tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60549559969611549072024-02-19T05:59:22.324-08:00Foster's BeautiesFoster's Beautieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11065375664670188544noreply@blogger.comBlogger95125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6054955996961154907.post-76336074921982940142015-10-12T21:44:00.001-07:002015-10-12T21:44:16.863-07:00Time Flies When You're Running a Creative Family Business!Well, you probably could have figured out that we weren't doing much blogging since it's been nearly two years since the last time we posted here!<br />
<br />
But we've still been very busy with our Foster's Beauties adventures!<br />
<br />
You can still shop our work on <a href="http://fostersbeauties.etsy.com/" target="_blank">Etsy</a>, and now you can also find us on <a href="http://amazon.com/handmade/FostersBeauties" target="_blank">Handmade on Amazon</a>!<br />
<br />
We are also still doing local art shows.<br />
<br />
Here's our 2015 holiday show schedule, in case you'd like to catch us around town:<br />
<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Nov. 14-15:<a href="http://oregonglassguild.org/FallTour/FallTour.html" target="_blank"> Oregon Glass Guild Fall Studio Tour & Sale</a>, SW Portland. </li>
<li>Nov. 21: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/729597367151068/" target="_blank">Llewellyn Holiday Market</a>, SE Portland.</li>
<li>Dec. 4-5: <a href="http://www.oregonlive.com/events/event/left-coast-artist-collective-external-submission/260199/#!" target="_blank">Left Coast Artist Collective Artful Gift Show</a>, Multnomah Art Center, SW Portland</li>
<li>Dec. 19: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/1877372329154134/" target="_blank">Handmade NW Formal Holiday Artisans Fair</a>, NE Portland</li>
</ul>
<div>
We will also have work for sale at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/1660910134157436/" target="_blank">The Red Mitten Christmas Bazaar</a> Dec. 3-13 in Canby. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />Foster's Beautieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11065375664670188544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6054955996961154907.post-22419973438949402762013-11-19T06:00:00.000-08:002013-11-19T06:00:02.851-08:002013 Craft Show Lessons Learned, Part Two<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/Craft-Fairs/2013-Chanukah-Gift-Fair/i-Gn3k8Xz/0/X2/P1110436-001-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/Craft-Fairs/2013-Chanukah-Gift-Fair/i-Gn3k8Xz/0/X2/P1110436-001-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>It's a craft fair tradition to get a pic of Ellie reading at our tables! :)</em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We did our second craft fair of the season Sunday, and like all our craft fairs, there were some lessons to learn from it!<br />
<br />
<strong>It Ain't Over Until It's Over</strong>: A lackluster show can turn in an instant because all it takes is one perfect customer. Okay, so we didn't get a <strong>perfect</strong> customer, who would have bought one of Scott's segmented wood vessel, we did get a customer who bought a marblewood bowl just 20 minutes before the show ended. It was just enough to put us in the black, if you don't count the holiday gift shopping we did. Meanwhile, Ellie continues to win the top award for sales volume.<br />
<br />
<strong>Good Neighbors: </strong>We were sandwiched between two jewelry makers who were awesome. It does help make the long day a little more enjoyable if you have someone else to chat with between browsers. And to top it off, one of our neighbors was super kind and introduced me to something called <a href="http://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001PMHTJ2/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001PMHTJ2&linkCode=as2&tag=sicmom-20">Advantus Fabric Panel Wall Clips, Standard Size, Black, 20 per Pack (75344)</a><img src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sicmom-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B001PMHTJ2" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" />" target="_blank">"cubicle clips"</a> and loaned me a few to attach our sign to the table. Definitely going to be picking some up before our next show! Way better than using my usual packing tape! :) <br />
<br />
<strong>The Grass Always Looks Greener: </strong>I volunteered on the committee for this craft show, so I had some pull on where we got placed. I was worried about the vendors at the opposite end of the room because at a show I'd attended in that room previously, it looked like most shoppers were bypassing that part of the room. So I suggested that the room be set up so there wasn't a real convenient path to the door without walking into that area's vendor tables, and it appeared to be successful! It seemed like that end of the room always had more customers milling about than my end. But when I chatted with a vendor from that end of the room, he said he kept looking toward my end and thinking <strong>that </strong>was where the people all were. <br />
<br />
<strong>Do It Right, Not Just Fast:</strong> When we did our first show last December, we packed up afterward pretty willy-nilly. It was fast, but then of course I couldn't find anything when we got home. We've gotten far more organized in how we pack our stuff, which means that while we're not one of the first vendors out the door at the end of the day, we have very little re-packing that needs to be done between shows. It's so much better to take the time to do it properly, even if it takes 45-60 minutes at the end of the long day, rather than having several <strong>hours </strong>of work later. <br />
<br />
<strong>How Do They Do It?</strong>: Many artisans are doing holiday shows multiple days per week during this time of year. Not sure I can imagine us doing that. We got home about 6pm, and I went to bed shortly after my 8-year-old daughter did at 8pm. Exhausting! I think I'm actually grateful that we weren't accepted into a juried show I applied for that would be next week. <br />
<br />
<strong>People Say The Darnedest Things:</strong> We are not high-pressure salespeople, so why do people think they need to make excuses when they don't buy something? They're often kind of funny or make us roll our eyes. So when a woman admired Scott's work and then asked if he were Jewish before explaining that she couldn't use his bowl since he's not, we assumed it was just another excuse. I'm Jewish, but since I've never lived in a kosher home, I had no idea that very religious Jews apparently dunk their brand new utensils (including bowls) in a religious bath called a <a href="http://www.mikvahchana.com/keilim.aspx" target="_blank">mikvah keilim</a>. I've done a ton of googling about the custom, and although everything I've found says that wood items, even those made by non-Jews, don't have to go through the mikvah keilim to be used in a kosher home, I assume that woman follows a stricter set of rules than the ones I'm reading. <br />
<br />
Next up on our fair schedule is the Artists Creating A Better World Holiday Craft Show, 10a-6p on Sunday, Dec. 8, at the Lakewood Center For the Arts, 368 S. State St., Lake Oswego, OR. If you're in the neighborhood, I hope you'll come say hello! <br />
<br />
<br />Avivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16411667763810131618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6054955996961154907.post-92040826163926081152013-11-05T17:13:00.002-08:002013-11-05T17:13:50.862-08:002013 Craft Show Lessons Learned, Part One<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/Craft-Fairs/Mt-View-Holiday-Bazaar-11-2/i-bwX4FK5/0/X2/P1110422-001-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/Craft-Fairs/Mt-View-Holiday-Bazaar-11-2/i-bwX4FK5/0/X2/P1110422-001-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>We found some awesome cardboard risers that knock down flat and, when covered with fabric, look pretty darn nice for showing off Scott's work. :-)</em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We had our first craft show of the season last weekend, and while it wasn't a financial success, it was a good educational experience. <br />
<br />
The booth sizes were a little odd, 6 feet by 11 feet, with 8-foot tables. So while I knew we needed more space than a single booth, I wasn't sure how we'd fill two. Turned out, we did pretty well, I thought. Although if we'd been mobbed by buyers, we didn't have a lot more to put out to fill in the empty spaces ... but that wasn't a problem. <br />
<br />
Turned out I probably should have done some market research into the demographics of the middle school where the show was held and its surrounding neighborhood. It wasn't a "bad" neighborhood, but is wasn't an upscale neighborhood either. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/Craft-Fairs/Mt-View-Holiday-Bazaar-11-2/i-GQRxMVn/0/X2/P1110425-001-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/Craft-Fairs/Mt-View-Holiday-Bazaar-11-2/i-GQRxMVn/0/X2/P1110425-001-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>As always, Ellie was an excellent saleswoman. </em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Our goods are kind of high end, especially Scott's woodworking pieces, which range in price from $25 to $750. So we really need to stick to shows that draw customers who can afford our products. <br />
<br />
I chatted with other vendors, some of whom I knew from Facebook or our previous shows, and it seemed almost universal that sales were minimal despite the fairly good traffic at the show. Our sales totaled nine notecards and two dragonfly magnets. I'm pretty sure it's not a coincidence that all the goods that sold were at the table manned by Ellie. It is <strong>really</strong> tough to say no to a cute, engaging 8-year-old. :) <br />
<br />
(It may be that the engaging part is more important than the cute part or the age; one of our booth neighbors was a mom-daughter team and while the girl looked to be a couple years older than Ellie, what really stood out for me was that the girl never seemed to smile or say a word to anyone other than her mom. I also didn't seem them make any sales, although they had browsers and very affordable items.)<br />
<br />
The apparent low sales pretty much across the board at the show made me wonder if the Nov. 2 show was just too early in the holiday season for people to really be thinking about buying gifts. I had printed up some postcards with photos of our work as well as our holiday show schedule and we passed them out as much as possible. I have hopes that maybe some of the people who admired but didn't buy our wares will either shop our Etsy store or come find us at one of the other shows we'll be doing. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/Craft-Fairs/Mt-View-Holiday-Bazaar-11-2/i-c4g6Gvv/0/X2/P1110424-001-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/Craft-Fairs/Mt-View-Holiday-Bazaar-11-2/i-c4g6Gvv/0/X2/P1110424-001-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>This show also debuted our floor easels. I really liked being able to get the bow boards off the table and put them at eye level. But I think I need to fix the ribbons before our next show <strong>and</strong> put out more brooches at a time. </em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The show was also not exclusively handmade, which meant that my brooches -- with each petal individually cut and curled, assembled and handsewn -- were competing with a seller who bought ready-made imported flowers and simply glued them onto findings. She could sell them for $3 because they're cheap to buy and quick to assemble. Mine had a lot more time invested and were, I like to think, higher quality. <br />
<br />
Handmade-only shows not only level the playing field on costs, but they attract the people who are willing to pay extra for an item that they know was made by the person selling it. <br />
<br />
We also had a lot of people tell us that Scott's woodworking belongs in art galleries, and I think I now have him persuaded that we should explore that route. :)<br />
<br />
Our next show is the MJCC/Hadassah Chanukah Gift Fair on Nov. 17, and I'm sure that will also be a learning experience (but we're also hoping for a more financially rewarding day!). <br />
<br />
Meanwhile, if you are starting to think about your holiday shopping, please consider browsing <a href="http://fostersbeauties.etsy.com/" target="_blank">Foster's Beauties</a> to find something perfect for your friends and family!<br />
Avivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16411667763810131618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6054955996961154907.post-84245544498931162152013-10-13T13:58:00.000-07:002013-10-13T13:58:02.170-07:00Deadline Pressure: Come See Us At Holiday Fairs!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dkshots/5331436372/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="time bomb by dkshots, on Flickr"><img alt="time bomb" height="480" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5048/5331436372_054e68c870_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Time Bomb by dkshots via Flickr</em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
And the countdown to the holiday fair season begins! With it, of course, comes some pretty major deadline pressure.<br />
<br />
I was mildly panicked when I realized last night that it was exactly three weeks until our first holiday fair. So much to do, so much to plan for! <br />
<br />
One of the reasons I went into journalism was because I like working on deadline. So I shouldn't be all worried about whether we actually have enough product to sell for the three fairs I signed us up for, right? <br />
<br />
Well, I am. <br />
<br />
Luckily, we're not going crazy and doing weekly shows. So there will be (some) time to recover and crank out more product as necessary between our events. And my fingers are crossed that we're enough of a success that I need to do just that! :)<br />
<br />
If you're going to be in Portland over the next couple months, please come visit our booths and say hello!<br />
<br />
Here's our lineup so you can mark your calendars:<br />
<ul>
<li>Mountain View Middle School Holiday Bazaar, 10a-5p on Saturday, Nov. 2. 17500 SW Farmington Rd., Aloha, OR.</li>
<li>MJCC/Hadassah Chanukah Fair, 10a-5p on Sunday, Nov. 17, at the Mittelman Jewish Community Center, 6651 SW Capital Hwy, Portland, OR.</li>
<li>Artists Creating A Better World Holiday Craft Show, 10a-6p on Sunday, Dec. 8, at the Lakewood Center For the Arts, 368 S. State St., Lake Oswego, OR.</li>
</ul>
Meanwhile, I need to get busy on the making! And organizing! :)Avivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16411667763810131618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6054955996961154907.post-22011495361398197992013-10-08T13:42:00.002-07:002013-10-08T14:37:37.246-07:00Meet the Maker: Introducing Ellianna<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/Ellianna/ABQ-BioPark/i-8mC8jnv/0/X2/P1090959-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/Ellianna/ABQ-BioPark/i-8mC8jnv/0/X2/P1090959-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ellie checks out the manta rays at the Albuquerque BioPark in July 2013.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Ellianna took her first art class at the ripe old age of 10 months old. It was a parent-and-child class called Art Babies offered through our local community center for kids ages 10-18 months old. She got to do things like finger painting and squishing colored shaving foam, all the kinds of messy projects I didn't want to do at home with her. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgETUjaMRpErsnsrI0P8tifIRSg7Kdx-05riBRFpN3My033Sk7Am-k809gcs6Qu0akGteHtM30EJUJmrHRsHU33sUUBbu8ZkPKGKXfHd3UqiqptVcrtYa8zWEFgwPE93GfODxaC5qi6ASo/s1600/IMG_1454-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgETUjaMRpErsnsrI0P8tifIRSg7Kdx-05riBRFpN3My033Sk7Am-k809gcs6Qu0akGteHtM30EJUJmrHRsHU33sUUBbu8ZkPKGKXfHd3UqiqptVcrtYa8zWEFgwPE93GfODxaC5qi6ASo/s640/IMG_1454-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Ellie enjoyed those Art Babies classes so much, her first birthday party was a "messy art" party at the community center. Here, she and Scott were having fun with the colored shaving foam. Soooooooo messy, but so much fun!</em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<em>Q: What's your current favorite thing to make?</em><br />
<em></em><br />
"I really like making friendship bracelets. They're interesting because you have to learn how to make them and there's so many different ways to learn. Right now, I'm working on one that I just learned. At first, I didn't get it because whenever I try to separate my strings, they get tangled. But my friend Emily taught me."<br />
<br />
<em>Q: Favorite colors to work with?</em><br />
<br />
"Blues, greens and pinks. But sometimes I just work with what I have."<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/Ellianna/OCAC-2013/i-bTtPfz4/0/X2/DSC_0622-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/Ellianna/OCAC-2013/i-bTtPfz4/0/X2/DSC_0622-X2.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Ellie made this stepstool in woodworking at Oregon College of Art & Craft's art camp last summer. </em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<em>Q: Your <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/fostersbeauties?section_id=11541769" target="_blank">art notecards</a> are very popular at craft shows. How do you decide what to draw?</em><br />
<br />
"I just figure it out as I go. If I'm in the mood for something, I just start drawing it. I like drawing fairies because they're easy for me. I have a lot of books with fairies in them so I have a good idea what fairies look like and what kinds of things they like to do."<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi42ndESRDNYOur5K2qd8TueEQpg_GYL6_AVZtMaV5j-x510iXrEj0-7NbAvI1VEQnPoaG9zBMBfTetJLGz085UzZTT5X7R2zGnF1yYNuBrRDYeTw-FCYOgRZ6IdqaflfeJvkzzfUufZfQ/s1600/art4-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi42ndESRDNYOur5K2qd8TueEQpg_GYL6_AVZtMaV5j-x510iXrEj0-7NbAvI1VEQnPoaG9zBMBfTetJLGz085UzZTT5X7R2zGnF1yYNuBrRDYeTw-FCYOgRZ6IdqaflfeJvkzzfUufZfQ/s640/art4-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Artist at work!</em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<em>Q: Why did you want your work to be part of <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/fostersbeauties" target="_blank">Foster's Beauties</a>?</em><br />
<em></em><br />
"It's a family business, and I'm part of the family! I like making things too, and I thought maybe someone would want to buy some of them. ... I like it when people tell me they like my art."<br />
<br />
<em>(Note: This post is part of an <span style="font-family: inherit;">occasional series about the makers behind Foster's Beauties' artwork.)</span></em><br />
<em></em>Avivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16411667763810131618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6054955996961154907.post-83738276152630551242013-10-03T09:00:00.000-07:002013-10-04T12:03:51.360-07:00Diving Into The Deep End: Learning With Artist Patty Gray<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/Glass/Patty-Gray-class-day-two/i-n2TDhb7/0/X2/P1110232-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/Glass/Patty-Gray-class-day-two/i-n2TDhb7/0/X2/P1110232-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Scott is "raking" molten glass under the watchful eye of the glass artist Patty Gray.</em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Scott had an adventure in September: He took a five-day workshop with the amazing glass artist <a href="http://pattygray.com/" target="_blank">Patty Gray</a> held at <a href="http://www.fusionheadquarters.com/" target="_blank">Fusion Headquarters</a> in Newburg, OR. <br />
<br />
Over those five jampacked days, Scott did everything from pattern bars to frit casting to mosaics. The work he brought home was just amazing!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/Glass/Patty-Gray-class-day-two/i-qt5dJjz/0/X2/P1110097-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/Glass/Patty-Gray-class-day-two/i-qt5dJjz/0/X2/P1110097-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>That's Scott's ladybug in the back.</em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/Glass/Patty-Gray-class-day-two/i-n5DrFXS/0/X2/P1110188-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/Glass/Patty-Gray-class-day-two/i-n5DrFXS/0/X2/P1110188-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Isn't this cool? That argyle pattern was made by doing a sheet of blue squares and clear squares, a sheet of red squares and clear squares, and some clear sheets. The overlapping but offset squares of color make it look like there was a lot more cutting involved than there was! </em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/Glass/Patty-Gray-class-day-two/i-pncSXhH/0/X2/P1110266-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/Glass/Patty-Gray-class-day-two/i-pncSXhH/0/X2/P1110266-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>This was a "painting with frit" project. Patty demonstrated her technique making red poppies, and Scott decided to make sunflowers for his version. Came out amazing, like an impressionist painting. </em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/Glass/Patty-Gray-Class-Day-Four/i-7M8fM9R/0/X2/P1110292-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/Glass/Patty-Gray-Class-Day-Four/i-7M8fM9R/0/X2/P1110292-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>The whole class' raking projects turned out amazing! Scott's is inside the kiln in the bottom left corner. Oddly, although he only had a little bit of purple in his setup, it all seemed to come to the top during the raking or the fusing that followed.</em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/Glass/Patty-Gray-Class-Day-Four/i-zJSvTCC/0/X2/P1110297-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/Glass/Patty-Gray-Class-Day-Four/i-zJSvTCC/0/X2/P1110297-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>A closer view of Scott's project. Those things sticking out the sides are stainless steel pins used to hold ceramic fiber paper around the pieces.</em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/Glass/Patty-Gray-Class-Day-Five-9-25/i-MQTKXhv/0/X2/P1110395-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/Glass/Patty-Gray-Class-Day-Five-9-25/i-MQTKXhv/0/X2/P1110395-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Scott made the heart in the center, as well as the river in back row on the right. </em><br />
<em></em><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/Glass/Patty-Gray-Class-Day-Five-9-25/i-gkpSfqL/0/X2/P1110397-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/Glass/Patty-Gray-Class-Day-Five-9-25/i-gkpSfqL/0/X2/P1110397-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>The heart is really cool -- it was made using <a href="http://www.fusionheadquarters.com/Flexi_Glass_s/255.htm" target="_blank">Flexi-Glass,</a> which is this stuff you mix with crushed glass into what looks like fruit leather and then you can cut it with scissors into whatever shape you want. Wow! </em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/Glass/Patty-Gray-Class-Day-Five-9-25/i-PW3kSxC/0/X2/P1110398-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/Glass/Patty-Gray-Class-Day-Five-9-25/i-PW3kSxC/0/X2/P1110398-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pretty, isn't it?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/Glass/Patty-Gray-Class-Day-Four/i-84t2Znv/0/X2/P1110318-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/Glass/Patty-Gray-Class-Day-Four/i-84t2Znv/0/X2/P1110318-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Scott's pattern bars, after they were sliced apart and set into clear glass. I find it a very tribal looking piece, but pretty.</em><br />
<em></em><br />
<em></em> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/Glass/Patty-Gray-Class-Day-Five-9-25/i-qQV88Hh/0/X2/P1110332-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/Glass/Patty-Gray-Class-Day-Five-9-25/i-qQV88Hh/0/X2/P1110332-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Isn't this amazing? Look how much gorgeous artwork seven students created over five short days! On the last day of class, Patty and the students gathered around the table and she critiqued each and every piece. Wow! </em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/Glass/Patty-Gray-Class-Day-Five-9-25/i-pkfCW4z/0/X2/P1110336-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/Glass/Patty-Gray-Class-Day-Five-9-25/i-pkfCW4z/0/X2/P1110336-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Another view of that very, very full table!</em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I don't know about you, but I can hardly wait to see what Scott makes next! :)<br />
<br />
<br />Avivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16411667763810131618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6054955996961154907.post-23482312086984743652013-09-26T12:56:00.000-07:002013-09-26T12:56:00.749-07:00Public Service Announcement: Chanukah Is Just Around The Corner<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/Magnets/Holiday-Bugs-11-13-2012/i-5xp5Rzn/0/X2/DSC_0047-001-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/Magnets/Holiday-Bugs-11-13-2012/i-5xp5Rzn/0/X2/DSC_0047-001-X2.jpg" width="638" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Chanukah bugs make the perfect gift! </i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I know no one is ready to start thinking about December holidays yet, but see, that's the thing -- one of the "December holidays" is starting in November this year: The first night of Chanukah is November 27.<br />
<br />
Go look at your calendar and check it out -- I'll wait here.<br />
<br />
See? I'm 46, and I don't remember ever having Chanukah start <b>before</b> Thanksgiving. Crazy, isn't it?<br />
<br />
So make sure you start your planning early, especially if you plan to make your own gifts or need to ship them!<br />
<br />
<i>Want some Chanukah Bugs of your very own? Or to give as a gift? You can find <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/115278133/holiday-bugs-hanukkah-bugs-blue-silver" target="_blank">them</a> and many other wonderful handmade gifts to fit any budget at our <a href="http://fostersbeauties.etsy.com/" target="_blank">Foster's Beautie</a>s shop on Etsy.</i><br />
<br />
<br />Avivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16411667763810131618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6054955996961154907.post-33766391585604028752013-09-11T10:07:00.000-07:002013-09-11T10:07:09.522-07:00Old Hobbies<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuAIO-ue2ulizzIzbAGrQ9HzSDkmLUdOUc2Knon7fBNbRftf1YpmQCXIVanlBUMuJnVXm2k4HOQ8g4hvmvXC4BBwWg4NhLUNPiDmI3rrr5hPm9dPCzJnyYMC-NRK19-RJBSA0wpybVD-E/s1600/quilt+0101.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuAIO-ue2ulizzIzbAGrQ9HzSDkmLUdOUc2Knon7fBNbRftf1YpmQCXIVanlBUMuJnVXm2k4HOQ8g4hvmvXC4BBwWg4NhLUNPiDmI3rrr5hPm9dPCzJnyYMC-NRK19-RJBSA0wpybVD-E/s640/quilt+0101.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Cute baby makes a quilt even prettier! </em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
A blog <a href="http://www.craftypod.com/2013/09/10/happiness-practice-a-making-meditation" target="_blank">post</a> by Diane Gilleland, one of my favorite bloggers, got me thinking about my quilting days and the joys of gifting my labors of love. I was never a very fast quilter, so even a simple pattern like the above photo took me weeks to finish. <br />
<br />
The reminiscing sent me in search of our very, very old hobby pages that were last updated in late 2004.<br />
<br />
So want to see what Scott and I were up to creatively before Ellianna was born? Check out his<a href="http://szott.ipnshosting.com/woodworking.htm" target="_blank"> woodworking</a> from his furniture making days. And you can see many of the <a href="http://szott.ipnshosting.com/quilting.htm" target="_blank">quilts</a> that I made too! <br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/Hobbies/Quilting-Photo-Archives/i-zBQ3hv2/0/X2/butterfly%20quilt-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/Hobbies/Quilting-Photo-Archives/i-zBQ3hv2/0/X2/butterfly%20quilt-X2.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>The last quilt I made, a high school graduation gift for my niece in 2007. I forgot how wonderfully colorful those butterflies were! </em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
Avivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16411667763810131618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6054955996961154907.post-64962882529012898102013-09-06T12:21:00.002-07:002013-09-06T12:21:20.140-07:00Photo Friday: Works In ProgressCurrently in the kiln:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/For-Blog/Working-Wednesday-9-4-2013/i-fCQwpx3/0/X2/kiln9-5-2013-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/For-Blog/Working-Wednesday-9-4-2013/i-fCQwpx3/0/X2/kiln9-5-2013-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Making frit balls, fusing to smooth edges on Scott's striped piece, and using some clear powder on a couple of my pieces in hopes of avoiding sandblasting and improving the glossy look.</em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Meanwhile, here are some other photos from the past week:<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/For-Blog/Working-Wednesday-9-4-2013/i-TQqHdgG/0/XL/ellie%20glass-XL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/For-Blog/Working-Wednesday-9-4-2013/i-TQqHdgG/0/XL/ellie%20glass-XL.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Scott does the cutting, but Ellie chose the glass, washed all 218 pieces and assembled it into a 7-inch round..</em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/For-Blog/Working-Wednesday-9-4-2013/i-w7qgcjp/0/XL/DSC_0601-001-XL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="422" src="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/For-Blog/Working-Wednesday-9-4-2013/i-w7qgcjp/0/XL/DSC_0601-001-XL.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Hard to get the lighting just right, but here it is after fusing before the slump. The center is a deep royal purple (that unfortunately looks black unless you hold it up to the light), surrounded by petal pink, light cyan blue, and neo lavender.</em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/For-Blog/Working-Wednesday-9-4-2013/i-GhsZ8Bd/0/X2/DSC_0599-001-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="600" src="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/For-Blog/Working-Wednesday-9-4-2013/i-GhsZ8Bd/0/X2/DSC_0599-001-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>The miracle here is that I broke the 6-inch circle of red glass while trying to cut it. A lot of colors of glass would show a line where the break had been, but the red healed like it had never been broken! The hearts and flower shapes are copper foil. In person, the copper foil turned a metallic blue. So cool looking! Scott coldworked the glass on a wet-belt sander to smooth the edges, and after it's sandblasted, we'll fire polish it and slump it. I think it will be pretty! </em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/For-Blog/Working-Wednesday-9-4-2013/i-8fhfTf7/0/X2/DSC_0598-001-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="604" src="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/For-Blog/Working-Wednesday-9-4-2013/i-8fhfTf7/0/X2/DSC_0598-001-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Isn't Rosie pretty with her borders? Can't wait to see her slumped after sandblasting gets rid of the devit on the lavender.</em><br />
<em></em> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
That's all for today! Happy Friday, and l'shana tova to those who celebrate!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Avivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16411667763810131618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6054955996961154907.post-3300939062917746242013-08-30T15:32:00.000-07:002013-08-30T15:32:47.992-07:00Notes From the Glass Studio: Making Glass Flow<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/For-Blog/Glass-Blocks-8-26-2013/i-pbTTQ9B/0/X2/DSC_0671-001-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/For-Blog/Glass-Blocks-8-26-2013/i-pbTTQ9B/0/X2/DSC_0671-001-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>This is a new piece that Scott launched into after last week's debacle.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
Scott doesn't let anything slow him down for long, not even the disappointment of seeing one of his projects come out of the kiln <a href="http://fostersbeauties.blogspot.com/2013/08/fused-glass-learning-experience-thermal.html" target="_blank">broken</a>. He immediately started cutting class to make three more similar projects.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to capture photos of his technique!<br />
<br />
Scott starts out by cutting strips of glass and then tack-fusing them together into blocks.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/For-Blog/Glass-Blocks-8-26-2013/i-swJ7m7k/0/X2/DSC_0662-002-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/For-Blog/Glass-Blocks-8-26-2013/i-swJ7m7k/0/X2/DSC_0662-002-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>These blocks are made of periwinkle, white and aventurine blue glass (the latter looks almost black in this photo), and were used to make the piece in the top photo on this blog post.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Scott brought a few of those blocks into the house, and they totally mystified Ellie, who wanted to know how he glued the glass together. But they weren't -- they were tack-fused, which means they were in the kiln at a high enough temperature to begin to make the glass soften but not so hot or long enough to make it completely molten.<br />
<br />
It takes lots of those blocks of glass to make a 9-inch-diameter bowl.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/For-Blog/Glass-Blocks-8-26-2013/i-MkjZRgg/0/X2/DSC_0666-001-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/For-Blog/Glass-Blocks-8-26-2013/i-MkjZRgg/0/X2/DSC_0666-001-X2.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>These are enough for two separate projects.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Once those blocks of glass strips are ready, it's time to let them flow.<br />
<br />
First, Scott had to find a way to contain the molten glass since he wants his piece to be about three layers of glass thick. There's something about the physics of glass that makes it want to be about 6mm (or two layers) thick and it will automagically either flow out or pull in to try to make itself 6mm. So if you want your glass to be thicker than 6mm, you have to dam it to keep it from flowing out and thinning out.<br />
<br />
Some people use steel rings, but they're expensive and you're limited to the sizes that someone else thought were best. So Scott made his own out of vermiculite.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/For-Blog/Glass-Blocks-8-26-2013/i-pbqB5FG/0/X2/DSC_0674-001-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/For-Blog/Glass-Blocks-8-26-2013/i-pbqB5FG/0/X2/DSC_0674-001-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>To keep the glass from sticking to the vermiculite, Scott uses a ring of fiber paper. The pink underneath it is kiln wash on the shelf, which serves the same purpose as the fiber paper. </i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The vermiculite is bulkier than steel rings (and takes up more shelf space!), but it's more affordable and certainly far more customizable.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/For-Blog/Glass-Blocks-8-26-2013/i-vpP6n5X/0/X2/DSC_0675-002-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/For-Blog/Glass-Blocks-8-26-2013/i-vpP6n5X/0/X2/DSC_0675-002-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The blocks of glass are positioned on a circle of clear glass. </i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
After arranging the glass blocks on the kiln shelf, it was time to put it all in the kiln and turn up the heat.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/For-Blog/Glass-Blocks-8-26-2013/i-s96NzJ9/0/X2/DSC_0677-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/For-Blog/Glass-Blocks-8-26-2013/i-s96NzJ9/0/X2/DSC_0677-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>It's flowing! Note: If you have a kiln of your own, don't open it when the glass is molten like this unless you have eye protection!</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
And then it's done with its first step. Next will come adding a border, using a sandblaster to get rid of the devit, fire polishing and, finally, slumping it into a bowl.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/For-Blog/Glass-Blocks-8-26-2013/i-t2xgQhX/0/X2/DSC_0684-001-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/For-Blog/Glass-Blocks-8-26-2013/i-t2xgQhX/0/X2/DSC_0684-001-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>So pretty, isn't it? Scott really achieved his goal of making something that looked like a rose. </i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />Avivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16411667763810131618noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6054955996961154907.post-36595412756786790192013-08-24T16:52:00.001-07:002013-08-24T16:52:11.160-07:00Fused Glass Learning Experience: Thermal Shock?<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/Glass/Glass-projects-8-23-2013/i-KcWqq3m/0/X2/glasswork%208-19-2013-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/Glass/Glass-projects-8-23-2013/i-KcWqq3m/0/X2/glasswork%208-19-2013-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Remember back when the only decision was which side should be the inside of the bowl? </i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Just a matter of days ago, we were debating which side would be best for slumping into the inside of the bowl.<br />
<br />
Scott did a bit of coldworking on it with loose silicon carbide grits to make it smoother and remove any devitrification, and then it was time to put it back in for a fire polish.<br />
<br />
No big deal, right?<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/Glass/Glass-projects-8-23-2013/i-r5zTVNH/0/X2/DSC_0638-001-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/Glass/Glass-projects-8-23-2013/i-r5zTVNH/0/X2/DSC_0638-001-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Heartbreaking, isn't it?</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The piece shattered with enough force that it pushed the smaller piece off the ThinFire paper the piece sat on.<br />
<br />
Unlike the <a href="http://fostersbeauties.blogspot.com/2013/06/failed-experiments-are-learning.html" target="_blank">last time</a> this happened, this piece broke while the kiln was heating up. The edges where it broke are smoothly rounded over, so it doesn't even fit together cleanly anymore. (The purple and green piece you can see in that link broke after it came out of the kiln, so the edges were sharp and it was fairly easy to push together and fuse<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/Glass/Glass-projects-8-23-2013/i-CmZsD99/0/X2/DSC_0642-001-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/Glass/Glass-projects-8-23-2013/i-CmZsD99/0/X2/DSC_0642-001-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Close, but no cigar.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The good folks at the <a href="http://bullseyeglass.com/" target="_blank">Bullseye Glass</a> resource center say it's likely that although the kiln fired on a fairly conservative tack fuse schedule (the initial heating was 300 degrees per hour to 1200 degrees), the thick glass (about 9mm, or three layers of glass thick) really needed an even slower heating schedule, somewhere between 100 degrees and 200 degrees. Sigh.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/Glass/Glass-projects-8-23-2013/i-FmgGZWm/0/X2/DSC_0643-001-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/Glass/Glass-projects-8-23-2013/i-FmgGZWm/0/X2/DSC_0643-001-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Although I wish it hadn't broken, it's kind of neat to be able to see the layers of colors in the glass.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The Bullseye techs offered several suggestions, ranging from intentionally highlighting the break (which is apparently a popular style in Japan) to fusing it with a solid circle of thin clear glass enough to let it flow a little, and see if it comes together in a way we like. Scott is leaning toward the latter, and we'll see how it comes out.<br />
<br />
But the glass has already been through the kiln five times in its various stages, which is the limit of what Bullseye tests its glass to be able to do, so it's possible that the glass won't really be salvageable. That's what learning experiences are all about, right?<br />
<br />
<br />Avivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16411667763810131618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6054955996961154907.post-89303836217257447622013-08-19T20:36:00.000-07:002013-08-19T20:36:40.538-07:00Which View Is Better?<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/For-Blog/Periwinkle8-19-2013/i-86xmm9f/0/XL/P1110044-001-XL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/For-Blog/Periwinkle8-19-2013/i-86xmm9f/0/XL/P1110044-001-XL.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>This side was against the kiln shelf when originally fused, and therefore kept more straight lines. You can also see the points where some of the blocks of glass started out.</em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
Scott has made another intricate piece of glass showcasing the way the colors flow. He just re-fused it after adding a very cool clear, black & white border using his segmented woodworking techniques. It looks awesome, whichever side you look at!<br />
<br />
But now comes the tough part -- which side would be better as the inside of the bowl after it's slumped? <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/For-Blog/Periwinkle8-19-2013/i-MhZLXXt/0/X2/P1110043-001-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/For-Blog/Periwinkle8-19-2013/i-MhZLXXt/0/X2/P1110043-001-X2.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>This side is more organic looking. It doesn't show well in the photos, but the dark color in the center part is aventurine blue, which sparkles. So this side is way more sparkly! :)</em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
What do you think? Let me know in the comments, via email, or on our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/FostersBeauties" target="_blank">Facebook page</a>. :)<br />
Avivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16411667763810131618noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6054955996961154907.post-86115778700338280062013-08-16T06:30:00.000-07:002013-08-16T06:30:00.992-07:00Finished!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/Glass/Glass-Projects-8-14-2013/i-L2zHktr/0/X2/DSC_0608-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/Glass/Glass-Projects-8-14-2013/i-L2zHktr/0/X2/DSC_0608-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>I'd hoped that the purple butterfly bush blooms would emphasize the purple in the piece, but instead the green leaves really emphasize the greens Scott used.</em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We're (tentatively) planning to deliver <a href="http://fostersbeauties.blogspot.com/2013/06/the-miracles-of-glass.html" target="_blank">this</a> <a href="http://fostersbeauties.blogspot.com/2013/06/the-miracles-of-glass.html" target="_blank">beauty</a> this weekend to the woman who gave us a great deal on the Bullseye deep royal purple glass is the focus of this piece that Scott made. <br />
<br />
She'd bought the glass to use in doors and cabinets in her home, which is the most purple house (inside and out!) in Portland. She has an amazing garden in the front and side of her house (where most people have grass), and it's all greens and purples. Because she needed the sheets of glass to be larger than normal, she had had to buy a minimum number of sheets that was far more than she needed. And we snapped it up when she listed it on Craigslist. :)<br />
<br />
To repay her generosity a bit, Scott decided to make something that we could give to her. And here it is, finished at last! <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/Glass/Glass-Projects-8-14-2013/i-JdJnQHH/0/X2/DSC_0597-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/Glass/Glass-Projects-8-14-2013/i-JdJnQHH/0/X2/DSC_0597-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>We slumped it into a gentle "sushi" mold, which curves the corners up slightly. It should be both a decorative <strong>and</strong> a useful item. :)</em> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, Ellie's piece was slumped this week and looks pretty awesome too. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/Glass/Glass-Projects-8-14-2013/i-fdSq5gC/0/X2/DSC_0607-001-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/Glass/Glass-Projects-8-14-2013/i-fdSq5gC/0/X2/DSC_0607-001-X2.jpg" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Photographing glass items is even harder than photographing wood bowls with a glossy finish. That glare was present even on a cloudy day. </em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I think that's going to make some teacher very happy this December. :)<br />
<br />
Avivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16411667763810131618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6054955996961154907.post-85018511647662766572013-08-12T17:13:00.001-07:002013-08-12T17:13:23.725-07:00Back To School Before You Know It, And The Holidays Are Coming Too!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/For-Blog/Back-to-School-blog-post-8-12/i-JQMCP3K/0/X2/DSC_0603-001-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/For-Blog/Back-to-School-blog-post-8-12/i-JQMCP3K/0/X2/DSC_0603-001-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Just a few of the school supplies Ellie needs for third grade.</em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Here in the Pacific Northwest, school doesn't start until after Labor Day weekend, but I know that some schools in the rest of the country have already started. <br />
<br />
Doesn't it seem like just last week that we were overwhelmed with the end-of-year school events? I'm still not sure how we got into (nearly) mid-August already and the countdown until school starts. <br />
<br />
Despite the rushing around to buy school supplies and such, we have already started thinking about the holidays, including teacher gifts. Which is a little tricky since we haven't even met her third-grade teacher yet, nor her Hebrew school teachers, but we're pretty sure everyone likes a pretty piece of art glass. Right? <br />
<br />
Ellie spent a big part of the weekend cutting squares of glass (with help from Scott) for a pretty dish that will likely delight a teacher come December.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/For-Blog/Back-to-School-blog-post-8-12/i-9q6nBdd/0/X2/DSC_0595-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/For-Blog/Back-to-School-blog-post-8-12/i-9q6nBdd/0/X2/DSC_0595-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>It was hard to get a good photo of the colors Ellie used. But she had very good (i.e. expensive) taste in glass: Both the center rectangle and the pinkish squares include gold to make those pretty colors. I'll post another pic after the piece is slumped.</em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
If you're looking for ideas for teacher gifts, consider <a href="http://fostersbeauties.blogspot.com/2012/06/teacher-gifts-done.html" target="_blank">this one</a>, which was a combination mom-kid effort. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Avivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16411667763810131618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6054955996961154907.post-12967877976195031942013-08-05T13:05:00.001-07:002013-08-05T13:05:15.738-07:00Getting Back To Business<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/rubyblossom/4817432257/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Time Flies! by rubyblossom., on Flickr"><img alt="Time Flies!" height="562" src="http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4117/4817432257_818b84c4eb_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Time Flies photo by rubyblossom via Flickr</em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
My oh my, have we learned a lesson the past few weeks.<br />
<br />
Apparently, it's harder to keep up with a business (both blog and <a href="http://fostersbeauties.etsy.com/" target="_blank">e-store</a>) when on the road than I anticipated. I had the best intentions, both to list some new items and keep up with the blog, while we were in Albuquerque for two weeks. <br />
<br />
But somehow, juggling between my skaters' events at the national roller-skating championships and doing some sight-seeing in one of the most beautiful places I've ever been, there just wasn't time for keeping up with email much less everything else. <br />
<br />
But we're back now, after our little break. And next year, I'll know better than to think I can get anything done while at Nationals. :)<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Avivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16411667763810131618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6054955996961154907.post-69430071251070860372013-07-16T13:07:00.000-07:002013-07-16T13:07:39.926-07:00Skating Mania<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkmZbGr-iygoY-bjxgFMf9zJKkXRsLj4_Y01xxi5Vt1fcBA6dfAmTFmelFurd8qH9f7l6TweSQ1OOsczPA9cP7mv8WzBympYtf47hUgTSgqJ9gdk-fh3bfa2jj-9mz7xByRZfnAURBYodA/s1600/ellie+figures.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkmZbGr-iygoY-bjxgFMf9zJKkXRsLj4_Y01xxi5Vt1fcBA6dfAmTFmelFurd8qH9f7l6TweSQ1OOsczPA9cP7mv8WzBympYtf47hUgTSgqJ9gdk-fh3bfa2jj-9mz7xByRZfnAURBYodA/s640/ellie+figures.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Photo by <a href="http://coopermountain.com/" target="_blank">Cooper Mountain Photography</a></em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
My skaters are headed to Nationals, and while it hasn't <strong>quite</strong> shut down our business as they prepare with extra practice and coaching sessions, it has certainly added a lot more busyness to our schedules. Which has meant that I haven't been blogging as often as I've wanted and intended! Sorry about that!<br />
<br />
The photo above is Ellie during a figures event at the Regionals competition last month. In her hair, is a flower clip I made to match her dress. I don't have parental permission (yet!) to run the photo, but I was delighted that another skater also wore one of my flowers, including a custom center featuring Swarovski rhinestones that matched the girl's dress. And Ellie's precision team's 14 skaters will all wear my matching hand-wrapped headbands with flowers when they skate at Nationals next week.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, last weekend, I delivered three small flower clips that will be worn around a bun. Who knows, if I sell enough flower clips to local skaters, who wear them at competitions regionally and nationally, maybe I'll carve out a little market niche for myself! :)<br />
<br />
<br />
</div>
Foster's Beautieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11065375664670188544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6054955996961154907.post-92142584169754943672013-07-05T04:30:00.000-07:002014-09-10T21:35:23.710-07:00Meet the Maker: Another Q&A With Scott<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><em>This is another in an <span style="font-family: inherit;">occasional series about the makers behind Foster's Beauties' artwork. </span></em></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/RollerSkating-3/Broadway-Nights-annual-skate/i-gQHW6MJ/0/X2/DSC_0246-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/RollerSkating-3/Broadway-Nights-annual-skate/i-gQHW6MJ/0/X2/DSC_0246-X2.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Scott pretends to be asleep on the job while volunteering to work the lights for a skating exhibition in March 2013.</em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The most common question asked of an artist is where do they get their inspiration. It's a tough question to answer, but in this post, Scott does his best to explain how he decides what to do in his <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/fostersbeauties?section_id=11289659" target="_blank">segmented woodturning</a> pieces.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><em>Q: Tell us about your design process when you're percolating an idea for a new segmented piece. </em></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
A: <span style="font-family: inherit;">Well, that varies a great deal!</span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Sometimes, I want to reach out to add a new
technique or direction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then it is a
matter of considering a stepping stone or two, that will be challenging
enough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An old colleague of mine said, "You learn more from a near failure than a complete success," and that fits
with how I try to take on a new skill or design element.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I aim for something that is just within what
I think I can accomplish that reaches out along a path to what I want to be
able to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> I l</span>earn something from that
process, and then reach some more.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">If I'm trying to create a particular thing, or
function, I consider the requirements
and create a few sketches or ideas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some
ideas will seem to do the job better than others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With the luxury of time, I'll set some ideas
aside and come back to them again later, or combine ideas that I didn't use in
a prior project to push the next project along.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I usually percolate down to a sketch or two that seems to
serve the function, and appeals to the artistic idea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes the materials guide the next step
too: I only have X board feet of this particular grain pattern so how can I
optimize my use of that board?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I do the
math, and solve some of the geometry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A
few more sketches usually evolve, and change the lines a little here or there
to find a better way of expressing the feeling that starts to build around the
piece as the design evolves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I'll sort
through how to build the pieces and the steps that I expect to need to take
along the way in my mind.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Usually it comes down to a final scaled drawing with
enough details that I can work from, and then finding a way to express that
onto a single page that tells me about element sizes that I have to start
cutting things into.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes I have to
invent a way to hold the pieces, and end up building a jig.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes it involves the inventing of new
steps when new possibilities show up while I'm part way through a project, or
when problems (<em>excuse me, design opportunities!</em>) happen along the path.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<em>That's all for this round. Be sure to check back to hear more from the makers here at Foster's Beauties! And check out examples of Scott's work in <a href="http://fostersbeauties.etsy.com/" target="_blank">our Etsy store</a> -- you might find the piece you just can't live without!</em></div>
Foster's Beautieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11065375664670188544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6054955996961154907.post-50539921305703910662013-07-04T04:00:00.000-07:002013-07-04T04:00:09.897-07:00Happy Birthday, America! And Scott Too!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/Ellianna/Fourth-of-July-2012/i-ZfMtGLF/0/X2/fireworks1-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="548" src="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/Ellianna/Fourth-of-July-2012/i-ZfMtGLF/0/X2/fireworks1-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em> Photo taken by Scott on 7-4-2012 at Cook Park in Tigard, Oregon</em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The Fourth of July is a great day to have a birthday (at least in the U.S.) because, hey, what other day of the year are you guaranteed fireworks? :)<br />
<br />
And most people get the day off, maybe even as a paid holiday. Life is good when you're born on the Fourth of July!<br />
<br />
Happy birthday to Scott, the best husband, dad, business partner and all-around good guy I've ever known. <br />
<br />
Oh, and happy birthday to the USA too! :)<br />
<br />
Hope you all have a spectacular (but safe!) day!</div>
Foster's Beautieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11065375664670188544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6054955996961154907.post-66686567288190485362013-07-02T12:49:00.000-07:002013-07-02T12:49:17.525-07:00Yet Another Learning Experience: Using Copper Foil In Fused Glass<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/Glass/Salsa-Channel-Plate-7-2-2013/i-357Qs3x/0/X2/DSC_0598-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/Glass/Salsa-Channel-Plate-7-2-2013/i-357Qs3x/0/X2/DSC_0598-X2.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>After fusing but before slumping. </em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
It's hot here in Oregon, so it seemed like the thing to do was to work with some hot colors! I also wanted to play with some copper foil we bought on one of our first trips to Bullseye Glass.<br />
<br />
I used a paper punch to make little flower cut-outs from the copper foil, first sandwiching the foil within two pieces of scrap paper. (And hey, that scrap paper didn't go to waste either -- Ellie claimed the paper flowers for an art project!)<br />
<br />
I then chose Bullseye Compatible glass that contains sulphur in hopes of getting a chemical reaction. And I think I did!<br />
<br />
The copper foil turned dark, almost black, but in places turned a metallic light blue, that looks super cool. I have plans to try using snowflake-shaped copper foil next time!<br />
<br />
So that's what went right. What went wrong, you ask? Two things:<br />
<br />
First, I had a couple half-flowers that had been punched with the foil not quite where I thought it was in its paper sandwich. No problem, I thought! I'll just put them on the edges and it'll look like they were done intentionally! <br />
<br />
Good idea, right? <br />
<br />
Well, the one I put on the edge of red and orange looks great. It's the one I put on the outer edge that's the problem. I apparently left it sticking out slightly when I put the clear glass on top of it. It's also possible that when the glass fused, the top layer of clear glass moved the flower slightly. Sigh. However it happened, it's not only unsightly, but it left a sharp edge.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/Glass/Salsa-Channel-Plate-7-2-2013/i-5Q7VBkd/0/X2/DSC_0597-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/Glass/Salsa-Channel-Plate-7-2-2013/i-5Q7VBkd/0/X2/DSC_0597-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>This close up actually shows BOTH flaws! Can you spot them both?</em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The second flaw is that I apparently failed to get the foil flowers fully pressed down or something. They were tricky since the petals curled a bit, and I was worried that they would tear if I handled them too much.<br />
<br />
But see that ginormous bubble on the left-most flower in the above photo? I'm sure I should consider myself lucky that it didn't burst and leave a major crater, but ... and now that I look at the photo, I see several more big-ish bubbles. <br />
<br />
When working with layers of glass, you're always going to have some bubbles. There's just no way around it. But there's a difference between the normal little bubbles and these. <br />
<br />
So what do I need to do differently next time? <br />
<br />
I'll keep my foil shapes farther from the outer edges. And I'll use GlassTac to glue down my shapes and try using a wooden skewer to burnish them a little to make sure they're not trapping air bubbles. <br />
<br />
In the meantime, I plan to visit Bullseye and ask if there's any way to fix the edge where the foil pokes out on this piece. If so, I'll slump it. If not, I'm pondering slicing the piece up and using the smaller pieces as accents in future work.<br />
<br />
<em>Got any other tips for me to help me avoid these problems in the future? Leave me a comment here on the blog or on our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/FostersBeauties" target="_blank">Facebook page</a>. Thanks!</em><br />
</div>
Foster's Beautieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11065375664670188544noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6054955996961154907.post-90221632903396994322013-07-01T12:51:00.000-07:002013-07-01T12:51:32.555-07:00Making Puddles Into Cabochons<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/Glass/Glass-Puddles-6-26-2013/i-7kb9xBd/0/X2/DSC_0624-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/Glass/Glass-Puddles-6-26-2013/i-7kb9xBd/0/X2/DSC_0624-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>So pretty! I still need to do some work on them to take care of devitrification (looks kind of like soap scum but won't wash off with water) on some of them but I'm so excited at how well they turned out!</em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
Scott sent me a cool link from a site run by a glass artist (<a href="http://firelogger.com/">Paul Tarlow</a>) we both admire explaining how to make <a href="http://fusedglass.org/learn/project_tutorials/fused_glass_puddles" target="_blank">glass "puddles"</a> and showcasing some of the things you can do with them. <br />
<br />
I immediately knew I <strong>had</strong> to make some and see if I'd end up with something I could use as centers for my fabric flower brooches. <br />
<br />
See the link above for the real tutorial, but here are photos of the steps I went through. <br />
<br />
First, I made stacks of seven different colors of 3-inch-square pieces of glass.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/Glass/Glass-Puddles-6-26-2013/i-3Fg3JSK/0/X2/DSC_0603-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/Glass/Glass-Puddles-6-26-2013/i-3Fg3JSK/0/X2/DSC_0603-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>I was trying for colors that would give some good contrast and eye-popping colors.</em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Then they went into the kiln for their first full fuse. Because the stacks were more than two layers (6mm) of glass, I had to give them plenty of space to flow out. <br />
<br />
When they came out, they didn't look like much from the top because all you could see was the color of the glass that was on the top of the stack. (Although a couple of my fused stacks had small dots of colors underneath that must have been brought to the surface by bubbles that popped while the glass was liquid. Kind of cool, isn't it?<br />
<br />
On the bottom of the fused stacks, though, you could see the concentric colors in rings. I didn't remember to take a photo until the next step though -- breaking the glass!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/Glass/Glass-Puddles-6-26-2013/i-MTFpzTx/0/X2/DSC_0595-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/Glass/Glass-Puddles-6-26-2013/i-MTFpzTx/0/X2/DSC_0595-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>It took me several tries to break the darn things, even following the instructions on the FusedGlass.org tutorial! The first one I did was the one in the back of this photo. I have to say that I am very, very happy that I was following protocol and wearing safety glasses because when it finally broke into pieces, it kind of exploded and shards hit my safety glasses before bouncing to the floor. Always wear safety glasses if you're playing with or around glass!!</em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Aren't the striated layers gorgeous?<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/Glass/Glass-Puddles-6-26-2013/i-5M72FPd/0/X2/DSC_0596-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/Glass/Glass-Puddles-6-26-2013/i-5M72FPd/0/X2/DSC_0596-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Even looking at the layers here, the colors make me smile!</em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I started out using a glass/tile nipper to make smaller pieces from the larger pieces. But oh, that wasn't going to work very well because it hurt my hands too much, so Scott helped me out and made it all look easy. <br />
<br />
Then it was time to put them back into the kiln again and see what would happen. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/Glass/Glass-Puddles-6-26-2013/i-6SGSjGq/0/X2/DSC_0607-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/Glass/Glass-Puddles-6-26-2013/i-6SGSjGq/0/X2/DSC_0607-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>We put them in standing on edge in hopes of encouraging them to melt into puddles again, this time showing the ripples of color on the top. It worked better for some of them than others ...</em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/Glass/Glass-Puddles-6-26-2013/i-7Wx7k3J/0/X2/DSC_0610-001-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/Glass/Glass-Puddles-6-26-2013/i-7Wx7k3J/0/X2/DSC_0610-001-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>On the kiln shelf when it was removed from the kiln after firing. My puddles were all in one corner, and then Scott filled the rest of the shelf up with frit balls that he's hoping to mix up and then tack fuse together into a bowl. </em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/Glass/Glass-Puddles-6-26-2013/i-L4V3PsD/0/X2/DSC_0630-001-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/Glass/Glass-Puddles-6-26-2013/i-L4V3PsD/0/X2/DSC_0630-001-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Soaking them in a vinegar bath helped remove the primer we use on our kiln shelf. The little bits of white stuff in the container are primer that has already soaked off, but it took 4+ hours to get it all removed. </em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Now I'm looking forward to making the perfect brooches to use them on! <br />
<br />
<br />
</div>
Foster's Beautieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11065375664670188544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6054955996961154907.post-27722615407972538062013-06-28T10:47:00.001-07:002013-06-28T10:47:06.651-07:00The Miracles of Glass<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Remember <a href="http://fostersbeauties.blogspot.com/2013/06/failed-experiments-are-learning.html" target="_blank">this</a>?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/Glass/Purplelavendergreen-experiment/i-D62tsDH/0/X2/DSC_0599-001-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/Glass/Purplelavendergreen-experiment/i-D62tsDH/0/X2/DSC_0599-001-X2.jpg" width="638" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
It just about broke my heart when that gorgeous piece broke itself. <br />
<br />
Scott took it to Bullseye Glass to talk with some of their experts in their resource center and was told that when working with pattern bars and other extra-thick glass, he needed to give it a looooooong soak at the top temperature.<br />
<br />
Normally, glass is fused in roughly 10 to 15 minutes at about 1490 degrees F. Bullseye tests its glass to be sure it can handle a maximum of 30 minutes at 1500 degrees, which is typically plenty for the multiple fuses a complicated piece might require.<br />
<br />
But the reason this piece hadn't flowed to completely close all the open space in the center was because it needed a lot <strong>more</strong> time and at a higher temperature. <br />
<br />
So Scott put it back in the kiln, this time for an hour at 1525 degrees.<br />
<br />
And look what happened!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/Glass/Purplelavendergreen-experiment/i-cNV69z2/0/X2/DSC_0603-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/Glass/Purplelavendergreen-experiment/i-cNV69z2/0/X2/DSC_0603-X2.jpg" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>If you know exactly where to look, and Scott does, you can find the thin line where the glass broke after its first time out of the kiln. But to the rest of us? It's perfect, with no sign of its fault line. </em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Isn't it gorgeous?<br />
<br />
Like any true artist, Scott likes to try to improve on perfection. So he made a second piece very similar to the first:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/Glass/Purplelavendergreen-experiment/i-n5X8SVq/0/X2/DSC_0604-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/Glass/Purplelavendergreen-experiment/i-n5X8SVq/0/X2/DSC_0604-X2.jpg" width="638" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Can you see the differences? Scott added some aventurine green to the center, and also used more clear glass when he made the blocks of purple. The additional light helps keep the purple from looking black.</em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
And here they are together:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/Glass/Purplelavendergreen-experiment/i-ZFGbMVP/0/X2/DSC_0602-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/Glass/Purplelavendergreen-experiment/i-ZFGbMVP/0/X2/DSC_0602-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>The new one is on the left, the original on the right.</em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Mind you, they're not quite finished yet. Scott plans to slump them in a sushi mold, which will give them a gentle curve. <br />
<br />
<em>Happy Friday! Hope your weekend is a happy one!</em><br />
<br />
</div>
Foster's Beautieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11065375664670188544noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6054955996961154907.post-65838820054992816892013-06-26T17:51:00.004-07:002013-06-26T17:51:55.466-07:00Meet the Maker: Q&A with Scott<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<em><span style="font-family: inherit;">This is the first in an occasional series about the makers behind Foster's Beauties' artwork. </span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></em><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/Artist-Photos-2013/i-mCnP6Kj/0/X2/DSC_0600-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/Artist-Photos-2013/i-mCnP6Kj/0/X2/DSC_0600-X2.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Scott is cutting scrap glass into tiny rectangles that he put into the kiln to turn into tiny spheroids, which he hopes to fuse into a bowl. It's a lot of work to cut hundreds of those pieces of glass, and then have to clean them all before sticking them into the kiln! Can't wait to find out how his project turns out!</em><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<em></em><br />
Scott is the man behind the beautiful wood pieces we sell (and the intricate glass art that we hope to someday sell!). But he's not just an artist: he will skate at the National Figure Roller-Skating Championships this summer in Albuquerque, maintains three heavily planted aquariums, and is an awesome dad and husband.<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><em>Q: You're an electrical engineer in your day job. What's
appealing about spending your evenings and weekends working with wood?</em></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">A: Most of the art in my day job is buried down in layers
that aren't seen by most people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only
evidence of my hand is that the product does it's job, and a look inside will
reveal beauty only to a small percentage of people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> T</span>he projects at work often require a couple
years to complete.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">In the wood shop, most of what I do can be seen right up
on the surface.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And often, I'm
highlighting a spectacular piece of nature too: a grain pattern that is unique
and lines that can be appreciated by a fairly wide audience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I still aim for products that do a job and
are useful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While many projects take just a
few weeks, there are not a lot of them that require over 6 months to complete (unless I'm
really low on time that I can spend, and I don't think any
projects would require that much time if woodworking were my full-time job).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I find it rewarding to put that first coat of finish on a
wood project and watch the colors and depth pop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or to put a piece of pattern bar into the
(glass) kiln and remove it after it has flowed into a new shape and become
something different and unique compared with what I started.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">In my day job, projects go in directions dictated by
customers and team think.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the wood
shop, I can realize ideas that are shaped by my own desires.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I still have to cater to the requirements of
the wood and glue, or glass and heat, but there is a freedom that makes
exploring the unknown and a depth of figuring out new techniques to do things
that is exciting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To be sure, there is
lots to learn in the day job too, always progress in engineering to be learned,
but choosing directions for my own work adds an element of playful fun.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<em>That's all for this round. Be sure to check back to hear more from the makers here at Foster's Beauties!</em></div>
Foster's Beautieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11065375664670188544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6054955996961154907.post-23144666621146651292013-06-22T12:10:00.001-07:002013-06-22T12:10:12.822-07:00Running A Crafty Business Is A Learning Experience Too<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/plindberg/2872583288/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Mistakes by plindberg, on Flickr"><img alt="Mistakes" height="480" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3079/2872583288_8127958300_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Not sure I agree with Miles Davis ... </em><br />
<em></em> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
When I entered college planning to major in journalism, my mom insisted I aim for a minor in business as well because it offered more employment opportunities than journalism would. <br />
<br />
I tried, but oh, the prerequisite classes for business were excruciatingly boring to me. And by the end of my sophomore year, I had abandoned them for the exceedingly useful classes in religion that had become my passion. <em>(Note: I attended an entirely secular public university. My religion classes were focused primarily on analyzing Old Testament texts in a more literary way than a religious class would.) </em><br />
<br />
But it worked out fine since I got hired by The Associated Press straight out of college and earned a good living for the 15 years I stayed with them. (The only other job offer I got at the time was for a tiny, rural newspaper, where a staffer told me in utter seriousness that it was great because all the reporters qualified for food stamps.) <br />
<br />
Fast forward eight years, and now I'm running a small crafty business and boy do I wish I'd stuck with those boring accounting and econ classes to get to the more advanced business classes! <br />
<br />
Although I'm not sure that business administration or marketing classes would necessarily have saved me from this week's business learning experience. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/planeta/7843885274/" title="mistakes by planeta, on Flickr"><img alt="mistakes" height="480" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7135/7843885274_3c9698e063_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
<br />
<br />
The exciting news is we had our first international sale! Woohoo! <br />
<br />
On Thursday, I shipped one of my lovely fabric flower brooches off to Cork, Ireland, a place I've never been but hope to visit someday. <br />
<br />
Imagine my surprise, though, when I learned that instead of over-estimating my international postage rates in my product listings, shipping cost me $12, 50 percent more than the $8 I had charged my customer. Oops!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/terrancedc/9083765513/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Delete "MISTAKE" by TerranceDC, on Flickr"><img alt="Delete "MISTAKE"" height="425" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5493/9083765513_117ab533e2_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>It's not a mistake, it's a learning experience!</em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I'm definitely happy to have learned this lesson while shipping a light-weight brooch rather than one of Scott's wood pieces! <br />
<br />
And now I'm busily updating all my product listings on Etsy to properly reflect the higher international shipping costs. I'd much rather refund excess shipping charges than pay them out of my own pocket! <br />
<br />
<em>Our shop policy is to refund shipping charge overages that are greater than $1. But if I underestimate shipping expenses, we don't ask our customers for more money. </em><br />
<br />
Now that that's off my chest, I'm going to go back to celebrating having had my first international sale! :)<br />
<br />
</div>
Foster's Beautieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11065375664670188544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6054955996961154907.post-72046027836744429412013-06-21T13:48:00.000-07:002013-06-21T13:48:30.967-07:00Failed Experiments Are Learning Experiences, Right?<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/Glass/Purplelavendergreen-experiment/i-kDBkSNL/0/X2/purple1-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/Glass/Purplelavendergreen-experiment/i-kDBkSNL/0/X2/purple1-X2.jpg" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Scott holds the glass up to show me the colors and flow pattern.</em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Scott had high hopes for a project that would showcase flowing glass.<br />
<br />
First he tack fused strips of deep purple and clear glass so they became 2+-inch blocks of glass. He then created a border with stripes of clear, lavender, transparent green and aventurine glass into a 12-inch square. In the center, he set the previously tack-fused blocks standing up with plenty of open space around them, and programmed the kiln for a full fuse. <br />
<br />
When he checked the kiln the next morning mid-cycle, he saw that there were still some empty spots so he added some extra time to the program hoping the glass would finish flowing.<br />
<br />
But when the fuse was done, the glass still had a few open spaces where the flowing glass hadn't completely filled in.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/Glass/Purplelavendergreen-experiment/i-tGnk3jw/0/X2/purple3-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/Glass/Purplelavendergreen-experiment/i-tGnk3jw/0/X2/purple3-X2.jpg" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>You can see two of the places the glass is pierced near the center block.</em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
While we admired the glass, holding it up to the light to see things better, we heard a ping. And then another one. And another one.<br />
<br />
At first, we couldn't figure out what was making the sound. I thought maybe it was Scott's wedding ring hitting the glass. Since one happened as he set it down on the work table, Scott thought maybe there was a piece of glass underneath it and it was the sound of glass hitting glass.<br />
<br />
And then it happened again, and Scott spotted where a crack had suddenly appeared. We went to bed knowing there were several cracks, and I planned to take more photos today and this weekend we would take the piece into <a href="http://www.bullseyeglass.com/" target="_blank">Bullseye Glass</a> to find out what the experts thought had gone wrong.<br />
<br />
Sadly, overnight, the cracks continued to progress. This morning, it had completely broken in two. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/Glass/Purplelavendergreen-experiment/i-D62tsDH/0/X2/DSC_0599-001-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/Glass/Purplelavendergreen-experiment/i-D62tsDH/0/X2/DSC_0599-001-X2.jpg" width="638" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>So pretty, but so flawed. </em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Scott will undoubtedly be back to the drawing board for another attempt after we get some feedback from the good folks at Bullseye. <br />
<br />
Avivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16411667763810131618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6054955996961154907.post-45204335037692348052013-06-13T18:10:00.003-07:002013-06-13T18:10:35.155-07:00It's June, So No Time To Blog!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/Glass/New-Glass-and-Teacher-Gifts-6/i-Tqw34vv/0/X2/DSC_0743-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/Glass/New-Glass-and-Teacher-Gifts-6/i-Tqw34vv/0/X2/DSC_0743-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Scott's first fused glass plate for this weekend's regional skating competition was such a hit that he made a second. The first was donated to the Northwest Skating Foundation for raffle. This one is being donated to our skate club for a silent auction that will help raise money to send our skaters to Nationals this summer in Albuquerque.</em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Every year I'm just amazed at how many events, activities and other commitments pile up toward the end of the school year. Even things that have nothing to do with school or education seem to all come to a head from May through mid June. <br />
<br />
Hardly leaves time to make stuff, much less blog about making stuff!!<br />
<br />
Actually, the making stuff also piles up because somehow, I don't get a good teacher gift idea until May or so. Actually I collect ideas throughout the year, but somehow never get around to getting started on them and then, sometime in May, I think of something new and urgent to try to crank out.<br />
<br />
This year, of course, we're excited about glass, and the kiln has been firing at least one batch per day for the past couple weeks. <br />
<br />
Ellie's main teacher, Ms. Davis, has been wonderful this year. We had some school drama in the fall and ended up leaving a private school for our neighborhood public school, and it has turned out to be a wonderful experience for both Ellie <strong>and</strong> her parents. (And hey, it must have all been kismet because without freeing up that money we were spending on tuition, I don't think we'd have been able to invest in a kiln and creating our home glass studio!)<br />
<br />
We plan to give Ms. Davis one of the "warm squares" projects that Scott initiated and Ellie helped create.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/Glass/New-Glass-and-Teacher-Gifts-6/i-rs5w9xs/0/X2/DSC_0599-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/Glass/New-Glass-and-Teacher-Gifts-6/i-rs5w9xs/0/X2/DSC_0599-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Each of the trio is unique. Two have randomly placed tiles and one has patterns. The top two were slumped in the same mold, but due to different firing schedules, came out with different curves. The bottom one was fired in a different mold and didn't come out quite the way we intended. But it's all good and fun!</em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
And Ellie chose the glass and colors for this channel plate that I made, which she wants to give to her art teacher:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/Glass/New-Glass-and-Teacher-Gifts-6/i-3m7XbDZ/0/X2/DSC_0748-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/Glass/New-Glass-and-Teacher-Gifts-6/i-3m7XbDZ/0/X2/DSC_0748-X2.jpg" width="486" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Aventurine Blue glass with red stringer in an abstract pattern. I love the way the aventurine glasses sparkle like they have glitter in them, and Ellie loves them too. :)</em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Assorted other teachers will get one of these ring dishes, 3.5-inch squares that I slumped in one of three different molds we have.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/Glass/New-Glass-and-Teacher-Gifts-6/i-mTQ2dwf/0/XL/DSC_0790-XL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://ellianna.smugmug.com/FostersBeauties/Glass/New-Glass-and-Teacher-Gifts-6/i-mTQ2dwf/0/XL/DSC_0790-XL.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Pretty, aren't they?</em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
Avivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16411667763810131618noreply@blogger.com0