I finally got to play with some of the Trautman glass!

Things are winding down at the high school Media Center where I work and we got the seniors checked out today, the rest of the students will be checked out next week....then only a few more school days and I will have more time to create!!!!!! YaHoooo. It is always hectic around this time of the school year, my least favorite time, anticipating some time off to do what I really love doing.I did get a few hours to experiment with the new glass I got at the ORBS meeting. I concentrated on just one glass called Taxco and it's beautiful turquoise blue that seems to have an oil on water effect when used with ivory. I love the organic shapes and the contrast of the ivory (which turned to a caramel color and showed some webbing) and the oil slick blue which is naturally outlined in a darker shade of blue. Now I just have to come up with a name for these beads and post them on Etsy. Any ideas?

I went to a great meeting today

Today was our ORBS (Oregon Regional Beadmaker's Society) meeting at Aquila Glass in Portland. The special guest Jenny Newtson.Jenny has been working with and promoting Trautman Art Glass. (TAG) If you have never heard of TAG you really need to check out their web site. (listed below) Jenny demonstrated the range that this glass can achieve. For more information about the glass read below:The guy who first manufactured colored borosilicate glass is now applying his innovative color science to the new, reactive silvered 104-coe soft glass and we all had the chance t try them after the demo.Paul Trautman has been producing boro glass in the Portland area since the 1980's and now has a line of 9 regular soft-glass colors for bead makers and sculptors. You can see the glass now at www.taglass.comTAG makes a soft-glass version of the popular boro "amber-purple" style glass, called "Tibet", and a version of the changeable boro "caramel" colors called "Dalai Lama." One color, "Zeus," appears colorless until it's reduced -- then struck! This one also changes greatly depending on the background color. Some colors reduce to a beautiful metallic sheen, like "Taxco Silver Turquoise" and "Cezanne." TAG also makes a "Black Cherry" that is a kiln-striking red. This gives the bead maker control over how dark the glass gets, and prevents livering, no matter how long you worked it in the flame.Long-time bead maker (and ORBS Member) Jenny Newtson has been working with these colors as the in-house TAG 104 tester. She demonstrated how to work these striking and reducing colors to best effect, and included tips on getting the most out of your purchase. TAG provided samples of glass, and had experimental colors, odds and shorts for sale at a deep discount.We had a great time and I bought lots of glass. Hopefully I will be making some treasures soon and posting them here!

I received this very nice convo today through my Etsy site

I received this very nice convo today through my Etsy site:
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Hi there,

We featured you on our blog. We hope you approve of what was written. We *finally* checked our email yesterday and are so glad you wrote to us! Your stuff is fantastic!


http://www.handmadefinds.com/char-ouellette-poetry-in-silver/2008-05-16/

If you approve and you have a banner, we'd proudly display it on our blog. If not, we can just add you to our links. (All banners are free of charge.)

Best wishes,

Beate
16 May 2008

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Are you kidding me...I am thrilled!!! Please take a look.

What poetic writers they are! They made me want to buy my own jewelry....

Just had to get out a little of my excitement...thanks for listening...you are listening aren't you?
Char