Sundays Class- Vessels

I wish I had pictures of the finished product! But they were still in the kiln when I left WUB.

These are similar to what we were learning.

First we made latticino and reticello and made that into a stopper saving a little more for decorating out vessels.

Like this:














Erika's perfect hollow

 The next step is to practice building our hollows.

 Now making the cane and working on hollows was fun but we needed a little break to blow bubbles of a different kind before we got down to blowing vessels.

Everyone make a couple of vessels and we wrapped up the day with a demo of
"fancier" stoppers

More Classes at WUB

Saturday Morning we got to see the beads everyone made in the Fiesta bead class on Friday. All the beads were gorgeous. We soaked a few in Sparex to remove the fire scale from the turquoise. I use CLR at home but Wired Up Beads teaches metal classes and so there is a pot of "pickle" ready to go. I wish I had the after picture of Babette's bead(front right) it is beautiful turquoise now.




I think Myrt liked the class!

Saturdays class was all about the fish! Well we did throw in a few sea urchins and starfish too but it was all about the fish. There are no bad beads only potential fish and the best thing is you just can't mess up a fish. The things that "ruin" a bead only make a fish .............well fishier

WE had a real treat during lunch not only did we get yummy food but Patti gave us an impromptu lesson on using some of her Wubber tools. I am working on getting her to come and teach at Dream Fire to teach!

Then it was time to get back to "frying fish"

This one doesn't seem to mind his tail being on fire!

Here is the fish I left behind as a thank you to WUB








The day wasn't over yet. The Grapevine Bead Society meeting was at Wired Up beads that night and they ask me to demo. Fishy eye murrini or maybe they were monster eye murrini for next months GBS challenge.

Fiesta Beads at WUB

Friday was Fiesta Bead Class at Wired Up Beads. I had a great bunch of students and we made some awesome beads. Hopefully I'll have some pictures soon!
Ginny H even got to sit down at a torch and have some fun.
More later on the WUB trip.

Road Trip Day One

All I can say is the trip to Dallas was not fun! It was a perilous journey fraught with blinding rain, flooded roads, really scary lighting and engine trouble. The normal drive up 281 is beautiful and easy. It was until I got to Marble Falls. I was planning on getting gas there and as I topped the hill at Round Mountain the sky over Marble Falls was dark and you could see the wall of rain. Darn it pumping gas even in a covered gas station I got really wet from the rain was blowing in the bay. Then there was the lighting it made you wonder how smart it is to be pumping gas when lighting is striking all around you. I called my friend Denise and ask her to pull up the radar and see what I was driving into. A Big red cell on the radar!
About the north side of Burnett the rain was coming down so hard you couldn't see but a few car length in from of me  20 -40 MPH was as fast as you could go. There was no place to pull over and to add to the fun my check engine light came on- GREAT. So I crawled along with the flashers on from Burnett to Lampasas. At that point I was glad there was a Ford dealership in Lampasas because smoke was pouring out of the engine compartment. YEAH- Getting from the car to the dealership door I was soaked. After an hour and a half in the waiting room at the dealership the mechanic came in with a piece of metal and said" you are going to need this when you get the car fixed"
WHAT THE........ a bearing had gone out on a clip in the back of the engine  - clip that opens and closes the intake manifold but I still had one and they were confident I could drive around with one till I get home. The smoke was all the water from the road on the hot engine lovely.
Back on the road.............more really bad rain and storms.........then sunshine then storms.
Finally after passing a few spun out cars in Dallas I made it! Looking like a drowned rat but in one piece

Today is the Fiesta Bead Call as WUB.Wired UP Beads

First week of September

September seed pods

How does the time slip away so fast? For anyone with children the answer is easy. No matter where they are in their lives or how old they are they need you. This time of year is dedicated to getting those kiddo's to school. Most of them are settling into the first week of school and we are all trying to find a routine.
Right now I am actually longing for a routine. A day to day routine when things are planned and executed. What is that saying "man plans and the gods laugh"? Yep they think I am hysterical .

Fall is time to do "The Texas Teaching Tour" It is time to head both North and South Texas to visit some mighty fine studios. I will be in Dallas-Grapevine area /Southlake Texas this next weekend teaching at Wired Up Beads check out their web site to see the classes offered. I am hoping to have a little trunk show at a friends house in Dallas Monday and Tuesday before I head back to San Antonio.

I won't be home long because it will be time to turn the car South and to McAllen where I will be teaching at McAllen Stain Glass .

I will back long enough to teach agroup of Houston Hotties a Dichroic glass Class!

I need to get the camera out and take more pictures. Well that's it for today it is time to get ready for Fiery Friday at the studio.

Running off to Vegas

No I'm already Married....so I'm not running off to Vegas to get married.
Yes it does involved one of the other loves in my life GLASS.
I'm going to Las Vegas to Teach at Glass Craft Expo.
Here is my class line up

Wednesday March 28th Juicy Berries

Thursday March 29th  Twist and Shout -Full but there is a waiting list

Friday March 30th Happy Skulls/Dia de los Muertos

Saturday March 31 Fiesta Beads

Dream Fire Glass Studio will be closed March 25-April 3 while I'm gone. Being a Mom and Pop business sometimes you just have to put out the "gone teaching" sign. You still have a few days to drop in and pick up anything you need to get you through the week I'm gone.
I am hoping to bring back some exciting new things for the studio.
Dichroic noodles are on the list in both COE's lots of clear ones.
We will see what else I can stuff in my suitcase.

Look out I'm going to Vegas Baby!

Bullseye, Carlisle and Jen-Ken Thank you

You may already know that I am teaching 4 classes  at the Glass Craft Expo in Vegas this March.
I have been to Glass Craft Expo and assisted in some fusing classes but I have not taught a flame working class there.
So it is really my 1st year teaching at Glass Craft Expo. So I had a little learning curve. Each instructor is responsible for their own glass, kilns and torch set ups. The 1st call I made was to Jen-Ken  to get Chili-Pepper kilns for my classroom. Thank you Jen-Ken. Next on the list was my favorite Bullseye glass rods.They are sending all the glass we'll need for my classes. Thank you Bullseye But I was missing one important item TORCHES.
This week the phone rang and the caller ID said Carlisle I literally answered the phone "Oh I'm so glad you called I really need to talk to you". So now I have my torches for the classroom set up and all! Thank you Carlisle.

Vegas list is done!
Plane tickets - check
Room - check
Glass - check

Kilns-check

Lovely assistant- check

Torches check

Students - check
Ready set go!
I can sleep better now that Glass Craft Expo is all taken care of.

Back from Road Trip II



Headed North on 281- a pretty drive

 Yes there are miles and miles of TEXAS and this month I have driven from one end to the other! Far North and Deep South.

I got back on Monday from the road trip to Dallas/Southlake. Teaching at Wired Up Beads was fun! The students were great and good time was had by all. They made lots of sparkly beads (Thank you CBS Dichroic glass) and have some pretty cool buttons to show for it too. Everyday was an adventure in glass.
I got to spend time with Patti Bullard the owner of WUB. We always have fun and lots of laughter.
I even got to go to puppy class with Patti and her new Corgi puppy Tank. Nothing better than a sweet little puppy. I attended the Grapevine Bead Societies meeting and did a demo on halloween beads a bat and a pumpkin.
I know where are the picture? Well the camera is having issues and I can only take about 12 shots before I have to download them. I left the camera dock at home and well that meant no more pictures.

Maybe one of the students will send me some pictures they took and I'll post later.
Look I have some pictures Thank you Micheale

Bobbie's 1st beads ever!

Andi's little tiny cane bundle

Erika making a big bead!



Michaele looking good marvering




Myrt making twisted cane




Yep me with my month open



There is a lot going on at the Studio this week. The torch room is under final construction. Table, gas lines, the hood all being installed. I'll post more tomorrow. If the inspectors approve everything we will be having an October Fiery Friday! Now that is exciting.

Great Students fun Classes

The road trip to McAllen was great!
McAllen Stain Glass is beautiful. The wonderful and talented Yoli Cantu is the owner. She recently received the Art Glass Associations Stained Glass retailer of the year award. See for yourself it is a beautiful store and gallery.



Yoli designed and made this



The formal Gallery

The Student's and I in the retail area with my trunk show

Friday night was the art walk and we had a steady flow of people walking in the galleries and enjoying the entertainment. Nicole was working away selling my beads and jewelry while I demo'ed making beads. Thank you Nicole!

The student were great and they made some pretty little beads on those Hot Head torches.

Bead One class

Showing Liz the tricks of making a puffy heart

Ana took both days and made some good looking beads

Now after teaching the evenings were filled with great food, good wine and time with friends. There was chocolate too! I love traveling and teaching.

I also love teaching at home in my brand new studio. The 1st official class was this Saturday Bangles bracelets. This class was offered through the NEISD adult education program. I haven't taught a jewelry class in a long time and I had forgotten how much fun they are.
I had great students who were eager to make something pretty. They learned how to make their own chain using simple links and how to attach lampwork beads and charms - I call them bangles and dangles.
When the class was over they went home with a proud smile wearing their new jewelry they made themselves!
Look at a couple of the bracelets they made!

Karen B

Sylvie D

Lampwork beads by Sam

I will definitely include this class as a regular offering.

The next trip is this next weekend to Dallas/Southlake TX I'll be teaching at Wired Up Beads another lovely studio. Can't wait !

For another perspective on the McAllen trip see Nicole's Blog
McAllen pictures by Nicole

Road Trip(s)

September is a road trip month.

The 1st trip is September 2-4 to McAllen Texas down in the Valley.
Friday is their 1st Friday Art Walk in McAllen. I'll be participating.
Then I will be teaching Beadmaking I and II on Saturday and Sunday at Yoli's studio.
McAllen Stainglass is located in the most beautiful Art Village. Yoli and her studio were featured in Art Glass magazine this July/August issue.
Nicole Lozano of Glass Touch will be coming with me to assist just in case I need and extra pair of hands .

Don't worry if you need to drop by the Studio in San Antonio my Son or Hubby will be there to assist you on Friday September 2 and Saturday September 3.

The next trip is September 16-18 to Wired Up Beads in Southlake TX that is in the Dallas Forth Worth area.I will be teaching a Sparkle and Bling class on dichroic glass Friday and Saturday then a cool Button class on Sunday.

Wired Up Beads studio

Now if you are going to need any glass or supplies while I'm away this trip please come by Dream Fire Glass Studio early as it will be closed Thursday September 15th through the weekend. From time to time the studio will be close to accommodate my traveling teacher schedule. To make sure you are in the loop please sign up for the newsletter by clicking on link on the top right of the blog. This will allow you to sign up to get emails from me about the studio and  special announcements.