These are the days....

These are the days I'm going to miss in the dead of winter. I love being able to move outside and work on my projects.
Here I'm doing some hammering, best done outside in any case, and my barrel is just the right height for me. The projects I'm working on are for some jewellery pieces that require some embossing. The funny juxtaposition of my fish "out of water"
next to my newly discovered bird's nest didn't escape me and I found myself creating "fish beads" on my torch and sterling silver wire nests with tiny blue pearls as eggs....a creative segue from my task of embossing.....
I'll post the glass fish when they come out of the kiln.....
By the way, note that in Kate's blog, (Art Vein Vessel) she also has posted her collection of nests....!

Catch up Week....

This was my week to get caught up on smaller projects. I started out ecstatic about the first few beads I made with my new torch, and then turned out more than a few "not so great" looking ones.....but determined not to walk away discouraged, kept at it until I had a few I was pleased with. Haven't taken those pics yet but I'll do that this weekend. I've been following Kate's blog
on her photography of all things green last week followed by orange this week and it reminded me of an entry I made last year of an interesting website about color, or more precisely paint pigments. Being a novice at blogging at the time I didn't think to put it in as a link, so I went back in time to do just that and I've listed it in "More interesting places to visit".

New Torch!!

I'd be embarrassed to tell you how long I've had my new torch (probably over two years) before I actually set it up this week.
I was sort of happy plodding along with my single fuel torch (a Hot Head) and have to say slightly intimidated by having
to introduce a 20 lb. oxygen tank to my workshop. Last summer I made the plunge to purchase an oxygen concentrator which takes the place of the dreaded 20 lb. tank. I feel much better now and EXCITED to see what I can do with this new set up.
I was told the learning curve was somewhat steep - but - not so much. I've tried out a few techniques and although it needs
some tweaking - I'M HAPPY! And actually I've heard similar stories from other glass workers who are having trouble deciding how much to become involved in this aspect of glass work. So my story is not that unusual. I'll post pictures later this week.
Must go play now......
OK - so now I've taken photos of the first few beads. The first group were my first few on this new torch set up. I had that sense of false confidence when I saw them. It was downhill after that. I was also new to using the reduction frits which have beautiful metallics when done correctly but are tricky until you know your torch settings well enough. It requires a reducing flame (fuel rich and lower in oxygen). The leaves were something I was never able to do without having them shatter because of the type of torch I was using before (the Hot Head). It simply wasn't hot enough. These photos don't do them justice as the clarity and color are even nicer. They are addictive so they should only improve with practice...

On my Easel This Morning

I always seem to have to paint flowers just before their bloom time. My hydrangea bushes have only started to hint at the flowers they'll produce this summer but these paintings have to be finished now. This one is nearing completion but is only one half of the diptych that I've planned. So far - so good on this half......
and here it is completed....the painting in reality does flow from left to right and matches up unlike in my photo where a slight
slant due to the canvas leaning a little differently makes it look otherwise. And just added a close up of the right panel with the chickadee....