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

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The Gift of Time Together

To continue the theme of whats under your Christmas tree.
Sometimes the presents won't fit under the tree like a beadmaking class for your family and a friend. Last week a friend gave her family the gift of a beadmaking class and a bracelet class the next day. They made their very 1st beads and I annealed them. The next day they made bracelets using their beads. Pretty cool way to show off your 1st beads
Check out Tangerine Tabby's blog from the 22nd to see the results.
What a fun way to spend time together as a family.

Christmas Day 2011

What's under your Christmas tree?

I know there are some happy people wearing their gifts this holiday.
This lovely necklace is now owned by the the wonderful woman who owned the first gallery my work was accepted displayed and sold in. I am so glad she is the owner of this necklace. I know it has a good home and will be worn and loved by someone who really appreciates glass.

Another necklace that found a happy home this holiday is this gypsy heart.

Whether is was glass or something else I hope you found your heart desire this year!
Merry Christmas and Happy holidays
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.

Dia de los Muertos

The Day of the Dead is not just one day it is 3 days.
It is a time to remember our loved ones who have passed on.
Honor their memory leave them a little something special maybe even build a little alter.
I think about the things I would put on my loved ones alters.
For my Mom a glass of white wine in a crystal  glass, some chocolate, lipstick and a warm wool blanket from Scotland. I know she would enjoy these things. For my friend Diane piles of chocolate,cookie cutters, a fiesta hat and Christmas decorations these are a few of the things she loved..I'll stop there because I don't want to bring you down.
I never get around to building those alters where you can see them but every year I build them in my heart.

I did spend one of those 3 days making glass sugar skulls. I call these Happy Skulls
I mean look at them they are happy! I took the pictures below while they were still on the mandrels.
There are the ones I call poke eye girl/boy. These are truly inspired by the phrase I'd rather poke a stick in my eye. You know we have all had those days.

Then there are the eyelash girls some with the traditional flowers others with bows and the boys well they wouldn't be mine if there wasn't a spider somewhere.

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!!!!!