Glass Classes Update

Thought I'd update you on how my glassblowing classes went. They were really fun but truthfully the heat was hard to get used to. I think with more regular exposure I'd eventually get used to it. Although it's never something I'd want to do in the summer... so I'm probably not ever going to turn into a full fledged glassblower.

Here are pictures of four paperweights I made (2 clear and 2 blue).

And here is the first glass I made.

I have a few more items that I made which are still at the studio and unfortunately some of what I made was lost in the shuffle of so many people moving and removing pieces from the annealer (which is like a kiln where you leave the hot glass to cool slowly so it doesn't shatter).

I'm really happy I tried it, thanks for the great birthday gift hubby!

So much to catch you up on...

Because of this month's mini blog hiatus I feel like I have tons crafty things to catch you up on.

I guess it's really not all that much since with everything going on I haven't been crafting much, but still I feel like after being away from the blog for a few weeks so much has happened.

Like the fact that I took my fist glassblowing class!!!

If you've been reading for a while you know that I've been flirting with glassblowing, taking some workshops when I can, but have really wanted to take some real classes. So as an early birthday gift hubby got me a few private lessons.

Day one seemed long, a little overwhelming, intimidating, tiring and hot (really hot) but I guess that's all to be expected. Afterwards though- I've been thinking both how fun it was, and that I can't wait to go back for class two!

First I watched as my teacher made a simple elegant paperweight. I had made one before in my first workshop so the steps seemed familiar. He also showed me two variations that were aimed towards using the most common tools in a few different ways.

Then it was my turn. I proceeded to make my way through three small paperweights, all in varying states of misshapen lumpiness.

The first was horrible, illustrating perfectly exactly how much of a hand the workshop instructors really take to be sure you end up with a presentable piece.

The second was going really well- until I tried to perfect a few problem areas. I can't be sure until I go back to see it cool- but I think I made it worse.

The third- using color this time was probably the best one.

Then I blew a sphere to practice starting a bubble.

And finally to end the day I made a drinking glass!

Which I still can't believe I was able to make. My teacher had a heavy hand in it, but I was still in control on a lot of the steps and I can't believe it turned out that well.

For the next few lessons I'll be practicing cups and other vessels. Each time having less help from the instructor until I can finally make the entire piece on my own.

I can't wait to see how everything turned out once it cooled. Keep your fingers crossed that nothing cracked or shattered!

(And thanks to hubby for taking all the great pictures.)

How to Etch Glass- Part 1

Etching glass is easier than you might think. The techniques aren't hard and the materials are relatively cheap. But I'm warning you- it's a bit addicting! Once you try it, you'll be etching every piece of glass in site!

I was first introduced to etching back in art school and have been making pieces ever since using the same product. It's not a commercial for them... it's really the only product I've ever seen in the craft store to do this with, and it's what I know.

Armour Etch is an acid etch, which works just like it sounds and acid essentially eats away at just enough of the surface of the glass to frost it permanently. This product is a cream and is sold at most craft stores. (I believe the same company also makes an acid bath that you dip glass into- but the cream has always been perfect for the types of projects I do.)

Tip: There is also another method of frosting patterns into glass called sand blasting. It works better for larger areas and produces a deeper etch. I've only ever used the acid cream so I don't have a basis for comparison... but If you're interested in sandblasting I know there are relatively inexpensive starter kits for hobby crafters all the way up to very expensive

machines for professionals.

The easiest way to start an etching project is to use a stencil.

You can buy glass stencils, or make your own using a die cut machine and some vinyl. But I think the very easiest (and cheapest) way to try glass etching out is to use something you probably already have laying around your craft room-

A paper punch and some tape.

This makes a perfect stencil for a beginner project, with barely any investment.

I'm getting a jump on Halloween (yes... I really do start Halloween in August) so I'm using a spider design on a small "potion" bottle.

To make the stencil I apply strips of making tape to wax paper and put it into my puncher.

You'll get something that doesn't look too clean, but don't worry! Carefully peel the wax paper and tape apart and you'll usually find the tape has punched just fine.

Now apply your stencil to your clean glass. Once I've cleaned the glass I actually wear surgical gloves while handling the glass at every stage (until using the acid at which point I wear heavy rubber gloves).

Make sure your stencil is stuck down really well. I usually rub the edges extra with something hard like the back of a paint brush to be sure they're stuck down really well.

At this point you're ready to etch.

Tip: There are lot's of directions on the manufacturers container about how to safely handle this product. Remember it's an acid- I always where thick rubber gloves and eye protection. Please take working with this product seriously and follow the manufacturer's guidelines.

Use a brush to apply the cream to the areas you want to etch. Even using a thick coat of the cream it still goes a really long way. You can make many, many, many projects from just one bottle.

Now you wait for the acid to do it's work. This is where I've found a little experimenting is needed. Personally, I haven't had good results leaving this product the amount of time suggested. I don't know why, but I always have to leave it on longer (Sometimes up to 16 minutes). I've tried using different cleaners on the glass and that doesn't seem to make a difference. (I always make a test piece though and try etching swatches at different times, starting with the suggested time and increasing from there.)

Once the cream has been on long enough, rinse and clean according to the manufacturer's directions and you'll have a gorgeous permanently etched piece of glass!

I hope you give this a try.

I have another project I'm working on using a different method for creating an etched design. I'll be posting that later this week.

I wasn't keeping a secret... it was just a flirtation.

Dear Blog,

We've had an open honest relationship. I didn't mean to not tell you about this, it's just that other things came up. Other crafts stole my attention away and then it seemed silly to tell you about something that happened so long ago. Besides it was just a flirtation, nothing serious.

The second time... uh, well...

I didn't know how to tell you since I hadn't told you about the first time yet.

But I swear it won't happen again. I'll come clean and tell you everything.

I have continued my flirtation with glassblowing and taken two more workshops, pumpkins and ornaments.

I really loved getting the chance to work with glass again. Every time I'm around it I want to try more techniques and the feeling that I want to take a long term class gets stronger. I've even found myself looking at hand blown glass more often in the store, not as something I'd like to purchase but looking at the techniques it took to make it.

I think I've always had a thing for glass... this might be more serious than I thought.

My 1st ever glass creation!

It's heeeeeeere! Ok, well actually it was here last week but I struggled with getting any decent pictures of the paperweight. It's very smooth, very reflective, and the colors are pretty translucent so I'll warn you right now, the pictures aren't the greatest.

I came home for lunch each day last week hoping it would arrive. On Thursday I got to the driveway and I could see the box sitting on the porch (I almost skipped to the house I was so excited).

But was a little scared when I saw this

But thankfully the glass was packed really well, inside this box was packing material, then another box. Inside that box were the two glass pieces each in their own box and more packing material.

This is the ornament my sister made.

I love how she got that strong swirl all the way around.

Here is my paperweight

Like I said the pictures aren't the best, but I tried to shoot it from a few angles and with different lighting so the colors would show.

I love the colors, and I'm happy with the amount of bubbles (I tried not to get too many in there).

It's such a funny thing to make an object with your hands but have no idea what it's going to look like until it's sent to you.

I can't believe I actually made this- I've always wanted to work with glass and although I didn't do any of the hard parts (I got the fun easy tasks) I'm happy to have been in a working studio, near the equipment and to have manipulated the molten glass.

After this experience I have to confess that I'm smitten with the idea of getting some actual instruction in glassblowing. I think it'll be a while before I take a class or anything (at least a year or more) because it's hard to find a place that teaches it (less than a few hours away, that is) and it's pretty expensive (at least from what I've seen so far).

I'm feeling a little bit like I might need to make a decision between getting a spinning wheel and learning to work with glass. Each is an investment in both time and money. And I'm just not sure I could realistically do both.

If you missed my first post on glassblowing be sure to check it out.

Glassblowing in Newport

This weekend my mom, sister and I went to Newport for my Mom's birthday. We saw the mansions

This is the breakers the largest of all the Newport mansions.

took in the gorgeous ocean views on the cliff walk

and did a little shopping. While walking along Thames street (which has a lot of nice little shops and places to eat) we found this amazing glassblowing studio that lets you take a lesson.

I've always, always wanted to try glassblowing. While I was in college it was offered but at only one time slot during spring semester. Each year I would put it on my schedule only to be forced to drop it because it conflicted with a class I had to take for my major. Almost 8 years later and I finally, finally got to try my hand at working with glass!

I was so excited when I signed up and wasn't disappointed- in less than an hour the instructor was putting my paperweight into the annealer (oven used to cool glass slowly so it doesn't crack).

The lesson is really designed so that the instructor does all of the hard parts and you end up with a gratifyingly presentable piece- but it was enough to give me a taste of what glass work is like and I enjoyed every second of it.

Above the instructor is cooling off the rod that the glass is gathered on.

Here I am torching the bottom of the glass to make a smooth flat surface for the paperweight to sit on.

I'm getting both the paperweight I made and the blown glass ornament my sister made shipped to me (combining the shipping was cheaper) and I can't wait to see how they turned out. The instructor said the colors would end up looking pretty true to how they looked in the trays.

We each picked three colors, but I really have no idea what either piece will look like since they were red hot when they were finished and put inside the annealer. I'll be sure to post pictures when they get here!