Every now and then - I am smitten by the toggle bug. Since it's a multi day/step product - often I have a day of making just rings - then time is spent pairing them up - and then comes the final torch day... yesterday was just that!
These are little sculptures that have movement - and color - plus a sweet clink sound as the rings tap each other. There is a bead hole through the main part of the spindle, and can be worn - I see these as more of a collectors' piece.
I had two kilns going at once, and this made things much easier - as one held soft glass beads and the other had the borosilicate components for these toggles. There is always a ramp up *in my psyching myself up* to get 'em done... and finally by day's end - I was there. Happily pleasing results!! smiles, Jill
3.08.2016 -Silvery Drops of Rain... and then some...
Rain is such music to my ears, as usual, each springtime - the rains come. Seems maybe I should be making an ark - but instead am driven to restock my supply of handmade headpins, ear wires, jumprings, I'm even making some chain! (last weekend the search was on to find some sterling silver chain - and it was near to impossible!)
http://www.harborfreight.com/3-lb-rotary-rock-tumbler-67631.html
As I write - my tumbler is humming in the background - steadfastly rolling the stainless steel shot over and over my silver pieces. This gives them in credible polish, serves to work-harden the silver and just gives my finished pieces an extra degree of elegance. I have been through a few of these tumblers and wanted to give a shout out to Harbor Freight for offering this workhorse - for a very reasonable price.
When I went to their site to snatch a picture of it, I was that it is on sale this week for $42.99 and IMHO is well worth the money!
Back in 2004 I took a silversmithing course - I really loved it - but at the time silver was uber expensive... and I wasn't willing to take the time away from glass to delve further. The happy medium was to introduce it in the background with my beads. Over the years - I have become a little more comfortable and can report that I've done away with mfg. bead caps, headpins and bails - and as of today sterling silver CHAIN. So - I laughed today - as I used the Smith Little Torch to solder the jumprings closed - an important step in making chain. The amount of heat required to solder 20ga sterling silver was a whisper compared to the output of the Lynx lampworking torch. LOL. The Chain lengths are currently tumbling - I'll snatch a picture to put here in a little bit.
I confess that I did make a ton of beads this week, but as ususal - once I latch onto something new - I tend to run it into the ground. I have made oodles of these little glass cups from last week - and while I think they're wonderful - I need to spend some time using them in a finished piece to get you fired up! So - maybe next week you'll see the finished fruits of my "labor"*. smiles and raindrops, Jill
*I have to smile each time I call this work or labor... as you know what they say - love what you do and you'll never work a day in your life!
3.2.2016 - Fun Glassy Bead Shapes for Springtime...
Fun new shapes - and one cool thing to do with them! I paired two of them and they're part of a pair of earrings I'm working on...
The glassy bead cups shown above are especially cool because of how the light gathers the color and bends it and brings it to the front edge of the bead.
Below are the cool splat shape - tri-lobed beads - are fun fun fun....
I etched some of the splat beads and paired them up... to make this cool, fun new necklace. What could you do with them?? Smiles, Jill
2.24.2016 - Lauscha and tall thin transparent disks!
JillSymons.com Lampwork
I fall so hard for the transparent colors each springtime... and while I don't have many pearls of wisdom about them - I will tell you one thing. I love the Lauscha transparents - if you've only worked with Effetre - you have to try Lauscha. I love the Peach, Medium Amethyst and Glassdaddy Purple. Many of you know that my father is Glassdaddy... let him know you saw it here!!
I work fast and hot - and yet I never have scumming or bubbles because this glass doesn't pit and boil. YAY! These disks are sometimes 1 3/4" tall with a tiny footprint of glass holding it onto the mandrel - yet - there are no visible signs of a struggle - because this glass is such a pleasure to use.
On my workbench, I confess, I also have a few varied colors of the Czech glass - which for the most part YES, is incompatible with everything - even other Czech colors... but when used separately like this - compatibility is not an issue! Love this.
This necklace is only showcasing the warm colors... but there are also beautiful green - Lt Green is the same color as Sage Green - but no boiling! Aqua, medium blue... etc. Maybe next week I'll make another necklace in cool tones. smiles, Jill
2.17.2016 - San Antonio Concepcion Mission
Still as working church, this mission was gorgeous - I especially loved the artistry in small details. The Moorish influence shown in the arches and keys, clean lines and tilework... very nice - so much so that at times I felt transported back in time.
How's this for a very cool set of door hardware? I make my ear wires much the same manner as the handle's curl. Very nice. Most perplexing for me were the door hinges. I assume they were the semblance of two eye screws... but knowing how hard it can be to open a jumpring made from 14ga sterling... how do you suppose the hinges were put onto the doors? Certainly not opening the rings and inserting then closing the ring... very cool.
2.3.2016 - Photo Mosaic
This Fence is in New Braunfels, TX... and seriously - I don't know...
Sir Charles... peeking over his fence. Yes, it was late December and there were still flowers on the lantana!
I couldn't resist this dishtowel. (for those of you who know me well - I still can't resist collecting new ones!) I loved the double yolk!
little girl blowing bubbles down at the Riverwalk in San Antonio... loved the surface of each shining with so many colors. Take joy when you find it - as this was fleeting!
Dad carved the pineapple, being an engineer - he chose the most efficient means with the least waste. KUDOS!!
Somehow - I don't think this design element was for efficiency. But I must admit - it brought delight to something that would otherwise have been most ordinary!
You have to remember - I live in TX. In San Antonio boutique... bowties for TX formal... made from feathers. LOVE this!
And finally, I know this is late. But I had to show you. This is the Christmas display in Johnson City, TX... at the Electric Company. It was so amazing! Spacing of the wraps on tree trunk was about 1/2" apart. The trees were wrapped out to most branches with the tiny lights - then the tree canopies were studded with larger bulbs. AWESOME so so awesome.
1.27.2016 - My introduction to MOSAICS (SO) broadened my horizons...
Right about a year ago, I went with a girlfriend to a studio tour where I met Lynn Bridges - a Dripping Springs, TX painter/mosaic artist. I had spent a little time talking about how cool her mosaics were - and loved that there was yet another way to repurpose glass and pottery. I signed up to be on her mailing list... then one day - I received a notice about a Community Mosaic Project
I've provided a link to Lynn's blog which details the progress of this mosaic project over the past three years. So far, they've completed almost five of the six panels. What I took away from this brief foray into mosaics is that not all mosaics are grouted-to-flush with the tile surface... and it's meticulous work, the details are amazing up close and from afar - it's hard to believe everything just blends into such a beautiful project!!
Below is the panel that's currently being worked on, and the drawing from which it was made. Amazing the detail that is employed to render shadows - giving it such depth. Very cool. Since this is a project that has had many hands on it - you see little touches.. like maybe a pretty tile is used as a tattoo... or a small charm is placed in with the pottery shards.
The tiles below are about the size of the mini-Chicklets from years ago... maybe 3/16" sq. giving much more detail to the small figures. I was sooo impressed!
1.20.2016 - Seeking Support Group (JK)
There are fewer things that just make my heart beat faster than great efficient design. I think this comes through in many areas in my life... and certainly in my glasswork ... : ) happily so.
Last week my youngest son was in the final throes of packing to return to college and from the other end of the house I heard "Mom... do you want this box?" I, in a decluttering mode, answered "NOOOOO". He replied - "ARE YOU SUUUURE.....???" Does he know me or what?
While I only claim a few of the boxes below - it represents a timeline from the past six or so years, when my love affair with Apple began. I cannot bring myself to throw any of them out. I remember opening my new phones and marveling at the incredibly efficient design - packing so much into such a small, and oh so sturdy, box! The box so rigid and sturdy... what can I say - if this is as bad as it gets - I'm doing pretty good, huh? I know I must certainly not be alone in my collection. Right?
Funny also, look at how the boxes have grown as we've migrated (some of us... Sweetie) from the 4 to the 6+... Funny. smiles, Jill
1.13.2016 -
While I 'know' the next beady 'holiday' is Valentines Day... I am just not there yet. I am still feeling the contemporary old world charm of Santa Fe.... I know... it gets old, huh?
How 'bout this... we'll do a fun blog about things that just make you want to go "huh..." This is the Culinary Institute of America (in San Antonio) - eye catching thing on the ceiling at the entry, huh? Upon closer inspection they were skillets. NICE. (Oh, and there was a nicely hidden bird's nest in the very center/bottom!)
I'm always struck by the ability of nature to climb and get to where the light is... saw this and it just struck me that the vines are just so doggone persistent... and usually able to achieve just what they want.
OK, this one is a bit strange... on the road to Silverton, CO - there was this colorful blob. Anyone care to take a guess?
Seems it's an advertisement of sorts for the mineral springs just below... My source (yes, Barbara.. you) said that it wasn't naturally there - but relocated of sorts from across the road to draw attention to the hot springs. Nevertheless... mighty colorful and expecially hot on an otherwise rather monochrome/cold day!
... and sadly this is the last... as I'm running out of time. But at La Mesa Gallery in Santa Fe... this wonderful wall sconce. Makes me want to take a pottery class!! if you enjoyed this sort of blog - let me know - Lord knows I've got a ton of images just like these!!! Have a great week, Jill
1.6.2016 - Santa Fe, more GLASS
While in Santa Fe a few weeks ago, I'd say that the most stunning thing I saw was this sculpture outside of the Pippin Contemporary Art Gallery... it was early evening - so we visited it again the following day...
The Artist is Greg Reiche and from what I can gather - he has made a brass grid framework from tubing, then has little wire baskets that are each holding a glass tile *about 3" square. These baskets are hooked over the top of the tubing, but are free to rock in the wind... so in the evening - the glass was shimmering as the light bounced off each at a different angle. I think some of the pieces were coated with a iridescent layer... but I'm not sure. There were two opposing Yin/Yang pieces and all I can say is bravo... this was truly breathtaking!
12.30.2015 - ... I'm back... and I have some pretties to show you!
My sweetie, Luis, stole me away to Durango a few weeks before Christmas... it'd been a long time since I'd seen snow - and while there wasn't any on the ground upon our arrival - it snowed the second night starting at 2am... it was truly breathtakingly so quiet... and very cold! This Texas girl had forgotten what it was like to be in snow. The top image was taken on the highway between Purgatory and Silverton CO - at about 10,000' altitude. There was a big storm rolling in - and this was the last picture taken before we decided to get back to Durango.
Somehow - there is always glass!
The B&B was a cute main house with cottages out back...
The trip had us flying into Albuquerque - then driving through Santa Feand on to Durango. I totally fell in love with Santa Fe. I'd hear for years about what a beautiful place it was for artists and of the many studio/shops there... but I truly had no idea. We stopped for lunch on the way up to Durango - and came back to spend the last day of the trip there to explore more... sigh.
I am thankful Luis was so patient - as there were so many things that caught my eye - we were forever stopping to capture this and that!! There was a garden full of those metal kinetic wind sculptures - I'd only ever seen one or two - so it was amazing seeing so many lazily going about their airy ballet...
... and then there was this...
We tripped across this amazing sculpture at La Mesa Gallery in Santa Fe discovering it in the evening, and chose to come back by daylight to capture the image. The artist is Russ Vogt, and all I can say is that it filled my heart with such joy - I thought it would burst! I can only imagine it does you as well..... it stands about 8' tall - and is a series of pottery 'beads'... they sway slightly in the wind and are quite the statement.
I also noticed that Eleanore Macnish - EllieMac was represented at this gallery - yay glass artists!! She had a case filled with her colorful lampwork - lovely. I have much more to share - but will have to be next week (next YEAR)!! BIG smiles - Jill
12.2.2015 - Texture at the Palmer Events Center
This gem was created by the time I resurfaced here in Austin - circa July 4, 2009 *Independence day!) I'd been gone 20 years since my college days - and lots had happened. Two MAJOR East/West highways had gone through renovations, I certainly hadn't missed that... lots of the landmarks from my college days were now gone - but - in 2002 this building had appeared. It's where large events are held - and most recently we had gone to the Citywide Garage Sale. While nothing was purchased, I had a heyday with my iPhone, as the venue was by far more elegant than the event it hosted.
I'd totally forgotten about the applied elements - these creatures that were cast and stuck to the limestone faced walls. Isn't this just wonderful?
What an absolutely spectacular space! I do have to wonder though about the inspiration for the item below... any ideas?? smiles - Jill