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.

New Boro Color: English Ivy

This little lady is made with a new color from Northstar called "English Ivy".

Aquila Glass School (where I teach classes) actually played a part in naming this beautiful green silvery glass - there was a color release event at the studio where our members got involved in the brainstorm process and Northstar decided to use one of the ideas that Beverly thought of: "English Ivy".

It's a beautiful color. Translucent green in foundation and the more I work it, the more purple and silver tones can be brought out. This lady was made with a simple neutral flame. I enjoy the silver hue that evolves on the surface of the color.

daffodil and tulip

daffodil
Originally uploaded by LeahPellegrini

It was finally sunny today!!!! Yeah!

Now I just hope it lasts the weekend. The last few weekend its been rainy and hailing.

Today I brushed out the cat and hung outside as much as possible. We grilled. I put pictures on Flickr.

Etsy shop experiment...

Okay, heres my own mini version of experimenting with Etsy:

Photography - I have been taking a lot of shots (or trying my best to make the time to do so) and I think the shop is looking good. There is always room for improvement, and its fun to try. I like the idea of relisting old pieces with new photography. I lack the time management skillz to really take as many pictures as I would like!

Timing of listings - I noticed that many of my sales happen early in the morning (PDX time, so its east coast and international buyers - cuz I am talking pre-8am PST) so this morning I made a couple of listings, purposefully at that peak time, around 7am here. After 12 hours it had 32 hits, whereas the evening before I had made a listing and in almost 24 hours it had only made 16 hits.

Synopsis: according to this mini-data-set, listing early in the morning (pre 8am) will get twice as many hits in half the time.

Hm... that is worth making my listings late at night, saving the finish page url and then hitting finish early in the AM the next day. yeppers. I'll have to do that more often.

Focus

A group from my local neighborhood highschool (Madison High in NE Portland) came into the studio to do some torchworking with me today. Here they are happily learning to make torchworked figurines, we made animals: snakes, slugs, turtles and elephants.

The kids were part of a group called "Focus" for students that are struggling with their studies in this large public highschool. Focus is so amazing that they have become their own program, separate from Madison. The kids learn to focus, stay in school, graduate from high school and get guidance in placement for continuing their education or getting jobs. One of the staff in the Focus program, Eddy, loves working with glass and she has taught her students to fuse. For a few years now she has been bringing groups of kids to Aquila to learn more about glass. So today was one of these "field trips" for a select group of guys. Eddy is great - she is a constant positive force for her kids and she is able to help them get grants to be able to do fun things like play with glass. She's an amazing teacher and its great that she brings in these groups to learn to torchwork.

It certainly keeps me on my toes, working with teenagers... but I am happy for them that they have such a good time. I would have LOVED to learn to torchwork glass while I was in highschool.