Open House

In my last post I made mention of an open house I was attending on Saturday. I did end up going in spite of being sick for most of last week. I got there about 12:30 and at that time there were no big demos going on but the studio owner was making some really nice little wine goblets and explaining each step as he went along. I was watching him work and his assistant disappeared for a minute so he asked me to help! Needless to say I was a little worried I'd mess up something but after having him teach one of my classes and talking to him over the year or so I've been hanging out at his studio I knew he would talk me through whatever he needed. And he did. I delivered a few bits for the stem of the goblet and didn't hurt him, myself, or the goblet so it all worked out well. His assistant came back and actually gave me some gathering tips and answered all my newbie questions. 

After hanging around for an hour or so watching some incredible stuff being made the owner Michael said there was an open bench and I should make something. I was thinking to myself, "What? With all these people watching me?". I ended up hooking up with two other relative new blowers and we switched off making a piece at a time. My first attempt was a simple clear tumbler that was reasonable successful. I practiced trimming the lip since the lip was really fat coming off the pipe and for my second only lip trim I was happy with the results. It turned out too small to really hold much but it will hold at least one handful of Peanut M&Ms so I call it a success. Then one of my instructors, Steve Claypatch, asked if I would help him with a piece. I assisted with my first bench blow and flipped the piece while he shaped the sides with cork paddles. I also helped with a punty and the transfer. You can really learn a lot just by helping someone who knows what they are doing. I helped Steve with a second small vase he made that had trapped bubbles by using an optical mold. After the transfer to the punty he pretended he was an Italian master and sat an the bench and had me do all his reheats for him. It was quite fun and a bunch of guys in the shop were giving him a hard time about it. I made my second piece and Steve helped me add some color by adding some color to the pipe before my first gather and then gathering over it. Another new technique for me. (most of them are) After my first gather I added some opaque blue frit, another gather, and blew it out into another small, slightly lumpy, tumbler. I tell you, if there is ever a booming market for small lumpy tumblers I am good to go. I could have probably stayed for another couple of hours but I had to head home. It was another great experience. I don't have the stuff I made yet, it was not out of the annealer until yesterday and I have not had a chance to go in and pick it up. I promise to post some pics once I get them in hand. 

On a side note, another student and myself have booked our first slot for next week. Next Wednesday the 18th he and I have a spot for 4 hours. I can't wait! 

Thanks for reading!

-drew-