Seattle - Portland

Finally after weeks of preparation and hard work the packages were shipped and the final bags were packed. There was a mad dash for the airport and then I could relax. If it hadn't been done it was not going to get done if it wasn't packed it wasn't going and there was no use worrying about it.

Nicole of Glass Touch and I said goodbye to hot and muggy! Hello rain and cool nights.
We are off on a glass adventure. 1st stop Seattle and Leslie's house. Some how at my age saying you are crashing at a friend house seem strange but that is exactly what we were doing. the flight got in so late it just didn't make sense to get a hotel room and seeing Leslie was a real treat.

In the morning we had a wonderful breakfast with Bacon!










Then it was time to hit the road for Portland. there were a few side trips on the way. One for all the supplies for my class at the Gathering.

the next was just for the sights. the lilacs were done blooming but wow the hydrangeas were beautiful.
The destination was Bullseye Glass in Portland to pick up the donated glass for the class.

With that taken care of we headed for the next "pad to crash in" We had a fantastic glass studio to stay in and a great 4 legged hostess who only required a walk, some throwing of the ball in the park and a bunny treat or two.
I will try to blog as much as I can this trip to make up for the long silence.....................in July.
We have a fantastic tour guide  here in Portland and she is showing us the sights, the camera has a huge SD card and I will have wi fi and moment or two here and there to share the fun.

Under The Sea

I hardly ever go to the beach. I don't scuba dive but I seem to have a need to make sea creatures in glass.
Whether they are floating around in a tide pool bead or sculpted in the flame I keep making sea creatures. What's up with that?
Maybe I secretly wish I was swimming in the cool water with them instead of sweltering in this heat.
I finished these little fishes, sea urchins and starfish to show students what they will be making in the upcoming Under the Sea classes  at WUB in Southlake/ Grapevine Texas in September, McAllen Stainglass McAllen TX in October and sometime here at Dream Fire Glass.

More on what  I've been up to next week. Right now there are more deadlines and commitments to get done

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!

Deadlines and Commitments

Deadlines and Commitments that is what I have been up to this last week.
In my last post I admitted to putting off finalizing my Power Point for the ISGB Gathering.
After thinking about it and planning and getting the photographs ready( there is one below) .

Murrini and the inspiration

I got the 1st part of my ISGB Gathering presentation in the mail. My son helped me get everything looking good. He added the bells and whistles to make it pop. I say the 1st part because the second part will be filmed there. There are a few more deadlines this week and then I will be back at the torch from now until the Gathering. So many beads that need to be made!
Short a sweet this blog entry!

Oh Frit

I have been making Frit beads like a woman possessed
You know how sometimes you do something very productive just to avoid doing something else you really need to get done? Well I think I'm avoiding finalizing my Gathering Presentation. Or maybe just trying to beat the heat and get some beads made. Whatever it is I have certainly gotten some Frit beads made.

It was on my list of things to do..........about 200 beads in all.
It does show off what the Bullseye frit blends I have been making look like!

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.

More Murrini

Time flies when your having fun - yeah right - time flies no matter what! So I haven't posted in a while.I was busy with the doing and not the talking about it.
 Luminaria happened. I got downtown late after teaching class so Glass alley was going strong. SAGAG members were showing beautiful glass. Larry West and his crew was blowing glass.The Brother's of the Flame were dancing with fire. The SALSA members where busy making beads so I thought I'd do something a little different.We were on Hot Heads and the wind was blowing. That is my protect the public from flying glass screen. It helps a bit with the wind too.

I made a bunch of small sculptures,strange flowers, birds in tree's and such. I knew at the end of the night they would go in the trash  but sometimes it is just in the creating that is the art.

Now back to the Murrini I made about 7 different combinations so far and I am really liking what they do on a bead. They have a reptilian feel to them an other worldly reptilian so I'm calling them Dragon eye murrini.

I've also been making these earrings with the dragon eye beads. I like they way they look.