There's Incompatibility and then there's Just Plain Ugly

There will be a test. Make sure you read the entire blog! Hmmmmmm!

Although I knew this to be true, I forgot the key to working with glass: Make sure the COE's (coefficient of expansion) are the same. All right, I was tired. I had gotten home the day before from the Bead and Button Show. I still had not yet recovered from the great time I had there. I decided to go back to the torch the next morning. I wanted to use some of my Gaffer Chalcedony glass. I made a core of clear then encased the clear with the Chalcedony. I pressed the glass into a lentil shape, struck the bead for color (heated and cooled), then, immediately put this stunning bead into the kiln to anneal (cool down properly) it. After the bead was cooled, I soaked it in water, then I began to use my Dremel to extract the bead release. What? The bead cracked in half--almost. I thought this was a thermal crack. It wasn't until the next day I realized, this wasn't a thermal crack. It was an issue of incompatibility. I had used a core of transparent clear 104. Chaldedony has a 96 COE. Dang it all! That was a beautiful bead! All right, lesson remembered. There is incompatibility. Watch your glass. Lesson relearned.

Is this the test? No not yet. Stay tuned.

Then there is just plain ugly. I found some glass that I had bought in a box of "shorts" (short rods of glass). I thought I would play with the glass. It wasn't the prettiest color I had seen, but I was hoping that when introduced to the flame, magic would happen. Well, it didn't. There really is just plain ugly! See what I mean.


















There was no magic. That color is just plain ugly. Luckily, I don't remember where I bought these shorts, but I hope not to buy them again. Oh, my.

Was that the test? No, not yet. Almost. So stay tuned.


















These are not incompatible glasses, it's just the colors. I used a bright orange for the lip and handle (What was I thinking?) and Chalcedony for the vessel. It's not a perfect vessel. I was trying to get the little blob of hot glass to strike and I didn't blow the vessel enough. Again, lesson learned. I think this falls in between both categories of incompatible and just plain ugly.

Now, finally, here's the test. Oh, did I forget to mention there will be a give away? Hmmmmmm. All you need to do is to comment on this blog, and I will draw a number to choose a winner. You have until next Sunday, June 21st. I will pick a winner then for this vessel. Please leave a way for me to get in touch with you if you should win. If no one comments, well, I guess I get to keep this little vessel.

Now, that wasn't a hard test, was it? I think it's easy. Let me hear from you!

Sometimes, you just have to call it what it is.....

If I stood out in the rain and got soaked, I'd call myself WET.

If I lay in the sun way too long, I'd call myself BURNT.

If I walked into a wall because I wasn't looking where I was going, I'd call myself TOOPID.

If I dropped a hammer on my foot, I'd call myself, HURT.

When I play with colors and shapes and frits, and this is the result, I call the bead
UGLY.

What else can I say?

The Day of the Fuglies

Remember the bad I talked about yesterday? Well, when it comes to fuglies, you can see why I quit torching much earlier than I normally do. Nightmare upon nightmare! Dastardly beads!







Fuglie #1------------------------------------------->

I was working towards a reaction using silver blue
stringer made from frit. I don't think I got the reaction I was hoping for with this bead. Yuck. The photo actually makes it look good! Oh, btw, the dark line at the bottom of the picture is one of Spike's pieces of fur.















Fuglie #2-------------------------------------->

I decided to try making a mask. The theme would be when I am old, I shall wear purple and red. Do you see the attempt at glasses? Her nose looks broken. Her cheeks look like zits. Here hair looks like a volcano ready to explode. Oh, my! No mask there. She almost reminds me of the Grinch that stole Christmas!
















Fuglie #3---------------------------------->

Again, I was trying to make a reactive bead. This one is just super ugly. Yuck!
















Fuglie #4------------------------------------->

Again, with this bhb, I was trying for a reaction. oooops. Looks like that one didn't work either.
















Fuglie #5----------------------------------->

Of all my fuglies, I like this one the best. I wanted to make a woman dancing for joy. Have you seen that TV commercial, and I'm not sure which organization it's advertising, but it's a non profit that feeds and clothes children. There is a young girl dancing. I wanted to convey a sense of joy and motion. Instead, I didn't quit when I was ahead. You really do have to know when you should give up. I have a lumpy figure who might be dancing. I don't know.

All I can say is, tomorrow is another day!