Tuesday, I finally get back to the studio. One lucky thing is that I cleaned up a bit over the Christmas break, so there wasn't too much shuffling that had to be done. I'm working on some beads from my Ly-mon series and after a few beads, I have only one inch of glass of a certain color in my fingers. As someone who likes to see 10 fingers and 10 toes on myself, I decide to put the color down and search for more of that color. Argh! I appears I'm out of that color. I rush into my home and search there. (Yes, I have a stash of glass rod in my house, too.) Much to my dismay, there is zero of that color.
I move on. A few flat ribbish beads and another project (fake amethyst) done and I call it a night. It kills me that once I get motivated, I run out of glass. It might be time to organize my glass. (A project I'm not really looking to.)
It'll be interesting to see what happens when I return to the torch this Friday or Sunday night. I have about 30 pounds of glass that should be delivered next week.
Cheers all!
Thursday, January 26, 2006
Sunday, January 22, 2006
Sunday.... "If I had a Hammer" class
Today's class at Wired Design Studios was the "If I had a Hammer" class. It was a lot of fun. From the name, you should think, "If I had hammer, I bet that class has to deal with surface design." If you thought that, guess what, you'd be right on the money.
Our class turned out to be mostly an earring class. While that would disappoint most guys who don't have pierced ears, I was excited. One, I realize that the techniques I learned can be used on any type of metalsmithing I might focus on in the future. And, two, it forces me to begin to look at earrings differently. How can I change things up a bit in order to create nice looking jewelry. If you know my work, it is simple glass beads with silver findings. Now, my mind has been opened to look at silver with glass differently.
Look out world! New designs, new ideas, new products. A trilogy of happiness!
I would like to thank Gail, the instructor for both of the classes. I learned tons and you opened my mind. Even better, everyone I met at the studio was excellent. Some might attribute that to good-natured Texans. I say "Pah" to that. The staff absolutely loves glass and it appears that they enjoy passing along that love to anyone and everyone they can.
Our class turned out to be mostly an earring class. While that would disappoint most guys who don't have pierced ears, I was excited. One, I realize that the techniques I learned can be used on any type of metalsmithing I might focus on in the future. And, two, it forces me to begin to look at earrings differently. How can I change things up a bit in order to create nice looking jewelry. If you know my work, it is simple glass beads with silver findings. Now, my mind has been opened to look at silver with glass differently.
Look out world! New designs, new ideas, new products. A trilogy of happiness!
I would like to thank Gail, the instructor for both of the classes. I learned tons and you opened my mind. Even better, everyone I met at the studio was excellent. Some might attribute that to good-natured Texans. I say "Pah" to that. The staff absolutely loves glass and it appears that they enjoy passing along that love to anyone and everyone they can.
San Antonio
I am in San Antonio, TX for the weekend to attend a few classes in simple metalsmithing. Saturday's class is in setting and soldering. Sunday's class is in surface design and creating jewelry without solder.
The classes are being held at a studio called Wired Design Studios. It is located in a part of San Antonio called "Artist's Alley," a collection of small studios and shops that showcase art, fashion and craft from around the San Antonio area. Visit the various studios and shops found throughout the complex if you're in town. You'll enjoy yourself.
The class was great. The instructor Gail is patient, knowledgable and is a great teacher. In the Saturday class we learned basic soldering techniques, creating a bezel and setting stones in the bezel. Woohoo!!!! A piece of the puzzle has been demystified and I'm so excited about the future of my work.
On a separate note, I also visited a friend from college in Austin. I met his two children and spent time chatting with he and his wife. It is refreshing to see the awe in a child's eye when they see handmade art. The honest reaction from one of the children reminds me of why I am doing this.
Next, a review the "If I had a Hammer" class.
The classes are being held at a studio called Wired Design Studios. It is located in a part of San Antonio called "Artist's Alley," a collection of small studios and shops that showcase art, fashion and craft from around the San Antonio area. Visit the various studios and shops found throughout the complex if you're in town. You'll enjoy yourself.
The class was great. The instructor Gail is patient, knowledgable and is a great teacher. In the Saturday class we learned basic soldering techniques, creating a bezel and setting stones in the bezel. Woohoo!!!! A piece of the puzzle has been demystified and I'm so excited about the future of my work.
On a separate note, I also visited a friend from college in Austin. I met his two children and spent time chatting with he and his wife. It is refreshing to see the awe in a child's eye when they see handmade art. The honest reaction from one of the children reminds me of why I am doing this.
Next, a review the "If I had a Hammer" class.
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
Neat little gadget - non glass post :)
I haven't been creating my own artwork lately, yet I have been teaching glasses and helping other glass artists. One of the artists now has a new website. Check it out at Kimangers.com.
This shows my true Silicon Valley roots..... Technology. In that same ilk, I found a neat little gadget that I thought I'd post up here. There are plenty of small transmitter type devices for mp3 players and iPods. I currently do not have any type of mp3 player, so I was looking for something that could suit my desire to playback mp3s from my collection and then, when I get a player, would function as my little radio transmitter thingy-ma-bob.
Enter the i-Rocks FM transmitter. On the surface, it looks kind of bulky and white. Look a little closer...... Do you see the USB connection? That connection is for any standard USB thumbdrive. Load that thumbdrive with mp3s and voila! You now have a simple mp3 player. It also has support for the standard mini connection for an mp3 player. If you are like me, mp3 player-less, and have a ton of spare USB thumbdrives, then this device is for you.
Now, I really need to get back to the studio.....
This shows my true Silicon Valley roots..... Technology. In that same ilk, I found a neat little gadget that I thought I'd post up here. There are plenty of small transmitter type devices for mp3 players and iPods. I currently do not have any type of mp3 player, so I was looking for something that could suit my desire to playback mp3s from my collection and then, when I get a player, would function as my little radio transmitter thingy-ma-bob.
Enter the i-Rocks FM transmitter. On the surface, it looks kind of bulky and white. Look a little closer...... Do you see the USB connection? That connection is for any standard USB thumbdrive. Load that thumbdrive with mp3s and voila! You now have a simple mp3 player. It also has support for the standard mini connection for an mp3 player. If you are like me, mp3 player-less, and have a ton of spare USB thumbdrives, then this device is for you.
Now, I really need to get back to the studio.....
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