I planned to do some Lampwork today, but got bogged down in a chat room, having a lovely time with some online friends, till the website froze up. Then I suddenly realised that I had an appointment in the city with the CCDI.
They were briefing art and craft people about the 2010 World Soccer Cup, and selling opportunities. We all got lists of do's and do'nts and just general information. I wore some of my jewellry, and got a few compliments! That is always good, lol. Now I have to work towards the 10 th of February, when we have to submit work for judging. From there on, the panel will work with us, and help with marketing. Apparently the big corporations is already looking for gifting, etc.
I have also made another appointment with their panel to discuss my ceramic line. I took some of the completed pieces with me, and got good feedback. I am to late for Design Indaba, but will still be able to take part in the Decorex Cape Exhibition. That will also give me time to make sure that I could get some media coverage to coincide with the exhibition.
On the way home I had a mental picture of what I want my coffee mug to look like! Poor Leo, he will be slaving away for ever on my work! At least I am learning a lot about making moulds, and slip casting.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Monday, January 19, 2009
the proof is in the pudding ...
I finally got my ceramic pieces back today, and spent some time drilling the holes clean, rinsing them with my squirt gun, and then took them all outside for a leisurely sun tan before I attempted to assemble everything.
Armed with my Vernier Caliper, and a lot of other stuff I started to measure, cutting bits of mandrels with my abused Jeweller's saw, and finally put all together. Currently the whole lot is resting with elastic bands around their ample bosoms, waiting for the bonding agents to cure, while I cannot wait to start using my pretties.
I absolutely believe in test driving everything I make. Whether it is a new ring design, or what. I must know that it will survive me and those around me before I will ever consider selling anything that I have made.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
A belated Happy New Year!
I was more than a bit shocked when I noticed my last entry - mid December 2008! I would like to offer lots of excuses, but I suspect that the real reason was me just not having a lot of energy. this last week my body finally orchestrated a mini revolt and declared itself sick. My immune system went off somewhere nice and fancy and left the back door wide open for bugs. As a result I have been coughing and spluttering till the wee hours of the morning, sleeping in bouts of strange nightmarish places.
My lungs is behaving a bit better, the gaggas in my nasal passages seemed to be leaving and the absolute fatigue that has been plaguing me since new year seems to be disappearing.
Good news is that I will receive my first batch of fired ceramics tomorrow! Just some teacups and sugar bowls. I have been a bit tardy with the milk mugs and they will start their firing process tomorrow. Except for the pitchers that I played with last year, this will be the real fire walk for me. Will my head pictures work? All the what ifs will either come true tomorrow, or be dispelled to Lala land forever. We have not started on modelling any saucers or cake plates, as I first wanted to see how the tea cup's shape is altered by the beaded handle. At a later stage I would like to add a beaded lid to the sugar bowl. And of course the Tea Pot! I have already made some beads for the first one!
And not least: I hope that you all have the bestest of best year ahead of you! May all your wishes come true, may your path be an easy one, your health excellent and your purse full!
Finally, I have finally tried going BIG, lol. Please find the link to my new Art Fire shop. I will be adding more goodies in the next few days!
My lungs is behaving a bit better, the gaggas in my nasal passages seemed to be leaving and the absolute fatigue that has been plaguing me since new year seems to be disappearing.
Good news is that I will receive my first batch of fired ceramics tomorrow! Just some teacups and sugar bowls. I have been a bit tardy with the milk mugs and they will start their firing process tomorrow. Except for the pitchers that I played with last year, this will be the real fire walk for me. Will my head pictures work? All the what ifs will either come true tomorrow, or be dispelled to Lala land forever. We have not started on modelling any saucers or cake plates, as I first wanted to see how the tea cup's shape is altered by the beaded handle. At a later stage I would like to add a beaded lid to the sugar bowl. And of course the Tea Pot! I have already made some beads for the first one!
And not least: I hope that you all have the bestest of best year ahead of you! May all your wishes come true, may your path be an easy one, your health excellent and your purse full!
Finally, I have finally tried going BIG, lol. Please find the link to my new Art Fire shop. I will be adding more goodies in the next few days!
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
A new direction
I have been playing around with some ideas where I could use my glass beads, and this is what I came up with. My stunning boyfriend helped me with the ceramic part of the project. I hope that I can evolve this idea into something new for 2009.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
A wild garden
About a week ago we suddenly noticed that we had a set of new tenants on the property. The bird is known as a Kiewiet, and is a ground nesting bird; with an almost invisible nest. The parents is very protective and hisses at us when we dare to get to close to them!Earlier this morning I had to cancel our garden se
rvices, because we do not want these beauties to leave our garden.
rvices, because we do not want these beauties to leave our garden.Monday, November 24, 2008
Up the mountain ...
I have not done a lot of hiking for years, but recently I got a pair of hiking boots for my birthday, so when the lovey told me that he was meeting some friends on Table mountain on Sunday, and did I want to come with (since I had the new boots) I could hardly say no, now could I?
So with a lot of fear (I really hate heights) I dressed accordingly, used about a litre of sunblock and donned a hat. We got a whole picnic thing together (lots of German sausage, cheese and rolls) to enjoy at the top.
Leo is a marathon runner. So after the first 100 meters I told him to meet me at the top, I could not keep up with him. OK, I was panting and sounded as if I was in dire need of a macho rescue guy who could carry me down the bit that I had walked. I could see in Leo's eyes that he thought that I would bail out. It was a wonderful sunny day, with the slightest hint of a breeze, making it all very comfortable (if you exclude the half a meter steps that you had to take ...).
I took lots of pictures - my handy excuse for a rest. After the first hour I got a bit better and started to focus on a rock or outcrop just ahead of me. Diana, if you can make it to there, you are allowed a break of one minute. And that was what I did. Just a few more steps, remember the look in Leo's eyes? Show him that you are not a moaner and a giver-upper.
The new boots really helped a lot. My ankles never wavered, and I could walk/climb/heave myself up the next rock. At last I was in the shade of the gorge. Water was dripping of the overhanging cliffs, and some Chinese tourists refilled my water bottle with some fresh mountain water.
About 200 meters from the top Leo rescued me with a welcoming bottle of Icy cold Savanna. It tasted like nectar from the Gods. Suddenly I had more energy and could keep up with him. His friends were already at the picnic spot, having a good party going. Leo was proud of me. I was even prouder of myself. Wanting to do something, and actually doing it is 2 entirely different things. I have climbed my mountain.
Throughout these pictures, I have tried to include a ribbon of tarred road. That was our starting point. In some of them you could see teeny tiny cars parked. I do not know how high the mountain is, but my body told me today that it was VERY high!
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Ring tutorial
I have promised a tutorial, and here it is, finally!
Prepare your mandrels as per usual manner. If it is a new set of mandrels, you will need to give it a good glow in the flame, and then a water bath. Then I normally use a fine sand paper, and give it a light sanding to create a 'key' for the bead release to adhere to. All these mandrels were freshly dipped, and the bead release is still wet. (Not that it matters, I use a flame dry release, so no problems!)
Take your ring mandrel, and put it in the centre of the flame. (It is OK, I have been doing this for the last 6 months, and never had a ring mandrel burn through!) You want to heat that mama till she glows pink in the flame. If she is not hot enough, she will loose temperature too quickly, and your glass will pop off as you attempt to lay it on. Really, let her get cross!
Now add your spirals of glass around the centre of the mandrel. I do it very slowly, working a lot of times with my mandrel in the flame, and just taking my time; turn the baby while I control the thickness of glass that I add. Note how my start and finish is graded. Even so I might still have a bumpiness. Oh and do not correct any wonkiness yet ...
Melt that in. When I add glass to the ring mandrel, I normally do not have an even coiled rope look between the glass and the mandrel, but more of a pushing technique, which cause some of the glass footprint to be a bit wider than the rest. that is OK. Now I will get rid of that uneven footprint. I heat the glass well, making sure that I turn the mandrel the whole time. I also focus direct flame on the glass from an angle where it meets the mandrel.
When you have one fat circle and a nice and even footprint, let you bead cool a bit, and the look at it from all angles. This is also the time that you will correct the meandering ring . Use your marver and nudge the glass a bit left and right to make sure it is straight. Is there an area that needs more glass? Oh goodness, yes.
Add extra glass as needed. And then melt it in, of course!
You now have a basic ring shape, and you can leave it as it, change it, what ever! At this stage, it would be a bit uncomfortable to wear, so I suggest to flatten it a bit. Do not roll the glass on you mandrel. (OK, if you want to, do it; but believe me, I had quite a few that separated from the bead release when I tried it in this step ...) Rather use your marver, and press gently on the glass, and while you turn the mandrel, gently pat it a bit flatter. When you have spread your footprint a bit, you can roll the glass on the marver.
Spread the glass till you have the width/thickness that you want. Correct a wonky edge and decorate, etc.
When you are happy with your bead, pop it into the kiln, but be careful! that mandrel is till very hot, and will transfer the heat to the glass, making it soft for a bit longer. I normally twirl the mandrel in my kiln, let it rest on the edge of my beautiful kiln door (grin) for about a minute before I lay it on the kiln floor. If not, I will have added kiln floor decorations to my glass ring!
And this is it!
Disclaimer: This is a method that I have figured out for myself. I am sure that other's might do it in this manner, or completely different! When I make a glass ring, I try and have a glass thickness of at least 1,5 mm or more. This will create a stronger ring that will last longer.
When wearing a glass ring, I have 2 rules. Do not hit an inert object (husband, dog, wall, table) while wearing the ring. I suggest removing it, hit said object, and return ring after frustration was vented. Secondly, remove a glass ring from you finger when you work in soapy water. The beauty WILL turn into a flying missile if not removed! Place back on finger once hands are dry.
Prepare your mandrels as per usual manner. If it is a new set of mandrels, you will need to give it a good glow in the flame, and then a water bath. Then I normally use a fine sand paper, and give it a light sanding to create a 'key' for the bead release to adhere to. All these mandrels were freshly dipped, and the bead release is still wet. (Not that it matters, I use a flame dry release, so no problems!)
Take your ring mandrel, and put it in the centre of the flame. (It is OK, I have been doing this for the last 6 months, and never had a ring mandrel burn through!) You want to heat that mama till she glows pink in the flame. If she is not hot enough, she will loose temperature too quickly, and your glass will pop off as you attempt to lay it on. Really, let her get cross!
Now add your spirals of glass around the centre of the mandrel. I do it very slowly, working a lot of times with my mandrel in the flame, and just taking my time; turn the baby while I control the thickness of glass that I add. Note how my start and finish is graded. Even so I might still have a bumpiness. Oh and do not correct any wonkiness yet ...
Melt that in. When I add glass to the ring mandrel, I normally do not have an even coiled rope look between the glass and the mandrel, but more of a pushing technique, which cause some of the glass footprint to be a bit wider than the rest. that is OK. Now I will get rid of that uneven footprint. I heat the glass well, making sure that I turn the mandrel the whole time. I also focus direct flame on the glass from an angle where it meets the mandrel.
When you have one fat circle and a nice and even footprint, let you bead cool a bit, and the look at it from all angles. This is also the time that you will correct the meandering ring . Use your marver and nudge the glass a bit left and right to make sure it is straight. Is there an area that needs more glass? Oh goodness, yes.
Add extra glass as needed. And then melt it in, of course!
You now have a basic ring shape, and you can leave it as it, change it, what ever! At this stage, it would be a bit uncomfortable to wear, so I suggest to flatten it a bit. Do not roll the glass on you mandrel. (OK, if you want to, do it; but believe me, I had quite a few that separated from the bead release when I tried it in this step ...) Rather use your marver, and press gently on the glass, and while you turn the mandrel, gently pat it a bit flatter. When you have spread your footprint a bit, you can roll the glass on the marver.
Spread the glass till you have the width/thickness that you want. Correct a wonky edge and decorate, etc.
When you are happy with your bead, pop it into the kiln, but be careful! that mandrel is till very hot, and will transfer the heat to the glass, making it soft for a bit longer. I normally twirl the mandrel in my kiln, let it rest on the edge of my beautiful kiln door (grin) for about a minute before I lay it on the kiln floor. If not, I will have added kiln floor decorations to my glass ring!
And this is it!
Disclaimer: This is a method that I have figured out for myself. I am sure that other's might do it in this manner, or completely different! When I make a glass ring, I try and have a glass thickness of at least 1,5 mm or more. This will create a stronger ring that will last longer.
When wearing a glass ring, I have 2 rules. Do not hit an inert object (husband, dog, wall, table) while wearing the ring. I suggest removing it, hit said object, and return ring after frustration was vented. Secondly, remove a glass ring from you finger when you work in soapy water. The beauty WILL turn into a flying missile if not removed! Place back on finger once hands are dry.
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