lampworkblog.COM

thanks to DEB BATTEN OF FIREBIRD FLAMEWORKS

our wonderful talented tech support .... THANKS DEB

Our new g-1095 will be available soon...

will keep you posted on arrival date........

ANNIVERSARY SALE LAMPWORK CANE

2009-06-25T09:42:00.000-07:00

FRIDAY 6/26/09 ONLY

3RD ANNIVERSARY SALE....

ALL LAMPWORK CANE 30% OFF

if you've been wanting some of our new G-109 Chalcedony this is your excuse.....call the girls today or tomorrow to get in on this great sale #877-395-7600 ...out of the country ... email manager@gafferglassusa.com

The Gaffer Girls Frit Blends

2009-06-24T05:38:00.001-07:00

Suddenly becoming the owner of a variety of fabulous frit blends, can turn any lampworker into a mass of indecision. Where does one start when confronted by all of this delicious glassy goodness?

Being of the inquisitive kind I decided that before trying them out on beads, I would make paddles. There is a first time for everything! (a planned course of action is not usually my forte!)

There I sat patiently balling up glass on a the end of rod of clear & dipping once or twice into the frit before flattening it, resisting all temptation to rush off in another direction & make beads when I discovered a blend that I really loved.

Yum, yum, yum!
Take a look. They are all named & if you click on the images to get the bigger version they will be easier to read.

Gaffer Girls Frit Blends

Now I am not a pink person..... usually. But the pink & purple based blends just called me.

First Bloom Frit Blend, Chameleon base - G114 Purple Stringer

Blush Frit blend, Clear base - G113 Heliotrope Stringer

We'd love to hear from you with any color combinations you have tried - or any ideas for combinations using these frit blends.

Kris Schaible & NOODLESAURUS BEADS

2009-06-19T10:15:00.000-07:00

more fun from Kris Schaible & NOODLESAURUS......

WOW KRIS GORGEOUS WORK.....

Kris resides in Northern PA , with her Husband and 3 children....

Kris and her husband have a wonderful line of lampwork tools..

please visit them at their online store..........

very reasonably priced..hand made by her hubby..........

thanks for sharing ... Kris

mona & the girls

ENCIRCLE DESIGNS G-109 CHALCEDONY w/ Charmaine Jackson

2009-06-15T13:57:00.000-07:00

more fun behind the torch with
Charmain Jackson & encircle designs

thanks for sharing Charmaine....

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO EMAIL US AT gaffergirls@gmail.com

we will post your wonderful GAFFER GLASS WORK......

mona & the gaffer girls

gafferglassusa.com

Rosebud101 takes to Chalcedony

2009-06-09T13:25:00.000-07:00

Mallory aka Rosebud101 makes wonderful disks, so it was only natural that she would decide to make some in the G-109 Chalcedony!

Disks are all about heat control, so it is difficult to get the glass hot enough for the Chalcedony to strike when making them. This resulted in a wonderful earthy look with highlights of color in places....an option that I think needs to be explored.

Anything made in this way, allowing both the natural & color to show has unlimited design possibilities.

Thank you for letting us share Mallory !

deb batten
firebird flameworks

from - TAMMYDOWNUNDER

2009-06-06T07:09:00.000-07:00

these lovely's are from TAMMYDOWNUNDER....

MORE FUN WITH G109

thanks Tammy ,

mona & the gaffer girls

gafferglassusa

DEB BATTEN - FIREBIRD FLAMEWORKS WORKING WITH G-109 CHALCEDONY

2009-05-27T07:14:00.001-07:00

Deb Batten has had great success with G-109
following is a tutorial on how she makes it happen......
G-109 LG BEAD TUTORIAL........

Working Gaffer G109 - Chalcedony

My set-up consists of a Mini CC torch, 1 5lpm oxycon & tanked propane (or LPG as it is known here). This bead is over a clear base, although the process is the same when working with straight Gaffer Chalcedony.

1/Working in a neutral flame lay your base glass on the mandrel. The initial footprint in this case was about 40mm.
Wind on wraps of G109. Make them generous if you are using Gaffer G050 – Black as a base. I’m not too fussy about the ends at this stage.

2/ Marver your bead making sure it is centered, & smooth out the wraps. You can see at this point if there are any thin areas or slight gaps on the G109 wrap. If so apply more glass to those areas. Some areas will still be light and others will have started to strike, don’t worry about it.

3/ Start concentrating the heat to one end of the glass & letting it droop down the mandrel. The more you heat and manipulate it, the more intense the colour will be.

4/ When you have it to the length you want marver, it gently to get some shape back into the end.

5/ During this stage I keep the bead quite warm, apart from when I’m marvering it. It strikes somewhat during this process.

6/The initial dark area that was well heated on the end of the bead has now struck to its first colour of deep purple. The middle area of the bead had gained a bit of colour early on, but has lost it again.

Repeat the heating & marvering process until you are happy with the shape.

You will notice that the colour develops first on the ends and that overlaps of heated areas lose their colour. Once again, just ignore it & keep working until you are happy with the shape.

In the sequence of photos below you can see the way the colours develop & also that the bead had extensive time both in & out of the flame without losing colour.

Notes:
This way of working G109 gives a mottled/veined result & also works well with smaller tube beads. Using gravity to shape & repeated heating & marvering seems to make the colours really pop.

For a more subtle effect with softer colours make your bead in the normal manner without gravity shaping. Repeat the heat/cool/strike cycle until the colours are to your satisfaction.

thanks so much for this wonderful tutorial Deb....
YOU ROCK SISTERCHICK...

now I'm going out to try and make it happen

will post pic's later this week :)

feel free to email us at gafferglassgirls@gmail.com with your g109 pic's

mona & the gaffer girls

DEB BATTEN on G-109 Chalcedony

2009-05-25T19:28:00.000-07:00

STRAIGHT FROM DEB'S BLOG ......

FIREBIRD FLAMEWORKS

SUNDAY MAY 24TH POST

Wonderful tutorial on how to work with our new

G109 CHALCEDONY......

Deb thanks for the wonderful tutorial ...

mona & the gaffer girls