Chronicles of a Serial Lampwork Addict

Chronicles of a Serial Lampwork Addicthttp://www.webjam.com/hawleyclan/our_studio_and_inspirations/$chronicles_of_a_serial_lampwork_addict/2008-07-15T21:37:00Zhttp://www.webjam.com/enFun & Fanciful Creature Pendants!!!http://www.webjam.com/hawleyclan/our_studio_and_inspirations/$chronicles_of_a_serial_lampwork_addict/2008/07/15/fun__fanciful_creature_pendantshttp://www.webjam.com/hawleyclan/our_studio_and_inspirations/$chronicles_of_a_serial_lampwork_addict/2008/07/15/fun__fanciful_creature_pendants#Comments2008-07-15T21:37:00Zart, artist, sculpture, glass, beads, pendant, lampwork, flamework, lampworking, focal, hawleyclan, flameworking, "hawley studios"http://www.webjam.com/hawleyclan/our_studio_and_inspirations/$chronicles_of_a_serial_lampwork_addict/2008/07/15/fun__fanciful_creature_pendants

Charlie Chameleon Lampwork Focal

On a cylinder of Italian Vetrofond Ivory creme and Italian Efftre Periwinkle blue-purple, decorated with a branch and petroleum green leaves, this yellow, brown, and turquoise spotted Nile green chameleon lizard with conical eyes sits patiently awaiting a snack.

For a beautiful necklace, turn Charlie into a beautiful focal and combine with our Cream and Periwinkle bead set listing.

Freddie Frog Silvered Lampwork Focal

On a cone of Italian Vetrofond Ivory creme and Ochre green-yellow glass with Effetre Petroleum Green lily pad designs, this Black spotted, Silvered Ivory frog with beautiful green toes sits awaiting a snack.

For a beautiful necklace, turn Freddy into a beautiful focal and combine with our Cream and Ochre bead set listing.

Sammy Salamander Lampwork Focal

On a cylinder of swirled Italian Effetre Bright Red, Petroleum Green, and Dark Blue Cobalt Transparent, this Coral spotted Black Salamander lizard with green eyes sits patiently awaiting a snack.

For a beautiful necklace, turn Sammy into a beautiful focal and combine with our Green and Red swirled bead set listing.

]]>Moretti & More Special for LEST members!!http://www.webjam.com/hawleyclan/our_studio_and_inspirations/$chronicles_of_a_serial_lampwork_addict/2008/07/04/moretti__more_special_for_lest_membershttp://www.webjam.com/hawleyclan/our_studio_and_inspirations/$chronicles_of_a_serial_lampwork_addict/2008/07/04/moretti__more_special_for_lest_members#Comments2008-07-04T20:29:00Zspecial, sale, offer, discount, july, "moretti and more", "lest members"http://www.webjam.com/hawleyclan/our_studio_and_inspirations/$chronicles_of_a_serial_lampwork_addict/2008/07/04/moretti__more_special_for_lest_members logo

Dear David Hawley

We are now offering LEST members 10% Discount off most items from
this website
Morettiandmore.com
some restrictions apply and my change.
Good through August and may be extended.

We sell in 4 different places. Etsy,Ebay, morettiandmore .com & .net
Wholesale prices have risen and @ this time we are trying to hold the line.
Many of you know that our pricing structure is very reasonable.
Many of our competitors have tiered pricing structures 5 pound ,
10 pound etc.
We do not except @ 20 pounds of glass or more.
We try to offer reasonable pricing witout making you purchase 5 pounds or more to get lower pricing.
if you are going to place a 20 pound order we will match
Frantz Artglass 20 pound Price.
To do so,
do not purchase the items through the website!
Email or phone your order in.

We also would like to promote our customers websites,blogs and news letters by using their photos of beads , marbles and sculptures in the listings of specific colors.
See a typical link below
http://www.morettiandmore.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=12_29_33&products_id=36
So if you want to particapate let us know.
We also have a toll free number 1-877-477-5669
we are also on skype as "morettiandmore"

]]>Nudibranch Lampwork Pendant Gallery 1http://www.webjam.com/hawleyclan/our_studio_and_inspirations/$chronicles_of_a_serial_lampwork_addict/2008/07/01/nudibranch_lampwork_pendant_gallery_1http://www.webjam.com/hawleyclan/our_studio_and_inspirations/$chronicles_of_a_serial_lampwork_addict/2008/07/01/nudibranch_lampwork_pendant_gallery_1#Comments2008-07-01T00:31:00Zart, sculpture, nudibranchs, glass, slugs, beads, pendant, lampwork, sculpting, flamework, lampworking, hawleyclan, flameworking, "hawley studios", effetre, vetrofond, nudibranch, "off mandrel", "sea slug"http://www.webjam.com/hawleyclan/our_studio_and_inspirations/$chronicles_of_a_serial_lampwork_addict/2008/07/01/nudibranch_lampwork_pendant_gallery_1

The first lampwork nudibranch in this sculpture pendant series is a blended base of silvered Vetrofond Dark Ivory, Vetrofond Dark Avocado Marble odd, Effetre Red Roof Tile, and Effetre Light Amber.

The nudibranch is made of Vetrofond Black with Effetre Intense Black and Effetre Clear, and detailed with stringer of Effetre White encased in Effetre Dark Aqua tranparent, and twistie of Effetre Intense black, Effetre Dark Turquoise, and Effetre Clear.

The coral is Effetre Dark Red and Vetrofond Bloody Mary odd, and the sea squirts are Effetre Light Green Transparent with Effetre Grass Green Opalino centers, and Effetre Petroleum Green highlights.

Inspired by Anthony Wooldridge's "Nudibranch 3" Photo.

The second nudibranch in this lampwork pendant series is on a blended base of silvered Vetrofond Dark Ivory, Vetrofond Orange Dreamsicle odd, Effetre Red Roof Tile, Effetre Light Amber, and Vetrofond Bloody Mary odd.

The nudibranch is Vetrofond Black and Effetre Intense Black, with custom mixed accent glass.

The red coral is Effetre Dark Red and Vetrofond Bloody Mary odd. The yellow coral is Effetre Light Yellow. The Anenomes are Effetre White with Effetre Dark Teal Transparent accents.

This lampwork sculpture was inspired by gt60k's photo "Nudibranchs".

The third nudibranch in this lampwork pendant series is on a blended base of silvered Vetrofond Dark Ivory, Vetrofond Mighty Azuritey odd, Effetre Gray, Effetre Intense Black, Vetrofond Lime Sweet odd, and Vetrofond Smoke Rings odd.

The nudibranch is Effetre Anise White and Effetre White, with Effetre Orange, Effetre Transparent, and Vetrofond Red Transparent accent stringer.

The red coral is Effetre Dark Red and Effetre Light Yellow, and Effetre Transparent. The blue anenome is Effetre Pale Blue Transparent, Effetre Cobalt Transparent, and Effetre Cobalt twistie. The sea squirts are Effetre Petroleum Green and Effetre Dark Cobalt.

This lampwork sculpture was inspired by Colin Zylka's photo "Nudibranchs, Lembeh Straits, Indonesia".]]>Treasured Newbie Beadshttp://www.webjam.com/hawleyclan/our_studio_and_inspirations/$chronicles_of_a_serial_lampwork_addict/2008/06/27/treasured_newbie_beadshttp://www.webjam.com/hawleyclan/our_studio_and_inspirations/$chronicles_of_a_serial_lampwork_addict/2008/06/27/treasured_newbie_beads#Comments2008-06-27T18:42:00Zart, artist, jewelry, sculpture, beginner, beginning, glass, beads, necklace, bead, lampwork, flamework, lampworking, hawleyclan, flameworking, "hawley studios", newbiehttp://www.webjam.com/hawleyclan/our_studio_and_inspirations/$chronicles_of_a_serial_lampwork_addict/2008/06/27/treasured_newbie_beads

This necklace is a tribute to all our newbie beads! The beads that initiated us into the world of hot glass lampworking!

They represent that special time when getting the glass onto the mandrel without breaking the bead release was an accomplishment, and managing to get puckers on the bead ends meant that you had arrived!!

Starting on the far right with our first plain white Effetre round beads, those are the very first beads we made, one is mine and one is hubby's. The beads move chronologically to the left, and gradually improve in shape and design as you go around the necklace, ending with my amethyst hollow (man, that one was hard).

All of these beads are made on a Fireworks torch and 1/8 in mandrels, out of the fireworks beginners lampworking bead kit we bought to get our feet wet.

You can read my more detailed photo notes on the various beads here at Flickr.]]>We All Start Somewhere!http://www.webjam.com/hawleyclan/our_studio_and_inspirations/$chronicles_of_a_serial_lampwork_addict/2008/06/27/we_all_start_somewherehttp://www.webjam.com/hawleyclan/our_studio_and_inspirations/$chronicles_of_a_serial_lampwork_addict/2008/06/27/we_all_start_somewhere#Comments2008-06-27T01:32:00Ztools, equipment, learning, learn, fireworks, starting, beginner, beginning, glass, beads, bead, lampwork, flamework, torch, lampworking, "how to", hothead, flameworking, newbiehttp://www.webjam.com/hawleyclan/our_studio_and_inspirations/$chronicles_of_a_serial_lampwork_addict/2008/06/27/we_all_start_somewhere
Fast forward a couple years, and we found ourselves waist deep in searches on the internet, and totally boggled by the whole new world and language of hot glass and lampwork. It was a lot to absorb- loads of torches with tons of specifications that read like Greek, tons of glass, differing COEs, and tools out the wazoo.

It was like stepping through a portal onto another planet. We were in total brain arrest trying to sift through all the information, translate it, and make decisions of varying expense. It was like being caught in quicksand, the more you tried to figure it out, the more stuck you were in the predicament.

Finally, one day we decided that, if we were going to try this lampworking thing, and see if we even had a knack for it or a true interest, then we needed to do it on a shoestring. So, that is where we started... dangling from the aglet of a frayed financial shoestring.

For us, the answer to the newbie, entry-level, lampwork-for-idiots, on-a-shoestring dilemma lay in the treasured and prized "40% off One Item Coupon" from our local Hobby Lobby. There we found the Fireworks Beadmaking Lampwork Kit, for the bargain price of $99, and that coupon made it a little over $60 out the door- including glass! That plus a $9 Mapp gas canister put us on the threshold of the molten glass experience!!

It was just enough to get our feet wet: A Fireworks torch and clamp, a fireproof surface, ceramic fiber blankets, mandrels, bead release, two marvers, one glass rake, and a mix of glass rods. Plus a beginner beadmaker booklet to get you started, thin but better than winging it alone.

In no time at all, with the ever fraying shoestring in mind, we were making the trek to our beloved Harbor Freight tool supply. The goal: to find an eclectic selection of affordable tools that could manipulate our melted glass. Bags bulging with plier sets, stainless spatula sets, pick sets, clamps, stainless dental picks, and miniature files brought us to the next level of our lampworking experience.

Add a copy of Cindy Jenkins affordable and informative book for beginning beadmakers and lampworkers ($14.95), and we were well on our way to developing a feel for the glowing medium we so enjoyed.

The Fireworks torch, also referred to as the "QT" (quiet torch), gets a lot of flak in the lampwork community, but for what it is- the absolute bottom-rung on the lampwork torch ladder- it does the job. It gets the beginner familiar with torch setup, safety, and the physical properties and behaviors of molten glass. It has a very cool flame (this is relative as compared to other super hot torches- don't stick you hand in there or let your kids play with it- LOL), so the glass melts slowly, and it is easy to pull stringer and learn to make twisties. You learn to watch the flow and glow of the glass and get a feel for when it is happy and when it isn't, and the coolness of the flame makes this all slow motion. It melts pastels (solid colors) faster than transparents which tend to need a bit more heat to get moving and workable, so it isn't the best torch for learning to encase. When working on perfecting round beads, stringers, and dot work, it does the job.

On the down side of the Fireworks torch, the automatic lighter only worked once, after that we used our grill lighter. Also, using small canisters, once the canister is about 1/2 empty, it starts to freeze up, so the already cool flame gets cooler and next to impossible to melt anything with it. So, the canister has to be submerged in warm water, or have a heating pad wrapped around it on low, to help keep the gas moving to the torch with enough pressure to keep the flame hot.

In just two months of minimal use, I had killed my first Fireworks, bought a second one at $29.99 (with my trusty 40% coupon), and had sent off to Sundance to get my first Hothead torch. We also made our family crockpot a dedicated vermiculite pot for garaging beads, such a worthy job!! :D

So, even with buying the kit, the second Fireworks torch, Mapp gas, extra glass, tools, and a Hothead... we still managed to keep our start up at under $200.

You can learn to lampwork on a shoestring. Remember, it isn't the torch that makes you a artist, it all comes down to skill. Don't be embarrassed to start wherever you have to, in time you can realize your dream. 8)]]>