Lampworking--Phase 2

Phase 2--Kiln (check), torch (check), fan for cross ventilation (check), couple of tools (check).  Need more stainless sheet.  Ace, here I come!

You HAD to know THIS was coming!

I'm building a new lampwork glass studio in half of my office.  Here's Phase1.  Table.  Exhaust will go out the right hand window over the table and torch.  Replacement air will come in from just behind me, the sliding glass door from my atrium.  Everything is ordered, except the window fan.  You'll see a step-by-step build, kind of while it happens.  

Catching Up

It's been awhile since I've posted.  Started a new hobby.  Well....it's really an old hobby that I quit a few years ago and have recently been thinking about going back to.  While on San Juan Island and for a couple of years here in Tucson, I made glass beads.  They're called "lampwork" beads and are little works of art.  Well, some are.  It turns out that you should never leave your art behind.  It's been a drill trying to catch up to where I was a few years ago. 

Luckily, Tucson has Sonoran Glass School which now rents torch time.  Works GREAT for me.  No studio to set up.  No possibility of blowing up my house.  No outlay of a few thousand dollars (again).  Plus, it's a great environment with so much going on all the time.  I love it!  And yes, I'll be showing my work one of these days.  

In the meantime, I'll leave you with a card I just made for my sis-in-law who finishes her chemo and radiation tomorrow!  It's been a long drill and really tough for her.  I hope she finds the card a pleasant little thing.  

SNOW

I just love it when it snows here in Tucson.  It's rare.  Was really beautiful at midnight, when I did not take any photos.  Still pretty on our walk this morning.  This photo is the best I could manage in my back yard. 

Christmas Past

Hi:  I haven't posted for a while.  Leading up to Christmas, I was under a shipping deadline to finish a "book" for my brother, Art.  I DID ship on time, but the post office didn't cooperate.  His and Lexie's gifts arrived one day after Christmas.  Sigh.  Moral of the story, get it done early.

This was a fun box to make, so I thought I'd share it with you.  All kinds of paper, lining, stamping, inking, embellishments etc.  Lots of hours in this thing!

For those curious about the photos, there's Lexie, Art and Mom at their wedding.  Art and I in much younger days...Mom too.  Plus Jerry and I at our wedding.  

Fun to make!  I'm planning a similar effort soon.

Happy New Year!!!  Stay safe!

Cover:

Inside:

Pillows

Two more pillow boxes.  I think they are the prettiest yet. 

Pillow Boxes

These are so much fun to make.  The die that I use to cut them also creases them where they need to be folded.  Before I fold, I ink, stain etc.  These aren't finished.  They still need embellishments and tags, not to mention, something inside.