Jaci's Tutorials: Boro Dichro Scrap for Soft Glass Lampworkers

Jaci's Tutorials: Boro Dichro Scrap for Soft Glass Lampworkers: Creating in borosilicate glass sounds daunting for those of us in soft glass! It did for me. Especially because for years I have been...

Glitch!

well... for some odd reason my page links are bringing me back to the same homepage rather than switching like I told it to do.. SO here is the link for the tutorials :)
happy torching!

http://fgbtut.blogspot.com/

Scrap glass to beauty!

Scraps of glass turned into beautiful artwork. This is my latest obsession at the torch! Scrap pieces of Boro (COE 33) glass. It has a different look from both sides, and tons of sexy texture!
Boro you say??? But I work in soft glass... YES! Yes I do. Not only do I work in soft glass but I work on a minor with only a 5 LPM oxygen concentrator. These are so much fun, and so different from working making beads. not to say it is difficult, its really not if you are even a novice glass worker. However the results are simply stunning! There was a little trial and error with this, and now I can not stop thinking of things to do, patterns to create, and tools with texture! I think I am even going to carve out my own patterns in graphite! Yes I am that excited about these! I plan to take more pictures and have them up on facebook, and to use in the tutorial.

Scrap Dichro

Oh yea.. I am writing a FREE tutorial for these as well! I will show you exactly how you can achieve a great look using just scraps of dichroic glass. First dibs will go to members of Connecticut Lampwork facebook page, then it will be available here for all. I will also throw up the link on LE to my glass family. I will be taking pictures of each simple step this week and have them up ASAP. I may even throw in a video... We will see.



If you would like one, or any of my other work, they are on display at Artsake Gallery in Tolland.
If you cant get there or are too far, please contact me. I currently have a good number of them, but do not have them up for sale online. I can even get them in the mail as soon as Monday so hopefully you might have it before christmas. If you are local I can even deliver! What service!!!

~Jaci
Happy Holidays!

Artsake Gallery link: 

http://www.artsakeframing.com/

Artsake Gallery is located at the corner of Rte 74 and Rte 30 in Tolland, CT.
Come in and visit us! Our hours are:
Wednesday, 10 am - 5 pm
Thursday, noon - 8 pm
Friday, 10 am-5 pm
Saturday, 10 am-2 pm 

Visit Artsake Gallery on Facebook!

      

Black Friday... Get something meaningful!

It's black friday, everybody knows it. But did you know that small businesses and local handmade artists are having shopping events today all over the country? Check your community news! Here we have open studio (aosct.org) starting today. There is also a big brazen Betty's info craft sale in Torrington today with an 'occupy wall street by small mall' event as well promoting indipendant crafters and artists! Get out and buy handmade!!!! The reward of supporting your local economy and artists is far better and more satisfying than the chance for a free hunting coat at cabela's....

Shows shows shows!

The past few weeks I have been doing a show a week. Until today I was loosing hope of finding a good show! Today's craft show at the Lebanon fire department was great. Thank you to all who attended. You really made this show a success. Now to gear up for open studio this weekend and open house for 'Flights of Fancy' gallery in stafford ct. Open studio is great!

I will be on hand in tolland at Artsake Gallery. The gallery is on the corner of rt 30 and rt 74. 273 Tolland Stage Rd tolland ct for all you gps goers! Please stop by to see multiple artists and many many live demonstrations! Fri/sat/sun this weekend and the first weekend in December! (nov 25-27 and dec 3-4) Artsakeframing.com

Sunday nov 27th, a yearly event, at 'Flights of Fancy' in stafford springs. It's just a few miles up the road from Artsake on rt 30 is stafford ct. There will be many many artists for the day and entertainment! Everything from spun alpaca done on sight to prints, jewelry, folk art and more! I will be back and fourth from this and open studio (luckily they are just down the road from one another :)

 December 2-4th is also the Tolland 'Art Mart' at the Tolland Art Center on the Tolland green. Friday night Saturday and Sunday. Although I am not required to be there for sales, I will pop in and out thought the weekend. This too is right up the street from Artsake (remember the open studio thing going on at the same time) :)

 So which ever place you go be sure to see great art at all of them :) appreciate art and artists this holiday season and every day throughout the year and as always... BUY ARTIST DIRECT!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING everyone!!!

Yay!

Well the studio is up and running, as is the torch! My artfire store is still open as well. I have been torching again for a few days now!

I will get some pics of the studio when it is more finalized all around, and keep you posted on some new beads :) Artfire will be open as long as it continues to pay for itself, so I encourage all of you to support it.

Jen has been a great friend to work with in her framing shop and glass studio. I am so grateful to have her in my glassy life :) It is a privilege to work with her! You better believe we will be cranking out beads for the fall, and winter!!! You can always find Jen up there, and I am usually up there a few days a week as well. Click here for Artsake Information

I have just one show for now (Oct 1 in Stafford Springs- Hyde Park 12-7pm), and I will probably pick up a few others on short notice through christmas. Autumn in the Park is a great show that really focuses on the artists. It is one of my best shows every year, and I love going back to it. This year, I will have not only my work, but some of Terri George's Polymer Clay beads, and hopefully some of Jen Hopkins glass as well. Jen will be at the shop in Tolland, but I am hoping that Terri can join us for the beginning of the day before she heads to work. Click here for info on the Autumn in the Park

I am also looking forward to Open Studio this year. I am not participating as an artist this year, but will be around to help out Jen in the shop and probably be torching...  Jen will have a variety of artist who will be showcasing their work at Artsake this year. I will be sure to participate next year (I was not up and torching this year early enough to participate this year ).  Click here for Open Studio Information

 So far I have been putting out feelers for how my fellow crafters have been doing. It does not look too good right now. However we just had a hurricane, (well tropical storm when it officially hit us) and a lot of people have not really recovered from that yet. There are still many with home damages, and many more who are just missing out on the last days of summer due to extra work at their jobs, and/or homes to clean up their houses, yards or their neighbors.

I have also heard about a lower turn out at the local fairs for crafter booths, and also at the farmers markets. I will be talking to some of my friends on the show circuit in the next week or so, and see how that is going. I can only hope that with weather making some miss out on early fall craft shows that they will be eager to buy in the next few months.

I will write soon, and I hope to pick up writing weekly again soon as well. It is just challenging without internet at home!

General Update:

Good news to those who glass...
     I have partnered with a glass buddy of mine, Jen Hopkins, and will be setting up studio at her frame shop Artsake in Tolland in the old firehouse at the corner of Rt 74 and Rt 30! Very exciting for me and her both! Look for more of our work, and classes coming soon! I also wanted to add that my Artfire is still open for now. I started my free trial the day before pricing kicked in, and then sold an item (I am having a bit of trouble contacting the buyer...but thats e-selling for you right??? the way it always happens! lol) SO as long as atrfire pays for itself it will be open :). I still have many things in Bolton for sale at the shop, and now in Tolland in the frame shop as well.

I was also invited back, and will be participating in Stafford Springs, "Artist in the Park" October 1st in Hyde Park Look for more information soon! Jen and I will be collaborating a few shows I am sure coming this fall and into winter. I am a bit excited, and already corrected my excitement typo's so I am sure I missed a few!

Updates to come!