Murrini, Russ and Backyard Mud

I've finally made a decent murrini, Folks! I've tried before but most of them came out mushy. At Flame of Mind, I finally made a half way decent one and consider this one my first real murrini:


Not bad for a rookie, huh? Russ seems to approve. (Who is Russ? Check out the Rings n Things blog)



Not satisfied, I wanted to build a complex murrini. Beau built a "on the fly" warming plate out of fire brick and a kiln shelf and away I went. I cut four of the above murrini and created a core. I melted the four pieces into the core and pulled:



The side murrini melted in and became oblong. I didn't have enough of the first murrini to go all the way around the core - I was going for technique. Not too bad for my very first complex murrini.

Russ hasn't weighed in on the complex murrini yet but I haven't heard any complaints!

We've had our backyard dug up for about a month. We spent $10K having a new septic system put in. It's done just in time for The Teen's end of the year pool party. This is the state of our backyard right now:




Potential mud just waiting to happen. Put a few teens in the pool splashing and throwing each other into the pool and you've got mud.

But we've got a hose. They can have mud and then it's the waterhose to clean them off.

I think Russ would approve, don't you?

Making New Friends: Ceramic Jewelry Artist Nancy Schindler

I haven't posted my Corning adventures as quickly as I would have liked but I'm sticking to what my one of my badges says,"Blogging Without Obligation." I'll resist the temptation to apologize.

One evening after the Flame of Mind class, I had dinner with ceramic jewelry artist extraordinaire, Nancy Schindler. We'd met online when I came across her lovely blog, The Rabbit Muse and drooled over her submissions to the ABS monthly challenge. I finally sent her a gushy email (you know how I love to gush!) right around the time I was going to Corning and we set up a time to meet for dinner.

Nancy is a great conversationalist - we started talking and didn't stop until we both had to go. We took a few pictures but I had forgotten my camera at home and only had my cell phone.



First picture attempt, pretty good picture of me but where's Nancy? I didn't snap the right angle to get her in the picture.



Ah yes, here's my usual shot - my eyes are closed and slightly blurry. This is the reason I'm a glass artist and not a photographer! Nancy looks pretty good though. Now if I could only photoshop both pictures together, I'd have one half way decent picture of both of us. If you really want to see us, Nancy has a better picture.

Nancy gifted a set of her lovely Bitten Circle Earrings. I was thrilled to receive them! Red is my favorite color!



Her packaging shows off her work perfectly and you never forget it's a "Round Rabbit" piece of jewelry. If you sell your work, you shouldn't underestimate the importance of packaging.

I had sent Nancy some Ivory Bling Links and she brought me a lovely selection of her ceramic components:



Beautiful aren't they?!? I can't wait to try a few out with my new Frost Links



I had a great time meeting Nancy, talking and sharing! Have you made a new friend recently?

Sunday Photo

I'm fascinated with the stone and ceramic decoration on old buildings. Buffalo is a great city for architecture (apparently no one has any money to tear the buildings down and there's no one wanting to re-do the buildings). This is the a close up of the Federal Courthouse in downtown Buffalo.

Learning from The Keeper

Back from Corning and an amazing class taught by Beau Anderson at Hands On Glass. I'm kicking myself for forgetting my camera at home and then not using the camera on my iPhone much. What can I say? I was too busy learning and watching and trying to make beads with new-to-me techniques.

I'm sorry I didn't get more pictures of Beau at work, though. If you ever get a chance to take a class with him or can figure out how to bring him in to teach in your area do not hesitate! He's one of the "Keepers of the Flame" (no pun intended). What I'm referring to is the second generation of glass artists. There are very few second generation glass artists in the U.S. My first set of teachers, Faith Davis Ferris and her Dad, Dave Davis are one.

Beau is another.

The Keepers start early, Faith was at the torch at age 6 and Beau was 7 when his Mom, Sage first taught him.

(The picture below isn't very good - a cell phone camera being what it is - but the stringer he's applying is the diameter of a human hair. He says that still isn't as small as some of the dots made on ancient beads. I believe him but it doesn't diminish the impressiveness of what he can do.)



Beau keeps the flame exquisitely. His work is full of precision and knowledge - if you think that might not translate into beautiful work you'd be wrong. He can do it all and he's happy to show you how too. Beau's the real deal.



I wished I'd had my camera as I stood behind him today when he was repairing a crack in a sculpture he'd made by lighting a hand held torch and healing the crack while the sculpture was in the kiln. It was cool.

Ok so enough gushing - you're probably wondering what I learned or did?

Flamework glass artists always want to know about the torch. What torch did you work on? We worked on Nortel torches in the class, Minors, Midranges, Red Max and Red Rocket (OMG I love that torch but I don't have the oxygen for it!)


Midrange:


Red Max:


Red Rocket: (Beau is pictured above using the Red Rocket)


Drool drool...ooopps sorry. I was looking at the torches.

I worked on a minor and got to make lots of new-to-me beads. The one I'm most fascinated with is the Islamic Folded Bead. I'll elaborate on it later but I'll be practicing that one for awhile. Let's suffice it to say that Beau keeps his students' worst bead to put up in his studio - he says if a student comes to his studio to take a class they'll be able to see how far they've come in their work. My Islamic Folded bead made it to the wall of infamy!

I learned the difference between raking and feathering and how to do it. I also learned bent beads, latticino, lacy latticino, ribbon cane, murrini, complex murrini, off mandrel implosions, three different ways to encase, berries, dots, warring states beads, creating shapes with dots, and lots more.

Remember I said I had to make my own murrini? Well I did!

I'm too tired and exhausted to take pictures tonight, but I will. You know us crazy glass people - when we take a class we go until we drop! Melt glass until you drop! So I'm just plain tired - time to crawl into bed but before I go...

You all know when you go away from work, you gotta pay the price for being away - I've got a long day of sign language interpreting tomorrow. So, I'll stop here and say learning from The Keeper was fabulous - I've got so many ideas swirling in my head now and new techniques!

Awesome.

Have you learned something new from someone?

Creative Re-Energizing: Flame of Mind

It's back to Corning. Today I start a three day class with Sage Holland and her son Beaux at Hands On Glass in Corning, New York. It's part of Flame of Mind - classes before and after the Glass Art Society Conference in Corning.

I've wanted to take a class with Sage since I first started making beads. I never had the funds or wasn't able to travel to Arkansas to take a class. So I'm thrilled to be going. I've been feeling burned out on life lately and hoping this might re-energize the entire me and not just beadmaking me.

Let's all knock wood together right now so that a repeat of last week's trip to Corning won't be repeated! Smile! Knock knock knock!

Sunday Photo

Corning Made the Best of It - New tools and pens!

As I was telling you yesterday, the trip to Corning was a comedy of errors and I missed out on the trip to Stueben and seeing the early morning demo but I made it to the vendors tent.

There are certain techniques I've taken classes on like marble making, that haven't become part of my studio because I don't have to proper tools. So, ya know what I did don'tcha? Seeing the Infinite Rim Marble Molds developed by Drew Fritts sitting on the Artco table, I made a beeline for it.


Look at that baby! What struck me was how light it really is! I mean light! It looks like it'd be heavy but it's absolutely not. Malcolm was very helpful - thanks, Malcolm.

So now I have the right tool to work on those marbles. It's gonna take some practice, ok, alot of practice but I can't say I don't have the right tool.

I wandered the tent - and came upon the Glassline pen display. I'm always looking for another way to draw onto glass and here it is! I like the idea of water base rather than oil base enamels, easier clean up and if they dry out, easier to re-wet and fire. I loved the option of choosing a custom color set of 14! The guys manning the booth were awesome and very knowledgeable about their product and how it applied to glass.


All in all, I came back with a select group of tools and materials to use. I'm looking forward to putting them to use.

How do you think I did? Have you had to salvage a trip like I did? What did you do?

Corning and Glass Art Conference - Not quite what I planned

I got a late start yesterday. Frankly, when I got the email from GAS conference organizers that they were starting the line-up to watch Thursday's demos at 7am, I knew I was in trouble. Money being tight, I planned to drive down in the morning, very early and get there by 8am. With line up starting at 7 am, I knew I'd end up in the overflow and watching any demo on the big screen in the auditorium.

But the whole day was not what I planned. It started when I left late and hit a detour on the way down - taking much longer to get there. Ugh, but I tried to be relaxed about it - nothing I could do about it, right? Ooohhmmmmm.



I finally got into town. Corning is all about glass - if you're a glassy, how can you not love Corning Glassworks, a company that has a large white chimney with a glassblower on it?

I went straight to the museum because Mickelson was half way through his demonstration. Sure enough, the Magic of Glass Theater was full and I was directed to the auditorium. I couldn't ask any questions or hear the questions asked but it the videocam was tight on him so I got a good look at what he was doing. One of the reasons I wanted to watch Mickelson is he does goblets - I soooooo want to do goblets! After watching him, I want to do photo resist AND goblets! I twittered about the demo but not sure my tweets got out.

When the demo was over, I went out to an info table only to find that I had to walk downtown to visit the registration table. The representative I asked didn't give me very good directions on how to walk downtown quickly because I ended up walking the farthest distance possible!

Arghhhh.....OOOHHHmmmm, right?



Got to see downtown Corning but missed the bus for the PAID tour to the Stueben Glass Factory. Since the tours were all sold out, I wasn't able to hop onto another tour.

#%$#!#%&*!! (Insert your favorite curse words here)

I made the best of it by walking back to the vendors tent. I wanted to buy a new torch - I had settled on a GTT Phantom.

After a little bit of shuffling to get the attention of the GTT people, I found that my generator probably doesn't have enough oxygen purity or PSI to run the phantom - although it's supposed to. Annoys me, I put alot of $$$ into the generator.

Ugh, argh - but I saved $1200 because I didn't buy one.

The Glassline people were really nice - very helpful and no shuffling to get attention. I bought a set of Glassline pens I'll talk about tomorrow. Gotta play with them a bit today.

I walked through the museum and snapped a shot of the Chihuly in the front foyer.



Sighhh...I love glass - don't you?

Day Trip to Corning - Go Blogging and Twittering all the way

I'm up and getting ready to drive to Corning to go the GAS conference. I'll be twittering my trip and sending pictures from my blog today. So stop by a couple times today or check out my twitters at http://twittter.com/CindyNG

Gotta get going if I'm going to catch the demo by master flamework glass artist Robert Mickelson!

Inspiration in New Wave

I'm obsessed lately with singing one of my old favs - The Romantics - What I Like About You. It's still a great song with lots of edge. The Romantics were considered "new wave" which according to Wikipedia is:

New Wave is an inexact term for a rock genre that originated in 1976. The term started as applying to punk rock music. It evolved to cover punk based acts that mixed in other elements.


I've been searching around to see if I can find a few good examples of jewelry worn by the "New Wavers" (of which I was one). Skinny ties, sneakers with a suit for guys but been having trouble with the girls. I found this one - How to Look Punk: The New Wave of Sound and Style



Looks like a chain belt and/or some charms hanging from a chain - aren't those back in style now?

Anyhoo - it may or may not lead to any inspired beadmaking on my part but I have The Romantics blaring in my studio and I still remember when to clap and yell, "Hey!"

Got a harmonica anyone?

What's Ahead....

I'm hoping to settle into a schedule this summer that will give me more creative time. My backyard is still dug up and it's a few days before I'll be enjoying the Glass Art Society's Conference in Corning. I've been looking at the program for Thursday, June 11 - I want to watch the flameworking demos by some of the Italian masters - like Cesare Toffolo. Take a look - it's amazing work!

Sunday's Photo

At the high school art show opening night, I was able to twist The Teen's arm to get this snapshot - it's a little blurry but it's the best I got!

I love that kid!

Experimenting with new media to mix with my glass

I'm jumping with both feet into different media to mix with my glass this week in anticipation of next week's trip to the Glass Art Society's conference. I know lots of you are into the scrapbooking phenomenon. It wasn't a craft I jumped into. Love all the stuff but a packrat like me can't start accumulating paper - it's just an reason never to clean! But I have a few things here and there - like the alcohol inks I used for the post "Glue is not my BFF" and the stamps I used on my packaging DIY style.

So this is what's on my dining room table (what? you don't think I'd eat meals at a perfectly good craft table do you?!). What do you think I'm going to make with it?

Sunday's Photo: Kugler Glass Rods at the local Barnes & Noble

In need of a little break but....

Ok, so I've been less than bloggiful lately. My backyard has been dug up for 3 weeks, not a little dug up but completely dug up with a backhoe sitting there and everything.



All right, so maybe it's not as big as THIS backhoe but after three weeks it FEELS like it! Every morning when I open the curtains in the dining room, there it is, looming larger and larger. I think it had designs on the house!

I'm feeling burned out. Time for a little mental refreshment. So even though the economy is bad, I'm going to spend a little of that money I've been saving for the past year and go to the Glass Art Society Conference in Corning, NY.

Originally, I wanted to go for the full conference but cut it down to one day to save on cash. I've got the day packed full though. I'll watch some demonstrations in the morning, go on a tour of Steuben Glass then to the vendors section to take a look at a new torch. Corning is about a 2.5 hour drive from my home so the day will be packed in between a longer than normal drive - but I've been planning to go since 2007 - can't miss it!

Primary Colors: Bloggy Love for Jeannie

Red, Yellow, Green Glass Spiral Necklace, originally uploaded by Lampwork Diva aka Cindy Gimbrone.

A couple of weeks ago on Studio Saturday, I gave away the Yellow, Red and Green Spiral for posting a comment. Jeannie Dukic was the lucky winner and I sent her a free lampwork/flamework glass bead. Jeannie designed this necklace and graciously sent me a picture of her lovely work. The accent beads echo the yellow, red and green of the spiral perfectly. Hanging from a silver toned chain, the necklace sings primary colors. Sending you lots of bloggy love to Jeannie for creating this beautiful necklace!

Have you designed using my beads? Yes? Send me a picture and I'd be happy to post it here on my blog and on flickr where the widgit will show it off everyday! I'll be spreading the bloggy love!

Inspiration found while wandering a bazaar

On the annual trek to Anime North, it was expected that the parents would stay away. So The Bean Counter and myself set out to explore. This exploration lead to a surprising bit of inspiration in a very unexpected place - the flea market. No, not a flea market full of garage sale finds but a flea market like the five and dime or the dollar store.

There's a flea market/five and dime near my home but the mix of cultures in the one we ventured into in Ontario near Toronto made the trip almost like walking through a bazaar - spices, clothing, jewelry, electronics, dvds - everything you could want to buy. Among the booths of saris and salwar-kameez I found stalls of Indian jewelry sparkling Indian jewelry this one below:



You know I find inspiration in rhinestones and include them in beads with abandon. So I was happy to be among so many rhinestones.

The jewelry was beautiful in the stalls but when worn, it's even more lovely! The picture below is courtesy of The Style of India Blog.



I walked out of the flea market/bazaar with a big happy rhinestone smile on my face!

WireHead goes back to her roots! Filigree Earrings in Step by Step Wire

WireHead goes back to her roots! Yup, that's right! The summer issue of Step by Step Wire will include Filigree Earrings an easy wire earring project I was working on a few months ago.
(Pssst! Put some lotion on those cuticles!)

Spark Your Imagination: The Purple Doorknob

Went to my niece's graduation and afterwards we went to dinner. Next to the restaurant was this huge purple doorknob - a curiosity to draw you into the "Purple Doorknob Antiques Shop." I had to take a picture - afterall, it must be some kind of record- I've never seen a doorknob THAT big!

Design using Ivory Bling Links: Christine Dam

When I make beads, I have ideas in my head about how to use them. When a designer uses them in a way I never thought of, it's a wonderful and eye-opening experience. Christine Dam sent me a picture of a lovely necklace she created using my Ivory Bling Links in a unique and eye catching design. After me everyone..."Oooohhhh - Ahhhhhhh!"

Thanks, Christine for sharing your lovely work with me!

What about you - have others used your work in unexpected and wonderfully surprising ways?

Sunday Photo

Jewelry Icons: Silent Super Star Gloria Swanson

Super silent star Gloria Swanson is still big "it's the pictures that got small" but her jewelry was always superstar quality. Below are just a few wonderful pictures appearing courtesy of Silentladies.com.

Jewelry Icons: Silent Star Lilly Damita

(Photo Credit)

Silent Film stars were so glamorous - lots of money was spent on making them look good. It worked! The black and white head shots have an enduring romantic quality that draws you in. Pearls are used to great effect in her headpiece, earrings and necklace. The flower/circle of pearls pendant gives interest but doesn't detract from the other pieces. The earrings are large drops that accentuate the rest of the pieces perfectly. The entire look is a symphony! It's just gorgeous!

But wait, I haven't told you who the Jewelry Icon is today - Lily Damita. Lily Damita was a French actress who is probably best remembered for marrying an unknown Errol Flynn.


(Photo Credit of Damita and Flynn above)
I've strung a few pearl necklaces in my day. Hand knotting the silk between each pearl is a pain but it makes the necklace fluid and strong. If it were to break, all the pearls wouldn't come tumbling off.

Do you like Lily's pearls more than Frida's chunky necklaces? Maybe you love both or your style is something different. I wish the headpiece she is wearing was more popular - I'd surely make and wear one!

Icons of Jewelry: Frida Kahlo

After the walk around the Albright-Knox, I went inside to find an exhibit on Frida Kahlo. It was a photography exhibit with vivid color pictures. As I looked at each of the portraits taken of Frida Kahlo, I was mesmerized by her jewelry. I wanted to take pictures but knew I wasn't allowed. But my spirits were lifted when I found a copy of I Will Never Forget You in the gift shop.

Frida Kahlo dress in Tehuana traditional dress. The colorful dresses are a blog post on their own! Lovely, vibrant and part of the tradtion


(Above picture courtesy of tehuanas.com.)

The saturated colors of the photography seem to highlight the jewelry. Since I've made numerous glass hands and have an entire collection of hands (what can you expect? I'm a sign language interpreter!) I was particularly drawn to Frida's earrings in the photo below.

(Frida Kahlo Photo Credit)
I'm sure more than one person found wearing hands as earrings a bit shocking. I think they're awesome! Or check out the big chunky necklace she has on in the picture below.

(Frida Kahlo Photo Credit)
Frida Kahlo was a icon of jewelry - big, loud, shocking jewelry. Just like her art.
What do you think?