Archives for Lampworking

Tips about Dichroic Glass

Tips about Dichroic Glass

June 12, 2009 | by | No Comments

In this post, I want to share some tips about dichroic glass.  Dichroic glass is a glass that has had multiple thin layers of tiny crystals applied to it in a vacuum chamber.  This mysterious crystalline coating was original developed for eye gear worn by astronauts when the U.S. was hot and heavy into the race for space.  The coating that was developed turned out to have a number of applications unrelated to the space race and one of them turned out to be dichroic glass. What I want to discuss here is what I call the water color effect
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Categories: 104 COE Glass Review, Flameworking 104 Glass, Lampworking, and lampworking techniques.
A simple way to promote your art: Ad Context

A simple way to promote your art: Ad Context

June 5, 2009 | by | No Comments

Why do people love a piece of art. I’m talking about any kind of art; music, painting, lampwork jewelry and so on. It’s because they are able to relate to it on some level. By the end of the article I’ll explain why it’s important to know this and how to use it to your advantage. This works for any kind of artist trying to get attention, build a fan base and help sales. I want you to take a look at this image. It’s titled “A Moment” Stop and take note on how you feel about this picture. I
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Categories: Lampworking and Promotion.
Five New Glass Colors from Effetre (5/29/09)

Five New Glass Colors from Effetre (5/29/09)

May 29, 2009 | by | No Comments

A week ago, my husband Mike Frantz came back from a trip to Murano, Italy.  Mike made many visits to the Effetre glass factory while he was there and he found five new colors for the lampworking community.  They are: Very Cherry Butternut Dark Matter Rosewood Lace Agate   These new colors will be available on our website in a few weeks as they will be winging their way via air to the U.S. and more will arrive a bit later by sea.  We will be having a few auctions the first week of June to introduce these new colors,
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Categories: 104 COE Glass Review, Flameworking 104 Glass, and Lampworking.
Great colors for for the Bead makers and Lampworkers (05/22/2009)

Great colors for for the Bead makers and Lampworkers (05/22/2009)

May 22, 2009 | by | No Comments

Great colors for for the Bead makers and Lampworkers. I am happy to announce that there are five new Messy Colors from CiM that have arrived. (05/22/2009) Olive (511476) Commando (511475) Phoenix (511277) Adamantium (511874) Tamarind (511773) They are “Olive”, a wonderful pastel olive yellowish green,“ Commando” that is also a pastel green that is a similar tonality as the Olive but has a bluish over tone instead of  yellow.   There is a dark, dark chocolate brown that is called “Adamantium” after the comic book metal that makes the Wolverine character in X-Men so strong, “Tamarind” that is a mocha
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Categories: 104 COE Glass Review, Flameworking 104 Glass, and Lampworking.
Vetrofond – the Other Italian Glass Factory

Vetrofond – the Other Italian Glass Factory

May 15, 2009 | by | No Comments

Most beadmakers have heard of the Effetre (Moretti) glass factory on Murano near Venice, Italy, but fewer beadmakers know about the other Italian 104 COE glass rod manufacturer Vetrofond.  Vetrofond is located across the lagoon from Venice on the main land in a suburb of Mestre, which is the main industrial port of the area. Vetrofond is mostly involved with making custom modern looking blown glass lamp fixtures, but they have a large set up for producing 104 COE glass rods.  In past years, they have gone out of their way to produce interesting limited runs of odd lot colored
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Categories: 104 COE Glass Review, Flameworking 104 Glass, Lampworking, and Promotion.
Tags: beadmaking, beads, flameworking glass review, handpulled, inspiration, stringers, and Vetrofond.
Review of New Messy Color Blues

Review of New Messy Color Blues

May 8, 2009 | by | No Comments

I talk a lot about Messy Color glass because I really like the quality of the glass and how wonderful it handles in the flame. A few months ago, Messy Color came out with a group of new blues to add to their line of colors.  They are Freman (turquoise pastel), Smurfy (dark turquoise), Grumpy Bear (periwinkle) and Cornflower (dark blue).  All four colors are of the pastel variety. The two turquoise colors are a fabulous addition to the current lampworking palette because of their working proprieties.  If you have ever used one of the Italian turquoises, you know that
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Categories: 104 COE Glass Review, Flameworking 104 Glass, Lampworking, and Promotion.
Tags: 104 COE Black, 104 COE glass, CiM, Effetre, inspiration, Lampworking, and Messy Color.