Got a package. Wanna open it with me?

box 

Since i only torch part time, I don’t get to order glass supplies very often.  But when i do it’s soooooooo exciting when the package finally arrives – almost like Christmas!

Now this particular box is four, yes FOUR months late in arriving (don’t ask) so my emotions are a bit mixed: on one hand i’m like a kid in a candy store cuz i just LOVE getting new glass stuff but at the same time i’m extremely ticked that it took this long to arrive.  aaahh well, time to move on.  (sigh)

Let’s open this sucker up!

Open box

oooo… styrofoam, exciting stuff that.  i’ve got a garbage bag full of these bits in the basement cuz i can’t bring myself to throw them out.  reduce, reuse, recycle, right? (or am i kidding myself?)

Dots, dots, dots book

I didn’t order this, the supplier sent it as an apology for being so late with the shipment.  What do you think, should i accept the apology?  (And i wonder how they knew my dots suck?)

alabastro rods

Look at those rods.  Aren’t they scrumptious?  i keep stroking them, they’re so delicious i almost want to lick them.  my imagination is going wild thinking of all the cool things i’ll do with them… They’re a special type of Italian glass called alabastro – supposed to give a translucent effect similar to alabaster.  (duh?) Sounds fantastic doesn’t it? 

reaming bits & cubic zirconias

some longer bead reamers (yay!) and square cubic zirconias.cubic zirconias

I can’t wait to try these.  the trick is to embed them in the glass without causing the bead to crack – sorta like a faux diamond.  sparkly glass and diamonds.  can a girl ask for more? 

  Corina Spotlights

These Corina Spotlights are classic technique booklets in the lampworking community. I’ve heard great things about them and after a quick run through i’m quite impressed at how much information is stuffed in those few pages.  I hope she starts making them again…

silver wire

30 gauge fine silver wire. crap. i forgot i’d purchased these and ordered a pile from somewhere else last month.

stringer control dvd

Haven’t watched this dvd yet, but lots of people recommend it on the forums.  You’ll be able to judge for yourselves over the next few weeks if it really does help me improve my stringer control…

alabastro rods side view

just another gratuitous alabastro rod shot.  side view this time, just cuz i love them so much.  i tell ya, completely, utterly, deliciously lickable…

Contemporary Lampworking

This is a highly recommended, two-volume collection of probably everything i’ll ever need to know about lampworking.  I quickly scanned through both volumes and there’s such great info it’ll be a while before i get fully through them.

black nebula frit

one last thing…some boutique silver glass frit.  cuz really i can’t justify paying $100/lb for glass rods (yet).  If i can get this to do its magic, maybe then i’ll reconsider…

gratuitous kitten shot

and just cuz i can, a random kitten shot.  That’s my kitty Busta.  He’s just so cute – dumb as post and worst hygiene of any cat i have ever owned but still so darned adorable i can’t help but love him to death.

It’s Black History Month!

I attended the Black History Month launch events at Parliament Hill where there was one of the most detailed displays of the 400+ years of Canadian Black History i’d ever had the pleasure of seeing.  It was scheduled to travel across Canada for the month of February and is now also available online at the Virtual Musuem of Canada. 

(Click the picture below to get to the link)

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Ode to Effetre Copper Green

Ode to Copper Green 

Copper green, you are my bane

Copper green, you’re driving me insane!

You spit, you pit, you crack, you shock

Mixing you with certain colours just makes icky schlock

I love you! Why can’t you love me back?

Why must each turn in the flame coat you with gunky black?

I know i can etch you but i want you to shine

and avoid using chemicals that reek worse than turpentine

You’re pale green in the rod, so light, so pretty

But when you come out of the kiln you’re a weirdly deep, bluish verdigris??

Wassup with that, you crazy colour?

You make me want to scream and holler!

You’re making me late with my custom order

The fuglies you’ve given make me want to scream bloody murder!

I start out each time thinking i’ve found just the right blend

then incompatibility, weird colour reactions – you’re driving me off the deep end!

And then just when i think i’ve conquered your tricks

What’s that i hear?  Oh noooo, it’s cracking! “snick”

You screwed me, so now i must start again

I hate you! i hate you! you’re no longer my friend!

Oh, I’m kidding, I still love you.  I just needed to vent

Let’s go dance in the flame once more seeking mutual contentment…

© ShebaMakeda Glass Art

😉

These quizzes are fun timewasters…

STEAK, originally uploaded by NicnBill.

  • i’m 52% likely to eat my friends if starving in a blizzard (frankly i’m surprised it’s not higher)
  • i could take on a mere 16 five year olds in a fight
  • my dead body is worth $3990 (that’s it???)
  • i only have a 30% chance of surviving a zombie apocalypse
  • i’m 45% geek (no duh?)
  • i’m only 36% effective as a human shield
  • and i only have a 12% chance of surviving a crash landing on the moon.  

Completely hilarious, try ’em yourself:  http://www.justsayhi.com/bb

Tales from the torch: Jan. 26th/08

Results from my last few torch sessions – a goddess and two pendants for a couple custom orders:

Hades GoddessHades goddess back

Hades Goddess:  (sold) Sometimes simple is best.  This is just black glass and silver leaf passed through a reduction flame to bring out the iridescence.  I had originally planned to tart her up with some frit and a latticino or two but once i reached this stage, i realized she’s perfect just as is.

Tempest leftTempest right

Tempest:  (sold)  Ever been on the beach during a thunderstorm?  As the wind rises and the sea slams against the cliffs, the water, foam, seaweed and sand all swirl together wildly. And if you’re lucky enough to find a good vantage point, you can enjoy this spectacle of nature from a safe distance but still be close enough to feel the salty spray hit your skin with each crashing wave…

Almond Blossom leftalmond blossom right

Spring Bloom:  My first serious attempt at a traditional raised floral.   Every single colour is custom blended – from the base to the premade latticino’s used for the branches and the flowers.  The branches have a bit of sparkle as i used green adventurine in the twist, then i reduced the bead lightly at the base to give it some depth.  A lot of work but i’m pretty happy with how it turned out.

And if you think it looks familiar, you’re right.  It’s inspired by Vincent van Gogh’s 1890 painting Almond Blossom.