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.

Fire - Good

It is with great JOY I am announcing
Dream Fire Glass Studio is complete.

The hood is installed and working beautifully.
The gas lines are installed, safety tested and delivering O2 and propane to the torches.

the lines before the "speed bump" is installed



Girly safety-no one will trip over that!



Gas Manifolds With Shut off valves-safety 1st

The table now has a top covered in stainless steel with the exception of the middle 2' x 1' section that will have a glass mosaic installed (once I get it done).

Putting the 5' x 10' table top on

The chairs now have a place to be.

The 1st class has been taught! Below is a video- hope it works!

Fiery Friday's are back on the schedule and Classes too
Come by and see the torchroom, sign up for a class/workshop,buy some glass-tools or just say hi.
Dream Fire Glass now has Fire!
Glass, Fire, Friends and Fun!

It's Here! The Hood!

The day we have all been waiting for the hood has arrived!
I spent the last week waiting and getting ready.It is finally here and it is now working!
Here is a quick peek at the fan-  "Big Bertha", "Ziggy" the duct work and the "Go Big or Go home" the hood


Fresh off the truck

 I'll post more about the final push on finishing the studio each day. But for now the HOOD!
Well and the fan too without that "it nova" That's no via really. I guess you have to live in South Texas for that one






Introducing "Big Bertha"

She's a big girl it took 2 men to hoist her up to the roof

dried in and ready to go- she's pretty

Now I think this part is really nice louvers that open when the fan is turned on. how smart is that?


 Now this next little part is "Ziggy" the zig we had to make around a structural beam. Kind of cute in a ductwork kind of way. Actually there were 2 Ziggy's as the 1st one was too tall.

The too Tall

Put them all together and you have a hood with lights and everything

Well that's it for tonight. We are still working away getting ready for the 1st class this Saturday.

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

Cover Girl who me?

What a surprise to open your email and find out there is an article about you in a magazine!
Yes I had done an interview in late July but I hadn't heard anything so I assumed not the right fit?
So I was surprised and excited when a fellow beadmaker emailed to say:
 "Hey, Sam, Got my Crafts Report the other day--love your article!!!!  Congratulations!"

I thought wow it really happened this is great! I still didn't know the "big news".
I wrote her back to ask about the issue and where she got it. That is when I found out:
" it's the October 2011 issue (and your dichro necklace is on the front cover!!!)."

Now I just about fell out of my chair. What a wonderful surprise! I haven't gotten a copy yet Crafts Report is sending me a couple. But I have now seen it! A fellow beadmaker posted it on the ISGB forum. I hope she doesn't mind that I snagged her scan.
Here it is.

As I like to say. Luck is just being prepared when opportunity knocks.

Thank you for knocking!

I feel like a Lucky girl!