I've been making beads now for seventeen years - sheesh. My youngest son is just a tad older than that - so - it's been most of his lifetime... that's a LONG time. I don't fail often OR publicly, and if I do, I recover so quickly - doubtful anyone would know.
So - under the gun - I finally decided it was time to tackle the tutorial. First thing was my torch wasn't as powerful - so working real-time along with it was near to impossible... and of course, I hadn't made a million of these as the teacher most likely had! I learned lamp working on my own, so the tried and true ways to do things aren't in my vocabulary... so I learned a lot, just seeing someone else do it the way it's 'supposed to be done'. : )
While YES, I did have issues balancing a larger than my norm glob (ahem "gather") of molten glass, that will come with practice, and I experienced the frustration of having it pop off my rod of glass onto my work surface, then I rescued the runaway pendant from the work surface - repuntied - and carried on. On the positive side, I made a very nice twisted cane from a large lollypop paddle, learned to make a glass loop for hanging (I've often admired those handles on essential oil vials, but knew surely I couldn't do it - but I now CAN)!
SO - news on the streets is that although some of us ARE old dogs, we most certainly can be taught new tricks! Maybe I won't ever make pendants as beautifully as the instructor... but everyone's got to start somewhere.
Next question is... while I thoroughly enjoyed the tutorial - I was asked to critique IT, uh oh, I see 'critical' in that word - I don't want to 'criticize' - I'm not mean spirited... how does one go about this and not sound critical? Well - I was honest - with regard to the good as well as what could be improved.... there wasn't as much on her end as what could stand improving on mine!! smiles, Jill
