Just wanted to let everyone know we are still working on the podcast.  We’ve had to work on a couple other things before it, though.  We closed our gallery/store a couple weeks ago, so we’ve been spending the past two weeks moving stuff out (where did all that junk come from, anyways?) and painting and all that.

Also, we have decided to get married.  We’re doing it November 1st, so we’ve been planning that too.

So, look for the first podcast to come out early November, once we get back from our honeymoon…

Just got back from Hot Time in the Mountains in Asheville, NC.  Hot Time in the Mountains is an annual gathering of beadmakers that takes place at A Touch of Glass in Asheville.  Marjorie Langston puts this retreat together, and she does a great job!  This year it happened on the weekend of September 26-28. Over 30 beadmakers came from all over the East Coast to watch demonstrations and swap techniques (and beads).

Demonstrators were:

• Jeri Warhaftig (www.jeribeads.com) demonstrated using a “puffy mandrel”.
• Julie Ferguson (www.fergiebeads.com) demonstrated ways to get colors from reactive and silver glass.
• Lissa Juedemann (www.glasskitchen.com) demonstrated using very fine stringer and millefiori to create a colorful and unique bead.
• Chad Trent (www.cosmoglassworks.com) demonstrated how to make implosion pendants.

On Saturday night the featured demonstrator was Shane Fero (www.shanefero.net) who created a blown vessel with a sculptural stopper.

Below are some photos we took at Hot Time…

The group watching Julie Ferguson’s demo.

Julie demonstrating how to use silver and reactive glass.

Lissa Juedemann demonstrating.

Close up of Lissa’s bead in progress.

Shane Fero demonstration.

Shane’s finished piece.

Amanda and I are at Hot Time in the Mountains right now.  I demonstrated yesterday, and today I’m going back to take some pictures, which I’ll post later tonight or tomorrow.  We brought our podcasting equipment with us and are getting a feel for it.  We are going to start on the first “official” episode when we get back…

Sorry for not posting much recently.  We have a diabetic cat that had to spend all of last week in the vet (luckily he’s doing better now and is back home), plus Amanda’s brother got married Saturday, so we had the rehearsal dinner Friday and the wedding Saturday, in addition to having a booth at Olde Salem Days on Saturday.

So, as you can see, I haven’t had a lot of time to do much of anything this past week.  Getting ready to head to Hot Time in the Mountains in a couple weeks.  I’ll post more soon…

Yes, it’s that time again.  Time for Hot Time in the Mountains.  For those of you who don’t know, Hot Time is a beadmaking retreat that takes place in Asheville, NC. every fall.  Somewhere in the range of 16-18 lampworkers gather for a three day weekend to watch demos, share techniques, etc.

I’m honored to have been asked to demonstrate again this year.  I’m looking forward to working with everyone and watching others work.  Hopefully I can pick up a new technique or two…

There is no web site for Hot Time yet, but I talked to Marjorie Langston, who organizes it, and I think she’s interested in getting a web site going.  Won’t be until after the event this year though.

I’ll take plenty of pictures and give you a complete write-up when I get back from it.

Not a whole lot to report.  Still talking to people about the podcast.  Still waiting on new equipment.  Still planning my takeover of the world…

Still shooting for October for the first episode too.  I hope it will be worth the wait.  I’ve got some really interesing interviews lined up.  I’ve also been talking to people about some new products to review.  I’ve also got a really exciting “comparison test” that I’m working on.  Waiting to say more later once everything is lined up.

Got back late Saturday night/early Sunday morning.  Spent most of yesterday doing stuff around the house and just relaxing.

I did get to do a lot of trading at the show.  Finally got some pieces from people I’ve admired for a long time, and got to discover new glass workers whose work I now admire.  It’s amazing the amount of talent that there is out there these days.

My classes went really well.  It seemed like all the students picked it up very quickly, which makes it easy for a teacher.

I did get to talk to several people about the podcast and got them on board.  Not mentioning any names yet, but they are names most of you should already be familiar with.  Of course, more details to come soon.

I’m going to spend the next few days catching up on stuff at my day job, so it may be a little quiet around here for a few days, but I’ll be back soon…

Getting some work done at my daytime job so I can head off to BeadFest next week.  Planning on talking to a bunch of people there to get them on board with the podcast.  Planning on setting up some interviews, talk to potential sponsors, etc.

Full report when I get back…

Well, for the most part, anyways.  After my big hard drive crash, I’ve been working for a few days trying to get everything back up and running.  Taking a long time to track down all those missing drivers and plug-ins and all that.

I’m getting ready to go to BeadFest next week.  Planning on talking to a lot of people up there to gather up a lot of content for the podcast.  I’ll be teaching two classes up there as well, so if you see me, stop by and say hi.