Glass Bird Vessels Revisited

In anticipation of attending the ISGB Gathering this summer in Louisville, I'm thinking about what I might offer for sale at my half-table during the Bead Bazaar to offset expenses. Last weekend when I was at the torch, I decided to see if I could construct a bird vessel, a task I haven't attempted in probably two years.

I admit to cracking the top once and healing it, which was always a problem with these large pieces that take a lot of time. The hollow blowpipe sucks heat away from the glass, meaning a constant bathing of that area to keep from over cooling. My wings aren't as well-defined as I would like, but I take the fact that I could get this close on the first try as a very good sign. I'm not clear about the reason for the devititrification on the body, but actually wondering if I added in some silver glass by mistake from the mess on my bench.

Now to try some electroforming again. It's embarrassing to admit that my equipment is still packed and unused for almost a year.

Bead & Button Shopping

Oh, so many wonderful goodies. Here, a few of the treasures I brought home:


A metal clay bracelet made by Kate McKinnon, which feels weighty and smooth on the wrist.

A necklace from the gorgeous selection of Susan Lenart Kazmer. The printer's block scrap in the bezel says "collector and creator" above "one of a kind creations." How perfect for me is that??


An electroformed vessel with a stand from Kate Fowle Meleney. I had a really hard time choosing. There was another one that really called to me as well. It was transparent aqua with a frothy surface texture due to fine frit that continued under the electroforming. Wonderful! This one is hard to photograph. The glass is transparent, but with a metal blue finish.


These small cloth bags were just too fun to pass up. 3 for $5! I wanted the whole basket full. One set of pulls closes them, and then the other set opens them again.

I also acquired a range of tools and materials to play with: a beautiful new texturing hammer, Ice resin, tiny brass eyelets, sterling bezels, faux bone, special saw blades for the faux bone, turquoise, opals, chalcedony, a range of ivory seed beads, sterling silver beads and jump rings, wire lace, copper beads, and more I'm sure I've forgotton.

Gratitude

Front and Back

Thanksgiving kicks off a season of stress for most of us, and I've certainly felt that increasingly over the past few years. Somehow, this middle age thing brings more commitments, more work, more family responsibilities, more "musts."

This year, as I move forward into the holidays, I'm vowing to try to keep a bit more focused on feeling grateful...

Grateful mostly for little things, the tiny shifts in perception that can change the stress into peace, beauty and even fun. I can't necessarily choose all the commitments I have this season, but I can choose the attitude that I bring to them. So, as I find myself tending toward panic today, I'm trying to proceed calmly, with gratitude.

Since I missed a message while I was gone to Chicago, I've only agreed at the last minute to participate in a trunk show next Sunday (less than a week!!!) at Blue Moon Glassworks . Well, yes, I found out before Thanksgiving, but today is the first day that I can really work on preparation.

Advised that jewelry might be a better seller for the holidays, I'm working slowly on converting some of my beads into wearable pieces. This is an interesting mental shift, which I'm certain will have a good effect on my beads and vessels. Overwhelmed by wondering what shoppers might desire, I've decided that I can only think about making jewelry that I myself would find appealing. I'm also viewing it as a learning opportunity, where I may indeed not reap a reasonable wage, but where I will gain valuable knowledge for future endeavors.

Etsy listings should follow soon.

Kiln Goddess Offering

Here's the broken vessel. I'm so bummed. It has pearlescent red flowers.

People ask what to put in the vessels. Many people put aromatherapy oils, such as lavender, in them. As a lampworker, I think that's a clever way to have burn salve handy for when the glass pops out and gets me (lavender oil is WONDERFUL on burns -- kills the pain and speeds the healing, put it on as soon as possible). The other night I woke up with a different idea for the vessels.

I take yoga classes 3-4 times per week, and many yoga teachers ask students to set intentions at the beginning of the practice. They must be stated in the present tense, as are all good affirmations. A common intention that resonates with me is "I am healthy, creative, patient and loving." I woke up thinking that a vessel was a perfect receptacle for a tiny wisp of paper holding such an affirmation. I've decided to call them dream vessels, and put into them the images that I wish to manifest.

Oh, I've also added the pansy vessel that survived.

Back to Glass

Today was my first day back in the glass studio. I melted a full set of painted tiles by goofing the kiln timer, and didn't have much control at the torch either. I did successfully paint and fire a set of eye tiles for more eye beads and tried sculpting some crow head pendants. For now, I'll just make do with showing two of the last bird vessels I made before the trip.

But I have to throw in a trip photo of El Gran Dragon in Park Guell.

New Birds and Painted Beads

Cactus Wren

The first of many, I hope, enamel painted bird vessels.

Process:
1) Make glass bird vessel at torch (~1 hour).
2) Anneal overnight in kiln.
3) Etch.
4) Handpaint with colored vitreous enamels, both sides (~1 hour).
5) Outline with tracing black enamel.
6) Warm from room temperature to ~1000 degrees in kiln (~1 hour).
7) SLOWLY, reintroduce to flame and heat enamels until they gloss slightly.
8) Anneal overnight again.

Enamel Bird

This is a few weeks old; I made it right before the class with Bronwen.

I've made enough birds now that I have the process almost down (I still crack some), so I can move beyond shape to surface design.

This vessel changes from aquamarine to grass green glass, has some powdered enamel sprinkled on, and then has encased stringer lines and dots. Oh, and it's etched to give a softer look.

Cowbird

Keenan says this looks like a cowbird, which doesn't strike me as very flattering, but it does have a black body and "brown" metallic head.

I've been working on tailfeather stoppers, but don't have any yet that really work.

Electroforming Birds

Now I've started to electroform some of the bird vessels. This one has copper over the entire head except for the eyes. It is 60 mm long and 42 mm wide.

More Electroforming

This is my current favorite electroformed vessel, front and back.


















And a bicone bead, following in the style of the vessels so far:

Electroforming

This is what I've been playing with for the last few weeks: Electroforming.
I use copper paint to lay down a conductive pattern on the surface, sometimes using tiny glass beads or copper wire for texture. Then the glass goes into a beaker of acidic copper solution with copper electrodes and hooks up to the power supply. Copper deposits slowly over several hours. Afterwards, I add color via a patina and/or polish the surface.

Bird Vessels

My current favorite bird: amber glass with gold swirl overlay.

















A bluebird of happiness:

















And a green aventurine bird with green lustre head:

More Vessels

The Christmas break provided time for more vessel making. Here are some of my favorites, where I'm trying to move beyond just copying Tink's vessels. The first one has double handles and wonderful copper foil color.















The second is my first attempt to cut the glass vessel and twist the tails.



















I tried one without handles, but with ball feet, and a dropper (needs adjustment).



















Finally, I used my Christmas electroforming equipment to add copper around the neck and handles which was then patinaed to make it look old.



















Driving back from Oklahoma, I sketched ideas for vessels that I'm attempting to realize in glass, including these birds. (Each is about 2" long.) On the back side, their feet form a handle to hang them by. I plan to try one as a pendent.

Vessels

Products of my weekend glass vessel workshop with Tink Martin and John Cramer.






















For comparison, a vessel by the masterful Tink.
Bullseye green luster with angel wings. Incredible!