Teresa is in the center we were camping during the August 2006 Frantz Glass Bash Metallic~

Tangerine Dream~
Persimmon~ Have I told you lately how much I love melting glass? The color combinations are limitless and then you throw in a bit of silver or copper and it changes the result entirely.

Glass is surely "my thing" I have to thank Gary, Teresa and Matt.

Gary who mentioned it at work one day and Teresa for for hanging around at the glass places with me and coming to my house every Monday. I remember looking at the beads that Gary brought in to work so I could see. I can tell you now that I wasn't as impressed as I would be now. Just because I really didn't get it yet. Gary had told me about a video they had seen that I could get at the Library. I looked diligently once or twice... Glass really hadn't really caught my interest yet. I used to go to the Library on a fairly regular basis :) One day in late May seven years ago I saw the video lying on top of the return cart as I passed by, as if it was waiting for me. I picked it up and figured I'd have a look, what the heck why not? So I brought it home to watch. Matt and I watched it together. I made a birthday purchase for myself a few days later. I ordered a starter kit complete with a Hothead torch. I opened it and looked everything over when it arrived. I was so intimidated by the torch and the gas and again I sort of put everything aside. I got a phone call from Matt at work telling me I needed to pick up a canister of Mapp gas and bring it home. He had set up my glass and torch, everything was ready to go. I was afraid and if he hadn't given me that final big nudge I may not have gotten around to lighting my torch.

I don't remember exactly how many beads I made before my mind went up in flames with all the possibilities. I was sleepless and obsessed I considered getting "help" I had all these ideas. Then I found an online forum were people were talking about feeling the exact same way! I was so relieved~ I started writing and drawing my ideas out and now I sleep much better.

The whole point of my telling this story is just to thank the people that pushed and encouraged me along the way~ Gary, Teresa and most of all Matt who continues to encourage me.