I live in Possibilities

Emily Dickinson wrote this as part of her poem by the same name. "I live in Possibilities". This seems hopeful to me. Each day brings some kind of possibility. I believe in finding and using them to create a life of joy and creativity. 

                                                                         Emily Dickinson

Benjamin Franklin talked about being Healthy, Wealthy and Wise. He was talking about early to bed and early to rise but these are the positive end results of many good habits.

                                                                              Benjamin Franklin

Lets start with Healthy. I didn't realize when I began building windows that there sere health related benefits.  course you need to be safe around lead, glass dust and chemical of any kind so it's important to care for your physical health. I am talking today about mental emotional health. Here are 4 things I've noticed about stained glass making and teaching. 

1. Color therapy is real. Colors effect our mood ad attitude. I can actually tell on a student's face when they have found the perfect color for a window. They even say things like "This color makes me happy " or " I can't help smiling when I see this color".  It's possible to learn something about yourself just by paying attention to what colors move you. Don't be surprised if your signature colors change with your circumstances and moods.

This is really a sheet of our glass.

2, Getting in the zone really happens. Working meditation is like sitting or walking meditation in that you are allowing your breath to move you. Some meditations are still and some are active. Foiling, grinding, soldering and cleaning on your window are all movements to a beautiful end. Just like Tai Chi, swimming, strolling, yoga or lifting, there is relaxation in the process of the exercise. One time I was in a painting class and was so engrossed in my work I didn't hear my teacher offer me drink of water or inquire about my progress. I didn't mean to be rude,I just was in the zone. It happens in every class. The room gets quiet and the sounds of creativity envelope the room.

3. We are social animals. Usually a class consists of 2 to 5 students,There are silent times like I mentioned before and there are times when we are talking, laughing and enjoying ourselves. It's fun to take a class together and share the experience. There is the possibility of meeting new friends and rekindling old acquaintances. 

4. Breaking glass isn't always a bad thing. It can be a therapeutic activity to  break some glass on purpose. As we spend time in the kitchen, the sound of breaking glass makes us panic. But in the glass studio it's our modus operandi. It is controlled chaos in a way. Then step by step a new project is born from the broken pieces. There is accomplishment in the process. 

This is Lynde taking a hammer to a sheet of glass that couldn't be used. We had some fun breaking this one.

I hope I have sparked an interest in the benefits of stained glass. Whether your build your own window or have me do it for you, it is amazing to stand in the glow if the glass. 

Until next time, Invite the light and spread your joy to those who need the reflection of your radiance. We're all in this together. 

Steady as She Goes, How to have smooth solder lines

All stained glass enthusiasts strive for that perfect solder line. It really isn't as illusive as you might think. Even someone with a far from steady hand can be proud of their work.
Here are four helpful hints to a line of solder that is smooth as silk. Some of my students think it flows like mercury. Not that any of us have every played with mercury as kids. Heaven forbid.

1. Take your time. Many students are in a hurry so the solder doesn’t have time to melt. Holding the soldering iron like a pencil is acceptable in this application. If I see you holding a glass cutter like a pencil, beware my wrath. Don't worry, I'm not scary. Slowing down the soldering  gives you more control and puts you in the zone. There may be music and talking around you but you will be enjoying the Zen of the process. Slow and steady wins the race.

2. Bridge across the line with your solder. You may be tempted to run the solder along your line but give yourself some experience time before pushing your limits. Touch the solder, iron and glass at the same time. Dropping the solder onto the glass will not a smooth line make. Pretend you are stitching the line instead of drawing it.  Remember you are melting  not painting . This is easier to show than tell so please refer to the video.  If you have bumps or gaps, touch and pull up to remelt the solder into the gentle mound.

3. If you are using a rheostat, turn the heat down if you are having trouble which may help your solder line flow more smoothly. This is especially helpful when you are doing small pieces like charms or 3D work. You can also cool your iron by wiping the tip off on the water soaked sponge on your stand.

4. Don’t forget your flux! If your line is extra bumpy and not co-operating one bit, make sure you have brushed your copper foil with the flux. Be careful though, you don’t want to over do the flux because it may cause popping. The popping can also be caused by air bubbles caught between the copper foil and the solder.  Be sure to clean the soldering tip on your sponge to keep it clean of ash.

I hope these tips will help you enjoy your time soldering. It might even become your favorite part.
For a visual example refer to our video link below.
                         https://youtu.be/aQAcSzAsT2s