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Thursday, March 4, 2010

Let the Weighing Begin!

Thompson Enamels

No, I'm not at Weight Watchers! but I am getting ready for my workshop in Reston.  I am so looking forward to meeting a lot of blogging buddies and to teaching others have to have fun playing with fire ... in a good way!

The whole business process has been so educational but what's been great about it is the students are pointing me in the right direction ... I'm just following their lead. Students said they wanted torches and equipment ... so I got equipment.  They wanted beads  ... I got beads.  You're getting the idea ... Point me in the right direction and I'll go.  Then they said, "You should really have enamels that we can buy after the workshop."  So that was my next step.  And that is where I was yesterday morning, weighing out these sherbet colors ... which will become much more intense with the addition of heat.

The workshop is very organized ... it needs to be because we enamel at least 60 objects during the 6 hours. It's filled with demos throughout the day ... a show 'n tell ... and let's not forget lunch!  So, I'm still packing and packing and packing ... but it's all worth it when the day arrives and there are so many bright faces!

17 comments:

EB Bead and Metal Works, LLC said...

It looks like a lot of fun colors! I hope you all have a great time at the workshop.

Judy said...

One of these days maybe I will be lucky to take one of your workshops. Good luck and it sounds like it will be wonderful!

Lori P said...

Wishing like crazy I was a little closer so that I could go. I've got a kiln and worked with PMC. Would LOVE to learn to enamel. Post pictures and stuff. :)

beautifullybrokenme said...

I SO wish I could come to the class this weekend, but Arizona is a bit of a commute, darn it! Have a great time!

:-) Molly

Doreen said...

Oh please come to California and have a workshop! I would so love to learn how to do this. Your creations are always so wonderful!

Michelle said...

This sounds like lots of fun! Happy Weighing....
Have a great workshop!
Bead Happy!
Michelle

BlueAntiquities said...

Looking forward to finding out more about the being a distributer of Thompson enamels. The Painting with fire sites are explosive!
Sounds like the workshops are too.

Sharon said...

Have a wonderful time,wish I could be there!

stregata said...

I too wish I could be there! Your organisation seems to be fantastic. And then I could ask you what I am doing wrong, that my enamel cracks off my beads...

Barbara Lewis said...

I wish you all could be there, too! It would be so much fun!

Doreen, I'm going to check into places in your area that might host a workshop. I've always had a healthy dose of wanderlust ... maybe I'll become a vagabond beadmaker.

Renate, The first thing to check is whether you're getting your metal hot enough. Check paintingwithfire.ning.com. I posted a chart on metal colors. If it's iron, it will need to get bright red to orange yellow. If it's copper, it will need to get just slightly shy of that. Report back after you've tried adjusting the heat.

Cindy said...

Barbara, I am SO excited to meet you and am looking forward to this workshop!!! ...just a few days now!Cindy

Carol B said...

I'm so excited you are making it so easy for us to get all the goodies we need. I'm going to check out that color chart. I may have been getting my copper too hot. Thanks!

Gardanne said...

I'm drooling all over my mac, looking at all those lovely enamels. Have fun in your workshop, Kerry my fellow Rochesterian will be there, plus my blogging buddies Sue and Lorelei. Say hi for me.

lunedreams said...

Oh man i wish i lived in reston.

Unknown said...

Wish I could have gotten in on this workshop:(...maybe I'll try the one in April.

Anonymous said...

Hey Barbara, we are so excited and looking forward to this weekend. We need to figure out when we can have teach another workshop in Reston again-soon!

I hope you will have some enamels available for purchase this weekend:)
Jeanette

Pretty Things said...

SO happy about the enamels!