Mini Class - Starfish

At the request of a student I will be teaching a mini class on starfish.
It's almost cruel to blog about it because right now the class is full.
But not to worry I will be teaching an under the sea class at WUB this fall and then here at Dream Fire too.
Next Tuesday June 26th in the morning ( to beat the heat)  we will be making starfish in many colors.I sold all my starfish so this is a pitiful  picture of one I donated to an ISGB all members show project.

We will be making much bigger and more beautiful starfish next Tuesday.
You never know when a mini workshop will pop up. I plan to have several mini workshops in August. So watch the website and the blog!
Stay cool and work your glass hot!

The Last Flowers in May

It is the last day of May.
The spring flowers have faded in the heat.
Glass flowers can bloom all year long. Yesterday was the first of two Sculptural Flower classes here at Dream Fire Glass. The students really rocked the class. Look at these great bouquets!



Marla's flowers




Jan's Flowers



















If this is something you would like to learn the next class is scheduled for June the 10th.
Call the studio to sign up.

Fun in the Torchroom

I have a minute to catch my breath and post some photos.
The beginning bead class this weekend was fantastic! Great students and great fun.
I did forget to stop and take a picture of this class. Darn!
I've been saving a few photos of fun and learning going on here at Dream Fire Glass Studio.



Fiery Friday





Fiery Friday

Very productive Fiery Friday














 Beginning Bead Class


Hot Head Torches to start out!

The fun and learning continues........
Here's what 's happening in February
This coming weekend Saturday February 4th is the Heart Class.
Hollow Beads on Sunday February 5th
Open torch February 8th and 22nd
Fiery Friday February 10th
Bangle Bracelet with hearts February 11th
Torchwork for the Fuser February 12th
Beadmaking 1 is at Southwest School February 18th
Beadmaking 2 is back here at Dream Fire February 19th

Dream Fire Glass Studio will be closed February 25th
So I can help with the SAGAG workshop
Well that's it for today
I will leave you with a few hearts fresh out of the kiln

Grand Opening Pictures- Finally!

The Grand Opening was a blast!

Sorry it took so long to get the pictures up but life gets in the way of blogging. The day after the Grand Opening we loaded our cars and headed deep into the piney woods of Texas headed for Stephen F. Austin University .
Our son is now settled into his dorm room, classes have begun and the next stage of his and our lives has begun.

I'm going to start with a few pre-party pictures. In the last post I mentioned finding the right spot to cut the hole in the piñata. Well here we are cutting the opening and stuffing the piñata. .

Nicole donated the piñata and the decorations.
The "Loot" in the pretty little star piñata was good stuff. Burger bucks from My Place Bar and Grille in Bulverde - YUM! Packages of my handmade murrini ,Chocolate candy,Tickets for the prizes and the slap bracelets had stickers for earrings, necklaces, tools and glass! Bullseye glass donated a t-shirt and and apron Pretty good huh?

     We found the flame fringe at Amols the place to find party stuff in San Antonio

I think the flame fringe is really nice. The wind blew some of it away but we are going to keep the section on the sign. I think it’s just right for a flame working studio.

The agenda for the day was FRIENDS-FOOD-FUN-FIRE!
I’m going to let the picture do the talking. Thank you to Alan and Nicole for the pictures!



Louise's Mom brought the party animals

FUN



Waiting to start the pinata




Sam giving the instructions





The 1st good hit




will Jodi finish it off?



FRIENDS



The photographers capturing the Brothers of the Flame



DEMO's

Brothers of the Flame-FIRE-DANCERS

You can see we had a blast.

One last Picture that captured my day.

Drinking a great glass of wine with friends watching the Brothers of the Flame perform right behind my very own studio......what more could you want? Life is good!

2 Days until the Grand Opening!

Wow time is flying.
My last post I had 10 days to get ready. By the time this posts it will really be closer to one day away.
I can guarantee I've been busy.
Just after the holiday break we made some changes in the gallery. Now there is a little bit more jewelry and glass displayed. I've added  few more tools on the wall.
The Bullseye glass order came in yesterday. I measure out the  frit  in 2 oz containers. It is just the right size for beadmakers who want to sample a new color. Those are now labelled and hanging on the wall. The rods are all labeled  and ready to purchase. The labelling of each rod is again a beadmaker thing. Most beadmakers use many different COE's of glass and having each one labeled is a great way to keep them from getting mixed up.
The pinata and its goodies are in the studio waiting for the "stuffing process". If you have never had a pinata before there are things you have to do before it is ready to have the stuffing beat out of it. You have to find just the right spot to cut a tiny opening just big enough for the largest item going in. Now you just can't cut a hole anywhere because you might compromise the structure and the last thing you want is the pinata to burst open on the 1st hit. So I've been studying it and the prizes and I'm not sure yet. I think that can wait until manana.
OK I promised I would post the schedule here. So loosely here it is:

10 am  the doors open and breakfast refreshments will be available
11 am  1st Demo
12 noon we break out the wine and other yummy things
1 pm Demo
2 pm Demo
3 pm Demo
4 pm We go out back and hit the stuffing out of that pretty little pinata
5 pm Demo
5:30 announce the prize winners
6 pm we will be drinking wine and enjoying each others company and wishing that it wasn't over.

Want to know more about the prizes?
This is how it is going to work when you come in the door you will get a ticket. You will right your name and contact information on the ticket. There will be several prizes each one will be in front of a container. You will put your tickets in the container of the prizes you want to win.
The longer you stay the more tickets you get- one every hour
The pinata will also have lots of tickets in it.
Now for those loyal customers who have purchased from me here at the new location.
Don't worry if you can't make it. I have tickets for you based on your purchases and those will go in the container for the $50.00 gift certificate to Dream Fire Glass for any purchase (except visiting instructors)

Can't Wait! Hope to see you there.

Grand Opening in 10 Days

The official, here it is,
Dream Fire Glass Grand Opening is January 14th 2012.
Yes I have been open. Yes I have taught classes, made sales etc. So why a Grand Opening?
 I look at the past few months as getting ready for the Studio, Store and Me to become official, ready to say well we did it it is real.
I wanted to make sure the "bugs were worked out" and settle in.
Most brand new businesses wait a few weeks or months before their grand openings so why not.
Why January 14th? Well it is a Saturday and it is the New Year 2012. Let’s just say I like the date it seemed like a good day for a new beginning.

My main question is what the heck is one supposed to do for a grand opening?
I really don’t know what is the proper thing to do for a grand opening.
When your "store" is your studio it is a little different than a shop in the mall or strip center. I'm not really looking for the walk in traffic. So far the "walk-ins" are not looking for art glass they think I sell auto glass or fireplace glass or want to sell me fresh fruit.
 The customers I want pretty much know exactly what they want before they find me. Word of mouth from my loyal customers brings in new students, beadmaking customers and glass collectors.
My website brings people to me and yes even this blog.
So why a grand opening?
Well to me it is a great big ole birthday party for the Studio.
Who comes to your birthday party? Friends and Family people you care about and care about you.
You are my glass Friends and Family. You are my wonderful students and great customers.  So who better to come and celebrate this little dream come true than you!

What are we going to do?
Well there will be a piñata - it is San Antonio - no the glass will not be in the piñata but there will be prizes.
I picked out some good stuff and there will be several ways to win.
I'm going to have product demonstrations through out the day. If you have ever wonder how to use a particular tool or what does that glass do in the flame this will be enlightening.
There will be snacks and refreshment.
Yes there will even be things you can buy, glass, jewelry, beads, tools and classes you can sign up for.
Mostly we will just hang out, enjoy each others company and rejoice that there is a flameworking playground right here in San Antonio.

If you are reading this blog you are invited.

See ya Saturday January 14th 2012! 

2012

Happy New Year!

I think the very first day of the New Year is a gift.

To me the New Year is shiny and new, full of promise and possibilities.

At our house we eat black-eyed peas, reflect on the last year and plan for this New Year.

2012 will be the year Dream Fire Glass Studio will have lots of firsts and I’m excited about that. The first six months are planned and classes scheduled. The Grand Opening is in 13 days…….. more about that in the next blog.

I will be travelling and teaching more this year starting with Glass Craft Expo in Vegas.

2012 will be a year of change.

My husband and I will become “empty nesters”. I’m excited for my son. He is starting the journey of his life. I’m looking forward to the extra time together with my husband. He may have to come drag me out of the studio though. I’m looking forward to spending lots of time at the torch.

The sun is setting on this first shiny new day of 2012 so I wish you a Happy New Year and I hope it is filled with wonderful things for us all.

Sam

.

2012 Workshops!

Yeah! The brochure is done and going to the printer!
The website is updated with 2012's workshops.
This is an accomplishment in it's self and with my poor old computer that locks up with each task it was a monumental task.
I am glad it is done!
There are exciting workshops for 2012. Great visiting instructors and generally a whole lot so fun and learning planned.
Check it out!

Fiery Friday was a blast as usual. Look at what Nicole made during Fiery Friday. She's pretty good - for a fuser - I'm just teasing her she has become quite accomplished at the torch. Her twisted canes end up in some beautiful fused pieces.

And a reminder the open house and shopping opportunity are this week end starting Friday.
I am busy putting together some pretty trinkets to adorn yourself or gift your friends.
This is a post and run- back to work

Winter is Here!

Winter has arrived in South Texas.  For the rest of the country our "cold" weather would be a welcome
cool "ish" day. But for those of us who can survive 105 without melting anything below 55 is cold.
It has been a steady daytime temperature in the 40's and at night has dipped down to freezing and last night was 29 Brrrrrr.
The new studio is cozy and warm until the hood is turned on! As with most flameworking studio's it is a battle with the outside air and the A/C or heating unit trying to keep the inside air a nice temperature. So the last few days of beadmaking have been well lets say refreshing!
I'm getting ready for a Holiday Open House and Shopping Extravaganza here at Dream Fire Studio.
Friday December 16th 4pm-10pm (store is open 11am-)
Saturday December 17th 10am -6 pm or later if there is wine left

Dos Mimis who share the studio space with me are busy fusing all sorts of fun things for customers to give as gifts. I have been working making plenty of cute earrings and necklaces for gifts ready to buy and give.
I think I must have Christmas candy on the brain as you can see above.
I know it has been a month since the last post. Time just flies this time of year and I have been quite busy.

The new schedule for 2012 will be up on the "new" website by the end of the week. I have the brochures ready for printing and will announce the visiting instructors too.

Save the date! January 14th 2012 for the grand opening of Dream Fire Glass Studio. It will be a party for sure. Yes even a Pinata with more than just candy inside.
Well that is it for now got to get back on the torch.

Yummy New Glass Colors

The Bullseye Special Production Rods are here.
They came in late last week and are now all labeled and waiting for you to take them home and make some awesome beads. I have sample beads below or come by and see them in person. This is the hardest part of having a Store I want to melt all this glass myself. But I have to share!

Below Left  Raspberry Rose a yummy translucent pink and

Right Astro Yellow a really nice bright yellow with reactive properties

Next is Left Purple blue tint this is a really pretty light blue purple tint.
Right Rainforest this batch is full of green aventurine with  nice streaky stripes in hues of greens

                                                               

Below Left Lavender blush tint is a very pale pink

Right Sunset sapphirine is a nice coral/with a hint of brown transparent a bit deeper in color than Sunset coral

 

Left Carnelian beautiful root beer transparent

Middle Deep Red very intense dark read opaque

Right Goldrush a fall yellow somewhere between sunflower yellow and butterscotch

Below is left Raspberry Rose middle Raspberry Rose over French vanilla

Right sunset sapphirine again

Below Left Carnelian Middle bottom carnelian over French Vanilla
Middle top Sunset sapphrine over French vanilla and Right Sunset Sapphirine

 Below Left Lavender opal a pale blue purple really pretty
 Right Tranlucent Sky blue when it strikes( the bead) it becomes translucent. If it does not strike( the disk) it is a pretty sky blue both are nice

Not pictured Mossy Oak- deep green with hints of brown

Wisteria- a wonderful transparent blue purple

Hematite Lustre I think the best of the Lustres

They are moving fast too. So come on in and get yours before they are gone!

SO MUCH GLASS SO LITTLE TIME!!!!!

What happened to October?

See what happens when your Dream comes true.

You get busy -time flies when you are having fun- and a month slips away.
So before October is over I had better let you know what has been going on.

From the last blog post you see that the 1st flameworking class was taught on October 1 in the Studio.
The next week was spent getting settled in, double checking all systems and having a little alone time with my torch. Of course we had to have the annual Halloween bead class. Students learned about making pumpkins,witches hats, ghosts and some wicked hearts.

Then it was time to teach Beadmaking 1. I am teaching some Beadmaking 1classes on campus at the Southwest School of Art.
This time it was a Monday Tuesday class and I had the perfect two students. It was a small class but it allowed lots of time for extra beadmaking.

The Society of Artisan Lampworkers in San Antonio SALSA held their meeting at Dream Fire Glass Thursday the 13th of  October. Everyone enjoyed looking around the studio then settled in the torch room for the meeting and Fall bead exchange. The beads below were made by the following beadmakers
Mummy- Valerie Larson Lohr
Enameled Acorn- Jodi Wheeler
Yellow Skull- Leia Edmonds
Witch hat with flowers- Kim Freund
Fused bead-Nicole Vachier-Lozano
Amber leaf ribbed bead -Vicki Munie
Nubby acorn - Arleen Ritchie
Frit heart- Karen Erickson
Orange ribbed bead- Betty Munie
Fall Aster- Nina "Sam" Hibler

October 14th was Fiery Friday!
Yeah open torch is back and a good time was had by all.

Now getting up and setting up for the show the next morning was not as much fun.
Nicole and I had a booth at the St. Thomas Episcopal Church fair.
We sold lots of glass and had a great time visiting with friend who dropped by the booth.

The next weeks were a frenzy of ordering glass, tools, deliveries and stocking the shelves, open torch time for students and a little private torch time for me. Not to  mention a fun witches gathering.

Next was the San Antonio Glass Guild meeting at Valerie's horse stable/barn with a presentation by Vickie Munie on her horse beads and the inspiration behind them. We all huddled into the barn when the north wind started to howl. Member's munched burritos and horse enjoyed their hay. Vicki's presentation was wonderful. It was a great meeting!

So we are now up to date. All the new yummy glass rods are labeled and ready for you to buy.More on that next blog post.

The bracelet class today was fun as usual.
See what some of the students made.

 I'm hoping to get some torch time in next week. As you can see I was a bit busy doing and not posting. I promise to do better in November and post at least once a week.