Etsy Shop- jwinterbowerglassart

We are in the process of pruning our Leaping Lizard Glass Art shop into our jwinterbowerglassart Etsy shop. Graphing the two together so that I don't have to worry about two shops, just the one. Not that I worry, but updating and promoting two is harder. So we will shut down the website leapinglizardglassart.com and transition those marbles into the Etsy shop.

Everyone is trying to save a buck since the election and we are too. This is a time to cut corners and not waste time or resources. I like Etsy and Art Fire for the buying and selling of handmade goods. Personally, I'd rather buy a nice handmade gift made by real hands that care, than buy at a chain store. I'm satisfied afterwords and feel like I got what I paid for, and it's neat to be able to talk to a real person if I have a question. Etsy is full of artistic people with a passion for what they do.

So the banner on this blog will become "jwinterbowerglassart" and I'll have more time to blog.

Jan

Projecting to the Future

Well, it's April already and today, although cool, it is sunny out. Joe and I decided to put our home up for sale and, hopefully, if it sells, we would like to hit some of the bigger shows. I've had a time with migraines the last six months and now they seem to be letting up, so that's why I haven't updated in so long. I know, excuses, excuses.

So, a lot of our time right now will be fixing the house up and getting ready to move into our fifth wheel toy hauler! Yippee, no wonder my head is better. LOL. There's nothing better that being on the road, and since it has the garage part to make marbles and beads in, it's even sweeter.

I'll keep you updated on our progress.....................(:

Happy New Year!

Another new year and the weather is still frightful.

We'll be in the shop creating for the weeks ahead.

In the meantime check out two new marbles I put on the website today. Both over two inches.


Glass lampwork lavender, blue, purple, yellow, orange vortex marble



Glass lampwork Taffy Vortex marble
Have a wonderful January and stay safe!

Jan

Bailout Sale!

Leaping Lizard Glass Art is having a 35% off every marble sale on our website through Christmas!



If you have a guy in your life that's hard to shop for then check out Joe Winterbower's vortex marbles. Marbles are collectibles, unusual, and most of the guys I know are fascinated by them.

No, we aren't bailing out of business, but this holiday will be tight for most folks and we like to help the folks.

I love Christmas and can't wait!

Merry Christmas!!!

Tag! You're It!

I guess I've been tagged. I ran to Google to see what that means and it's not bad, lol. I started this blog for my hubby, Joe, but he hardly has time to stop and type. "So it's all about me" this time.
The tagger is Deanna Chase! She makes beautiful lampwork beads and I noticed the red Christmas beads she has on Ebay, very nice, and they are starting out at only 99 cents!

Okay, now for seven things you don't know about me....

1. I've been making beads about six months and I love it! I can't stop doing it, either, and I feel inferior to all the lampworkers I follow and think I'll never be as good.

2. I would love to sell our home and go on the road and hit all the art fairs and galleries throughout the US for the next two years. I love travel and change.

3. I love all things Jane Austen, Charlotte Bronte, George Elliot.

4. I own every episode of I Love Lucy ever made. So do both my daughters.

5. I am a homebody and only go out when I'm forced to, which totally contradicts number two, but I'm funny that way.

6. I miss Alaska where I raised my kids.

7. I love a simple life; no debt, gardening, minimal material "things". Except in the number two scenario where we would need a motorhome and a trailer to blow glass, heh.

So, now I'm supposed to tag seven more people.... I admire these folks, check out their work!

Payton Jett
MayBeads
Four Tails Lampwork
Star Girl Jewelry
Teague Beads
Sea of Glass
Rosebud101

Jan

Soft Glass or Hard Glass

Someone asked me about the differences in glass used to make beads and vortex marbles, so

I’ll try to share what I know. When Joe makes a marble he uses a hard glass called borosilicate glass. We use only high quality Borosilicate glass.

It's the same American made glass that your Pyrex baking dish is made from, although I think some types of Borosilicate glass is German. It needs a really big hot flame to melt it into a shape and it takes some time and patience to do that with a bench mounted torch like the one below.

Some Borosilicate glass is made in China, but it's not the same quality as the American or German made glass and is cheaper. It may crack or not appear as clear. It may be fine for practicing with though.

I use a glass called Effrete to make beads. It is made in Italy and a lot of glass bead makers use it to make quality glass beads. It is called soft glass because you don't need as hot (as large) a torch to melt them. My torch is considerably smaller than the torch Joe uses to make his big marbles.

There is Chinese glass used for beads that may not be as bright and vivid in color or may crack or break. It is cheaper to use, though, and shouldn't be as expensive as quality glass beads made with Italian glass.

I hope this doesn’t sound snobbish as far as “kinds” of glass, but when you pay for a nice glass sculpture, you want it to be quality glass as well as quality workmanship. You want it crystal clear and strong like any piece of art glass you’d get at a gallery or boutique, right? So I’m not writing in a mean spirit, just trying to hopefully help everyone make wise purchases when they are looking for art glass.

We have to work all next week, but then I'm locking Joe up in the studio and won't let him out till he makes more dazzling vortex marbles for the SLCH Holiday Bazaar at Samaritan Hospital in Corvallis. I can't wait!

Jan

Wordless Wednesday

How many?


Christmas is coming!