Price's Progression Thread

[Price]

Hey everyone! My name’s Price, and I just recently started lampworking! So far I’ve been on and off the torch for about a week and a half. Very excited to start practicing everyday!

I was at a university in Chicago, and was on track to becoming an officer in the USMC. I suffered a severe head trauma in March of 2013, and was no longer able to continue school. In September, I was diagnosed with Narcolepsy with Cataplexy, and I’m still unable to continue classes at this time.

I’ve sat around for months with nothing to keep my mind on, and no long-term goals. One of my neighbors found out about my condition, and knowing I’ve always had a thing for art, she invited me over to introduce me to lampworking. Sadly, she’s very busy and I don’t see her often, but she gave me a hot head for me to mess around on. Although I’m not very good, I’m having a lot of fun and it’s honestly saving my life. It feels really good to put my mind towards something. It would be nice to make money from this one day, but right now I’m just enjoying it as a hobby.

I received some of my tuition back from my university, so I’ve using that to build myself a small studio of my own. I'm currently waiting for a bigger torch to arrive in the mail.

I can’t thank the members of this site enough for the amount of wonderful information it has provided me! I really appreciate any advice!

So far this has all been done with soft glass on a hot head.

First thing I made. I noticed with soft glass that the clear gets very muggy when worked for too long. Does boro do the same thing?

















Tried to focus on the shape of the pendant. I don't have a lot of glass right now, so I haven't been adding loops often. Glass is on the way though!


Made a few marbles. I don't have a marble mold, so I'm pretty happy with how round they turned out. Starting to get implosions down more.

[MrNiceGuy]

Looking good!
Boro is more forgiving than soft glass, but you can still muck it up.

I'm still flummoxed by it, but melting glass is an addiction in and of itself. Once you get your studio up and running, expect day to turn to night and back again without you noticing it.

Welcome to the forum! Keep updating this thread with your progression and don't hesitate to ask questions.

[smolder holder]

It's awesome that you found something you love but I worry about the narcolepsy!!! Seems like that may be really fucking dangerous with an open hot flame and compressed gasses. Don't take this the wrong way, not trying to poop in your cheerios but one second is all it takes to get a serious burn.

[Price]

It's awesome that you found something you love but I worry about the narcolepsy!!! Seems like that may be really fucking dangerous with an open hot flame and compressed gasses. Don't take this the wrong way, not trying to poop in your cheerios but one second is all it takes to get a serious burn.

I don't suffer from sleep attacks very often (while on meds), and I can feel them coming on so I have time to react. I also wear a sleep alarm in my ear just in case, so if my head dips to a certain angle it will wake me up immediately. I know my limits and I always take breaks when I'm not feeling well. I appreciate the concern though! I can assure you that I'm taking the necessary precautions to staying safe

[Wilbur]

Looking good. Keep at it. Self employment is a beautiful thing, and not dragging your feet to go to work is priceless.

The better your skill set becomes, the more rewarding it is!

Cheers

[Price]

Thanks for the replies!

First attempt at a wig wag. Running out of glass! Placing an order today for a bit more soft glass and some boro for once my torch arrives. Also ordered contemporary lampworking vol 1 & 2.

[StephenG]

Looking good so far man I have a package of sample color that I've been dying to try.

[Price]

I didn't get to make much on the torch today because I spent most of my time building a workbench. It's 42" tall, and I used a concrete board for the surface. Might remove the bottom shelf cause it gets in the way a bit while sitting. Everything is coming together!

[oG Glocc Coma]

I'd say just cut it in half not not trash the whole shelf! if you reduced by half would be a good foot rest when sitting... or a place to put your clear glass

[KLAW]

Although I’m not very good, I’m having a lot of fun and it’s honestly saving my life. It feels really good to put my mind towards something.

^This^ is what its all abt!!! Nice to meet you!!

[Price]

I'd say just cut it in half not not trash the whole shelf! if you reduced by half would be a good foot rest when sitting... or a place to put your clear glass

Thanks for the idea! Did exactly this today.


Made several pendants today, but this is the only one that survived. I need to get a kiln :/ I also really want to make my pendants bigger, but the hot head takes forever to thoroughly melt the glass. Bails need some work.

[Wilbur]

Pm your shipping addy price, I'll send you a flat rate box of color shorts and shit

[Price]

After a little over a month, I finally got my studio up and running. I haven't been on the torch this entire month, so it feels really good to start up again. I like boro so much more than soft glass!

I also ended up selling my motorcycle because I can't ride anymore. The extra money is going to a big order of glass soon. Selling my bike had to be one of the hardest things i've ever done.



Onto the glass. I don't have pics of everything I've made since my studio has been set up (5 days), but this is a basic over view.

[Price]

Some pipes. Still struggling with my mouth pieces!

I'll be posting a lot more now that my studio is set up.

[Price]

Few of my favorite pendants from today and a spoon pipe.

[rvp117]

Those are some good looking pendants! They are ready for sale! I had a problem with melting the bails on when I first started, but yours look spot on! For my mouthpieces I use diamond shears most of the time, with a small graphite pick to ream it out and recondense opening a few times until I am happy with it.

[Price]

Thanks rvp! I've been picking out my mouth pieces, but I tried diamond shears for the first time and I like using them a lot more.

Worked on some more jelly fish, and here is one of my last pipes.

[Price]

I had a friend of mine take some really nice photos of my work. Really happy with how the drip pendant came out.

He's taking pictures of a lot more of my stuff tomorrow!

[Price]

Waiting for the rest of the pics from my friend, but here are a few other things I've made recently.

Another drip pendant. It cracked while cooling down so that was a bummer, but I'll have my kiln by the weekend.






First time playing with fume.


Ice cube drip


My friend also just bought me this murrine from an artist while he was in Hawaii.

[PyroChixRock]

I love seeing the progress in progression threads.

That was nice if your friend to take pics and bring you mili! Sounds like a good friend.

Keep it up!