Final Three Flower Paperweight

Here is the final product. Colors are Blue Amethist size 0, Gray size 0, Jade Green size 2.  

Cool and knock off

Let it cool. Sometimes bring it strait up and let the glass settle back onto the pipe. This helps flatten to bottom for good grinding.  

Heat and Block

Heat and block again. Jack in between. don't heat enough to lose the egg shape if possible. You can always block again tho. Jack.
Start with the round jacks. They really leave a softer line for the shoulder of the base on the Paperweight.  

Block

After the next gather comes the blocking. We have a great egg shape from Walter Evans. I think this is the 3.5 inch block. You may want to marver just a bit before the block just to cool the sides and have a bit more control. The egg will tend to make the glass fold back onto itself more then a round one, at least for me.  

Gather, Marver, Gather

Do the gather over the flower. Marver into a cone and then into almost a tube. Watch the size here. Let glass drip off so as to not be too large.
Roy has got the door in this picture.  

Heat and Marver

Just a bit. You don't want to close up the indention from the stem making but you have to get the shape back into it alright.  

Another angle

Here you can see the movement into the pipe better. This helps to create the stem of the flower which will be white while leaving the outside petals in blue.
I did this one in a transparent. Not sure if opaque is better or not.  

Poke the petals

Here wer are poking in the petals. Aim right for the middle of the flower (the white center). Push forward in and then curve into pipe. 

Flower Pickup

marver after the gather into a cone shape to cool the pipe end of the glass. Not too cool or the color will not pick up. Come down on the circles, 1, 2, and 3.
Then Heat gently. Marver, heat and marver to maintain control and no twist.  

Gather

At the furnace. Making a gather over the leaves.
More to come tomorrow as it is late...
Oh yes. Center, Keep it Centered. 

Leaves of Grass

Not as good as Whitman but what the heck.  

Leaf

Pinching the leaves. Notice the tool. $2.95 at Steve's Wholesale. In the glassblowing world however these puppies are going for $54.95. I will have a bunch for sale at GAS. Get in line. 

Green Leaf Pickup

Picking up the leaves 

3 flower layout

Here is the color layout for the 3 flower paperweight 

How To

After trying Gnat's bowl (first one broke, second two did not get the lines deep enough) and the Paperweight described by the Sac Man I thought I would post one of my new favoriates.
Three Flower Paperweight.
Layout
Green on marver laid out with three spokes
Three circles of color. #1 or #0 frit seems good but most of what we have is #2 so that is good too. Circles are about the size of a nickel. push open the centers with a small pick or tweezers. Fill center with another color. (to fill get a small piece of paper with color on it and make into a tube like the Buddhist monks who make the sand paintings.)
1. Small gather on 3/4 inch punty
2. . pick up green on tip, melt in.
3. tweeze green sideways to make leaves. Cool
4. Gather
5. pick up circles of color. 1 - third turn between each pick up. Try to line up with or between leaves.
6. Melt - marver punty end to straiten up piece
7. At the bench take thin ice pick. Poke into the circles. Aim for the middle. Go in strait and then push down to the punty.
8. Melt to shape but not to seal the hole made by the ice pick because you want a bubble there.
9. Marver or block to shape
10. Gather and let excess drip off.
11. Marver or block, cool.
12. Gather, this one is important to get enough distance between the surface and the flower. It is not necessary but really seems of benefit. If size is too large just don't worry about this fourth gather.
13. Shape. Round is okay, Egg shape is nice if you have an egg block. Or maver and hand shape.
14. Jack. Heat. jack, Shape. heat, jack cool.....
15. knock off.

Let me know what you think.
Keep it centered.

aboatman - Shows

aboatman - Shows
Here is a listing of art festivals I have found on the net. Some good stuff. Some not.
Keep it centered.

The Children's Museum of Indianapolis

The Children's Museum of Indianapolis
Check out this great site. All about the basics of the glassblowing process.
Keep it centered.

Opening a piece

Working at the bench. Jacking open a piece. Good stuff.
Keep it centered my friends.  

Do Not Procrastinate Happiness

Do Not Procrastinate Happiness
Check out the Sky Chair. I just ordered one for the studio to see how it will work for people coming in to watch. One good thing is there is nothing touching the floor. I do hate to move chairs to sweep.

Image Search

Can you find the blown glass heart in the image below? This is a great photo by Mary. I love the composition. Everyone needs a heart for their garden.
We had a great show in Edmond. Thank you to everyone who came out to support the arts this weekend. Without you all what we do would not be possible. Thank you for all the help in the booth too.
Keep it centered!
 

Coupon! Save Ten Percent!

 

MAY FAIR

MAY FAIR
Out and about this weekend? Check out the Norman MAy Fair. This is an event not to be missed. Great Art, Great Music, Great Weather. We will be exhibiting at Norman and at the Downtown Edmond Arts Festival this weekend. Visit Brent in Norman and Andy in Edmond. I hope to see everyone there!