Yay for me!/soon to be another progession thread.

[Chris Vargas]

All of my stuff came in today! Well, besides the kiln. That should be here late this week, or early next? (crosses fingers). But I should be on my torch tomorrow for the first time. It depends on the oxy place, could be wed or thurs. Either way, I'm just so pumped to get to work. I haven't had a job for a little over a month, so its going to be nice. Check it out though! The big box is the glass I ordered, I just didn't feel like taking it out only to haul it somewhere else tomorrow. Ill be posting progression pics in here too once I get on a roll.

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/vargdogg/IMG_2627.jpg

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/vargdogg/IMG_2630.jpg

p.s. I got a lil chub when it got here. lol

[hwcglass]

Great, looks like you have all you need and then some to enjoy yourself.

Keep us posted.

[melter skelter]

welcome to burnt fingers newbaroni :diablotin::diablotin::diablotin: have fun!

[Chris Vargas]

Oh yeah!... I forgot... I am huge on good customer service, and spoke with a few different glass and tool providers through my purchasing process. I have to say I was more than pleased with the results and service I got from Mountain Glass. Products arrived quickly and the reps were able to answer all of my questions honestly and didn't just try to make a sale. I'm sure most of you have heard of them if not already buying from them, but I must say I am an customer advocate for them.... And great job by Glass Hive for answering kiln questions and great custy service. I cant wait to get it. Anyway, Thanks for the comments everyone. Glad to be a part of the scene

[LTD]

Welcome to the addiction!! Can not wait to see what you make. Are you learning on your own or do you have a mentor close by? I am by no means the best or the most knowledgeable, but I have over a decade behind the torch. If you have any questions and you can't find the answer through the search function feel free to give me a ring, number is in my sig line. Best of luck!!

[CripSkillz]

thats one sexy box man,, prepare to not have a job for a few more months.. or yrs... ;)

[Chris Vargas]

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/vargdogg/2010-12-17_00-33-19_360.jpg

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/vargdogg/2010-12-16_15-37-12_790.jpg

well my kiln still isnt here, but im thinking it will be on thursday next week. kinda sucks cause i wanted to make some christmas gifts and anneal them... they will have to be late i guess. but im still messin with some glass while im waiting. But this is stuff from my very first day on the torch. I made a couple of more pendants, but I gave them to my nieces, so no pics. but it was really scary, and really fun today! cant wait to post more... and yes, that is a crack in the pipe... but when you have nothing to anneal with in the middle of winter, i dont know what else to expect. and that is tobacco residue :evilLaugh

[Boozeclues]

nice work man, sucks about the Kiln. I havent even gotten to use one yet cause i havent had time to sit around and wait. Im gonna batch anneal this weekend. Id imagine you can preobally do that as well once yours comes. Your pendants look cool. I dunno if you tried or care but i have had luck fixing cracks by starting at the end of the crack and following the crack back to the other side. but then again ive also had the crack get worse when even the smallest amount of heat touches it

[Chris Vargas]

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/vargdogg/2010-12-17_19-28-33_39.jpg

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/vargdogg/2010-12-17_19-25-59_623.jpg

this is my 4th pipe... first 3 cracked while cooling (damnit kiln, get here already.) didnt have much time to work today, cause of relatives being in town, but this one turned out alright... first time i tried shaping one too. made a couple of more pendants, but they arent very cool. but i definitely feel more comfortable. its all self taught so far, but a buddy said i could come out soon to learn some thangs, so lookin forward to that. but i should have enough time tomorrow to bust some more out and get some consistancy

[CripSkillz]

4th piece... nice shapin commin right along try heating up more of the center twords the bowl n mouth piece really hot,, then let it cool bout 15 - 20 seconds to even heat then pull the neck, give ya nice thick even center.. practice up..

[Chris Vargas]

thanks for all the post before and after the pics so far everyone. i feel really good about my decision to start lampworking, and the fact that anyone else even cares is really cool.

CripSkillz, thanks for the advice... tomorrow is really gonna be a day to LEARN. so far, I've just been foolin around, gettin comfy with the flame. I will try your technique though and I hope I have luck with it.

And, I'm gonna try some ISO stuff soon, but i dont know what to use to plug the blow hole... kneaded eraser? gum? I havent bothered to search for this answer, considering I thought of this question during this post, but yeah. thanks again everyone

[dOprah Winfrey]

I use foam earplugs to plug up my blowtubes. When in a pinch and one can't be found cigarette butts work too. Just make sure you pull them out before you close up your slug of clear.

[Chris Vargas]

I use foam earplugs to plug up my blowtubes. When in a pinch and one can't be found cigarette butts work too. Just make sure you pull them out before you close up your slug of clear.

crazy... i got on here exactly as this was posted. i dont smoke cigis, so that wont work, so ill go buy a kneaded eraser today.. (unless that is bad for some reason). what happens if you dont pull it out before you close it off? extreme hotness?

[CripSkillz]

ear plugs like cresent said they the shit./.. and you shouldnt have to worry to much but it will make a lil vacuum and suck in hot spots.. heheeh nothing that cant be worked out.. maybe lol

[gotglass?]

I use various sized corks that i picked up at True Value when i bought corks for jars

[Chris Vargas]

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/vargdogg/IMG_2660.jpg
http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/vargdogg/IMG_2656.jpg
ok... so I havent really been working due to the holidays, family, and sickness... so im probably about 7 days into it or so, but its all going well.... tried my second iso spoon today... first cracked and was all f'd up. but tomorrow im gonna rage it and should have some more pics... im pretty stoked though.. im really starting to feel pretty comfy with the glass

[ALIEN!]

looks like you pick things up quick, way to go!

[Chris Vargas]

looks like you pick things up quick, way to go!

thanks man... That pipe really made me feel good. From what I have read, ISO is a little difficult, so i felt good that it turned out well. I did a 3rd, but i really messed up making the mouthpiece, otherwise it would have looked similar. I'm going off of memory from a few years ago watching my buddy blow all the time, and also watching some videos on youtube and stuff. Within the month I'll be visiting a buddy a few hours away and will get to learn some stuff. I just wish someone was near to show me some things. Oh well, I'm still having fun, and thats what matters to me. So awesome to just listen to some music and go at it

[hwcglass]

Hell ya!!!

[Chris Vargas]

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/vargdogg/IMG_2665.jpg
http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/vargdogg/IMG_2671.jpg
ihad another unexpected visitor again today, so again, not as much work as i would have liked to accomplish, but I did make some phatty ass cane. I tried to put it into a pipe, but im just not fast enough completing the pipe. keeps crackin on me. i have plenty of heat, just need more practice. its too bad, it woulda been a cool pipe. colors in cane are goldenrod and english ivy. ivy prob woulda popped more if I had bothered to put it in the kiln. the parts you cant see are the f'd up parts. you arent missing anything there. but hand pulled some more cane too. dark cobalt. gonna put it in a pipe with star white and spiral it . gonna try to duplicate this badass pipe that the men in blue took away from me a few months ago. wish me luck

[hwcglass]

Slow and confident is good.

Small is good too. Smaller more confident way better than bigger and cracked.

Good luck, thanks for sharing some pics.

[Bruce Dille]

Hi.
My name is Bruce and I really dont chime in to much,Ive been making pipes for a year and I cracked em and still do, but if you garage the pipe in the kiln and get the temp even and back up you will have more sucess,I sometimes start anpther pipe or pull a stringer or 2,take a break.it helped my work, good luck melten out the cracks

[Chris Vargas]

been a while since ive posted... just thought I would share a couple of pendants that I made earlier today. And I wanna give a big shout out to VED on here. he offered to have me stay out at his place a few hours away and learn some things. It took advantage of the offer a couple of weeks ago and it definitely helped. Anyway, the weather is great for the next few days, so I'm gonna take full advantage. Im sure I'll be posting some new stuff soon

[Chris Vargas]

i accidentally forgot to put the pictures on the last message. anyway... here they are

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/vargdogg/IMG_2709.jpg
http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/vargdogg/IMG_2706.jpg
http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/vargdogg/IMG_2723.jpg
http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/vargdogg/IMG_2720.jpg

[Boozeclues]

nice pendants! the top one looks alot like a candy cane coral, or a striped mushroom anenome.

[JANKYglass]

wow cant wait !!!! progression threads rule !!!!!!

[Chris Vargas]

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/vargdogg/IMG_2744.jpg
http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/vargdogg/IMG_2748.jpg

[Lucius Emanuel]

looks like someone figured out pendants. cool stuff man, like em!

[obscure_shadow]

looks good man for sure :)

[Chris Vargas]

thanks guys... encouragement is definitely appreciated

[Chris Vargas]

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/vargdogg/IMG_2749.jpg
http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/vargdogg/IMG_2759.jpg

had to rock out one husker pendant... too bad it sucks. lol... ill try again and ill get it right... i dont even like college football, but my buddy is a huge sker fan and wouldnt stop bugging me to make one... made some sick iso pipes today... cant wait to get them outa the kiln... ill post pics of those tomorrow

[VED]

pendants look real good man. what did you end up doing with that tube pull you did?

[Chris Vargas]

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/vargdogg/IMG_2774.jpg
http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/vargdogg/IMG_2772.jpg
http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/vargdogg/IMG_2783.jpg
http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/vargdogg/IMG_2784.jpg

theres a couple that i just did... the one with the red background is one of my favorites that I've done.

and VED, I havent done anything with that tube pull yet... i might try that tomorrow. i tried a bit but screwed it all up... we'll see what happens

[Chris Vargas]

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/vargdogg/IMG_2796.jpg
http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/vargdogg/IMG_2807.jpg

lol... so the second picture here is my laughable attempt at capping a spoon with a reversal disc. i went about it all the wrong ways. starting with the fact that i didnt use a blowtube at all when i made that pipe. I just capped about a 2 1/2 ft long tube of 38 and then realized that I would need to blow a bowl hole or carb if i wanted to attach a blow tube. lol. i chose to just finish the pipe, using the tube as my handle/blowtube. hahahaha and then, I didnt bother to polish the cold seal punty mark. oh man this pipe makes me laugh every time i think about it. (p.s. this was left over tubing from my first tube pull. I really wasnt trying to do anything tooooooo special with it)

[smolder holder]

Haha yeah I hate it when I forget to flame polish something. Get yourself one of the bright LED flashlights and get in the habit of looking over your piece with it for cracks, devit, or punty marks, and less than perfect welds before you detach your blowtube. It will save you a ton of frustration.

Hope that helps

[Chris Vargas]

Haha yeah I hate it when I forget to flame polish something. Get yourself one of the bright LED flashlights and get in the habit of looking over your piece with it for cracks, devit, or punty marks, and less than perfect welds before you detach your blowtube. It will save you a ton of frustration.

Hope that helps

hell yeah man... didnt even think of that, but sounds smart. i like smart. good work, keep it up...

[Kato]

great stuff vargdogg!

[Chris Vargas]

great stuff vargdogg!

hey thanks. i checked out your site. you got some good stuff going on there. crazy how young you are, but still got that talent

[Chris Vargas]

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/vargdogg/IMG_2822.jpg
http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/vargdogg/IMG_2824.jpg
http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/vargdogg/IMG_2827.jpg
http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/vargdogg/IMG_2831.jpg

things are feeling better every day... Im not super impressed with any of these, but im trying new things and figuring out what works best for me... ill be pretty consistant in no time im sure

[hwcglass]

nice pics!!!!

progress, friend, is a fickle bitch.

take her slow and easy, enjoy the ride, and you will be correct; you will be pretty consistent in no time.

And by no time I mean like a few years.

You are doing great, keep the pics coming.

[VED]

nice progress i like the wig wag cap

[smolder holder]

Looking good man! Keep spinnin.

[Chris Vargas]

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/vargdogg/IMG_2883.jpg
http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/vargdogg/IMG_2881.jpg
http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/vargdogg/IMG_2849.jpg

i made some dbl amber purple tubing for the first pipe here... wanted to see how to work it. i loved it so much i cut the mouth piece short cause i wanted to save a bit for a section of something... i wish i wouldnt have now, but oh well. lovin that color though... and then a few more iso spoons just to show some consistancy

[hwcglass]

[IMG]i wish i wouldnt have now, but oh well.

live and learn, bro. sweet colors indeed on that piece.

[Simeon]

Your lines dont look melted in all the way, might be the source of checking, not lack of speedy-ness. Slow is smooth, smooth is fast. Some of my inside out work gets so cold at the mouth piece that i can actually grab it. Keep it up and make sweet sweet love to that phantom! I work on one as well and absoluteyl love it having worked on a national before hand.

[CripSkillz]

oh ya dont cut it short unlesss it breaks lol,, u can make more tube,, lookin good

[Chris Vargas]

Your lines dont look melted in all the way, might be the source of checking, not lack of speedy-ness. Slow is smooth, smooth is fast. Some of my inside out work gets so cold at the mouth piece that i can actually grab it. Keep it up and make sweet sweet love to that phantom! I work on one as well and absoluteyl love it having worked on a national before hand.


yeah, ive been working on getting it all the way melted in... its got a lot better than it used to be. It still needs a little work some times though. and its a delta, but glad your phantom works well for you. i appreciate the advice

[CripSkillz]

oh ya one thing that helped me lots,, was to take care of mouth piece first thing after closing it up ,, i mean done to shape melted in ready to pull off,, now you can work on the rest all ya want ,, just dont hit the mouth piece blo tube again unless you kiln it first,, save ya lots of cracks..

[Chris Vargas]

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/vargdogg/IMG_2886.jpg
http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/vargdogg/IMG_2885-1.jpg
http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/vargdogg/IMG_2888.jpg
http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/vargdogg/IMG_2887.jpg
http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/vargdogg/IMG_2892.jpg

ok... so i know they are just iso spoons, but man did i really feel on my game today... lookin forward to tomorrow. got some blanks all ready to go... these are a couple that I did yesterday. Ill post the ones i did today, tomorrow. im looking forward to them, they looked pretty nice goin in the kiln.

[hwcglass]

Nice job. On the pipes and on the photos.

Look forward to seeing some more work.

[VED]

latts look real nice man. making good progress, keep it up

[AcidFly]

very nice keep it going :)

AcidFly

[Chris Vargas]

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/vargdogg/IMG_2898.jpg
http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/vargdogg/IMG_2897.jpg
http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/vargdogg/IMG_2899.jpg
http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/vargdogg/IMG_2901.jpg
http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/vargdogg/IMG_2900.jpg

Well I made my first sale to a shop the other day. I didn't take too much with me, but he scooped it all up, so that was nice. Iso is almost second nature now, so I'm feeling pretty good about that. What I'm even more happy about is my very first bub though (picture above). It could use a little work, but overall, im really happy with the end result. I'm really liking being on cam with a couple of people on stickam. Keeps me motivated to keep working. I'll be at it again tomorrow, but this next week im gonna be taking at least one day off to go mushroom hunting. gonna find me some Morels... mmmmmm

[wfsupply]

Last couple pics made me reconsider trying I/O work again instead of blowouts...... The lattachinos are nice and shaped great.

[Chris Vargas]

Last couple pics made me reconsider trying I/O work again instead of blowouts...... The lattachinos are nice and shaped great.

thanks man... i feel honored that either my glass, or my pictures have been an inspiration.

[Headdi Retti's Glass Art Studio]

Your progression is Awesome!, Nice work, I like your use of colors and cane!...

[hwcglass]

dude, progress.

+1 for the old school iso hammer bub.

keep it coming.

[Chris Vargas]

its so hard to get to my torch after taking the past 2 days off to fish and disc golf, and the weather being so nice again... oh well... gotta do it. thanks a ton for the comments friends. The encouragement from everyone has really been the motivation to progress... so THANKS AGAIN

[VED]

nice weather= torching at night and playing during the day.....

fucking newbs :D

[Chris Vargas]

nice weather= torching at night and playing during the day.....

fucking newbs :D

i know i know... but ive been hard at it, and i needed the past couple of days to just chill... getting at it now though

[ZombieGlass]

Hey its good to chill. Hope you had a good time. Now back to work! :whip::whip:

[Chris Vargas]

made my best pendant yet... i'll be posting pics tomorrow

[Chris Vargas]

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/vargdogg/IMG_2957.jpg

made one just like it today with different colors... it looks real nice, and i also made a confetti spoon... im totally digging it. ill post some pics tomorrow

[Chris Vargas]

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/vargdogg/IMG_2960.jpg
http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/vargdogg/IMG_2961.jpg
http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/vargdogg/IMG_2958.jpg
http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/vargdogg/2011-04-17_12-53-49_293.jpg

that last one i forgot to take a good picture of it before i sold it, but i really liked it, so i wanted to post it

[po-boy]

Going by the pics, besides the kiln I'd say all you're missing is an Aloe plant and a fire extinguisher. Have fun, this is a hell of an art.

[VED]

damn chris! that first pendant looks real nice, pipes are coming along real well too

[Chris Vargas]

Thanks Brandon... I'm really glad it turned out well, cause I made it for a friend that was in town from Arizona. She wanted me to make her a pendant, so that's what I did, and it was definitely the best I've done so far.. There were a lot of compliments on it

[IndiePendent]

Your flower implosions are spot on man.... nice job!

[ZombieGlass]

Wow!!! Impressive progression!

[smolder holder]

lovin the flowers!

[Chris Vargas]

Thanks Indie, Zombie, and Boiseno. And yeah, the florals have definitely gotten way better since my first attempts. Just in the past couple of days after posting on facebook, ive had a few request for them, so I'm thinking those will be a hot seller. The last one i sold first day out the kiln on the disc golf course. Man, I was surprised at how many people bought pendants on the course. I sold just as many pendants as I did pipes. its sweet... ill just play until hole 10, then pop a squat at the picnic table. people are either smoking there already, or will soon be coming. i just say i blow my own glass and I have good prices. most people at least wanna check it out. i think im getting a rep... maybe ill open a shop on hole 10?! anyway, thanks for looking everyone... ill be posting new things on here soon

[Chris Vargas]

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/vargdogg/IMG_3009.jpg
http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/vargdogg/IMG_3006.jpg

i fucked up on the bowl for the pipe... which really sucks, cause that was one of my first multi sectional pieces... excluding a couple of bubs... oh well... they will be sick enough soon enough

[Chris Vargas]

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/vargdogg/IMG_3051.jpg
http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/vargdogg/IMG_3010.jpg
http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/vargdogg/IMG_3070.jpg

3rd bub.... i need to perfect another pendants style now. iso pipes have been pretty on point too... im not mad

[Chris Vargas]

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/vargdogg/2011-04-24_22-54-19_777.jpg

oh and what i did yesterday... 13 1/2 crappie.... compared to a normal crappie

[VED]

nice ring when did you get married:D


those pendants are pretty fucking killer, its about time to come out and colab

[Chris Vargas]

nice ring when did you get married:D


those pendants are pretty fucking killer, its about time to come out and colab

Whatever hater. I've had that ring forever. Wrong hand. Thanks about the pendants though. I made some more today that I am lookin forward to. Another floral, and kinda a random design, but I really like it. Ill post tomorrow

[Chris Vargas]

Oh, and VED, I plan on coming within the next couple of weeks. Would love to collab. And get some pointers. I need some help on the rettis. And wanna try some goblets, so be prepared to show me. :)

[VED]

you got it man, holler when ever

[Headdi Retti's Glass Art Studio]

Man those pendants look awesome, nice work Man!...real nice!...

[Chris Vargas]

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/vargdogg/IMG_3095.jpg
http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/vargdogg/IMG_3092.jpg

man, i really like the way i got this floral to work, and the other one i kinda did a flower effect with the stamen. but that wasnt my ultimate goal, just thought it might look cool. thanks for lookin

these two pendants will be in the pendant swap

[Kato]

very nice work vargdogg!

[Headdi Retti's Glass Art Studio]

Excellent Execution!, Looks painted on, Awesome!...=)

[Chris Vargas]

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/vargdogg/IMG_3103.jpg
http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/vargdogg/IMG_3099.jpg

here's two more that I did for the pendant swap... gotta get back to the pipes now

[KILGORE]

like someone else in here said, your pipes have inspired me to give iso another shot.

good shit man, keep it up.

[Chris Vargas]

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/vargdogg/IMG_3112.jpg
http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/vargdogg/IMG_3119.jpg

ive done couple of wig wag caps, just cause i couldnt get the wags straight enough to do a decent reball. but this one was my first real attempt at one... and it my first time trying benderbacks... went well to me... made an inline bub too. it works, but not worthy of posting

[sleepingpeople]

fuck yeah dude

[smolder holder]

Sweet stuff! I wish I had found this site when I was starting. Great stuff.

[Chris Vargas]

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/vargdogg/2011-05-12_16-25-46_818.jpg

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/vargdogg/2011-05-12_16-26-24_346.jpg

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/vargdogg/2011-05-12_16-30-26_336.jpg

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/vargdogg/2011-05-12_16-29-32_425.jpg

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/vargdogg/2011-05-12_16-11-52_208.jpg

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/vargdogg/2011-05-10_20-52-45_41.jpg

well my pipes have gotten super chunky, and they have all sold right away, so no pictures of them, but I have a few orders for some pendants, so these are what I have been working on. the hobo clown was for my mom on mothers day (even though I gave it to her the day after) and the mogwai was inspired by this crazy guy on the frolf course... I hope you enjoy... and sorry about the pics, i did not shoot these with my normal camera

[smolder holder]

Frolf?? What the hell is that? Lol!

Lookin good man!

[Chris Vargas]

Frolf?? What the hell is that? Lol!

Lookin good man!

frolf = frisby golf/disc golf

[smolder holder]

frolf = frisby golf/disc golf

Makes perfect sense now. I thought you misspelled golf lol!

[TlkQ]

Nope. Spelled it the only way that matters :-D

[MarioSC]

Those pendants are pretty sweet man! Love that spider! Awesome work!

[IndiePendent]

Damn dude, how long behind the torch? Your implosion mibs are sick as fuck! I am god damned awefuk at implosions and wish I could do any half as good as you... Looks like I should start practicing!!! You doing these on tube or rod? If you got the time to whip up a quick how to i am sure people would love the advice since you obviously well on your way with that tech.

[Chris Vargas]

Damn dude, how long behind the torch? Your implosion mibs are sick as fuck! I am god damned awefuk at implosions and wish I could do any half as good as you... Looks like I should start practicing!!! You doing these on tube or rod? If you got the time to whip up a quick how to i am sure people would love the advice since you obviously well on your way with that tech.

Wow thanks!... You just made me feel like a million bucks! I've been torching for about 4 1/2 months now. my earlier implosions were done with tube, but in the past few weeks i have only been doing rod implosions. i really like to do them either way though. once i get my camera back that i let a friend borrow, and my tripod that i left at my buddy's place, ill make a vid. thanks again, to you and to all that have commented. its all motivation to make me get even better.

[n3rd]

very nice work vardaaaawg!!!!! 4.5 months! you're killin it :)

[Sketchball]

very nice work vardaaaawg!!!!! 4.5 months! you're killin it :)

ditto man

Your finesse is obvious in your finished product. Loving your attention to detail.

Just noticed the spider implosion, toooo sickkkk :bouncy:. Been meaning to try voic's (sp?) tutorial for a while now, did it take you any practice runs or is that your first?

[Chris Vargas]

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/vargdogg/2011-05-14_14-42-00_864.jpg

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/vargdogg/2011-05-14_14-42-43_516.jpg


ditto man

Your finesse is obvious in your finished product. Loving your attention to detail.

Just noticed the spider implosion, toooo sickkkk :bouncy:. Been meaning to try voic's (sp?) tutorial for a while now, did it take you any practice runs or is that your first?


Thank you. I find that finesse and patience is the key to a solid implosion. As for the spider implosion, I was not nearly as happy with the end result as i would have liked to have been. that was my second attempt. The first attempt was prob within my first 3 weeks of torching, and it was awful (i didn't understand implosions at all really at that point). As for the one in the picture, I just started doing what I could remember from the video. Afterwards I went back and watched it, and found I did a couple of things differently than explained. So, the next one I make I hope turns out better.

Aside from that, pictured here is a remake of one of my favorite pendants and also one that i forgot to take a picture of before. I added some dots behind the flower to spice it up a bit. And the other reminds me of Spy vs Spy a lil. lol. Thanks again for looking!

[Headdi Retti's Glass Art Studio]

VDogg, looks great Bro!...I really like the last one, Super Ku!....Clean, and tight...=)

[Chris Vargas]

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/vargdogg/2011-05-17_13-46-31_366.jpg

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/vargdogg/2011-05-17_13-49-35_205.jpg

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/vargdogg/2011-05-17_13-51-28_824.jpg

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/vargdogg/2011-05-17_13-52-09_830.jpg


Here's 4 i did yesterday.. I made a facebook page for my PG rated work, and people are on my pendants' nuts. Looks like I'm going to be hard at work on pendants for a little while, so might as well post. Thanks again for looking

[Chris Vargas]

oh.. and the first picture is my first attempt at trapping air bubbles... the 3rd picture was my second attempt... I really dig the second one

[hippi]

the flower pendants are lookin sick dude! that yellow and black one is dope! same with the last one on pg 5 looks like a catapillar crawling on some flower! good job coolio

[CripSkillz]

deffff very nice man,, clean tooo sweet.. goood job

[Chris Vargas]

the flower pendants are lookin sick dude! that yellow and black one is dope! same with the last one on pg 5 looks like a catapillar crawling on some flower! good job coolio

" i ♥ this one for spring since it looks like a caterpillar crawling on a beautiful flower!"

exact quote from someone on my facebook page

[Chris Vargas]

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/vargdogg/2011-05-18_15-51-54_845.jpg

http://www.polishtheconsole.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/piranha_plant.jpg

just something fun from Mario Bros

[VED]

now make one that is functional

[Chris Vargas]

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/vargdogg/2011-05-20_14-22-15_422.jpg

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/vargdogg/2011-05-20_14-18-37_752.jpg

Ok, I'm not gonna lie. The AK-47 posted by RAM was the inspiration for this piece. I hadn't yet tried a goblet, and I was really looking for something new to try, so once I saw that AK, I knew what I wanted to attempt. This was my first time trying any Stitching (what i heard someone call it, I dont know the technique's name). It took me a very long time to do, but I was satisfied with the end result. Thanks a ton for looking!! and VED, next time i'll make a functional one. :D

[Headdi Retti's Glass Art Studio]

That's sweet VDogg!..Very nice , like the stitch

[AcidFly]

very very nice I have been trying to find info on that type of stitching and going to give it another try this weekend :)

again very nice keep it up :)

AcidFly

[sleepingpeople]

:)

[Sketchball]

loving the mario fly trap, well done! (just mad you did it before me! It's not off limits, right? hehe)

That stitching looks ballin - clean welds and no bubbles... dope caterpillar too!

[Chris Vargas]

loving the mario fly trap, well done! (just mad you did it before me! It's not off limits, right? hehe)

That stitching looks ballin - clean welds and no bubbles... dope caterpillar too!

not off limits, you just have to say i inspired you. :) And Thank you for the compliment, and everyone else who complimented. cant wait to do some more fun and creative stuff.

[Chris Vargas]

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/vargdogg/2011-05-22_14-36-32_816.jpg
http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/vargdogg/2011-05-22_14-38-22_1.jpg
http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/vargdogg/2011-05-22_14-37-52_612.jpg

just a few pendants I did yesterday. only have enough oxy to be running the center flame until i get replacement tanks on tuesday. but I'll be workin on some pipes this next week. gonna try and get a lil crazy with some things. Thanks for looking!

[Sketchball]

Calm down Mr. Clean!

[Chris Vargas]

Calm down Mr. Clean!

I want to say thank you, but im not sure if you mean "clean" as in I have been making PG rated stuff, or "clean" and precise. If its the latter of the two, thank you very much. If you mean PG rated, im just not 100% certain that deserves a thank you, lol. But thanks for looking! :D

[Sketchball]

Was definitely referring to the precision.... But I wouldn't mind seeing some realistic titty implosions from you :D:yay

[sleepingpeople]

yeah where dem tits at!?

haha lookin CLEAN

[AYHEM]

like that last pendant bro, sick implosion.

[RedToroBoro]

Damn dude those pendants are clean. Awesome work. Any tuts? That would be great. again nice work!

[hwcglass]

work is looking excellent.

btw, RAM would love to know he inspired you to make a piece.

[Chris Vargas]

work is looking excellent.

btw, RAM would love to know he inspired you to make a piece.

Would he really? I would tell him, but I'm such a noob, and I dont want him to think im jackin his style.

[smolder holder]

Really nice stuff V! I like it all. Your goblet rocks and I second the mr. Clean comments with those pendants. Very nicely done.

[hwcglass]

Would he really? I would tell him, but I'm such a noob, and I dont want him to think im jackin his style.

Contact him if you are up to it, saying thanks isn't impolite; and you know how old people are they could use the positive reinforcement.

RAM is a solid person.

For you to be stoked about your glass because you saw his glass, this would make him happy.

Even if you were jacking his style, you wouldn't be the first one. And you never have to worry about jacking style, it's jacking game that reasonably upsets people. And your train isn't on that track.

No worries.

Emailing someone who influenced will make you both feel good.

[Chris Vargas]

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/vargdogg/2011-05-24_12-27-53_333.jpg
http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/vargdogg/2011-05-24_12-29-44_948.jpg
http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/vargdogg/2011-05-24_12-31-48_665.jpg
http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/vargdogg/2011-05-24_12-35-42_986.jpg
http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/vargdogg/2011-05-24_12-28-33_35.jpg

my most recent marble... I havent made one for a while, so I decided it was time to give it another go... I am really happy with it. And HWC, thanks for the advice about emailing RAM. I did, and he said he liked my goblet. That made me feel pretty damn good. now hopfully kobuki comments on my marble. lol... oh, and the marble is about 1.5 inches in diameter for those curious

[burton13order]

super clean..

[IndiePendent]

Tech as fuck Var. Holdin it down in Omaha for sure!

[blackink]

Nice marble Varg, looks like a cleanly compressed flower. Try using different thickness stringers for each layer, you'll be able to control how far the outside set stretch, and keep the middle layer from covering it up.

[Chris Vargas]

Nice marble Varg, looks like a cleanly compressed flower. Try using different thickness stringers for each layer, you'll be able to control how far the outside set stretch, and keep the middle layer from covering it up.

thinner on the inside, and thicker on the outside? ive never considered different size stingers

[blackink]

exactly. Thicker stringers will "travel" further than the thinner. Here's a flower I made using different thickness stringers for each layer:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/73635907/marble-wine-bottle-stopper

[Chris Vargas]

exactly. Thicker stringers will "travel" further than the thinner. Here's a flower I made using different thickness stringers for each layer:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/73635907/marble-wine-bottle-stopper

do you sell a lot of them? and at that price? i have mine priced at $55. should i be asking more? prob took 2 hours, maybe longer

[blackink]

It's up to you. It's good to have variety in your compression work so you can price designs that take longer/more difficult higher.

[jes]

Beautiful :D

[Chris Vargas]

Thank you everyone. I appreciate the compliments and the advice. Ill be trying some new ones soon.

[Chris Vargas]

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/vargdogg/2011-06-06_13-17-00_734.jpg
http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/vargdogg/2011-06-06_13-13-14_501.jpg
Hey all! Sorry I haven't been posting, but the people that I was stealing wireless from moved. I just figured out how to post from my phone though!

Anywho, this is my first stemless bub and also my very first donut. It wasn't the easiest project, but it got done. If it wasn't for the fact that it was a custom order, I woulda kept it for myself.

Well thanks for looking! Ill be posting more again now that I know how to do it from my phone.

P.s. sorry if the pictures are large or small. I didn't know how to edit them

[Kato]

Nice varg! Looks good bro :)

[Chris Vargas]

thanks kato... ill be back on stickam soon. internet situation has been fucked up but its ok now. ill be looking for new post from you soon too

[Chris Vargas]

So, I havent posted for a while... ive been making new things for people, but i havent had a good camera to take pictures... i still dont, but I wanted to post something anyway cause its been a while... anyway, heres a few mini pipes. Nice lil concert/car pieces. also a sherlock that I made. I went over some forest green with some loch ness and it turned out nice, although the color in the picture isnt that true to what it looks like in person. and i also have a floral card protector/paperweight. I was going to take it to poker and try and sell it, but i havent been there yet... Thanks for looking. Ill try and post new stuff soon

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/vargdogg/0719111945.jpg
http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/vargdogg/0719111945a.jpg
http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/vargdogg/0719111944.jpg
http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/vargdogg/0715111222b.jpg
http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/vargdogg/0722112148.jpg
http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/vargdogg/0722112148a.jpg

[VED]

as always the flowers look great, nice progress on the pipes too

[BK]

What he said^

[Chris Vargas]

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/vargdogg/0919112313.jpg
http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/vargdogg/0919112251.jpg
http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m622/vargdogg/0920111524.jpg

tanks were empty forever... finally getting back on track though. heres a couple of pendants, and a section of a pipe i just made earlier

[VED]

wondering what u have been up too. nice basket weave, holler sometime