Got Popcorn?

Everything you wanted to know about the Bethlehem Bravo but were afraid to ask....

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 17:40:11 -0500

Soon after I received my prototype Bravo last spring, I went to shoot video at the Essence of Mulranny Studios in the west coast of Ireland. I decided to bring the Bravo along, mostly because it was the new toy I wanted to play with, but also because EOM Studios operated on concentrators, whereas I’m used to working with tanks. I wanted to utilize this opportunity to test the torch’s performance on concentrators. So we tested and filmed, and here we go...

These tests were conducted on one M15 Concentrator, with an occasional boost from a generic 5... The official recommendation is to use two M15’s, but as you can see, the torch performed rather well on only one. (Your mileage may vary!)

So check out some of the flame settings and specs that this terrific new torch puts out. And when you want YOUR BRAVO, contact me!

Want To Order One? Click Here

Mickelsen Class/ Rocky Mountain Graal at Glasscraft 4/22-4/24

Wed, 16 Feb 2011 12:31:42 -0500

I had such a good time putting together this trailer for Robert Mickelsen’s upcoming Glasscraft class. He’s a wonderful teacher and not to be missed. You can find out more details at www.glasscraftinc.com.

Here’s the class description:
This class will be an in-depth exploration of the challenging technique of graal for surface design on flameworked glass vessels. Students will learn to use resists to etch their original designs onto their glass blanks. Several different types of photomasks will be demonstrated. Complex construction and advanced surface design will be a core part of the curriculum. This class would be extremely beneficial to anyone who wishes to learn the art of graal.

The Mickelsen Egg

Tue, 15 Feb 2011 12:43:28 -0500

Flamework artist (glass God) Robert Mickelsen introduces his new tool, The Mickelsen EGG (Short for “The Mickelsen Parabolic Flaring Tool”) Tired of using flaring tools not designed for the job? The EGG, made of high quality graphite, makes flaring much easier! In this short video, Robert compares the EGG to other commonly used flaring tools, and gives a few tips on its benefits and its use.

So if you use tubing to make vessels of any kind, you might learn a little something about the fine points of flaring...

Either way, enjoy.

PS. The Mickelsen EGG is available exclusively at www.glasscraftinc.com

Make a Magic Mushroom with Michael Haberland

Mon, 24 Jan 2011 12:05:54 -0500

Now it’s your turn! Get some tubing and you, too, will be able to make a magic mushroom! Michael works in soft glass, but you could just as easily try it in boro. After the tubing work, Michael shows you how to create a mirror finish on the inside surface using silver nitrate and a reducing agent.

It’s a ton of fun! If you want to learn from Michael in person, come with us to Lauscha on our annual visit. This year’s Lauscha Tour is August 9th-16th. Contact us if you want more information! We always have a great time with our Christmas ornament workshop, where we get to blow our own ornaments, then silver and paint them.

If you’d like to see more of Michael at work in the meantime, just order “Deck the Halls with Michael Haberland” and you’ll see mold blown ornaments as well as the traditional birds, etc. Find out more about it HERE.

Making Glass Eyes in True Lauscha Style, featuring Walter Hellbach

Fri, 27 Aug 2010 12:37:20 -0400

Walter Hellbach is a third generation glass eye maker in Lauscha, Germany. Using specialized glass tubing and rods, he creates human eyes for prosthetic use.

In this demo you'll get a "short and sweet" version of this complex and fascinating process. This is an excerpt from our newest DVD by the same name. (In "The Eyes Have It" DVD you can see the entire exciting process from beginning to end!) And while it takes years of training to make eyes for human use, you'll be able to apply the techniques you see here to your own work with great results. It all starts with white Kryolith tubing, which opacifies as it is worked. As you watch, Walter meticulously adds a variety of multicolored canes, and in just a few minutes an eye of startling realism comes into view.

Part of "The International Series" produced by Firelady Productions, this is the second DVD chronicling life in Lauscha, Germany. This historic hamlet is the birthplace of many important glass techniques, and is still the center of production for some of the finest flameworked glass in the world.

Come take a look for yourself! You are cordially invited to join us on Firelady's Original Lauscha Tour, which takes place every year, the first week in August. Find out more about the tour at www.fireladyproductions.com.

Here's looking at you!

A Dichroic LIghtning Bead Demo with Patricia Frantz

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 10:59:55 -0400

Some folks are a bit intimidated by working with dichro. Don’t be! Pat Frantz gives clear and concise tips on how to succeed and add sparkle to your work. In this video tutorial Pat shows you how to create her lightning tabular, which combines dichroic and goldstone.

One of the things I notice about the way Pat works is that she keeps things relatively cool. This allows her to maintain control over the process.

This is an excerpt from our “Making Dichroic Beads” DVD. In addition to the Lightning Tab, in this DVD she also demonstrates the fabrication of:
A Basic Dichroic Bead
2-Tone Bicone Bead
Patchwork Bead
Twisted Melon Drop Bead
Psychedelic Core Pattern Bead
Multi-Colored Watercolor Bead
Black Cherry Bicone Bead

So if you’d like to learn more on how to have fun with dichro, get the DVD!
BUY THE DVD

Pati Walton Makes a Turtle Button

Mon, 8 Feb 2010 13:12:53 -0500

Here’s your opportunity to see Pati Walton at work. She’s making a turtle button with a metal shank. I love glass buttons, and I hope you will too!

This demo is an excerpt from our DVD “The Aquarium Bead”. After making an amazing miniature marine scene, she decided to add in this short button demo.

Hope you like it!

Want to see how she makes an Aquarium Bead (her specialty!)?
Buy the DVD

Phenomenal Dichro Fish with Milon

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 22:03:35 -0500

Using tubing encasement and a strip of dichro, Milon Townsend demonstrates a great way to fabricate flameworked fish. A colored glass rod is popped into a small clear tube. They are melted together, and then the dichroic strip is applied on top of the tubing. This protects reactive colors from the heat of the flame so that consistent color is maintained throughout the piece. This little lesson is an excerpt from our very first video, "Teamwork, Technology & Scale". To this day, I still think that this DVD illustrates the largest variety of techniques, as well as letting you get to know the artist himself.

If you would like to purchase the DVD, it's available on Milon's site: www.thebluemoonpress.com or you can get it from me at www.firelady.com.

john Olson Makes an Inside-Out Bead

Sun, 17 Jan 2010 12:09:51 -0500

Inside-Out beads are created with boro tubing, fuming, and interior decoration. Artist John Olson creates a surrealistic and unique bead. This demo was filmed at the ISGB Gathering in Lowell, Mass. It's an excerpt from the DVD "The Gathering: Highlights in Glass Beadmaking", which can be purchased at http://www.firelady.com.

To see more of John's work, go to: http://patiwalton.com/pages/johnsgallery.php. To find out more about the ISGB (International Society of Glass Beadmakers) go to:
http://www.isgb.org

Heather Trimlett Makes a Fancy Ribbon Cane

Tue, 12 Jan 2010 21:52:35 -0500

Heather Trimlett demonstrates how to make a fancy ribbon cane. You'll see how she plans and creates a beautiful twisted cane created with Italian soft glass rods, and encased with hand-pulled Lauscha clear. Filmed in Lowell, Mass. at the ISGB Gathering.

This is an excerpt from "The Gathering: Highlights in Glass Beadmaking" DVD. Want to see more? The DVD is for sale at www.firelady.com. $5 from every sale is donated to the International Society of Glass Beadmakers. If you want to learn more about the ISGB, go to www.isgb.org. You can find Heather's finished artwork at: www.heathertrimlett.com..

Find Out Who Else Demos on the DVD!
CLICK HERE!

Sugarplum Slideshow

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 14:42:13 -0500

I could never put all of the ornaments that we received up on the website! Many of them are sold only in our Christmas Ornament Assortments and can’t be purchased individually. Here’s a little “Sugarplum Slideshow” to give you a small sampling of some of the 2010 Haberland Collection.

So get yourself an assortment today! They’re READY TO SHIP!

BUY NOW

Christmas Ornament Demo, Old World Style

Wed, 9 Dec 2009 12:57:16 -0500

I made this one-minute demo movie as kind of a “Merry Christmas” movie for my customers...but it showed so much technique in such a short time that I decided it had a place in our “Movies” blog.

Here you’ll see Michael Haberland, ornament maker extraordinaire, creating one of his “Wise Old Owls”.

First, he heats a bit of tubing, then blows into a two-part mold. After the ornament has cooled, it is hand silvered, using silver nitrate and a reducing agent, which are combined to precipitate silver onto the inner wall of the ornament. This is the same way mirror is made.

We love to support Michael in his efforts to carry on the centuries old Lauschan ornament style.

See more of his work at: http://www.firelady.com/products.asp?cat=15

How to Work Oxidizing & Reducing Borosilicate Colors

Wed, 3 Jun 2009 17:49:29 -0400

Want to take the mystery out of working with boro? Milon Townsend shares his expertise, simplifying the process for you.

Using Northstar’s “Aurora”, in this tutorial Milon illustrates the different color effects which can be created by simply changing the atmosphere of your torch flame.

This is an excerpt from “An Introduction to Using Borocolour”, which is the first DVD in our “Focus on Flamework Series”. If you want to learn more, you might benefit from purchasing the DVD. Here, Milon will show you how to categorize boro colors so that you'll recognize which colors are affected by temperature and flame setting, which need encasing, etc. You'll develop your own working methods based on his insights. In a short time you'll be able to repeat and control the color effects that make working Northstar Borocolour so rewarding.

DVD comes with a FREE 16 page booklet!

Enjoy this Mini Movie!

Buy DVD Now!