The second week of December I turned on my furnace, charged it with recycled glass from every corner of the studio and went to town.
I blew tidal balls like they were going out of style, I blew jelly fish heads with new color motifs. And then, my passion, I sand casted. I sand casted until the cows came home… or the glass ran out.
I recycled the glass so much, that the glass was no longer pouring that nice honey liquid like feel… it poured in clumps, with veils. It was gross.
What will I do now? Well I have to finish my jelly fish, and my sandcastings. Suddenly I felt alive again, being in the hotshop. Maybe its because you don’t have to think about other things when you’re in there. If you do, well you get burned…. and well that just made me pay attention again. And relax.
For the first time, I was happy with my glass when I opened the annealer doors. Was it because I was relaxed? Or I didn’t care about the gas usage, and the glass usage and how I will pay the next hydro bill. I focused on what I could do, and hot glass was it. I blew until I was exhausted. I spent my Christmas not on a holidays in my pj’s in front of the tv, but in front of my glory hole. Alone. With Florence + The Machines. And I smiled. Reflected.
People have shown up, I’ve read books of inspiration. And I feel like I have a new beginning. A new understanding about business, people and my relationship with glass too.
I am doing what I am. And I appreciate all those people with their support, and kind words of encouragement. This is one of my pieces I made over the winter break, the glass is about six inches in diameter, and I used some shells from my moms childhood, can you see the seahorse?
