And In The Beginning There Was Wool...

Today is going to be a felting day for me. I have a piece in progress that I absolutely must finish because I need my work surface to do the many more projects I have in mind. Also, regarding this piece in progress... I want to wear it to the SGB Norcal holiday party next Saturday! It is a nuno felted scarf that's been on my table way too long now, whispering out to me to coax it into "done-ness". Coax is the word - for nuno felting, the process is slow and gentle, unlike the process for felting a rug. However, I think there might be some wonderful aspects to felting a rug. For one, I could probably get rid of my elliptical machine - the actual felting process would be a great form of exercise! And for another, I might be able to use it as an excuse to buy a hand-held torch to add to my inventory of "cool tools". Well, not actually cool - it'd be mighty hot!

By now you're probably wondering what I'm talking about regarding the elliptical machine and the torch. I'm going to point you to a film that'll explain it all. It's a 15-minute video - if you turn up your sound, you'll have an "almost like being there" cultural experience along with the visual information.

Felt Maker In Iran - a Dying Breed

Perhaps the "little man" who comes in late in the film will continue the tradition. It's a shame to see these old world arts die out. It's also wonderful to know that folks like the Raissnias are trying to revitalize felt making in Iran.

Here's my work in progress - it needs to shrink down about 20% before it's wearable. With nuno felting, the process has to be slow and gentle because you felt the wool into a silk chiffon base. If you felt it too quickly, the wool will felt to itself before it has a chance to come through the silk. This is the second scarf I've made, or I should say "will have made" - I'm not there yet. I was really pleased with my first one and decided to continue with this very time-consuming process. For this peacock-colored scarf here it took me many hours over 3 days just to dye the silk chiffon and then lay out the fibers. It was like painting a picture with fine tufts of wool and silk. I already have my next scarf planned in my head and I've made some wool "components" for it.

Felting is such a nice change from bead making - I can actually touch it while I'm creating it! Touch a glass bead while you're creating it in the torch and it will be an experience you'll never forget. Trust me, I know...

So now I'm off to fill my bucket with warm soapy water and begin the rolling process. Hopefully I'll still have enough arm muscle left to make beads tomorrow - I have a few orders to fill before Christmas, as well as make something to put into our annual SGB Norcal holiday party silent auction. All proceeds from this auction go to the Beads of Courage program.

And in case you're wondering, SGB Norcal is the Society of Glass Beadmakers of Northern California. We have around 100 members and meet once a month for chit chat, watching and giving demos, sharing food, and general camaraderie. If you are interested in glass bead making and would like to join our group, just give me a holler - I happen to be in charge of membership.

Now to go play with wool... Have a wonderful rest-of-the-weekend!

Eat Eat Eat... Shop Shop Shop...

What a feast! Last night we had a big turkey dinner - I love Thanksgiving turkey dinners!

My stepdaughter Alison brought over the fixings for her "annual pumpkin cheese cake" and put it together in our tiny cramped kitchen. She employed the assistance of her friend Rob - gosh, I love seeing a guy working in the kitchen.

While the cooking was happening, we got a phone call from my stepson Adam, who lives up in Portland (OR) with his lovely wife Ines. Gosh, we sure miss them! Alison couldn't pass up an opportunity to chat, and she's great at multi-tasking...





So today is Black Friday and I've decided to help some of my favorite vendors get into the black today. No, I won't be Christmas shopping - I'll be heading over to the International Gem & Jewelry Show to replenish some of my jewelry supplies. I have a show coming up in February and I'm completely out of some components that I need. So I'll go fight the crowds - yeeha!



Here's what I'll be dealing with later this afternoon...


And then tonight I'll start making more jewelry, yeah! I have so many rocks in my stash it's crazy!

Speaking of Black Friday, I've put every item in all 3 of my Etsy shops on sale today! If you're out there shopping in cyber-land, come and see! I have all of my beads on sale at Jumping Jack Glass, my jewelry is on sale at Shirley Cook designs, and my fiber art is on sale at Flames & Fiber.



Tomorrow I'll be heading down to the Kaleid Gallery in San Jose to help put up our glass ornament installation. This is a show/sale put on by the San Jose Glass Artist Alliance. We're installing ornaments to cover a 60-foot wall! I can't wait to see it completed - that's an amazing number of ornaments. I'll definitely bring my camera for that event.


So I'm off to fight the crowds, and maybe I'll come home with a few unexpected treasures. How fun is that?!

Have a productive Friday, everyone!

Courageous...

Tonight is the last night of my Beadmaking 1 class. Despite the fact that I'm sad about the 4-week class coming to an end, I'm excited about giving a bead to one of my students. She has no idea it's coming...

On the first night of this class, I gave a demo of making a plain donut-shaped bead. I don't teach bead decorations on the first night but I always decorate my plain beads with at least some dots here and there. I told my students why - it's because I donate all my class demo beads to the Beads of Courage program. I want the kids to get a bead that's "happy". If you aren't familiar with this wonderful program, please click on the link above and check it out.

Anyhow, I noticed that one of my students was listening to my talk about Beads of Courage with rapt attention. I also noticed that she had no hair and was wearing a head wrap. Last week I had a little chat with her about her cancer treatment, and decided that even though she isn't a "kid with cancer", going through this kind of experience definitely requires courage and she needs to have a purple heart for making it through the end of her treatment. Her course of treatment isn't finished yet - the radiation treatments are yet to come. I can't even imagine what she's facing, and I wholeheartedly applaud her for attitude and courage. She told me she wants to get better at making beads so she can make purple hearts for the kids in the Beads of Courage program. Wow!

Well, here's to you, Caren - I hope you like your purple heart bead!

Let's Get Twisted...

As usual, I'm running late again. I have to teach a beadmaking class in San Jose this evening - it's the last night of class for my 4-week Beadmaking 2 session. Gosh, I love teaching - but the last night is always a bit sad. I'm sad to see my class come to an end, but oh how gratifying it is to see how far the students have come since the first class 4 weeks prior.

Tonight we'll be making complex twisted cane. There are so many different ways of making twisted cane that I could spend an entire 4-hour class on that topic alone! So the rest of my class will be spent on other types of cane, mainly cane used to make flowers, leaves, and stems. And then we'll review all the topics from the entire 4-week series. Here are some twisties that I've made both recently (in last week's class) and several years ago. I guess I really am a pack rat, I can't believe I still have these little bits of cane left over!

Speaking of twisties, here's a group of "twisties" - the Flame Dames! This picture showed up in the latest issue of "Profitable Glass Quarterly" and was taken by Greg Fuchs at the ISGB Gathering in Oakland, CA in August. Holy cow - we are now famous. Yep, I said "we" - I'm one of the dames. Now that's REALLY twisted!

I'll be back later this week with more tidbits from the world of a nutsy artisan. Hope you all have a wonderful evening!

Seductive...

Yep, the internet is SOOOOO seductive! It's amazing what you can find by hopping from link list to link list. But it sure doesn't do anything for one's productivity, though - aaacckkk!

I did manage to get some ornaments done yesterday, and I'm on the torch again today. I'll have a couple of snowmen finished by the end of the day, and perhaps a few stockings and gingerbread folks. And, of course, more leaves. I really do love making leaves!

Here's where I am right now - there are 2 missing from the picture because they were too 3D to put on my scanner.

This is not good - I should have 3 times as many as this. I guess I'd better scoot outta here and get back to work!

Hope you all have a creative, productive day!

Being Creative While Facing a Deadline

Today is a torch day for me. There's a big glass ornament show/sale coming up at Kaleid Gallery in San Jose, CA and I'll be making ornaments for the show. I have to turn in the bulk of my ornaments on Saturday - yikes! How did I get myself into this situation?

I'm a new member of the San Jose Glass Artists Alliance, co-founded by Janett Peace, who is one of my fellow instructors at the Bay Area Glass Institute. When Janett saw my glass leaves, she asked me if I would make several for the ornament show/sale and, of course, I said I'd be delighted! Unfortunately, this was only a few weeks ago. And then suddenly, everyone wanted to buy my leaves and I've been selling bunches of them. Since I only have about 15 left to put into the show, I need to step it up - 15 would be a very meager showing on the 60-foot wall that will contain all of our ornaments! Then last night when I went to bed I got thinking (now THAT's dangerous!)... perhaps I should make other things as well as leaves. But my first deadline is in 2 days, so that doesn't leave me much time to be creative. Let's see... snowmen... gingerbread people... snowflakes... I don't even make these things in glass! Well, why not?

Now I'm thinking about way back when I first moved out here to California - 1974! The company I worked for hired a new graphic artist named Heidi, and Heidi and I became good friends rather quickly. So good, in fact, that she was my maid of honor several years later - and I was her matron of honor (matron... now THERE's an unpleasant-sounding word) two years after that. So back to the ornament thing... Heidi the artist - as opposed to her friend Shirley (me) the software geek - thought it would be fun to make Christmas ornaments out of bread dough. She got the recipe, invited me over, and we spent an entire day and evening in her little 800-sq. foot apartment molding, sculpting, baking, and painting ornaments. I was amazed at how well mine turned out considering that I had absolutely no artistic ability. There was a snowman, of course, and a dog with floppy ears and a big bow around his neck, a camera for my hubby (he's a professional photog), and a few other things I can no longer remember. Heck, if I could get creative back in my geek days I think I should be able to come up with a few things today. Thanks, Heidi, for bringing back some great memories and being my muse today!

I'm also thinking about my time in Italy at the beginning of 2006. I took a glass sculpture class with the world-famous glass maestro Lucio Bubacco. Perhaps I could draw from that experience today - try to relive the feeling of being in his studio in Murano, ready to start another day at the torch. Wow, now THERE's a great memory!

Here are a few pictures my friend Janice took from that class. I'm the mesmerized one in the pink sweater. Wow, Lucio is absolutely amazing! If I can recapture that experience even just a little, I think I will have a successful day in the hot shop. Perhaps tomorrow you'll get to see some of my creations. Wish me luck!

Gosh, It's Only Been 2+ Years...

I first started this blog back when I went to Italy to study with Lucio Bubacco and Vittorio Costantini. My oh my, that was almost a lifetime ago! February 2006 - getting close to 3 years ago now. I was so overwhelmed by the time I got home that I abandoned the blog and set about creating stuff. After this long cyber hiatus, I've decided to come back to the online world - and much has changed since then!



I now have 3 stores on Etsy. I decided to sell my creations that way because they fall into 3 categories. First and foremost are my beads. I still love working at the torch, and I teach lampworking at the Bay Area Glass Institute (BAGI) in San Jose, CA. My second Etsy shop is devoted to my work with fiber - a new love of mine that started in February of this year. I love mixing my glass work with my fiber work, and it's gotten rave reviews! And lastly is my jewelry shop. This is where I sell the wearables that I create with beads of all kinds - my lampwork, stones, pearls, wood, other glass, precious metals, etc. etc.



So now that you know a little of what I've been up to here, I'm going to go rejuvenate - i.e., get some sleep! - so I can spend a long day at the torch. There's an ornament show coming up at Kaleid Gallery in San Jose, and I'm making glass leaves to sell in the gallery. Here's one of my glass leaves that's in keeping with the holiday season. I'll be making lots of other kinds of leaves as well. Busy busy...

Burano? They Sure Love Their Paint!

I wonder how often they take to their brushes? The houses all seem to be freshly painted with the brightest colors they can find - Alexander Julian would be proud!

What a sleepy little island. What do they do here besides make lace and try to entice the touristas? I managed to pick up a few gifts, as well as add to my meager scarf collection. But most of all, it was a very pretty day - good for a boat ride, a lengthy stroll, some local pix, and a late lunch back on Murano.

I've been spending my days walking, walking, getting lots of fresh air, walking... But I sure am itching to get back on the torch! I don't want to forget all the wonderful things I learned with Lucio and Vittorio, and I've got some ideas for new beads. I may even create a line based on my impressions of Burano - they won't be for the faint of heart.

Tonight I will start packing my suitcase of new treasures, which must be carried onto the plane. I just hope I haven't gone overboard. This will be a challenge...

Just Hanging' Out...

Although I miss being in the studio watching the masters at work, it's nice just hanging around seeing the sights with no commitments. And now I can do that with both eyes functioning. Silly me, washing a contact lens down the drain...

Great shopping in Venice yesterday, and a wonderful start to the mask collection. The weather was perfect, and the view of the Basilica at San Marco as the sun was going down was stunning.

Today, it's snowing! Perhaps a trip to Burano, or maybe just hang out here on Murano. But first, a cappuccino at the foot of the bridge - they might think I met with some kind of disaster if I don't show up for my daily treat.

I've been invited to bring some of my beads to the shop of Luigi the engraver to try my hand at the wheel... with plenty of assistance from Amy, of course. Amy was our class translator and is Luigi's apprentice. I'll dig out some beads and do that later in the week.

As mellow as this week will be, I think the time will pass very quickly. But you know, I'm starting to get home sick. What I miss most is a nice thick hunk of poached salmon and a plate of steamed veggies. My body is still wondering what on earth I've done to it. Eating in is the best way to go here on the island, no doubt about it.

Until next time... Ciao!

How Can That Be?

Wow, tomorrow is the last day of class... where did the time go?

On the last day of Lucio's class last Saturday, I was completely overcome with emotion. As he finished up the big sculpture he did for Ofilia to take back with her, I had to leave the table - the tears were running down my face.

Monday we started Vittorio's class - a completely different style of glass work. And what a master HE is! I'm thrilled that I'll be bringing home 2 of his class demo pieces. I wish I could bring HIM home with me, he's like the papa I always wished I had.

We're all battling some kind of cold or flu - the 5 of us that are in Vittorio's class were having a coughing competition. I had a fever today, which really hindered my productivity on the torch. Perhaps tomorrow will be better.

Tonight we had a demo by Luigi, the local engraver. This is a dying art, and he and one other guy are the only folks left here who do this. His work is absolutely beautiful! His apprentice Amy has been our class interpreter, and she's a real peach - I hope she and I can get together when she comes back to San Francisco this summer.

I'll be in Murano for another week and a half after class is over, with absolutely no commitments. That will be really nice! More time to spend in Venice, a trip over to Burano, and perhaps a side trip to Florence. I'm sure this time will fly as well, and when I get back home it will all seem like it was a dream. I couldn't have asked for a nicer dream...

Ciao, ciao!

Major Talent!

A day full of treats! This morning we visited Davide Salvadore and watched him and his crew create an incalmo vase - wonderful! I'm afraid that these guys will die of emphysema - chain smokers all, lighting their cigies on the blow pipes. We also saw the secret of how they create the blown glass beads... but I'll never tell. :-)

This afternoon, Lucio brought out a cello that a "girlfriend" of his owns. We just happen to have a cello player in our group of students, so we got to listen to Joyce jam with the instrumental bluegrass CD on the stereo. Then she went into some Bach, and ended her session with some good old rock - go, Joyce!

After finishing up the day in the studio we had another treat - a demo by Cesare Toffolo. These glass folks are all masters, with work in galleries all over the world. I feel so fortunate to have been able to watch them work in their home environment!

We ate in tonight - Valerie cooked pasta with chicken and veggies in pesto sauce, and it was the best meal I've had since I've been here. No more bisteca for me, by gosh...

And now it's time to go have more glass dreams, getting ready for tomorrow's work. Ciao!

Another Day, Another Explosion...

Today was the 3rd day of class with Lucio the Maestro. What an amazing man to watch! His art is wonderful, his technique is magic. I can only hope that some day I'll be able to complete an entire figure without having it blow apart because I cannot get beyond my beadmaking techniques. I've got the mermaid's tail down pat, though...

The visit to the glass factory this morning was such a treat - like watching a symphony. Just how much glass can I carry home with me?

No pasta today! And no cappuccino, either. Good news about the pasta, not so good about the cappuccino... I'm such a creature of habit, and I've developed some new ones in this short time I've been here. I'm afraid that Starbucks just won't cut it when I get back home.

Murano is full of dogs. And they all seem to have a purpose. Different "personalities" than those in the US - they don't come up and greet passersby and it's rare to hear them bark. Maybe I should bring Niki here for some behavior lessons.

Murano is NOT full of cars. I haven't seen a car since I left the airport, and the nights are incredibly quiet. This morning, we passed by a "boat raising" on our way to the factory. How does a boat sink in the canal? Poor fellow.

Time for some visiting before bedtime, a little reading, and lights out. I haven't gotten home sick yet, I wonder when it will hit me...

Ciao!

Glass Overload?

What an amazing place, this Murano. The amount of glass is so overwhelming, it is impossible to decide what to bring home with me.

Day 1 - Try to stay awake until the local bed time. What better way than to look through the windows of glass shop after glass shop after glass shop.

Day 2 - a trip to Venice on the Vaporetto. Such an amazing city, especially during Carnevale - a Rennaissance Faire on steroids! First impression? Claustrophobia! But I'll be going back next Sunday. So many mask shops - again, too overwhelming to decide on which ones to bring home. Highlight of the day - watching Vittorio Constantini make a fish.

Day 3 - visit all those glass shops on Murano. Make a decision, make a commitment... OK! Must return to pay for the Toffolo pieces I had set aside. Must return to visit all the other shops I had no time to see.

Tomorrow I start class with Lucio. I'm nervous - I don't do sculptural work. By the time the week is over, that will have changed (hopefully). I am energized!

Now I will go lie down in my little twin bed, thinking of the days ahead of me and what might be in store. And if I'm lucky, I won't wake up at 3 a.m. again with my brain racing around in circles.

Sigh...............

Rain and Snow and Melting Glass

I just checked the weather in Venice. bllleeaaaacchhhh........ rain, freezing rain, snow, more rain... great weather in which to melt glass, I suppose. Gotta remember to pack my scarf, hat, and mitties. Here's what's in my back yard - the bottlebrush will probably be well-bloomed by the time I return.
















I think I'm running on adrenaline today! Back to packing...

To Blog or Not To Blog...

I'm about to embark on a journey, both literally and figuratively, and I've decided to share my thoughts... with you and with myself down the road.

This is my first blog - and will be my first trip out of North America. I leave for Murano (Venice), Italy in a day and a half, and I have no idea what to expect - except that I'm starting to get very excited! I'll be studying for 6 days with Lucio Bubacco, then 3 days with Vittorio Constantini.

I haven't been on my torch for several weeks and I'm nervous about being in a class with so many experts. I had such good intentions about preparing for this experience - a book on anatomy for artists, a CD to learn some of the Italian language - and I'm as green as I was when I first learned that I was going on this trip. But I'm going to absorb every moment like a sponge, and when I get home I hope to be able to create something new and exciting - and tell you all about it in Italian. ;-)

Gotta go organize now... lots to do before I leave... still not finished with my taxes... aarrgghh! Maybe I'll just watch the Olympics for awhile.

Here's the mess I'll be leaving behind. Ciao-der!