Christmas 2009

Christmas, 2009.

We had my family over to the house, plus friends and friends of friends. This is a photo that my brother Jon took with his iphone using a pano app. Very cool. That is me on the far left sitting on the couch with a beehive hairdo. David (not pictured) made another wonderful Christmas dinner. It changes every year, this time we had Sour Brat en. Very nice and tangy. It was great. A lot of good conversation was had by all. Later that night, we skipped out and saw Sherlock Holmes. Was a fun movie. I can’t wait to see more!

What will my New Year resolution be this year? Will I keep it through out the year? Will I even make a resolution? Either way, I will lift my glass, and toast to the end of 2009, and to the beginning of 2010. To a new decade, a new beginning. May we all become wealthy beyond our wildest expectations with love, joy and happiness. May we all have a clear direction of where we want to be and what we want to accomplish. May we all reach our goals. And, may everyone be nice, not just to your neighbors, but to everyone you see and meet.

This last year was good, This coming year WILL BE GREAT!..

Class in my studio was AWESOME

This past weekend, I taught a class at my studio. It was so fun. There was a street fair going on right outside of my studio, so at lunch, we would head out there, eat some vendor food, and cruse the show. We talked with a few glass fusers, and also Josh Mazet and his dad Dave was there. We talked to both of them about marbles. We were very stoked and inspired to go back to our torches.

Here are the pieces we made. It was such a blast!!!

It was so much fun to teach at my studio. I was a bit worried, but I LOVED IT!!! My students were Great!!!! We got out the Thompson Enamels and played with background enameling to go with our painted pieces. We pulled stringers to apply on top. It was very, very fun!

If you would like to be put on my mail list for classes, send me an email at bron.heilman@msn.com.

I am teaching this December in my studio.... Email me if you are interested, or would like more information.

Learn Bronwen Heilman’s Vitreous Enamel Techniques.
Dec. 12 and 13, 2009
bron.heilman@gmail.com

Bronwen Heilman’s
Painting Class - painting beads using vitreous enamels.

This is an intermediate class focusing on how to work
with wet enamels and how to apply them. We will be
focusing on applying a wet enamel on a flat surface,
then after it is fired, we will roll it onto our core
bead.

Day 1: We will be creating our own, one of a
kind small glass paintings. We will learn how
different brushes create different effects, and
how to sign your name on your work.

Day 2: We will be lighting the torch, and
rolling up our sleeves, as well as our paintings,
to create beautiful pieces of art. We
will practice this and get comfortable
with the amount of heat we need to apply
the tile painting.

Where:547 N. 3rd. ave. Tucson, Az. 85705 (one block from many restaurants and coffee shops. Hotels and Bed and Breakfast’s within walking distance.)

Times: 9:30 - 5:00

Other: Fees: $375 includes 2-days of instruction and materials. Materials will include your own set of enamels to take home, as well as all the glass and other supplies needed in class. Class limited to 6 students (4 minimum).

All fees must be received by Nov. 16 to secure your spot in this class. If the class cancels, due
to the class not filling or other unforeseen issues, 100% of your class fees will be refunded.
Please email me with ANY questions.

my view

I am sitting in my studio, at my desk looking out onto my house. It is a very sweet set-up. Not many windows at my studio, but the view from my desk is great. Late at night, if I am working at the computer, I can see the flickering light of the electric fireplace shine through the windows. A warmth comes across my heart knowing that everyone is home safe and sound. I just got back from the post office, and now I am about to light my torch, so that the beautiful flickering light of the torch will warm up my face. I love this view, I know it is silly to like looking at this building, but my family lives in there, and I do love them so.

Ebay anyone?

I have decided to try Ebay once again. I am still in Denver and enjoying the fantastic warm weather here. I am all bundled in a 2 shirts, a bra, a wool sweater and a sweatshirt, plus a scarf, jeans, knee socks and boots, just to stay warm in the convention center. Outside it is a lovely 77 degrees. Last night, I took pictures of a few tiki's but only had time to get one up on ebay. Please check it out, I didn't have a ruler to measure the piece, so I a timely method of measurement by money size. I didn't have a quarter (the normal method of measurement) so I chose a dime. Enjoy
the link is
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250501178565&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT

Trip to Denver. My view through coffee stained eyes.

Yep, I am on the road once again. This time to Denver. One exciting thing about Denver, is that you never know what the weather will be like. It can be hot (1 mile up, closer to the sun), or freezing in feet of snow. This trip has been wet




and cold


and fun. Here are a few of the stops I made along the way. Enjoy!





Ft. Craig, NM

















Raton, NM








Trinidad, Co.









Near Pueblo Co.









And the Convention Center in Denver.

Outside my window

This morning I saw this beautiful helicopter just outside my window. I was snapping pictures while in just my underware. I could see the guys inside the cab very well. I am now guessing they could also see me. …

I am on the 9th floor

Road trip day 3

A bit late posting, sorry folks
L. A. …… People know how to drive here. They are pretty friendly on the road. The highway was slo-go for awhile, but not bad. Once out of L. A. It is a different story. CRAZY ! Ah-Yes, freeway driving is always an experience. One might say, an out-of-body one. But, stay alert... You never know what might happen. Waaaaaa! ( I am sounding like the Haunted Mansion ride at Disneyland....the happest place on earth)

Road trip … day 2

Disneyland … wow!!! ! We went on California screamin 5 times!!! How crazy! Who thought that I love roller coasters! Crazy!

Road trip

We just started our yearly road trip up to Portland, or. Us in our Jett tdi (diesel

Road trip day 1

We left Tucson at 12:30. I will miss our cat "Smokey". But my mom will be there feeding him and loving him. We are off in our VW Jett tdi stationwagon. Filled to the brim. We are all happy and ready for a break.
I did see a small part of Michael's furneral. So sad. It is ever so sad to have your children die before you do.

flame - on design

Flame - off, Flame - on... all the same, the work made by flameworking artists usually get donated for a good cause. The last one I was in was at the Bead and Button Show in Milwaukee. The pieces were donated, and auctioned off. The money went to breast cancer research. My approach to flame off's is ... "work on the edge" Find your confort zone, and step away from it. Do something that is new, different and exciting. I was asked to be in the "Flame-On" once again this year, and I didn't have a preconceived notion of what to make. I have gotten bit by the steampunk bug awhile back, so therefore I happen to have a bunch of watch gears. I asked the suppliers (Arrow Springs) for some enamels, and they stepped up and gave me some. I started exploring with enamels, glass, steel and gears. The end result was exciting. While I don't have any images of the ones I created at Bead and Button, here is one I finished just the other day. I will be making more of these. This is just one way of how I go about breaking through boundries... and yes, reaching a new boundry but haven't yet finished exploring this space yet, so I will stick around for a while.

"If you don't live on the edge, your taking up too much space"

etsy post #2

Pretty excited. Just uploaded my second piece of work into my etsy store. These are a green pair of 'Calder' earrings. I call them "Calder" because of the way they make me feel, and their graceful motion, almost like a mobile. These earrings are just so beautiful and elegant.

The beads in this earring is made from recycling glass bottles. In this case, the green color is from a Jameson Whiskey bottle. A very nice rich green. Pretty neat... Please visit my earlier blogs on how I make these beads.

Making these beads and this series of jewelry is just so cool, and I am so very hooked on recycling.

enjoy!

I am now on Etsy

I just spent the last 3 hours figuring out how to list on etsy. I think i have it. I posted 1 pair of my recycled earrings. A nail pair with light blue recycled glass beads. Yes, the Bombay Sapphire Gin bottle beads. (scroll down to see other posts about those beads).
Please check out my etsy site. More will be posted daily.
Thank you,

Bronwen
(my site is http://bronwenheilman.etsy.com
you can click the title, and it should take you there.)

Craftcast!!!

Well, I am so excited!!! I was interviewed a couple of days ago by Alison Lee of Craftcast. She is so sweet, and warm. She is the type of person that you feel like you have known her for a very long time. And when (in my mind) she comes over, you don't have to clean anything up, and you don't feel like you have to entertain her. She makes you feel that comfortable.
Check out our discussion... and learn all about how I cast my glass bottle beads, where my painting inspiration came from, and when I first fell in love with glass.
Check it out at www.craftcast.com

Thanks for listening

In Las Vegas

GeoTagged, [N36.12918, E115.15282]

Well, I'm at a trade show in Las Vegas. It was my birthday. We had a great time. Good food, my family was with me. AND it was also my daughters birthday!!!!! How cool is that! AND it was my dads birthday! ... All on the same day!

Here is a shot of some dancing water. It was at Ceasers Palace.

More Green today

David and I ground beads all day. We finished a small hand full of beads made from Jack Danial's bottles. The glass is curious... After making frit out of the glass, and washing the glass, letting it dry, then putting it in a mold to cast, ramping up the kiln and then,... the glass goes milky. Yes, milky. not clear, but a white translucent color. Very unexpected, but very pleasing. Here is an image of the beads.

Bombay Sapphire

What we all have been waiting for..... Here is a new piece with the recycled bottle....Bombay Sapphire Gin. The color of this glass is so beautiful. And I only have 2 bottles. So, if any of you want to trade a bottle (Bombay Sapphire Gin bottle only) for a bead, please respond to this post with your email, and I will send you my address.

nails

The recycling project is going like crazy!!!
I picked up a bucket of old rusty concrete nails from Habitat for Humanities. I am forging them out and then flameworking glass on to them. Here is an image of some of the single pieces i just finished.




The saphire gin beads are still being ground to shape. These do take a little while.
But I have not forgotten to post.

Monday came and went

OK... I said I would have some images of beads for you using the Bombay Saphire gin bottle..... But, NO!!!!!! sorry about that. I will have some images of the beautiful blue beads cut up into cubes, before I start grinding them. That will be tomorrow. OK... tomorrow never comes, but really I already have them cut, and I just have to take a picture and post it here. easy right? Yes! I have a new goal in my life, and that goal is to try to say something here more often. I won't promise every day, because I really hate breaking my promise. But I will promise to write here more often than before. (scroll down to see how bad I was...) I also updated this profile, so you can now click a gadget (to the right of this verbage) to follow this blog if you are interested. And believe me, you may be interested... because if you are reading this, you will probably want to read more.
till later,
Bronwen

Bombay Sapphire

Yahoo!!!
I finally got a bottle of Bombay Sapphire. That color is beautiful.. Here is a picture of me crushing the bottle. Beautiful Casting it tonight. Cutting it up tomorrow... Beads by Monday!
Can't wait!

Recycle, recycle, recycle

Glass from glass bottles. A bar down the street named 'The Hut' Tucson Az. donates weekly to our effort, as well as friends and family.
After we receive the bottles, we wash off the labels. Break up the glass and then cast the glass in a slab. After the slab cools, we cut it up into cubes, and then hand grind a roundel shape out of them. At this point more grinding is done until the final shape is acquired, and then a final polish in the tumbler.

Y, hello there

I just happened to come across my moms phone (Bronwen) and decided to post a blog for her. Ya for technology!

-maya hawk

Working on my web sites

Yes, I am working on updating my awful, awful website. I have two. www.ghostcow.com and www.bronwenheilman.com. Ghostcow is more bead orientated, while bronwenheilman is focused on jewelry. I decided that a cleaner look is needed, and also i need to keep it up daily. MY new year resolution is to get a better control over my time. You only have so much, and when it is gone, you can not get it back. Use it wisely. a preview will be done soon.

Wish I was there

Just watching it on tv... It is still exciting as hell!

I am so excited. We are on a path of recovery.