Glass and Bead Expo

It's that time of year to register for the Annual Glass and Bead Expo. The classes are pricey but taught by world class artists. A picture from last year as I reflect on winning 1st Place in the Professional Stained Glass category.

Valentines Day is coming

For folks looking to buy a unique, lasting Valentines gift, come by the Artists Gallery downtown. I put in some new seasonal, fused items that would look good on you or someone special. All fused glass, silver wrapped pendants have been marked down. Good time to buy now with the cost of silver on the rise. Take a look at some of the pendants. Also available are some unique fused glass items and my Organic Glass creations.

New Glass and Exhibit

If I have not told you already, I have glass on exhibit on campus at NAU. It is in the High Altitude Conference Center adjacent to Drury Inn. There are three very nice samples on display. The glass was juried in via a competitive local selection process. Items will on display until October 2010.

Glass and Bead Expo 2010

Wow, so the Annual Glass and Bead Expo in Las Vegas was great, as usual. It was great to see some of my mentor glass artists again. I picked up a few new tricks and some completely new mediums as well. It's always good to know everything you can about your craft and I do love Glass.

Here are some new pics from the expo and pics of my award winning piece. Enjoy.

Tucson Gem and Mineral

Coming soon in the Artists Gallery will be new art pieces that incorporate many of the "gem" and "minerals" I purchased this weekend at the JOGS. Agate slices, amber, fresh water pearls, red coral, and natural cut stones. You heard it here first. Pictures forthcoming.

February Classes in Flagstaff

If you are in the Flagstaff area I am teaching some fun classes at the fantastic, local scrap booking shop. About Memories and More not only offers great scrap booking activities but folks like me can teach fun classes. This month come and check out Heart and Washi paper pendants.

A Valentine PMC Heart by Teva Chaffin

A Simple Heart - Just in Time for Valentine's! This is not my design but from a PMCC Senior Instructor; Teva Chaffin. Enjoy.

"Make this simple heart just in time for Valentine's Day with two snake coils, a straw, and some paste.

This pendant is a floating heart, made in about 15 minutes. The design can be simple - or add a little bling with cubic zirconia!

The pendant size is determined by the length of your snake coils. Roll two snake coils of approximately the same thickness. Spritz with water - this helps to keep coils from cracking or drying while shaping into a heart. Spritzing may make things a little messy, but also much more workable.

Begin on the right side of the heart at the bottom point. Working counter-clockwise, shape the snake coil around the straw as shown in the illustration. Use paste to join the ends of the coil at the bottom point of the heart.

Once the first coil is shaped around the straw, begin adding the second coil, adding paste or water as necessary to hold the two together. The design idea is to make it appear as two hearts within one. Be sure to use my favorite tool, the clay shaper, to snug the second snake coil against the first.

Dry, sand, and touch up any gaps. After all touch-ups are completed and dried, it is ready to fire. The finished pendant should look just as beautiful from the back as it does from the front.

As you can see, this design can be simple or complex. You can have a simple floating heart or you can add a couple of cubic zirconia stones set in an additional coil inside the heart at the point. (Reminder: never quench CZ stones.)"

Happy Creating.
Teva Chaffin, Senior Instructor