Reticello

Here is a part-way done photo of my second attempt at reticello (a sort of lattice design technique). My friend Doug does some mind-blowing ones, and so far mine haven't turned out anything close to what I had in mind - what I really need is to put in some hours practicing. There aren't enough hours in the day! :/

Honeycomb

Well guys, here is my second ever honeycomb attempt that I decided to twist up, and I am actually very happy with it. (The first try was about an inch tall and looks mildly cool but doesn't photograph well.) That creamy mud color started out as green - I must have done something weird with the flame, but I'm okay with how it turned out.


Monday was the first day in a while that I've gotten to torch. I didn't even make it into the studio until 11 pm, and I torched until 3 am (would've gone even later if I hadn't had work in the morning). Even though it was only four hours, I managed to get a few pieces that I'm pretty happy with.

I tried two new techniques - honeycomb and reticello. Both have the potential to look amazing, but my first modest honeycombs look far better than my first reticello, so I will save photos of reticello until I'm not embarrassed to show them. :P

This one is a bubble trap that evidently only worked on half the pendant...

And here is one of the new style flower pendants I've been working on, with pointy petals. Some pretty decent looking ones like this in various colors (white and blue, sandy brown and turquoise, purple and black, etc.) are currently inhabiting the front counter at Archimage.

Eye Candy

Sorta. :) Here's just a few pendants. I did have some newer ones but they immediately went out into the display case at Archimage for sale. I will post more photos soon! My next big production day is Monday...

And here is my fish Charles and the coral I made him. He digs it.

What Happened To May?

Welp. May flew by. I have been busy running around trying to get all my ducks in a row, and lo and behold, it is now June. Time for a recap on the fruits of my month of May -

• I have 3 batches of pendants floating around in the world waiting to be sold: in the front counter at Archimage (boutique), in the display case at Temstad (car mechanical shop), and with the Warehouse Arts crew for their five remaining shows this summer.
• Swooped down to Corning last weekend for GlassFest. Missed 2300˚, but got to watch Paul Stankard and Davide Salvadore in action, among others; caught a show with a piece by my old glass professor Angus Powers as well as one with work by an awesome MFA graduate of Alfred, Joanna Manousis. Lots of familiar faces and talented friends.
• Wandered around the Lilac Festival, which is a great place to get springboard ideas from other glass artists. Gave me a kick for my chess piece dilemma.
  
• Also in the works: a roll or two of black & white film in the SLR, an art quilt involving a fish, and some bottle cap magnets just for fun. :)

Once I get my production cranked up a few notches, I may venture into the world of Etsy. Anyone have any thoughts on that? Good idea? Bad idea?