Great Year

It has been a wonderful year at the studio. Many thanks to everyone who helped make it happen. The studio has grown a lot and I hope I am keeping up.
Keep up the good work my friends.

Be sure to check the online calendar as to when we are working.

Keep it centered.

Contour | Stories | A Bud Vase

Contour | Stories | A Bud Vase

I made a video of the bud vase.

I think I got most the key steps I do. I did mess up the video during the first gather so it starts just after that point.

Keep it centered!

and who can resist the baubles?

and who can resist the baubles?, a photo by nixgab on Flickr.

This is a great display for ornaments.

Home Show Photos

Head Cam Ornaments

I got to try the new Contour Camera last night and made a quick ornament.

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

Upcoming

As you may know the new glory hole came in. Richard and Denny have a great plan in mind for the doors. I think it is going to come together very well. Thinking we will working on it Saturday or Sunday and then during the Thanksgiving Break. We will be open and in and out over the break so let me know if you are wanting to come in to work.
I still plan on having Open Blow Time for folks on Sunday to come in and create and make some things for the studio to sell and get some new skills built up.
Keep it centered!

24 inch opening

The new glory hole. It is huge. 24 inch opening on hole.

Google +

Morning sun

The morning sun shining through a blue piece of glass is awe inspiring.

The Week Ahead and More

It is going to be a crazy time heading into the Christmas season. The calendar in the studio is posted through Christmas. Be sure to sign up now for time. I also need to make time for making ornaments and holiday gift ideas.
Oil Lamps, Soap Dispensers, Perfume Bottles are just some of the items I would like to create during our Sunday Open Blow times too.
We are starting to get holiday parties booked for the next couple of months. If you want to have your party at Blue Sage Studios let me know fairly quickly.
Keep it centered!

Ice Cream Social

Don't forget that Sunday the 30th is the Almost Annual Ice Cream Social. Bring your family and friends for a cool treat at the hot glass studio.

Fire platter

Roy making a fire platter. Hopefully it came out good will see it this afternoon.

Home Page | Tree and Leaf Clothing

Home Page | Tree and Leaf Clothing:
Week 6 is posted.

'via Blog this'

Weekend

It looks like it will be a great weekend in the studio. Working today and this afternoon. Saturday brings lots of classes and a huge birthday party. It should be great fun. Sunday will be working and lessons and creating. Drop by if you get the chance.

Sunday, sunday

Tour group in this morning. Then folks working and open blow time too. Should be a great day in the studio. Cool weather is upon us.
Gearing up for the day of the dead and the ice cream social at the end of the month. Lots of ornaments to make too.
If you are looking for corporate gifts let us know as soon as possible.

Google Calendar

Google Calendar:

ray can't make it tonight. If anyone wants to work or help tonight come by around 6:30.

a

'via Blog this'

give away

I would like to team up with a site for a give away.
A recipe site or something and donate four ice cream bowls to be given to a reader at random. I could do it here but only like 10 people read this site more then on occasion.

OVAC 12x12 Art Fundraiser

OVAC 12x12 Art Fundraiser:

'via Blog this'

This should be great fun. One of the best shows of the year.

Vase

I have been working on this shape. The cookie foot gets a wrap. Makes for a great look when I can get it right. This will be one of two pieces up for a gift. .

Andrew Boatman

Andrew Boatman, a photo by OK Visual Arts Coalition on Flickr.

My fountain for the OVAC 12x12 show

OPENING: Randy Walker’s nature studies at Traver Tacoma | The GLASS Quarterly Hot Sheet

OPENING: Randy Walker’s nature studies at Traver Tacoma | The GLASS Quarterly Hot Sheet:

This would be a great gallery show to see.

'via Blog this'

Sell Handmade, Fine Art, Supplies and More On ArtFire.com

Sell Handmade, Fine Art, Supplies and More On ArtFire.com:

Wondering about this site. Etsy like maybe? Difficult to sell stuff online but it could be a valuable market tool.

'via Blog this'

Glort Hole

I got an email from the fellow making the new studio equipment. He says it will be 5 to 6 weeks and ready to ship. How awesome would that be. Hate to keep my fingersb crossed.

The Atlantic

This article (http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2011/08/the-fall-of-groupon-is-the-daily-deals-site-running-out-of-cash/243863/) in The Atlantic is interesting. Steve Lackmeyer pointed it out via twitter.

The Groupon Model does not work for me. A company promotes businesses with discounts to the public. Groupon does very little. A middle man in the transaction.

For us Groupon would promote a deal. Say get $40 of goods or services for $20. Groupon then takes half of the $20 with the studio getting the other half. That would be $10 for a $40 item. That does not even cover our cost alone in a $40 item.

It sounds good on the surface but really does not work.

Living Social does the same thing. Offering a glassblowing lesson that is $75 at half off $37.50. Half of that again is $18.75 to the studio for a one hour lesson. Raw operating cost alone is over $40 an hour. In their sales pitch they say the increase in repeat business will off-set the loss.

Sounds like a crazy deal for the small business owner.

vase

very cool technique and vase

http://vimeo.com/27932043

Italian Jim's

I just saw this article online. Good stuff from our friend Chris.

http://www.newsok.com/article/3593355

Glass & Clay :: Oklahoma City Museum of Art

Glass & Clay :: Oklahoma City Museum of Art

Class times are still open at the OKCMOA.com website for Glassblowing. Classes fill up fast.

Progress

It has been a crazy start to school and things are beginning to even out.
Sunday is going to be open blow time this week at 1 to 4 and if it works we will continue the practice. It will allow a lot of learning to take place.
Keep it centered.

KOKH FOX 25 :: Morning News - Terre Takes on Glass Blowing

KOKH FOX 25 :: Morning News - Terre Takes on Glass Blowing

Roy is the bomb!

Open

We are open off and on throughout the next few days. Gearing up for the Artist Opening on Friday Night at 6:00 to 10:00. Lot's to do to get ready. Dusting, cleaning, blowing. We should be back to a regular schedule next week. We will need to take a look at the upcoming calendar and get folks scheduled into work and play. Come in when you can and beat the heat with more heat.

Schedule

It has been a hot, hot summer. Blowing glass when it is 100+ outside takes everything you got.

We will be closing for a couple of weeks. No blowing going on.

Stephen will be in the Istvan Gallery so access is open to the studio gallery if you are looking for a gift or some cool glass.

Stay in touch. Stay cool. and

Keep it centered!

Upcoming

The summer is moving fast. Be sure to take a look at the calendar to see when we will be working over the couple of weeks.
Stay cool. And
Keep it centered.

Hummingbird Feeders

Been working on hummingbird feeders and how to display them well.

Italian Jim's

It looks like Chris and family will be opening soon. They are in full out prep mode. Keep an eye out and dine with them.

Working

Be sure to look at the calendar and come by to watch us work. I am also going to try to checkin at the blue sage studios Google Places page when I get there.

Welcome to the American Red Cross of Central Oklahoma

Welcome to the American Red Cross of Central Oklahoma

Schedule

I am working on the summer schedule come by and get your blow slot scheduled.

Seattle

Heading out to Seattle. Looking forward to the trip and the coast and the glass and the synergy. Should be great fun. first stop tomorrow? El Diablo coffee up on queen anne. Okay maybe the second or third stop but definately top of the list.

Sunrise at Coffee Slingers

The installation at Coffee Slingers. One of four windows.

RWB Paperweight

How to make a PaperWeight Movie

Happy BirthDay Roy

I need to update the calendar with everyone's birthday's so we can have proper celebrations. Please let me know your birthday.

Today is Rory Dale's birthday. Very cool indeed.

The Week Ahead

We are gearing up for the Paseo Festival over the Memorial Weekend. It should be a great show. I am also in preparation for showing some work at the infamous Coffee Slingers. I am planning on an ornament display in the front window.

We will be working most evenings this week and this weekend too. We are finishing up our OKCMOA glass sculpting class on Saturday with making a sea shell.

All is well. Keep it centered!

Edmond

What a great weekend. Many thanks to everyone who helped out at the show. From setup and break down everything just went well.

If you see Mara give her many thanks for putting in a full weekend in the booth.

Next step is gearing up for the Paseo Festival at the end of the month.

The Week Ahead...

I am not sure yet but should be that posted tonight or tomorrow.

Larger Downtown Edmond Arts Festival planned | NewsOK.com

Larger Downtown Edmond Arts Festival planned | NewsOK.com

Cane

We had a guest in from California on Friday night. Paul Counts came into the studio. He was showing his work at the Oklahoma City Arts Festival. It was a great evening. We pulled out some white, black and capri blue veiled cane. Then put those together to pull a lattachino cane.

Paul then took that cane and created a tea pot. It was truly amazing.

Some of his work... http://youtu.be/IMfdEd1LymE

The schedule over the next few days. It is subject to change but we are getting back in the swing of things.

Today (Wed, Apr 27)

2:30pm

Eli

4:30pm

Brandon and Andy

7:30pm

Dr. John

Tomorrow (Thu, Apr 28)

4:30pm

Lester Cowden

6:00pm

marty

Sat, Apr 30

8:00am

Patty

10:00am

OKCMOA Class Vessels

2:00pm

Brandon

4:00pm

Scott

Sun, May 1

12:00pm

Richard and Denny

2:00pm

The Booth's

Mon, May 2

4:30pm

Robin

5:30pm

David in Small GH

6:00pm

Ray

Tue, May 3

5:00pm

Pack for Edmond

Wed, May 4

4:30pm

Andy and Brandon

7:30pm

Dr. John

Thu, May 5

4:00pm

Technology Meeting

5:00pm

Setup for Edmond

6:00pm

Marty

Fri, May 6

Edmond Art Festival

Sat, May 7

Edmond Art Festival

Sun, May 8

Edmond Art Festival

Janis Vitkovsky- Visiting Artist � Liquid Light Glass Blog

Janis Vitkovsky- Visiting Artist � Liquid Light Glass Blog

Some good pictures of a cane pull.

Schedule

We should be back to our regular schedule next week. I am working this week in the studio trying to get caught up on orders and making things for the Edmond Show. Easter is Sunday.
I hope to get the calendar updated this weekend. Let me know if you need a time in the studio.
Keep it Centered!

Getting Hot

At this point I am expecting (if all goes well) to be working in the studio again starting Monday. I have several big projects I need to get done as the time off put me way behind on items made. Drop in and get signed up for a blow time.

The Edmond show is coming up soon too and there are items that need to made for the show.

Getting Hot

We got the crown put on Tuesday night. Set and ready. Brandon called in some muscles to help out. It took six of us to lift it into place.

Wednesday we got the metal put back on and the fiber repacked. The elements in and all wired up. Denny, Richard, Scott and I fired up around 11:00 last night and it has been sitting at 200 degrees.

I am not sure when we will begin blowing. We have to get it hot, make some adjustments, load and cook the batch. Soon I hope.

many thanks to everyone who has helped out this week and over the trails of the past month in getting everything together.

Keep it centered!

Crown

It looks like we will be working on getting the crown set on Tuesday after 5:00. If you are out and about feel free to drop by and see our progress.

Update

What do you do when the universe seems to be conspiring against you?

The crown was not ready to ship today. We are looking at Tuesday of next week to get it here.

More to come...

Progress

The studio is coming along. We have completed several different projects over the past couple of weeks. The crown is supposed to be ready to ship today. Hopefully all will go well in that process.

I will let you all know how it comes along.

CHIHULY COLLECTION EXHIBITION TO TEMPORARILY CLOSE | Oklahoma City Museum of Art

CHIHULY COLLECTION EXHIBITION TO TEMPORARILY CLOSE | Oklahoma City Museum of Art

If you have not had the chance to visit in a while do so. Gather some inspiration!

Bad News

I got an email from the folks working on the new crown for the furnace. It is not ready yet. Hopefully by the weekend. We shall see. Looks like we will be down for the rest of this week and part of next.

Are you Experienced?

Have you ever been experienced? Well I have. - Jimi Hendrix

I was not experienced. We needed to fix the furnace. We needed to repair some items in the studio. Time and heat are incredibly hard on equipment.

We turned off the furnace on a Thursday evening. I had ordered what I expected to be the things needed to repair it. A list is needed. The items that are consumable within the furnace and it's workings.

The Furnace - Elements, Gathering Port Casting, Crown Casting, High Temp Bricks, Fiber Frax, Noalox, Wires, Cooling tubes, BussBlocks, Watlow fuse... the folks over at Craftweb are most helpful and with a community of folks with a similar furnace it is invaluable to have assistance of this nature. I too would like to have a guide book or a wiki knowledge base for this purpose.

The Lehr - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lehr_(glassmaking) I ordered the new elements from Duralite. The elements are configured by the company and they sent everything needed for installation. They do not send a how to guide. Not having done it correctly in the past we were not really ready. The element pig tails come up through the lehr wall and need to be covered with a mullite tube. We did not do this and had to go back and redo.

Yolks - We have several yolks now. Rollers for the yolks are available from Steinert. It does require a 3" angle iron to get the right spread on the rollers. Old wheels work well for the bases as they are heavy and balanced and can be moved easily by rolling them around.

Pipe Warmer - Still the process of building. Measure twice, cut once.

Glory Hole and Garage - I have purchased these commercially. Be aware that your time frame and the manufactures time frame may be different from one another. His month looks to be like four of my months.

Layout of the studio floor - This is always evolving. With electric lines and oxygen lines, and physical constraints it is difficult to find the best layout. I believe we continue to make good progress and hope it continues to get better over time.

progress

We have been busy in the studio over the past few days. We have gotten everything broken down and started rebuilding. Things are moving along nicely. Good progress moving forward. We plan on tackling the furnace on Thursday. I am not sure if it will be hot and ready for the weekend yet. I will keep everyone posted.

many thanks for all the help.

The Week Ahead

I know I am missing a couple of folks listed below. I will check the schedule tonight and get it all update on the calendar.

Spring Break is quickly approaching. The new glory hole and garage should be here. I am getting three new fans to help move some air. We will be fixing broken things and making things better around the studio. Should be great fun.

Schedule

Today (Mon, Mar 7)

4:30pm

Robin

6:00pm

Ray

Wed, Mar 9

Blue Sage Studios Anniversery - Founded 2003

4:30pm

Brandon and Andy

7:30pm

Dr. John

Thu, Mar 10

6:00pm

Marty

8:00pm

Allison Demo

Fri, Mar 11

Tentative Date for New Glory Hole

buffalo, round barn , glass blowing 012

buffalo, round barn , glass blowing 012
Originally uploaded by cosmosenfold

I was surfing Flickr today and found this old upload. Long time ago.

The Week Ahead

Things are moving along well. I am waiting to hear from Steve but I anticipating being shut down over Spring Break week for maintainance. The studio is in need of some upgrades and work and it should be a good time to try to get a bunch of work completed.
This will be a busy week too. Our friend Scott Young from Dallas is passing through and is planning on working at the Studio on Tuesday afternoon around 3:30. It is always good to see someone new.

The schedule for the week looks like:
Today (Mon, Feb 28)
4:30pmRobin
6:00pmRay

Tomorrow (Tue, Mar 1)
3:30pmScott Young

Wed, Mar 2
4:30pmBrandon and Andy
7:30pmDr. John

Thu, Mar 3
9:00amArt Students Working
4:00pmBriley
6:00pmMarty

Fri, Mar 4
2:00pmPeople are on but can't tell who

Sat, Mar 5

8 Patty
10:00amOKCMOA Class

1Brandon

3 Jeff

4Scott

(those times may be off a bit)

Sun, Mar 6
12:00pmRichard and Denny
2:00pmThe Booth's
4:00pmJason
6:00pmRichard Nelson Lesson

St. Baldrick's - Participant - Scott Wallace

St. Baldrick's - Participant - Scott Wallace

I thought you all would like to know about this and support one of our own. Scott has a good shaped head for sporting the bald look. Me I'm not so sure.

Pricing Your Work - What is Overhead? - Ask Harriete

Pricing Your Work - What is Overhead? - Ask Harriete

I am in the process of reading this article. I found it interesting.

Paperweight Video

distinctly Oklahoma

Blue Sage Studios is featured in the February 2011 issue of distinctly Oklahoma. It is a wonderful article. Thank you Judy so much for allowing us to be featured. Paul did a great job writing about glass and how it is created. The artistic process as well as the mechanical.

Liquid Light Glass Blog

Liquid Light Glass Blog

Elodie has a blog. She has posted up some photos of current work. Awesome stuff.

The Week Ahead

I got this week on the calendar. It looks to be a good one.

Today (Mon, Jan 10)

4:00pm

Robin

6:00pm

Ray

Tomorrow (Tue, Jan 11)

Closed

Wed, Jan 12

4:30pm

Brandon and Andy

7:30pm

Dr. John

Thu, Jan 13

4:00pm

Briley

5:00pm

Piyush

6:00pm

Marty

Fri, Jan 14

4:00pm

Patrick

5:00pm

JC

7:00pm

Urban T-House Art Opening

Sat, Jan 15

8:00am

Patty

10:00am

OKCMOA Class

1:00pm

Brandon

4:00pm

Scott

Sun, Jan 16

12:00pm

R and D

2:00pm

The Booth's

5:00pm

Grant with Scott and Roy