Souvenir

My trip to South Africa included a quick visit to the country of Swaziland. And no trip to Swaziland is complete without a visit to Ngwenya Glass



It was pretty darn cool.



I've seen countless glass studio's in my day, but few that operated like this one. It's a factory. The tools, equipment, etc are the same as smaller operations, but it's the way they work and why they work that makes this different.


The glassblowers at Ngwenya Glass work in teams of 2-5, depending on what they are making. Each person has 1 specific job (for example, gathering glass from the furnace, or loading the finished piece into the cooling oven). Essentially, they are an assembly line of glassblowers.



The same can be said about the way I (and many other production glassblowers) work. After all, most of the things I make are production pieces. I design a product, figure out how to make it, then will make it again. And again. And again. (Once in a while, I make one of a kind pieces, and I enjoy that process as much as making the production pieces).

But, back to the differences:


To these factory workers, this is a job. They don't design the products. Most have never worked with glass, studied glass in school, or apprenticed with other artists. If they were given an hour to make something other than a product from the Ngwenya Glass line, they probably couldn't do it. But they are very skilled at what they do. Do they have a creative mind? Maybe. But at work, it's their job to do their specific task(s). It's their job to make not create.

When I travelled to Venice and Murano 10 years ago, I saw the same thing (with the exeption of my visit to Pino Signoretto's studio).


Simply put, it's not better or worse than what I do. It's just different.


So, of course I bought something. A little hippo wine glass to add to my collection of handmade goblets. And a little elephant votive.

When I returned to the US, I told a fellow glassblower about the factory, and about my purchases. And he seemed surprised I would buy something. Why? Because I could make it? Because it was factory made? I'm not really sure. The truth is, it's still handmade, it's still handblown glass, and it was a pretty awesome souvenir of an awesome trip.

Where Have I Been?

Yes, I've been gone. And I've been busy. And I've been walking! Here's the cliffnote version of the last 4 months:

I got off the crutches in early August, and was prescribed 5 weeks of the walking boot. If you ask me, I would say it's really more of a clunking boot. It was a loooooong 5 weeks.

I was able to start blowing glass again (in the boot). I was limited, but it was awesome. Really, really awesome.

At 5 weeks (mid September), I was told to start walking. No boot, no crutches, just walking like a real, total normal and healed person would do. And that was awesome. Really, really awesome.

On Sept 25th, I flew to Zurich. Spent a night there, then flew to South Africa, where I travelled around the country for 2 weeks. It was my mom, two cousins and myself. It was better than awesome. It was even better than really, really awesome.

I came home on Oct 10th, and hit the ground running. Holiday season usually starts in September, so I was a bit behind schedule. Not so awesome.

But here I am. Walking (running a little, too!) and ready to take on the Holidays. It's been a crazy year. One that I would never want to repeat. I could get all philosophical, and say that I'm a better person for what I've been through. But the reality is, I'm still the same person. I still believe in my business, believe in hard work, and believe that good things happen and bad things happen....to everyone.

Do I think I've had my share of bad things this year? Hell ya. But I went to South Africa. SOUTH AFRICA!!!! That's all good.

Show Time

I love this show, plain and simple. This will be my 8th year exhibiting, and I am never disappointed. Of course, I expect this year to be a little different, as I will have to navigate on crutches. But, I couldn't let my broken foot stop me from being there.

If you're interested in attending, or know someone who is, please be so kind as to spread the word!!

When: July 15-17
Where: Guilford, CT
What: Super awesome craft show

Linkedy link: Guilford Expo

I must give a special mention to my friend KimV
Without her help, and her minivan, I don't think I could be there. Thanks a million Kim!!!

See you in Guilford!!!

I'm Broken

That's right. Broken.

My left foot. The 5th metatarsal to be exact. Today is my appointment with the Ortho, and I'm hoping for good news.

A broken foot doesn't work so well when you're a glassblower. It's an "on the feet all day" kind of craft.

Am I down? A little. This has been a heck of a year. And it seems that perhaps I should change this Blog title to "What life was like as a glassblower". Since March (and the floods), I have spent a total of 5 hrs making my work in the studio. All my energy was put into recovering what we could, and getting my good friend (and boss) back in business. I'm so proud of our efforts.

As an Artist, the need to create is vital. But, the need to rejuvinate, recharge and refocus is more vital. And that is what I intend to do while I have the opportunity. For those that know me well, know that I am a workaholic. Time off? A nice concept, I imagine.

My Etsy shop is open, wholesale orders are coming in (and shipping out), and I'm still in business. Just not at my usual pace. And that's okay.

So, excuse me while I crutch my way to the backyard, sit in the sun and read my book.

Standing Out

Let's face it. I'm not the first to glue paper to the back of glass gems and turn them into magnets and paperweights. In fact, I am one of hundreds of sellers on Etsy that do this.

A simple google search will yield dozens of "how to's"......and that's how I learned.

You may think I'm a little nutty for telling you this. After all, now you all will click to google and search. And then you will create your own, right? Maybe. Maybe not.

I knew when I started making them that there were plenty of other sellers making them, too. But, I also knew I had ideas, resources and the ingenuity to make mine different.

After all, for the past 7 years, different was the key to my success as a glassblower. I didn't want to make what everyone else made. So I didn't. I saw a lack of smaller, affordable glass gifts in the marketplace, and quickly made that my niche market. I built my business on Bottlestoppers and Oil Candles, Bud Vases and Pocket Coins. To date, I have sold well over 5000 bottlestoppers. Crazy.

(what is even crazier is that I still enjoy making them. And I constantly add new designs and colors to the line).

Back to the glass gems......

When I began, I did what everyone else does. I went to the big Craft stores, sifted through scrapbook paper, bought my glass gems, and started creating. And they looked like everyone elses.

And then, the light bulb moment......I could make the glass gems. So I did. I don't make the little ones, but I do make all the larger ones. Now, I not only make them for my own use, but I sell them to one of the top Supply sellers on Etsy.

Thanks to a scanner, copier and photo editing program, I was able to execute some designs.....like the Fortune paperweights, and dog/cat themed magnets. The Hooks quickly followed.

Okay, quickly is not quite right. The learning curve was huge. I had many failures. MANY. But, I loved the idea, so I perservered until the kinks had been worked out.

It's always a challenge as an artist, crafter or designer to stay inspired, to stay original, and most important, to stay true to yourself. Etsy is a constant reminder of the amazing talent and diversity that exists, and I have found much inspiration on that site. Unfortunately it is also a reminder that many people will copy others. Being inspired by others and copying others are entirely different things. It's up to us (as artists/crafters to know the difference).

(stay tuned, as I will discuss why I think the Bandwagon is not always a bad thing).

I love that I have the inate desire to be a little different. Tanner Glass wouldn't be here without it.

The Wait is Over

Finally. It hardly seems possible that I could have this blog for over a year, and have neglected to put a picture of myself in the Studio.

So, this really is Life as a Glassblower.

It sure is sunny there, but that's not why I'm wearing sunglasses. And I'm pretty cool, but that's not why I'm wearing them either ;)

The reheating chamber we use to reheat the glass is very hot. And bright. It's not as bad as staring at the sun, but pretty darn close. So, I wear them to protect my eyes. There's also the possibility that glass may *pop*, and I don't want a piece of that near my eyes, either.

Safety first.

(those tools in my hand? Those are my beloved Dino jacks. You can read about them here)

Enjoy!

Sharing No. 1

My blogolution for 2010......to share.

And I don't mean in the "you can have some of my french fries" kind of share.

I resolve to share some work from artists and crafters (on and off Etsy) that have motivated me, inspired me, and all that good stuff. They shared with me, so, I shall return the favor, and share them with you.

First up.....

Littleput Books

(visit her Etsy shop here)

When I first joined Etsy in Feb 2008, Ryan (aka Littleput) was one of the top sellers on Etsy, with over 10000 sales. I came across her shop while reading the Etsy forums (extremely helpful as a new Etsy seller).

I clicked on her avatar, taking me to her shop, and immediately, I was intrigued. Not only by her impressive sales, but by everything in her shop. Her photos, her items, her materials, and her packaging.

(if you remember, I am a bit of a packaging fanatic. So, I have the most utter respect for those than can design clever packaging).

I studied her shop (little did she know), and used it as a model for my own. That, combined with the great advice she doled out in the forums, made me believe that I, too could be successful on Etsy.

I am not ashamed to admit, I put her on a bit of a pedestal.

So, imagine my excitement when I discovered that she had not only hearted MY shop, but some of my items. My new, "I'm not so sure if people will like these" items.

It was validating. And, motivating.

Almost 2 years later, I am nowhere near 10000 sales, but I do consider myself successful. I pushed forward with those items (the hooks, if you're wondering). And to this day, have sold well over 500 (on and off Etsy). I have an Etsy shop full of items I am proud of. An aesthetic I am proud of. And I'm thankful.

Thank you, Ryan.

Again, check out Ryan's Etsy shop. Lots of good goods (and VERY clever packaging)!

Odd versus Even

(don't ask me what the photo means. I was not a math major. Or a science major. I was an Art History Major. So, if you'd like me to critique the photo, I can. As a matter of fact, I'm not really sure what this photo is all about. Answers are welcome).

Sooooooo. I made it to 500 sales in my Etsy shop *hooray*.

500

What a nice number. A nice, even number. When I reached 500, I did a little dance ("little" being the operative word), and relished in the joy of seeing that number next to my Items Sold.

I was happy.

No sooner had my little dance ended.....and the nice, even number was gone. I had sold another item, and was now at 501. *hooray again*

Now, this certainly isn't a complaint, as I do LOVE to sell things, but I also have a thing for even numbers. I like them. When I'm working, I have to make an even number of items.......20 bottlestoppers, for example. Not 19, not 21. Occasionally I will end on an odd number, and it always is a little unsettling. But, I move on.

And when I put gas in my car, I try to end on an even number......but that's more of a game, really. To see if I can let go of the trigger at the exact moment that the price changes to an even, whole number. Most of the time, I nail it *hooray*

So here's something to ponder......looking at the photo above, I actually prefer the Odd one. It's more interesting. Hmmmmm, odd=interesting.

I may have to rethink my ways.

Tweet Tweet

It has become obvious to me that I have a thing for birds. It's not that I every denied it, or even supressed it. I just didn't really think about it. But, a quick glance at my Etsy favorites will reveal the truth.

A bird house, a bird print, and a decorative bird take up the first 3 of my Favorites.

And a trip through my Etsy shop will yield 5 bird themed items......no, make that 6.

Let's not get started on twitter, and all the bird references there (who would have thought, that at 37 years old, I'd be using the word "tweet" as a verb on a daily basis?)

Birds are everywhere......including a nice little nest under my bedroom air conditioner. I had planned on removing the air conditioner last weekend, but got a little nervous about disturbing it's home (okay, okay....I got nervous that it might fly into my room). It's already been established that I like birds, but not under my AC. Even Olivia (dog) doesn't really care for them living there. She is not as kind as me, and tends to bark loudly at them.

But, the AC must come out of my window, as it is getting colder these days. Wish me luck, as I attempt to safely remove it. May no harm be done to me, Olivia or the little birds.

I think I'll wear safety glasses.

Harmony

Harmony: Adaptation of parts to each other, giving unity or a pleasing whole.

In August, my Etsy team challenged it's members to create a piece based on the word Harmony.

This was not a mandatory challenge, and at first, I did not think I would participate......

But, after giving it a little thought, I went back to the drawing board. Literally. You see, long before I was a glassblower, I loved to draw. And I still love to draw, but find that there is little time for that.

Charcoal was my favorite medium.....the more blurry the lines, the better. I loved shadows, fades and the little bit of structure I would achieve with charcoals.

But, now, I find myself really enjoying structure. And getting a bit more abstract. I'm inspired by Indian prints, and simple designs. So, for this challenge, I decided to combine my past and present, and really challenge myself to try something new.

I really like the contrast of using a sharpie (bold, solid lines) with the soft tones of the colored pencils. And the white background, white wood block and magnifying element of the glass (handmade, too!) makes these colors more vibrant.

It's a little out of character for me, but I like it.

If you like it (enough to own it!), you can buy it here

Broken

The furnace is broken. And Mercury is in Retrograde.

Now, I'm not a huge fan of astrology. I like to read my horoscope (Scorpio, in case you were wondering) from time to time. But, since this furnace fiasco, many people have been telling me about Mercury in Retrograde. In a few short days, I have become a believer.

For a glassblower, there is no other piece of equipment that you'd like to see broken. The furnace is the core of our work. It keeps the glass molten, and without it, there is little that can be done.

Is it fixable? Yes.

Can we do it? No.

So, we must wait until our "furnace guy" is available to come to town to fix it. At this point, it looks like we won't be back to 100% for 5 weeks. (*gulp*)

I know what you're thinking......but Christmas is right around the corner!!!!! I know. I KNOW.

Fortunately, I live in the land of glassblowers. There are many studios in Rhode Island, and a good number of them will rent studio time. As best I can tell, I really only need a handful of days to keep my inventory in check.

It's not ideal, but it's the best I can do.......for at least 5 weeks.

Thankfully, Mercury will be long gone from Retrograde when that time comes.

(not soon enough for me).

Keep Searching

It may seem like finding a needle in a haystack.......

But, it's not that hard, I promise.

I've given many hints........but this one may just be the golden ticket.

Hint #7:

Look in the listings of my Top 3 Sections of my Etsy shop

For a recap on all the hints, and what you're searching for, look at my two previous blog entries.

Happy Searching!

Mythbuster.....

Myth: You have to have Mega Lungs to be a glassblower

Not true. One's lung capacity has little to do with their ability to be a glassblower. Working "hotter" has everything to do with one's ability to be a glassblower.

I find myself contanstly telling a newcomer to "get it hotter, get it hotter, get it hotter", as I watch them struggle to get a bubble in an ice cold gather of glass.

In it's molten state (in the the furnace), it's about 2100 degrees, and is the consistency of honey. As soon as you "gather" glass from the furnace, and begin to work with it at room temperature, it begins to cool. And it cools quickly. The colder it gets, the harder it is to work with.

Think of bubblegum for a moment.......

We all know it's much easier to blow a bubble when the gum is "new"..........chew it for a while, and it becomes harder to blow a bubble, right?

So, apply that to glass. New gum=hot glass. Old gum=cold glass.

Understanding heat, and being able to work "hotter" is just one of the challenges one has to face as they learn to blow glass. And increasing lung capacity? Save that skill for a marathon.

Furnace work

I'm a "Furnace" glassblower. Why is that important? Because there are two types of glassblowers out there......furnace, and lampworkers. And we are very different. We work with different equipment, different materials (all glass is not created equal), and we make different objects.

I'm here to tell you about Furnace work. So, what better way to start than by showing you the Furnace.

It's about 6 feet tall, and 5 feet wide. And it runs 24 hours a day, operated by compressed air and natural gas. The idling temperature is 1950 degrees, and the working temperature is 2100 degrees. Yes, that's hot.

Why 24 hrs a day? Because glass has to be molten for us to work. It would take too long to heat glass to a molten state on an as needed basis.

(Open door)

Looks a little intimidating, doesn't it? To be honest, it is. Until you understand it. Then, it's just part of the process.

believe it or not, you can stand pretty close to it when it's open......just not for very long. Unless you want to get burned, or just singe some hair off your arms.

Inside the furnace sits a free standing crucible.......a ceramic bowl. It's made to withstand high temperature, and it is filled with approximately 150 lbs of molten, clear glass.

Here, the furnace has been turned off, and the door removed, and is a nice photo of the inside of the furnace.

A question we are frequently asked is "how do you get the glass in there?"

A: We use a powder/pellet, silica based product (that we buy, it's called 'batch'), and we use a very long shovel. I'm serious. And scoop the batch into the furnace while it's hot. We then spike the furnace temperature to 2350 degrees. Over a 16 hr cycle, the batch melts to molten glass. Viola.

By now, I'm certain you are now wondering how to get the glass out of the furnace. Well, that is a story for another day.

But, I'll give you a hint, it involves these pipes. Stay tuned.

A Quest

8 years ago, I spent a week in Venice......Tanner Glass was just over a year old, and I was trying to find my place in the Glass world. I knew Venice would provide so much inspiration, but I had no idea how much. There were two places on the island of Murano that I could not miss visiting on this trip.

This is the story of the first place.....the home of Dino Tedeschi.

Dino made glass tools......the best glass tools (in my opinion). To buy them, you had to know someone who knew someone who knew Dino. Or you had to knock on his door. I chose the later option.

Armed with only a sketchbook, and a map (similar to the one pictured) I set out to find him. A daunting task.....as I don't speak Italian, and using a Murano map is about as effective as directions on finding a needle in a haystack.

Based on an address scribbled in my sketchbook, I managed to arrive at the doorstep of a toolmaker, named Dino. Wrong Dino. Through broken English and Italian, he directed me elsewhere.

Those directions landed me on the doorstep of a toolmaker, named Carlo Donna. Not Dino. But, I was getting closer. Carlo Donna was a leading toolmaker, spoke decent English, and knew Dino personally. I explained that I wanted to purchase some Dino jacks (his signature tool), and asked if he could help me.

He called Dino, told him what I was looking for, and gave me explicit directions to his doorstep.

I thanked him profusely, purchased a super sweet set of tweezers, and headed out to find Dino.

(as an aside, Dino speaks about 4 words of English, and I speak about 8 words of Italian. "Andiamo a sciare".......let's go skiing. Not terribley helpful in this situation).

I arrive at another doorstep, ring the bell, and the door is answered by a woman (Dino's wife). She is about 65 years old, little, and speaks no English. She invites me into their kitchen, sits me down at their table, and offers me some tea (I only know this because I said "si", and tea is what I was given).

Dino appears in the doorway, "ciao" is said all around, and he sits next to me and places 3 sets of Jacks on the table.

I picked out the ones I wanted. There was not a lot of talk, but there was a lot of smiling and nodding going on. It is amazing how well you can communicate without speaking. I managed to understand how much they cost......paid him, and was ready to say thank you, and good-bye, fully content with my purchase, and my experience thus far.

Not so fast.

He sits me back down, and places a small, red journal in front of me....and a pen.

*my heart is racing as I tell this part*

I open it, and quickly notice that this is a list of all the people that have sat right where I was sitting. Heavy hitters in the Glass world, from all over the world......had all sat at the same kitchen table, and purchased their Dino jacks. Some shared stories, some shared photos. It was amazing. Artists like Dante Marioni, Sonja Blumdahl, Lino Tagliopietra, and countless others. I was speechless.

And he wanted ME to sign that book? Um, okay.

I wish I could remember what I wrote (aside from my name and state). Regardless, the fact that I became part of that history is something that will stay with me forever.

I left the Tedeschi home, walked around the block, found a bench, sat down, and cried a little, as I was overwhelmed by what had just happenned.

I signed "the book."

It was at that moment, that I knew I was a glassblower.


(My Dino Jacks).



Sadly, Dino passed away a few years later. And his tools have become highly sought after.....




And these aren't for sale.

Coming Soon

The process.......

I am heading to the studio today, with camera in hand, in hopes of getting some good pictures of what I do.

After all, glassblowing is pretty darn cool. And, it inevitabely invites the question "how did you do that?" Much of what I do is based on ancient techniques. I just add my own spin to those techniques. Feel free to tell me what you'd like to learn.......

I'll start with the journey of a Sea Stone. To my customers, these seem to be pretty mysterious......

(and as we learned from previous posts, everyone loves a good mystery).

But before that can happen, I will share some stories about my Glass career, and provide a little insight and education about the studio, glassblowing, and what I make.

A Myth, A Tip & A Fact

Not necessarily in that order.

FACT: Glassblowing is dangerous.
But not in the life-threatening way. Rather, in the 'run for the aloe and band-aid' way. I've been burned, scraped and cut....only once requiring stitches. And all because I wasn't paying attention.

So, in most cases, glassblowing is a dangerous as you make it.

MYTH: Don't Inhale.
If I had a dime for every person (non glassblower) that told me 'not to inhale', I'd have enough money to....well......post a billboard explaining that it's okay to inhale.
The myth here is based on the assumption that the air is so hot, that by inhaling, you will send scorching, hot air (or worse....hot glass) into your lungs. It is just simply not true.
Truth be told, sometimes you have to inhale. Personally, I don't. I don't make the kind of work that requires it.
But, I've tried it......and lived to tell about it.

TIP: Cleaning out a vase
So, you've purchased a transparent vase (doesn't have to be handblown, but kudos to you if it is), and used it (hooray!) with some real flowers. What's left behind when the flowers are gone is a 'film' inside the vase. You've tried rinsing it out, to no avail.

The opening is too narrow to fit your hand inside to clean it.......so now what? Live with this film? No sir-re. Fill it about 1/2 way with water, and add a little bleach (I repeat, a little). Swirl it around a few times, and rinse. You may need to repeat this, or let it soak if you've got a thicker film. Rinse it a few times with just water, and viola, you have a sparkling clean vase......to use again.

A difference A Day Makes

8 inches of snow on the ground. Hmph. So much for Spring!

Truth be told, I do love the snow, as does Olivia. Our morning walk was hardly a walk.....it was a 'drag me down the street because the snow makes me nutty' kind of walk.

Then I pelted her with a snow ball, and all was well.

I loved the snow more when I could ski.......for 5 seasons, I was a ski bum in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. It was an amazing time in my life.....and helped me get where I am today. For, I realized that is so important to do what you love. And although I loved to ski, I didn't really love being a bartender. In my heart, I knew that I wanted to get back to creating things, and glassblowing in particular. So, I traded one love for another, and moved back to the East Coast.

And it was the best decision I ever made. (And as expected, I rarely miss an opportunity to ski).

(view from the top of the Palivicini Lift at Arapahoe Basin)

Dale Who?

I just realized that many people don't know who Dale Chihuly is. I mentioned him in my first post......
So, I only thought it was fitting to show you who he is and what he makes. He is best known for his Ceiling Installations and Chandeliers, but I'm more a fan of his Seaforms and Baskets.

If you already *know* him, great. If you don't, then I'd like to introduce you.....

Color, color, color. Gotta love it.