornelia Bock.  Her email address is: bock.c@utanet.at , and you can check out her blog (it's in German- but you can translate through babelfish) http://kultur-art.blogspot.co.at/2012/04/lampwork-class-with-marcy-lamberson.html, and you can visit the facebook webpage: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=oa.303796826361714&type=1.

From Flower to Jewelry

I just recently found out that I was accepted to the ISGB's 3 x 2 Exhibit.  The premise is that the glass artist submits a bead to a jury.  If accepted, then the beadmaker makes a total of three similar ones that get sent on to a Washington state metal jewelry artist  who will then make each of the three beads into jewelry.  One will go on exhibit for our Gathering in Bellevue WA this summer, and then each of the artists receive one of the final design.

I love this type of collaboration.  Usually I am making custom pieces or for myself, so I don't have to give up all control of the final item.  But you know, sometimes you find such wonderful combinations that you wouldn't have thought of otherwise.

I tried to pick colors that would go well with a variety of metals.  I know that some are so expensive, so I wanted colors that could look luscious with ...oh maybe copper or something else.  The affordable kind.  And although the bee is sculptural (and yes, he does have two wings, but a funny angle of the photo makes it look otherwise.), he is protected with the petals that I made a little thicker than usual.

And I was careful to make a very flat bottom for this as well.  I am not experienced in setting beads, but I thought that between having a 1/16 hole as well as a flat bottom, the metal crafter had more options for attaching them.

If you make beads for bezels, what are some tricks that you don't mind passing along?  I just shared my thinking, but I bet there are more angles for attacking this than what I thought of.  Let us all know.  And hope you had a nice weekend...

Inspiration from Italy-- Wait til you see it!

This great Pasta Mista by Torino, sure caught my eye at the store.  I bought it for it's gentle, spring colors and fun shapes.  Honestly, I want to make jewelry out of it- kind of a new style macaroni necklace  a la preschool.  But instead, I will use it as inspiration and serve it for dinner instead.

ps thinking that this would be really nice if it were electroformed too!

Demo Daze at FlameTree Glass

Thursday night, Sylvie Lansdowne and I had a great time demonstrating some of our whimsical glass art at FlameTree Glass in Roswell, GA.

I went first.  Yikes, that tanked oxy and phantom torch were quite a difference from my small concentrator and Minor that I generally use.  But what fun!  I could make such different and much larger pieces using that great set up.  I chose a one of a kind seahorse focal bead to demonstrate.  The gooey dark ivory Moretti glass combined with the heat, made it both a challenge and a delight.  I'll post a photo after I pop by FlameTree to pick up my work.

Because my allotted time wasn't up, per request,  I also made a little spotted dog with his long tail extended and a bird sitting on the end of it.  I love playing with heat control and seeing what I can do to stretch the glass.

Sylvie entertained us with funny comments as she made one of her gorgeous multi part mermaids.  Oh they are so pretty and she is generous with her tips and tricks.

Maureen and Lance McRorie were the consummate hosts too.  Food, drink, and lots of air conditioning were offered along with the free demos.  You can find more dates, topics and presenters for future Demo Daze on their website, http://www.flametreeglass.com.

Robert Mickelsen- Glass Artist & Cool Teacher

I just finished a 3 day Robert Mickelsen class at FlameTree Glass in Roswell, Georgia. And I have to say, it changed my entire personal perspective about glass.

I had taken it thinking that I would just want apply what I learn about boro sculpture, to my soft glass work, but I'm slightly dazed and amazed, because he changed my perspective and I now love boro too. I wouldn't have guessed that would happen in a million years.

You see, Robert is an amazing teacher and a super nice guy. He makes everyone feel comfortable, no matter what level they come in at. He is encouraging, helps us all out throughout the entire day and is so generous with his knowledge, extra demos and kind words. I don't say this about just
anyone, but this guy really has earned my respect.

He has a list of important concepts and then teaches
the sculptural pieces that explain what he is writing. We made trees at the beginning of class to illustrate how to properly connect the boro glass. I liked that. We learned to seal it and got a start at feeling what the glass feels like when molten.

The top photo shows him making a black widow spider. I am sad to say, mine died. She lost some of her legs and has come home with me never to see the light of day again. But, making all those tiny connections and feeling the pull of the glass, finding the right flame and the right spot in the flame made that exercise, and her demise all worthwhile.

The bottom photo was a request demo that he did late in the evening. Jessica Boggs and I were looking through a book and asked him to make one of the mermaids. He not only made her, but made her into a goblet as well. Holy cow, I think my mouth was open in amazement the entire time. One of the concepts with this piece was watching Robert achieve flow and movement with the body. It's what I've been trying to learn, but got to see in action for three days. I can't wait to practice more.

So I bet you've come to the correct conclusion that if I get an opportunity to take another class from Robert Mickelsen that I will jump. You bet I will! He rocks. And I strongly suggest that you jump at any chance too. He made a believer out of me. And once I finish here, I'm heading up to FlameTree to pick up my pieces and buy a little boro to get started.

Gathering Class

This is a photo of my sculptural bead class at the Gathering. I know, I should have taken some snapshots of their wonderful work, but the students are more important.

left to right: Barbara, me (Marcy Lamberson), Alison- sitting, Cathy, Max, Rachelle and Lee.

What a fun group of students they were too. We made all kinds of beads to learn sculpture- seashells, puppies, cupcakes, birds, self portraits and more. What made me the happiest was seeing them interpret an item (3-D & 2-D) that I didn't demonstrate and get it so spot on. It meant that they could look at almost any photo or object and figure out how to make it in glass. I have to say their little Vikings were wonderful too.

I'd like to thank FlameTree Glass for donating the glass for our class. Lisa St. Martin and Larry Brickman ran the class area with efficiency, professionalism, such a great attitude and helpfulness. Thanks to them too. But most of all, thanks to my students. I really liked all of you and enjoyed teaching you my passion for sculpting glass. I hope you'll send me photos of your work as you try new subjects.

Tomorrow, more about the Gathering. Perhaps a little about the presentations.

Still Blog Slacking

I'm still teaching class in Atlanta and having a great time. My class was a delight.  It was so much fun watching the gang be so successful.  And concentrate!  Wow, it got really quiet in there.  But I couldn't have asked for a nicer group.  Today my next set of students arrive and I also demo for the Southern Flames' monthly meeting.  I want to show everyone how to make butterflies for our local Beads of Courage Program.

One of the beads that we make in the sculptural class is a simple self portrait bead.  And I also show my students how to make easy bead stands.  So when I was recording the earlier message from a few days ago, I found this box and the whole thing reminded me of a talking self portrait bead on a bead stand.  I guess I cracked myself up, because I wasn't able to record the message about it.  Here are a few seconds of what I would define as me cracking myself up.

So I'm blog slacking for a few more days and will be back on Monday to fill you in on my Atlanta Sculptural Glass Classes and Southern Flames demo.  See you then!  

Teaching Glass, Woohoo! Here's the Blog Scoop...

Just wanted to give you a heads up that I'll be back to blogging on Monday. If you want the fascinating details, click to play. (If I sound really quiet and reserved in it. My son was sleeping in the next room.) Please note, I am saving my extrovert hula hoop tap dancing routine while singing karaoke for another video.

Later gator,

Marcy