Driia's Dreams » carrie

Pendant – PFD_0609_017

carrie — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 01:28:26 +0000

Here I again used multiple layers of fused clear, black and dichroic glass with mica powders.

This is “Soul Stone II” – another item from a commissioned series. It’s my personal favorite from the series – however the buyer chose another larger piece instead. This one was cold worked on the glass grinder in addition to having four individual kiln firings.

Pendant – PFD_0609_018

carrie — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 01:08:35 +0000

This is “Soul Stone III” – it was part of a series I did for a commission. Commission pieces are done as a series with the buyer choosing their final purchase.

Pendant – PF_0606_012

carrie — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:29:04 +0000

A very tailored shape with an attractive mix of blue-green color on a white base. I was thinking of the sea when I made this one. To give this one the tailored look I wanted – I used my glass grinder to shape and smooth the sides into a longer leaner looking shape.

Pendant – PF_0709_020

carrie — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:20:21 +0000

This is a dainty light blue swirled glass with mixed blue accents.

Pendant – PF_0606_011

carrie — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:12:55 +0000

A small rounded fused glass pendant with a sprinkle of red (almost cranberry) and black frit on a white base.

Clear Glass and new torch work

carrie — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 05:59:21 +0000

As discussed earlier – I have recently taken a workshop involving Boro glass and torch work. It was not jewelry specific – but I learned a couple of things and I’ll be using the pieces I made in some form of jewelry. I’m still working out my plans. However here is one picture I’ve taken of a couple of the “raw” pieces before they become finished products.

I’ll most likely be doing a wire wrap for each one. Though a couple may evolve into a complete necklace. Not sure yet – especially since I do seem to favor pendants over necklaces.

The one in the middle I was attempting a sea shell – since I have a series of sea side inspired jewelry I wanted to make. While the one on the left is a flutter heart for Valentines Day. I do have about 8 or 9 usable pieces…. but these were the best to photograph at this stage.

Valentines Date Night

carrie — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 23:48:03 +0000

This year in lieu of chocolates, flowers or silly stuffed animals….. my very favorite person (who also happens to be my husband), bought us tickets to a “date night” at the The Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton , VA. This involved Ballroom dancing, snacks and a bar….. plus the good part… a 2 hour couples Glass Class which allowed us to choose either fused glass or torch work glass.

Decisions – decisions…. I’ve had a couple of fusing classes and I use my own kiln to make fused glass jewelry, however I also know how to make lamp work beads using a hot head torch and map gas. After a brief bit of pondering I chose torch work glass as this was an opportunity to see how torch work was done on a Carlisle mini cc surface mix bench burner.

Using a two part fuel source (propane and oxygen) is a little different than using map gas. You have to remember the correct order to turn on and off the two gases. POOP is how you remember that…. you start by turning on the Propane (and lighting it with a match or striker) set your flame and then add in the Oxygen. Now reset your flame for thickness and candle height; melt glass – until you are tired or done for a while. Turn off your burner by shutting down your Oxygen before you turn the Propane off. POOP = (Propane on, Oxygen on & Oxygen off, Propane off) nice and simple.

I had a chance to talk to Rick Sherbert (the glass center’s director), got the pricing for use of open torch time. They also had a nice kiln room and cold working room. He however did the kiln class. Our instructor was Lisa St. Martin and while she does teach bead work classes – this class was using boro rods and free form sculpting. I’ll post pictures of some of my pieces soon. I didn’t really get the glass to where I wanted most of the time – but I had fun, learned a little bit…. and have a couple of pieces I may be able to turn into jewelry.

All in all I can highly recommend this type of activity for couples – especially if one or both of you is into the artsy stuff. Craig got to play with fire and ask technical questions, an I got to make stuff. So I’m happy, and I know my husband still loves me – because he does things like this with me. Hope you all had as much fun as I did on V-day!

Earrings – EBW_0801_002

carrie — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 22:52:16 +0000

These earrings are another set that were made as a series for a commission to go with a pendant that had already been purchased the prior year. I made 4 sets of earrings for this commision to give my customer a choice. A slightly larger version of this set was chosen.

Earrings – EBW_0801_003

carrie — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 22:39:23 +0000

These earrings were made as a series for a commission to go with a pendant that had already been purchased the prior year. I made 4 sets of earrings for this commision to give my customer a choice. A slightly smaller version of this set was chosen.

Big Dreams of Trains to Nowhere and Everywhere

carrie — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 18:23:34 +0000

My inspiration of the month….

With thanks to Craig who sent me the following link:

http://weburbanist.com/2009/10/29/all-aboard-clever-recycled-train-car-homes-offices-hotels/

It involves the clever reuse of train cars. Now what I find so inspiring about this … well in college my friends and I found a couple of old wooden cabooses…sitting on abandoned tracks a short walk from our dorms. The tracks had become a cut through or back way to get to a local shopping center. Since none of us had a car it was our preferred path and I saw them frequently over 4 years. I even thought of “stealing” the abandoned cars – but where would I put them? They are an enchanted part of my past – and involve one of my fondest fantasy: re-using them for a private retreat, or art studio. To this day it makes me sad to think of the neglect, and the vandalism. People had started fires in them and spray painted the interiors – it was so needless.

In an ideal (for me) world I would have a property that I could put a train car or two on – I’d be able to find the legal owners of the abandoned cars and buy them for myself and get them moved. I want to restore them and make an office / writing studio in one. In the other I would want to make a painting studio. For obscene amounts of space / time / money I’d have about 5 or 6 more cars and create for myself a village of train cottage work rooms for my various needs. Such as:

jewelers bench and studio
sanding, grinding woodworking (dust filled and messy)
painting / finishing studio for varnishing, glazing, glazes
kiln room for various kilns (jewelry fusing, slumping, etc)
fabric arts, quilting, costuming, weaving, spinning
an extra long car for raw material storage

In reality – I already have a nice little studio, and access to a garage fro all my woodworking needs. I just like to dream big and impossible things – after all who knows – maybe I’ll be fortunate one day and some more of my big dream will come true too. After all I never thought I’d have the chance to stay home and work on my art and jewelery.

It may even be possible to one day have my village. But if I do it will more than likely be made of small and large work sheds – and in the center – my one lone train car to serve as my inspirational retreat and office.

Hey – I even forgot my photography studio and the clay shop! Do I have too many interests?

You betchya!…and counting…..

*fingers crossed* Wish me luck and I wish the same for your own Big Dreams.