There’s ’someone’ out there who, for some unknown reason, is making all sorts of ridiculous accusations about other lampworkers and other artisians.  If it weren’t so awful for these people it would be totally amusing because it just looks like a total psycho is doing this.

I am going to put a link to the site where the nutjob is doing all this although I kind of hate to do this.  I don’t really want to feed her psycho ego by getting her more hits on the site but I think that people need to see this for what it is.  It’s a vindicive act by a nasty awful person.  Please financially support the people she is trying to hurt if you possibly can.  If you are a member of Lampwork, etc, there is a thread on there offering support as well.

http://www.handmadeartisanfraud.blogspot.com/

Hope to see you there!

Tammy

Boy, I just realized how long it has been since anyone has posted here.  I appologize to any of you who’ve been here looking. 

I had to pack up the HotHead for the year so no beadmaking on the deck for me.  It’s so darn cold these days that I can’t imagine sticking a glass rod into a flame out there.  Ouch!  I’ve already got a burn in the middle of my forehead.  I’d get a lot more if I was torching out there now.

I’m doing a lot of PMC these days.  I think I finally figured out how to get rings to actually fit.  That’s a first.  I’m having fun with it.

I also got my glass collection in the dining room moved to the basement finally.  OMG.  I knew I had a lot of glass but I didn’t realize quite HOW much I have.  It was kind of fun seeing glass I had forgotten about.  We might actually be able to have Thanksgiving Dinner in the dining room this year.

Anyway, I haven’t forgotten about MCC and hope to get some more going on here really soon!  Don’t give up on us, OK?

I’ve been thinking long and hard lately about what I can do to help save out planet.  I want to save it for me, for the polar bears, for everyone who will come after me.  I’ve recycled for years but know that I have a lot more that I can do. 

My latest goal is to not use plastic bags and to seriously reduce the number of paper towels we use.  On the paper towel front, I got those car cleaning cloths at Costco and will give them to the cleaning lady (I have a bad back, OK?  LOL) so she can reduce her use of them.  I’m even getting Don into not using so many.

On the plastic bag front, I’ve got him using Frantz Art Glass carry bags at the Farmer’s Market.  I think he thinks the chicks will think he’s a glass blower or something.  Whatever…I think it makes him sexy to think about our environment.  My part is to always have a carry bag with me in my purse.  I also have bunches in my car.  If I forget my bag, then I have to carry whatever I buy.  I also try to get people thinking about using plastic bags. 

I LOVE the tshirt bags made by zJayne on etsy.  http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5116410  They’re well made.  They’re cute.  And they start conversations about recycling.  I’ve never had a store clerk not comment and they usually show the checkers on either side as well.  I’ve had them show the customers in line behind me too.  I’ve actually asked Jayne to send me some business cards so I can hand them out to promote her product.

We’re artists (or just chicks who like to make things) and we have a responsibility to this planet.  As we want to make it beautiful with our art, we also need to think about making it beautiful other ways.  I realize that you can’t hand out a zJayne carry bag with every purchase but can you do something that can be reused?  It would take no time at all to get some small kiddie tshirts at Target and make them into little carry bags for your things.  You can even print a little card to encourage people to reuse them.  Heck.  You might even start that as your next art business. 

Just think about it.  Think about your shows and what happens to everything you hand out to people.  And think about what you can do to make it a little more planet friendly.  And even better, share it with us!

When I think of Sheri, I think of gorgeous fused pieces.  I sure hope she sends me a picture or two of her work. (She did!) She does these amazing puzzle pieces.  I love getting her little bits and pieces for my PMC work.  Her beads are pretty darn good too!  It’s hard to believe she’s just been doing this for a year. Sheri is ‘iwantonetoo’ on LE.

1.  How did you get started in lampworking?  What was the thing that made you interested?

I began as a fuser, glass is an awesome medium. The fact that you can sculpt, and get more 3- dimensional pieces with a torch along with the kiln was pulling me in.

2.  How long have you been lampworking?

1 year

Is it a business for you or a hobby?

 Both

3.  What inspires you?

I see artwork, in all mediums, and then wonder if I could make it out of glass. Usually not, but I try to make things that might accent a piece I have seen, and can’t get out of my head.

How do you get the inspiration/motivation back when you are in a slump?

 Sadly, I wait. And wait….I still torch and fuse, and then a happy accident usually sends me off on another route.

4.  Who are your 3 favorite lampworkers? 

 That’s not a fair question. There are way more than 3!!  Brent Graber, AKA Mr. Smiley, is on my list. Most of them I know by their LE names. Mari Johnson from Blue Fire Beads in New Lennox IL, because I watch her during Open torch, and she is so comfortable at the torch. (although not physically comfortable)I’m hoping for a low ratio class with her one day soon!  I can only say one more? NO FAIR. Why? Brent, because of the colors he can coax out of the Boro. Mari, well, all you have to do is torch with her, and you’ll see what I mean. As for bead making Lampworkers, I think Sara Hornik is high on my list. Sislonski…there I go with the LE names. I could go on and on….FIG, Hagstrom, Sheila Morley…..

5.      What is the best thing about lampworking?

 Watching the glass flow into something other than it began.

The worst?

 When the mojo exits the building, and I still have plenty of time at the torch.

6.  What is the funniest or scariest thing that ever happened to you when you were torching?

Flying hot glass would answer both. I haven’t yet (knock on wood) had any major excitement yet. Just minor burns and I mixed boro and 104 once, but that odd sound was inside the kiln, so I didn’t witness that.

7.  What kind of set up do you use?

Torch? Mini CC with tanked oxy for boro, and an oxycon for soft glass

8.  What is your favorite glass?

 I like the soft glass for the vibrant colors, but the boro provides the ability to sculpt. They both have their strong points. I can’t choose one, that’s harder than 3 artists.

9.  What are your favorite color combinations?

 Vibrant bright colors, things you’d see in beach stores. Or, the simple black and white. You can NEVER go wrong with that.

10.  What is your favorite technique? 

Discs. It doesn’t take much to impress me.

What technique makes you want to bang your (or someone else’s) head against the wall?

Inside out beads. It sounds like an oxymoron doesn’t it? Makes ya feel like one too if you try the technique. One day soon though, it will click for me.

11.  Is there a shape that you really HATE to make?

 Boring round. I like more organic freeform shapes. I don’t like to make anything that I can duplicate exactly. Then it’s not art, and it becomes rather boring to me.

12.   Do you have a comfort bead?

Discs and brightly colored spacers.

13.    How do you see yourself developing as a lampworker in the future?

I don’t have any long term visions. There are a lot of things I’d like to learn to create, but at this point I am still learning so much.

What are your goals?

 To have other people like my work. It does a lot for the mojo when someone else says “Ooohhh, how’d ya make that?”

14.  What do you consider as successful? 

 Success is defined differently for everyone; it’s a tough word to define. For me it would be doing something I love, which includes being a good mom and wife, and living my life in a way that will make God proud. What is the key to getting there? The ability to accept what we cannot control.

15.    What would be your 3 best tips for new artists?

 Don’t put limitations on yourself. Practice techniques, ALOT. Be patient, and let your heart help you create.

16.    Do you like to take classes from other lampworkers?

YES!!!

17.   Do you teach?

I haven’t done any official teaching. I will teach classes, but I prefer to call them “workshops”. “Class” and “teacher” imply knowledge. 

Will you travel to teach? Sure

18.   What other creative outlets do you have?

 Mostly glass work, jewelry, and *whisper*….I like to shop

Tammy L Deck : ArtWear from Westmont, Illinois

Hats, Purses, Scarves, Shawls, Garments & Jewelery

Felting, Handweaving, Crochet, Knitting, Fused Glass & Lampwork Beads

Flaming hot blog wanted to know what your fantasy job would be.  How about it?  Would it have anything to do with a torch?  Hot glass?  Lots of gold and silver and precious jewels?  Would you have the dream studio of a lifetime with ALL the fabulous tools and a gazillion torches and workstations for 10?  Hmmmmm…what would I be/want?

My fantasy job is…

…to be a major league pitcher.(OK. Shut up.  Stop laughing.)  Or a drummer in a very successful rock and roll band (read Rolling Stones…).  ROFLOL!  Yep.  I would LOVE to be a major league pitcher but I’d have to be a really, really good pitcher, not anything just run of the mill.  I adore baseball.  The drummer bit is up there too but way behind the pitcher bit.  Nope.  Not a torch involved in it all.  Of course, as a fabulously successful major league pitcher I wouldn’t have time to torch.  Maybe when I retired, after my shoulder surgery I’d undoubtedly have to have, then I’d get interested in torching.

How about you?

I was on the alternate list….just found out last night that I’m in….Come say Hi!

Tammy L Deck ~ Westmont, IL

OK, I went to www.dictionary.com for a true definition. I typed in “Create”. The first line on the page was a link to something else, but it said “is you dumb?”. LOL It made me think maybe it thinks we should already know the definition of “create” and why are we asking?

At any rate, there were a few definitions, one of which was: “to cause to come into being, as something unique that would not naturally evolve or that is not made by ordinary processes.” I think this is a pretty close definition for those of us in the “art” world.  I never really thought of myself as an “artist”, but lately when people ask what I do, rather than explain glass, and what I do with it, I find “glass artist” pretty much covers it.

OK, now that I’ve rambled, and we’ve determined we all know what “create” means, my true reason for writing to you today is more on the “How does it work?” portion of the title. Up until 2 weeks ago, I had no clue how it worked. Now that I am unable to get into the studio and create, I know how my creative side works. She works best when she is not allowed to come out and play. Kind of like when you can’t have something, you want it even more. My creative muse is restless, coming up with all of these ideas, things she wants to”create” because she knows darn good and well, I can’t let her out just yet. She’s torturing me with all of these ideas, and I’d bet my next bead sale, she’ll clam up and decide to go on vacation the minute I tell her she can come out and play.

So, for those of you who are having a lapse in creativity, maybe put your muse in time out, then she’ll tease you until you let her out again, and the creativity will begin to flow again. (We hope).

Hugs to all,

Sheri