December 28, 2007

• paperweight making...

  Today I dragged the family across to Nelson (approx a 2hr drive from Picton) to the Hoglund Art Glass Studio.

  
  

  We (My parents, My brother (Jason) and SIL (Pauline), their two children, Ross and me) did a studio tour (which wasn't really so much of a tour, as a chance to watch the glass artists at work.)

  
  

  We watched them make an Eclipse Vase similar to this:

  
  

  

  
  

  Afterward, my Mum, Pauline, Ross and I did the 'Paperweight Making Experience' which meant they helped us each make a paperweight, we 'gathered' the glass, added the coloured glass (frit), twirled the rods (which are so much bigger and heavier than the mandrels we use for bead making!), and shaped the glass into a domed shape using cherrywood tools... I must say the experienced glass artists from Hoglund did a lot of the hard work, but they let us do what we were able, and they were very patient and kind about our efforts!

  
  

  It's an amazing place, the glass art they have there is stunning (but very expensive, the red vase I fell in love with was only $9,900... *gulp*

  
  

  I did however buy myself a middle sized penguin.... very cute.

  
  

  

  
  

  Our paperweights are being annealed for 20hrs and they'll post them over to Australia for us, I'll post a photo when we receive them!

  
  

  It's a pricey adventure, but loads of fun, and really interesting if you are even remotely interested in art glass.

  
  

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  • 3:10 am
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