Hanmade NW May 1st and 2nd

I will be there - come check it out - open both Thursday and Friday from 10am-5pm - I'll be in the atrium at the base of the Tram. Heres a link for more info

Spring Sale!

A sale, yahhhhh, everyone loves a sale, some of the EGA (etsy glass artists) members are participating in a sale. Each store will be having their own sale, everything from 10% off - BOGO 1/2 Off. You can search for our stores through http://etsyglass.com, http://etsyglass.com/springsale/ or by putting EGA, or EGATEAM in the etsy search bar.

Occupational Wrist Problems Anyone?

I thrash my wrists on a regular basis, so many people do. Besides the physical work with my hands, the endless hours spent typing on my computer don't help (I am convinced its the little mousepad on my laptop that really does a number to my right hand).

As surgery and major medical expenses are not my "to-do" list - I am a regular user of Baoding balls to soothe, strengthen and help my wrists when then are in pain.

Otherwise known as Chinese Medicine balls - these metal spheres are a great source of relief. The two balls are rotated around in the hand. For a beginner, the balls touch at all times (one is male and one is female, they make lovely little chiming noises and the female's has a slightly more femine pitch) and as you get more comfortable with them, you rotate the balls in your hand without the two touching at all. Its very soothing. You can get a set on Amazon.com for $5. Now that is budget-conscious!

When my wrists ache, I sit around in the evening watching some movie or something and rotate the baoding balls in my hand, first clockwise for 10 revolutions and then counter-clockwise with 10 revolutions... then I do it again... then I switch hands. Last night my wrists hurt. After this therapy, this morning they feel great!

Making Frit from Scrap

A glass artist is never lacking in scrap bits of glass, and I always tell my students that they can turn their scrap into frit using a coffee grinder! Well, I figured I should try it out and see if it really works!!

Here are the necessary tools: coffee grinder (retired, never use for coffee again!), mask and eye protection

First cut up your scrap (rod or flat glass) into manageable size little chunks that will fit into the coffee grinder politely. Then put it in there, pulse away, and voila!


IMPORTANT: after you grind it up, wait before opening the grinder, and if possible hold the grinder under an exhaust fan when you open it up. There will be a good deal of powdered glass dust created and its important not to breath it in.

Bead Release

These metal sticks are used to make beads (the different diameter of sticks make different size holes in the beads). The sticks are called "mandrels" and the blue stuff at the tip is where you attach the hot glass to create a bead. This blue stuff is called "bead release" because without it the bead would become stuck to the mandrel rather than coming right off with a nice hole thru its center. Bead release is great stuff, when its hot it sticks to the glass and the mandrel, when it cools down it releases and the bead can be twisted right off the stick.

The worst part of bead release is that it must dry before you can use the mandrel to make a bead (any moisture left in the bead release can cause beads to break). So you must dip them in advance and leave them standing around to dry.

At the studio where I teach, the mandrels are dipped for you (we spoil people!!!) and today I spent a little time dipping a forest of mandrels. And I got to thinking that it might make for an interesting blog entry :)

Standout Stampin' II

Standout Stampin' was such a hit, so here's another great stamp tip!

Years ago I bought this jewelers stamp (ordered it from Rio Grande) with my name on the tip. My original thought was making my own tags for necklaces, I like the not-so-perfect handmade look (I also like that the necklace is signed - I think its important to always sign artwork, even if its just a necklace).
However - what I realized is that I can literally sign my glasswork with this stamp!

As long as you keep the stamp out of the flame (and if it gets hot from contact with the glass, dip the metal stamp in water to cool it down), this metal stamp can be used to imprint your name, business logo, or some other simple signature into glass.

This picture is hard to read, but its the bottom of a drinking glass that I made, and I stamped the glass "LEAH". I love this. I only made these drinking glass for a couple of years and at first they were not signed, but the later batches were all signed LEAH, so it kind of dates them and adds value to their story. I think :)
Now I have used this glass to stamp all sorts of glass creations. One neat use that I don't have a picture of: I stamped small red puddles of glass with LEAH and then used these on a fused glass panel... the look was kind of like a wax stamp that people used to seal a letter shut. Sorry I don't have a picture. You'll have to use your imagination :)

Be the Change

This construction site is in Portland Or where the Portland Saturday Market food court used to hang out on the weekends :)

After all the work is finished, Mercy Corps will be moving into their new global headquarters.

Are you familiar with Mercy Corps?
Mercy Corps exists to alleviate suffering, poverty and oppression by helping people build secure, productive and just communities.

Do you live in Portland and work as a entrepreneur/artist/small business-person?
Mercy Corps Northwest is an incredible resource. As Mercy Corps’ local economic development office, Mercy Corps Northwest promotes economic self-sufficiency through microenterprise development and self-employment in the greater Portland, OR-Vancouver, WA region. Started in 1998, Mercy Corps Northwest assists entrepreneurs in their desire for economic stability through starting or expanding a small business.

Let me just point out three amazing services they provide:
1. Classes: many many opportunities, for making business plans, doing taxes, hiring employees, etc
2. Asset Building Programs: a matched savings program(for every $1 you save they match you with $3), helps economically disadvantaged people learn to budget and save money to start or build a business or become more profitably self-employed.
3. Mercy Corps Loan Fund: loan fund provides financing and technical assistance to low-income entrepreneurs who need capital to start or expand a microenterprise.

and this doesn't even mention the mentor program, the online resources, and endless other opportunities.