View Full Interactive Version Of This Page : Mr. Smiley's heart tutorial...
Mr. Smiley
2005-06-15, 4:52pm
Step one, get yourself a ball of glass one the end of a punty. The design is up to you.
Next, squish it flat like a lollipop... different thickness will yield different hearts.
This is the super secret step I've never revealed before... take a pair of $1 scissors from the office supply store (plastic handles, stainless blades). Heat up the gather again and cut it from top to bottom of the pancake.
Now you put it back in the fire and shape... This is easier shown than explained, so hopefully I can get some pics...
When you have the lobes the shape you want, hang the whole thing upside down and turn in the flame. Direct most of the heat towards the bottom and let droop. The top lobes will fall together and the bottom will stretch out.
Once you have the general shape you want, you just have to put on a loop. Normally one lobe is higher and that's the one I put the loop on.
For the loop, I put about a half inch of rod on the spot I want the hoop to be on. Then I heat the glass and flip with pliers into a loop. Again, this would be easier to show than to tell.
Melt in the backside of the loop and reheat to shape as desired.
Now, punty up with a cold weld to the loop.
Pull off and shape the bottom of the heart, hold loop with pliers or tweezers and snap off cold welded punty. Fire polish the punty mark and behold the beauty you just made...
Anne Ricketts
2005-06-15, 4:58pm
Oooooo Brent! Thank you! I can't wait to try this! Moretti will work right? I can't wait to see the pics also! I a very visual person and learn alot from pics and just doin it!!
Rhapsody Fire Beads
2005-06-15, 5:41pm
Beautiful Brent, I just love your hearts!!! And thanks so much for sharing your secret!!!!!!
~Suzy~
Laurie L
2005-06-15, 7:59pm
Awsome !!!
What color was the Boro you used for this particular heart ? Breathtaking - Really !
jazzcurls
2005-06-15, 8:26pm
thanks Brent.you make it sound so easy...I know better...that hanging loop is a doozy...now...for the gorgeous heart pendant I won from ya...is there going to be a tutorial on the horizon for that too????? Huh Huh huh...
AngelHeart
2005-06-16, 4:15am
That is the most beautiful heart I have ever seen! :) I am definitely going to try this out as they would make lovely charms for a bracelet I am making at the moment. Thanks heaps for the tutorial. :koolaid:
Thanks Brent - what a great technique! :)
Toozygoot
2005-06-16, 7:42am
Thank you Brent! I love your hearts! I had forgotten how it was done and your directions brought it back. But I sure will appreciate the pics! BTW, everyone loves your winged heart! What's not to love?!?!!!!!
pat
great Brent,, I can't wait to try this out :biggrin:
Toozygoot
2005-06-16, 9:50am
I have a question! I was going to bid on another one of your hearts but this one seemed as if the snipped line was very, very thin. And it would have broken my heart if that heart was to take a hit and break. The area looked that delicate. Should I have been so concerned? I guess my question is whether I shouldn't have worried because it's boro. And actually, come to think of it, I shouldn't have worried because you made it!
pat
Mr. Smiley
2005-06-16, 1:28pm
Thanks Pat. If you ever break one of my pieces, I will always repair or replace it for free. Even if it's your fault- LOL Even the ones that look delicate are really pretty tough. It's boro and prolly not as thin as it looks. ;)
Somebody asked what color that heart is... well, it's one of the amber purples... not sure which one. It's just rolled in clear frit. I LOVE CLEAR FRIT! It does fun stuff to all my favorite colors... :)
I have no clue if there were any other questions. I'll go back over it later. I've been in a really hot metal box all day (my car) and I need to get stuff packed to go out of town fishing... see you all Saturday!
Rose Leslie
2005-06-16, 1:31pm
Love the heart Brent. It is just beautiful. :love: Boro is so neat to work with. It doesn't fracture like the soft glass does. I will try this out with my Moretti. Ha! I can see it now. You have to have put some type of frit or some other boro on the glass and then the red. Love the color. They are just way to cool.
Rose Leslie
2005-06-16, 2:38pm
Brent,
I tried it with the ivory and light blues frit. It turned out great until I tried to put the look on it. Ha! What a real chore. It will work though. Just need some practice. It is with Moritti glass too. So it can be done. Ha. Do you have any glass blowing tutorials with soft glass? :waving: :biggrin:
Sue H-K
2005-06-16, 5:15pm
Too cool Brent!!!!!! Thanks muchly!
Sue H-K
Mr. Smiley
2005-06-19, 5:18am
I don't really work with soft glass. I will give it a go and see what I can come up with as far as pointers on the loop with the gooey stuff. I haven't tried that yet. You can always just make a little spacer bead on a mandrel and attach it to the lobe. Then you don't need to worry about making a nice loop. ;)
Morning Brent! I don't work with boro but I did want to tell everyone that if they have not bought one of your hearts (ebay) then they really can not appreciate how beautiful they are. I received mine yesterday and your color control is just breathtaking! Thank you.....barb
Mr. Smiley
2005-06-19, 10:56am
Morning Brent! I don't work with boro but I did want to tell everyone that if they have not bought one of your hearts (ebay) then they really can not appreciate how beautiful they are. I received mine yesterday and your color control is just breathtaking! Thank you.....barb
Wow Barb... thanks for the plug. Coming from you, it means alot. I would love to get down there and see your studio... I was chomping at the bit trying not to bid on that class you guys donated to the spring fling... Thank goodness they didn't take credit cards or I would have been in trouble on several things that day. My wife made me promise to be good- LOL
I am sooo glad you like your new heart. I have several I planned on listing this weekend that I really like! I don't think it will get done today either. I'm feeling lazy... :biggrin:
We will get you down in the fall when the weather has become better for running the torches - even if we have to bribe you! Barb
Mustang Dawn
2005-06-20, 6:59am
Thanks Brent!
I'll get it a try later. I just love your hearts! Dawn
Mr. Smiley
2005-06-20, 6:51pm
Barb, no bribes needed... just the chance to hang out with you and Pam would be really cool. If we get the house and set up the teaching studio, I'll have you guys up and we can go to Disney and play with glass up here too. Man, I'm sooo hoping we get that house. :D
Okay no "bribes" ;-) but we treated Shirley [winner of the class] so well she wanted to move in! I think we will also be up for the next flameoff in October and hopefully bring up most of the Southern clan with us but if you get set up before then let me know.
Barb
Craftylady
2005-06-21, 8:32am
I don't really work with soft glass. I will give it a go and see what I can come up with as far as pointers on the loop with the gooey stuff. I haven't tried that yet. You can always just make a little spacer bead on a mandrel and attach it to the lobe. Then you don't need to worry about making a nice loop. ;)
Ok I thought about making a spacer bead for the loop. My question I guess is how would you go about doing that when you Have to hold the heart and punty in one hand and the mandrel in the other and well the glass goes? So could you make a spacer put it in the kiln the make your heart. Then attach the spacer after it had been in the kiln? I hope this makes since.
Laurie
Mr. Smiley
2005-06-21, 9:11am
It makes total sense. You could also garage the heart in there while you make the spacer. That way, the mandrel doesn't get too hot to hold. ;)
I just tried to make one yesterday and wasn't fast enough with my spacer... garaging the heart would keep it from exploding like mine did. I just don't play nice with soft glass. I like boro, because it would have been just fine. I also have a hot plate I use to keep pieces warm.
Craftylady
2005-06-21, 9:14am
I am going to give this a try thank you for the quick response.
Laurie
kandice
2005-06-21, 12:29pm
That rocks!! I've always wanted to know how that was done. Thanks for the tutorial - and for showing that gorgeous heart!
I've been so wanting this tutorial - cant wait to try this when back in Canada - still packing !.........
I tried this today...can't wait to open the kiln...I did the loop on the mandrel first and popped it in the kiln while I made the heart...the hardest part was getting a good gather, I think I need bigger rods...But what I had worked...
Thanks Brent!!
ok, here they are..not that good, but a start
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a94/bazile/Picture088.jpg
OK! I tried it too and here is one of them. I made two, but the other one is just plain black.
Thanks Brent!!
~~Mary
Great tutorial, thanks for the secret. I would not have thought of that.
Lara
Mr. Smiley
2005-06-29, 7:53pm
Great job everybody! I did two soft glass ones today. It's a bit weird working with that stuff, but I kind of like it too. I'll post pics when I get them. I'm so stoked that everyone is trying these. :D
Ok I know I'm a total newbie but I don't understand the cutting the glass bit. If you cut your pancake in half won't half of it fall onto your table? #-o
D
Mr. Smiley
2005-06-30, 8:39am
You don't cut it all the way in half... just towards the rod.
But you are correct, if you cut it all the way in half, half would fall on the table... or maybe your lap! #-o
Oh I get it now! Duh! LOL
D
Toozygoot
2005-07-02, 1:16pm
Here's my first Mr. Smiley heart. Not too bad for a firsty! :) Thanks Brent! You can tell my loop is sloppy but I'll keep practicing. Love off-mandrel work!
pat
Sandpebble
2005-07-02, 1:47pm
I had trouble with the cutting part too but dammit... I have to figure this out!
Just kidding! :smile:
This is one of thousasnds that I've made over the past several years.
Pete
Mr. Smiley
2005-07-04, 10:19am
I love the designs in your hearts Pete... I just prefer the shape of the hearts when you cut it. I used to just make a small dent like you do, but have evolved the shape a bit and am really liking it. It does distort the internal design a bit more. Maybe that's why I am doing less implosions and such for the design. Great pink by the way! Very nice!!!
Mr. Smiley
2005-07-06, 5:56am
Getting the new house with the teaching studio (3 car detached garage) is looking pretty good. I'll let you know when we get it set up. Right now, my life feels like I'm stuffing 3 pounds of crap in a 2 pound bag and doing it on a shoe string budget- LOL
If I can help with any questions until then, just email or PM.
I met Orr throught all of that too and became friends with him. Very cool indeed!
Mustang Dawn
2005-07-11, 4:20am
Good Morning,
I thought my "Brent Heart" belonged on this thread. I only cut half way down and I have to work on my loops. Thanks for the Tip's and How too's Brent.
TTFN, Dawn
Mr. Smiley
2005-07-11, 4:47am
Great Job! :D
weegems
2005-07-11, 10:57pm
Brent, Thank you so much for this tutorial, I have had a blast making these the past few days. I am only allowed to torch for like 15 minutes before taking a break, so these are perfect for me. Mine are small, the biggest one is 17 mm x 37 mm and that includes the loop. :)
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180
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Rhapsody Fire Beads
2005-07-12, 9:35am
Great job Kari!!!
I am getting mine the old fashioned way, I am buying them from Brent. LOL! I am way to lazy to try this.
~Suzy~
weegems
2005-07-12, 9:55am
Thanks Suzy, they are so much fun to make. I think they are a little bit addicting. LOL!
yeepers
2005-07-12, 12:38pm
Here are my first piddly attempts. I was going from memory without having read the tutorial recently so I was puntying up in all the wrong places and heating all the wrong spots! It was really a hoot re-reading the tutorial.....I had the "A HAH!" moment x 3 so I'll be giving it another go tomorrow :D
Toozygoot
2005-07-12, 12:48pm
Look at all the LOVE!!!!! These hearts are all so cool! I was torching this morning and was going to make one or two morning but dang! I didn't have my scissors!
pat
weegems
2005-07-12, 12:52pm
Here are my first piddly attempts. I was going from memory without having read the tutorial recently so I was puntying up in all the wrong places and heating all the wrong spots! It was really a hoot re-reading the tutorial.....I had the "A HAH!" moment x 3 so I'll be giving it another go tomorrow :D
They look great! What did you do wrong? LOL!
Mr. Smiley
2005-07-12, 1:21pm
Look at all the LOVE!!!!! These hearts are all so cool! I was torching this morning and was going to make one or two morning but dang! I didn't have my scissors!
pat
Pat, you watched me make one with out cutting it. You can use just about any sharp edge to push down the dimple. ;)
Pssst! I have some borro here...was going to garage sale it...still might, w/ most of it....but first maybe I should try your heart :-$
Can you send me the tutorial and any tips you might have? =P~ I have sampler pack and a bunch of clear.
yeepers
2005-07-13, 3:04pm
My second attempt. Much happier with these! Just gotta keep working on the loops :)
Thanks Brent!
Rose Leslie
2005-07-14, 11:02am
Question,
You can take a sterling silver twisted loop and embed the wire into the heart? That I will try. I did one again this morning in Moretti and think I have it. Will post it tomorrow Thanks
Toozygoot
2005-07-14, 7:12pm
Thanks for the reminder Brent! I tried again with scissors yesterday and maybe it was impatience but I couldn't cut thru and then I got frustrated and the result was NOT pretty!
Jeepers Yeepers! Those look like little hiney hearts! Cute shaping! And the loop is a practice, practice, practice thing isn't it?!?!!!!
OK! Will try again tomorrow!
pat
Mr. Smiley
2005-07-15, 5:50am
The loop is definitely a practice thing... You'll get it!
UPDATE: I have finally PM'ed all the requests for the tutorials back to you. Man, what a great bunch of people wanting to make hearts! I love it! Have fun and post your pics here!!!! :)
Vanityfaire
2005-07-15, 10:35am
Hi Brent, I would like to read your tutorial. So sad that we have to worry about the other stuff. YOu make great hearts and I would aspire just to understand the process at this point. I had written some questions to the CA about how do you make hollow hearts. I had gotten one from Corri and it is beautiful. Thanks
Vanity
Sorry folks... this is gonna be gone until the sharks stop circling the site. I just saw another importer posting... I won't give instructions to them... PM me if you haven't seen it and I'd be happy to share. Sorry to have to do this... once bitten, twice shy! :waving:
Vanityfaire
2005-07-18, 1:30am
thanks Brent-got the tutorial... I want to try..!!!!!
vanity
Brent thanks so much for PMing me the tutorial. Sadly I think my poor little heart beadies need some help ](*,) !
515
Mr. Smiley
2005-07-19, 12:06pm
Hey Dawn.. they look great! Try taking a little more time and lower the heat. Let gravity form the heart, not the flame. The flame is just to soften it enough for gravity to slowly do the job. Take your time. ;)
Joanne Owsley
2005-07-20, 7:34am
I snagged the tutorial early. Glad that I acted quickly! Thanks soooo much, these are a blast to make. \\:D/
This is my first one :---)
Mr. Smiley
2005-07-24, 6:19am
The tutorial is back up... It's more work PMing it to everybody than it's worth... plus I wasn't at all discriminating who I sent it to, so what's the point- LOL
Enjoy and keep posting your beauties! :D
BillBrach
2005-08-11, 7:21am
Brent,
Biggest problem I'm having is that I can't get the shoulders 'puffy' enough. Below is heart # 4. It looked kind of cactus-like in color, so I added the dots LOL
Bill
Mr. Smiley
2005-08-12, 6:35am
Bill... it looks like you aren't tipping it punty side down when you are shaping the lobes. Try about a 45 degree angle and let the glass ball up. I shape one lobe at a time... it's kind of an elyptical pattern instead of a straight centered rotation, to keep one lobe in the fire at a time. Keep playing around with it... you'll get it! This excersize will teach you a lot about how to get the glass to flow where you want it to. Put on some good tunes... it helps me get in the mood. Be the glass!- LOL
BillBrach
2005-08-12, 7:59am
Brent,
I am tipping it like you describe, I just don't have enough heat, 'cause I'm limited to about 4.5 LPM on my oxygen !!
Bill
IF-Designs
2005-08-12, 8:17am
Bill look out for old concentrators a second one realy really helped me quite a bit....it made the WORLD of difference in the heat on my bobcat and in the colors I could get out of my boro...
Mr. Smiley
2005-08-13, 8:14am
Bill.. with less heat, you have to slow down your motion... Pretend you're going in slo-mo. If you have enough heat to melt the glass, you have enough heat to do this. Keep trying! :D
IF-Designs
2005-08-14, 9:28pm
I tried the cutting method and it works better too bad I cant find those trusty lil scissors I bought from Lori RObbins at the gathering just FOR that purpose...my hair cutting scissors just DO NOT work as good lol. But here is my first try at the cutting method...The left is the front the right is the back.
robinbrown
2005-08-16, 1:50pm
Can anyone get pics of this tutorial put together?
I'm just not getting it! I know the top of the heart should look just like a babies butt, but NOPE,,,,
THANKS!
Mr. Smiley
2005-08-16, 2:43pm
Hey Robin... PM me if you have any specific questions. In the interest of some other glass blowers making a living selling hearts, I've decided not to spell it out with pictures. You can do this with trial and error... I promise... just keep trying! ;) You may figure out something completely different along the way. :D
IF-Designs
2005-08-16, 2:59pm
I would like a tutorial with pictures on making nice loops I suck at loops I just cant get em right...I would LOVE to see someone, who makes nice ones like you do Mr Smiley, make a photo tutorial on how they do it ..because im really tired of making poopy loops.
Mr. Smiley
2005-08-17, 8:33am
"poopy loops"... sounds like a gross breakfast cereal!- LOL
PPP is really the secret. There are a bunch of ways to make a good loop... but they all take prectice. I suspect you are doing it just fine, just take your time with it. I can spend several minutes on a hoop... 10 if it wants to be a pain! I'm pretty much a perfectionist and it has to be STRAIGHT! - LOL
candygeek
2005-08-17, 8:44am
One thing you can also try is to put a medium sized blob where you want the loop to be, press it into a tiny pancake, then spot heat the center and poke a hole using a tungsten pick or something similar. It's less of a loop look and more structured, but its fairly easy to do! Once you get the hole in the pancake, you can carefully heat it to get a shape you like. I've tried grabbing the tip with a rod and pulling it a bit to get a more free-flowing shape. Works pretty well!
Candace
dungeonbeads
2005-08-20, 9:12am
Thanks for the tutorial Brent! I gave this a try the other day, the first one was not to bad and they are a lot of fun. Except for getting the loop on using soft glass but it can be done, still need a bit more practise.
Jim
1866
1865
1863
Mr. Smiley
2005-08-20, 9:13am
Great job Jim!!! :D
BillBrach
2005-08-20, 10:13am
Another way to do the loop is to make a curved 'goalpost' sticking up from either side where you want the loop. Then heat and push the 'tops' of the goalpost together, melt and shape as necessary. Crude drawing below.
I've never had problems with the loop. I simply heat about 1/2" length of 6 MM 'loop' rod, heat the spot of first attachment on the heart, and then stick the rod. Then, start heating the loop rod more, and pull the loop rod out to about 2 MM. Then heat this section, all the way back to point of first attachment, and pull the 2 MM hot section around into a loop, and touch the point of second attachment on the other side of the heart.
This is WAY harder to explain than do !! If you've ever seen it done once, it will be a DUH !! moment :biggrin:
x_phoenician
2005-08-25, 8:39am
I really like everyone's hearts- they're all beautiful! I haven't tried this yet- I need more practice on my heat-control (still occasionally having blobs of glass overheat and drip onto table). What's a cold weld???
Tracy
Mr. Smiley
2005-08-28, 1:33am
Tracy,
A cold weld is when you only heat up one of the two pieces of glass being joined. It will stick together, but you can snap it off when you want to remove the punty. :)
It's got a ways to go, but not bad for a first attempt, I think.
6661
This is in soft glass, btw.
Teresa
Here are mine, they are tiny hearts.
6662
a few of them have a cheater's loop... I made a small transparent bead and attached it to the heart before puntying off.
Mr. Smiley
2005-11-18, 11:18am
I got an email asking if this was deleted... it's still here. :lol:
pierces*designs
2006-01-06, 2:05pm
Bumping this up for others..also posting my first attempt.
A bloody heart
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Angelique
2006-01-07, 4:03am
Great tut,accept I don't realy know what a punty is?:oops:
Mr. Smiley
2006-01-07, 6:05am
Awesome bloody heart Debbie!
A punty is a metal rod or a glass rod that is used to hold onto a piece while you are working it in the flame. It's a temporary fixture. I use glass rods... they are removed before the piece is finished and put in the kiln. ;)
Angelique
2006-01-07, 1:38pm
Ahh oke,thanks for the explanation!:smile:
betzbeads
2006-01-07, 9:48pm
thanks so much, I can't wait to try this!
Gail Joseph
2006-02-17, 10:18am
As some of you know, this has been a bad heart-health week for my family. Given that it was also Valentine's Day, I decided to try to distract myself by trying yet again to make hearts. I finally made my first acceptable-to-wear-in-public hearts!!! YAY! I even gave one (not shown) to my hospitalized friend (it was really small, but very pretty). Now I need more boro help, but thanks to Mr. Smiley, I feel bead-heart-happy!!!
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e. mort
2006-02-24, 8:15pm
Here is my first "Mr. Smiley Heart". It is 1.5" long. The color combo is kind of ugly, but it gave me an excuse to try out my NS Rootbeer from Mr. Smiley along with a tiny bit of leftover GA Silver Strike from the GA Sample pack that was lying on the bench.
I am not quite ready to get rid of my beloved Moretti, but I am definitely considering getting rid of my bullseye stash to get funds to buy more boro.
Eric
Mr. Smiley
2006-02-24, 9:17pm
Awesome job guys... keep them coming. There may even be a full picture tutorial in the LE tutorial fund raiser thingie. I hope I can get the pics in time. :love:
e. mort
2006-02-24, 9:32pm
They still remind me more of butts than hearts, but that could just be me. :razz:
Eric (Who is feeling old - my eldest daughter just became a teenager today.)
Speaking of loops, I figure I'll throw this out there....
When I teach my beginner pendant class, I have the students make small beads on mandrels. Then heat them and attach them to the pendant to serve as a loop. It's relatively easy to get good results pretty consistently that way.
Mr. Smiley
2006-03-06, 1:38pm
Chad, that's cheatin! :lol: Bringing a mandrel into an off mandrel world... what's next????? Mixing boro and soft glass??? :lol:
JK... it is an easy way to get instant results. ;)
Yeah. I did one class and tried to show people how to do loops off mandrel, but I spent most of the class adding loops on to their pendants for them. Never again...
juniemoon
2006-03-10, 10:42pm
i am addicted totally. I love not having holes to clean too.....
thanks again mr smiley
Mr. Smiley
2006-03-11, 7:27am
Wow! Those are nice! :D
Man, there are some really cool hearts here ! I just cannot wait to get some color !!!!!!!!!!
I played with clear (all I have right now) yesterday and as I have mentioned before - I AM TOTALLY HOOKED ON BORO !
Clear one is boro. Blue is soft glass. Had to try both ways. First time using your tut Brent. I have to say, the boro was easier for me. It's not perfect but almost ! lol !
Thanks for the tut ! I cannot wait to do more !
Debbie A.
Sorry 'bout crappy photo ! Had a heck of time with the clear !
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Karen Hardy
2006-03-14, 5:17pm
Don't hate me because I'm beautiful.
Hate me because I won this and you didn't!:happy:
I just got one of Mr Smileys boro pendants on ebay and
it is 100x more beautiful in my hot little hands.
You totally rock, Brent!
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When are you going to be teaching in
California so all us hippie-chicks and surfer-dudes (and Surfer-chicks and hippie-dudes)
can come take a class from you? You can crash on my couch (just gotta shove the puppies off).
Karen Hardy
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a198/pigletdagemini/dichroheart2.jpg
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a198/pigletdagemini/better009.jpg
Here are some hearts I have made in the past(all are at LEAST a year old).:love: L. Baylie
Mr. Smiley
2006-03-15, 3:11am
Karen... I am so glad you like it and thanks for the support. My pictures kinda suck compared to the real thing huh... I'd rather it be that way. then you are pleasantly surprised... ;) Set something up for me to teach at. I have a torch and will travel. What teaching studios are out there? i don't push puppies off, I snuggle with 'em. :D
Baylie made it to LE... Woop woop!!! Welcome! Those are some very nice hearts man. Cool little bottle too. Make yourself at home. If you have any questions, just ask.
Here's a tip... Write a tutorial and the ladies will love you... do a picture tutorial and you may not make it out alive. Remember Elvis fans... yeah, it would be like that. :lol:
Karen Hardy
2006-03-15, 2:04pm
Problem is, all the studios use a HH or a minor and are worried about teaching boro on it. Personally, I do boro on a minor with a concentrator, so I'm not too worried myself. I'm working on setting up a basic boro class for another teacher at the local lampwork shop themandrel.com (hi Donna, if you're lurking around here!). If the class goes well, I'd do handstands to get you to do another boro class.
I'm hoping to do the class before November, so if you're serious about wanting to come out here and teach, PM me after that and I'll be thrilled to get something off the ground for you here. :fireblob:
Karen Hardy
Karen... I am so glad you like it and thanks for the support. My pictures kinda suck compared to the real thing huh... I'd rather it be that way. then you are pleasantly surprised... ;) Set something up for me to teach at. I have a torch and will travel. What teaching studios are out there? i don't push puppies off, I snuggle with 'em. :D
:lol:
rusticstudio
2006-03-15, 3:54pm
20514 20515
Here are the hearts I did. They turned out pretty good I think. Great tute, Smiley-man! I still suck at loops. I may just have to make a bead and put a whole bunch of loops on it to practice. The loop actually broke off of the blue one, which sucks cuz I like it the best!
Mr. Smiley
2006-03-18, 4:31pm
Aren't you coming to my class next weekend? If so, I'll have you making perfect loops in no time. We are going to start with a loop excersise, so the pieces you guys make have nice ones on them. I've got 3 ways to make loops. I'm sure you'll love at least one. :D The hearts look awesome. I can give you a few more pointers in person. :love:
rusticstudio
2006-03-19, 10:36am
Aren't you coming to my class next weekend?
Yup! and I can't wait!! As the forecast looks, you won't need your parka, but... considering you're a Florida wuss, you may need it after all. I'll be there in shorts and a Hawaiian shirt... not!
HannahRachel
2006-04-11, 7:39pm
Hey, Brent, I had some difficulty with the hearts in the Moretti, so today I dragged out my little sampler of Nothstar color and I'm a convert! I'll be spending all the rest of my paycheck on boro now... How does silver foil n'stuff react with Pyrex? Anyhow, we'll see what really happened when I open the kiln tomorrow morning...
I haven't had any luck using foil with boro. The heat required seems to make the foil burn out no matter how careful with it you are...
Toni L.
2006-04-13, 11:15am
If the class goes well, I'd do handstands to get you to do another boro class.
Karen Hardy
If you get smiley to come to so cal - count me in!!!!!! SERIOUSLY!
I'll keep an eye on the mandrel website too!
8)
toni
rusticstudio
2006-04-13, 11:51am
Hey, Brent, I had some difficulty with the hearts in the Moretti, so today I dragged out my little sampler of Nothstar color and I'm a convert! I'll be spending all the rest of my paycheck on boro now... How does silver foil n'stuff react with Pyrex? Anyhow, we'll see what really happened when I open the kiln tomorrow morning...
Okay, Hannah, let's see 'em!
Mr. Smiley
2006-04-13, 12:10pm
Yeah, let's see them. :D
Step one, get yourself a ball of glass one the end of a punty. The design is up to you.
Next, squish it flat like a lollipop... different thickness will yield different hearts.
This is the super secret step I've never revealed before... take a pair of $1 scissors from the office supply store (plastic handles, stainless blades). Heat up the gather again and cut it from top to bottom of the pancake.
Now you put it back in the fire and shape... This is easier shown than explained, so hopefully I can get some pics...
When you have the lobes the shape you want, hang the whole thing upside down and turn in the flame. Direct most of the heat towards the bottom and let droop. The top lobes will fall together and the bottom will stretch out.
Once you have the general shape you want, you just have to put on a loop. Normally one lobe is higher and that's the one I put the loop on.
For the loop, I put about a half inch of rod on the spot I want the hoop to be on. Then I heat the glass and flip with pliers into a loop. Again, this would be easier to show than to tell.
Melt in the backside of the loop and reheat to shape as desired.
Now, punty up with a cold weld to the loop.
Pull off and shape the bottom of the heart, hold loop with pliers or tweezers and snap off cold welded punty. Fire polish the punty mark and behold the beauty you just made...
Hello...
I found your tutorial on hearts and i've seen your pics and i love them...but i'm new to lampworking and i may be dense but i don't quite get what your saying...do you have a picture tutorial ?
thanks
Leann
Mr. Smiley
2006-05-17, 7:03am
Leann, just play and try what you think it may mean. You'll discover so much about glass just playing. I know some people are visual, but I just don't have the time right now to do a picture tutorial. I was supposed to be getting some pics from a demo I did... but I haven't seen them. You know how it goes. :lol: If you've got specific questions, I'm happy to help. :love:
I meant to take some pics of Brent making a heart a few weeks ago in Asheville. We had our new camera with us the whole time, and never got it out of the car...
Toni L.
2006-05-19, 12:35am
I finally made one worth showing...My 6th try and I like it!
Thanks Brent - each time I learn something new about the process.
8)
toni
Mr. Smiley
2006-05-19, 3:05am
Awesome heart Toni... this heart tech really does show us how to use minimal tools to shape glass. Once you learn to shape with heat and gravity, you can make a whole lot of things easier. I am so glad you're getting something out of it. :love:
I may not be able to make beads worth selling, but I was quite proud of my first off mandrel heart.......till I dropped it.
Now it is my first off mandrel broken heart.:jawdrop:
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b342/b-todd/matt014.jpg
Mr. Smiley
2006-06-12, 5:54am
Belinda... it's cool! I like the fractures. I'll bet the light passing through really dances now. Hang it in a window and try again. :D
B-Todd
2006-06-12, 10:34pm
:happy: whoo hoo, check it out Mr. Smiley.
Lucky heart #3 (moretti glass). And no cracks!
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b342/b-todd/matt020.jpg
hulagirl
2006-07-06, 1:54pm
Mr. Smiley...
Thanks for sharing your talent with us. I had to fire up the torch and try a few hearts. I think I have a couple of beauties! I will know for sure when I look in my kiln tomorrow!
Again...Much thanks!
burntfingers
2006-07-11, 10:40am
This is probably a stupid question - but how do you position these hearts in the kiln? Do they lay on something or are you hanging them by their loops on mandrels? I need to know before I start trying these. ;)
HannahRachel
2006-07-17, 5:10am
Leann asked a question regarding photos and it really turned out it was the loops that were a problem, so I wrote the following to her... I'm sure there are tons of ways to do them, but this is what works for me. She uses a HH and soft glass, but its all the same -
Use clear glass for the first few times since its so stiff over the HH. Before you pull off the tip of the heart, add the loop to one side of the bumps on top.
Start by heating up one of the bumps onto which you'll add the loop. Then, heat a dollop of clear, and attach the two together. Pull the clear at a 45 degree angle from the heart, as if you are pulling a thick clear stringer. Make certain that you pull this OUTSIDE of the flame, and pull very slowly.
Melt off this thick clear stringer at about 1 1/2 inches.
Now, turn your hothead down as low as you can without it going out. THIS IS THE TRICK! Heat the stringer section closest to where it attaches to the heart, You only want to heat a little tiny bit of the stringer, and only enough to barely make it move when you grab it with tweezers. Remember not to put your tweezers into the flame. Work your way down the length of the stringer, going back and forth between the loop and the actual heart so the heart stays flame annealed and doesn't get too cold, until you are at the very end. Then hit the place where the loop end attaches to the heart with your flame.
Flame anneal the whole piece, pull off the punty, and pop the heart into the kiln.
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Gail Kops
2006-07-17, 10:06am
I am so a newbie but wanted to give this a shot...they are really beautiful.
I have made 4 and the loop is the toughest part. I tried doing it this last way by putting a dab of clear and trying to pull a stringer, etc., but the stringer got too thin (pulling too fast, me thinks)....so I tried another method...
I laid the heart to the side and quickly wrapped a clear loop on a mandrel and then attached that to the heart. I suppose without a kiln, I shouldn't have laid it to the side, or? That is the reason that 2 cracked in half?
Any thoughts?
I got the idea of the loop on a mandrel from an implosion pendant tutorial that I had read and in it the artist said it was ok to lay the pendant to the side for a few seconds....
Should I have put it in vermiculite until ready....or if I had a kiln, laying it in there for a few seconds would do the trick?
Thanks guys!
ukiacat
2006-07-18, 12:27pm
Here are two of my three attempts. The blue one is cracked. It was a bit stressful figuring out how to coordinate the steps. I'm mostly afraid that the hemostats that I use to hold the heart, while I make the loop, will melt into the glass so I didn't bring the whole piece up to temperature well enough on the blue one. I need to play until I get more confident and I want more graceful "tails" on them. Brent; thanks for this tutorial. It is fun to work from the rod rather than a mandrel.
dk teal with raku
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cobalt blue
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donna322
2006-07-30, 2:51pm
for those of you that have done these hearts in soft glass.....what did you use to punty up to the heart with? I don't have boro clear...so whats the next best thing? Thanks for your help:grin:
Mr. Smiley
2006-12-26, 2:50am
You can use a soft glass rod if that's all you've got. It just becomes a permanent weld much easier... so be careful how much heat you give it. ;)
OK folks... it's about time for the heart holiday... thought I'd bring this thread back to life and open up for your questions. If I don't answer here, just PM me. I'll try to check back often. ;)
Mr. Smiley
2006-12-26, 2:52am
Here are two of my three attempts. The blue one is cracked. It was a bit stressful figuring out how to coordinate the steps. I'm mostly afraid that the hemostats that I use to hold the heart, while I make the loop, will melt into the glass so I didn't bring the whole piece up to temperature well enough on the blue one. I need to play until I get more confident and I want more graceful "tails" on them. Brent; thanks for this tutorial. It is fun to work from the rod rather than a mandrel.
dk teal with raku
34836
cobalt blue
34835
The graceful ends will come in time. It's all about heat control... don't put the tip "in" the flame... just next to it or pull it through the flame quickly. These are awesome! Make more! :love:
Raven Wylder
2006-12-26, 11:41pm
Ohhh Brent! Thank you, Thank you, Thank you! For bringing this up - I would never have found it myself and I signed up to do the Valentine exchange and haven't had time to search for a tutorial on how to make hearts. ](*,) I probably should've thought of that before I signed up. D'oh.
Mr. Smiley
2006-12-27, 3:43am
You are very welcome. I am in the exchange as well. Maybe I'll get yours. :D :love: :D Have fun with it!
I need loop lessons. I always spend as much time or more on the loop as I do on the darn heart... at least I'm not trying it in soft glass. I'd be in trouble.
Is there a Loop tutorial? That would rule. I shall go search, but for now, I hereby request: Mr. Smiley's Loop Tutorial! With pictures!
Raven Wylder
2007-01-03, 12:07pm
I second that request. All in motion?
I made some hearts yesterday and by far, your tut was the easiest to make a heart look like a heart. But I had to cheat on the bails, I made a spacer bead first. I did do some hearts and just poked a hole through but I don't think they look as cool. I'll try to post pics in the V-day thread later today.
kentaymom
2007-01-03, 12:18pm
OK, I finally tried this and now I'm hooked! They are so much fun. I need a LOT of practice but I'm pretty happy with them. Here they are, in the order of their "birth":
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My loops are pretty sad, but they'll get better (I hope!)
playswithfire104
2007-01-03, 8:17pm
Welcome to the world of the Loop Challanged!
Mr. Smiley
2007-01-04, 5:55am
Loops are the hardest part to nail down... if you take my class, I show 3 different loops. Folks normally don't practice them long enough to "get it"... they just wanna make pendants. I suggest you all make 200 loops on the end of a rod... don't practice on your pendants. Once you have to loops down, then you can make pendants. ;)
Sue in Maine
2007-01-04, 6:19am
Brent,
I think I made my 200 loops in my sleep last night. I studied this tutorial so long at work yesterday that I dreamed of making boro hearts all night. I had such troubles! What type of torch was I using? It was running out of fuel. When I make these, I plan to start with clear as a base and put some colors over that, then make my lollipop but in this dream, whatever I was putting on as a second layer was causing the first layer to burn up like a sack of cloth!
Then I started over, trying to figure a way to work cooler so I wouldn't burn the sack up again... and waste more glass. What a bizarre dream!
My first chance to try this "real" heart will be Friday night. Watch out mini cc, here I come!
Sue
kentaymom
2007-01-04, 6:30am
Thanks for that tip Brent! I never would have thought of just doing a bunch of loops on a plain rod of glass. Somtimes someone else has to point out the obvious! LOL! I know what I'll be doing tonight.
As for taking your class - I'd LOVE too! Will you be heading up north to this neck of the woods at all?
Mr. Smiley
2007-01-04, 7:06am
I'm working on a deal with the Penn Dragons... aside from that, I haven't made any teaching plans... until this divorce is done, all I can do is put teaching on hold. It really sucks, but hopefully there's an end in sight. ;) I'll also be heading back up to Blue Fire beads in Chicago this year. I just haven't planned a date. :love:
Karen Hardy
2007-01-04, 10:52am
I think I've posted these in other threads, but I should stick one
here. Some smiley hearts I made. I adore your tute, Brent!
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145031
Raven Wylder
2007-01-04, 11:08am
Let me know if you ever get out to CA? I'd love to take a class. Is it just me but I don't get it? What do you mean make 200 loops on a rod?
Mr. Smiley
2007-01-06, 4:47pm
Take a rod of glass and pretend it's the top of your pendant. Just round over the tip and make your loop there. If you use all the same color, you can just melt it in and do another. It's just a way to get the motions down pat before you attempt to put one on a pendant. You'll get a bunch of practice fast and you'll save quite a few pendants from having the poopy loop disease. ;)
Raven Wylder
2007-01-06, 8:57pm
Wow, was I having a duh moment! #-o
Mr. Smiley
2007-01-07, 2:53am
I have 'em all the time. :lol:
Linda S
2007-01-25, 6:47am
Thanks so much Brent for this tutorial. I would never have attempted the heart without it. I just love what I have been able to make so far. Just in time for Valentine's Day.
Linda S
Simply Us
2007-02-08, 5:44pm
Brent I took your advice about practicing loops on a rod of glass and it made a world of difference! Expecially with soft glass. Here are 2 of my favorites.
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57816
Sandra
FourTailsLampwork
2007-02-09, 6:12pm
Brent, thank you!! Here are my first two hearts (done my first afternoon on my new-used Bobcat!). The first is plain Moretti striking red and the second is Moretti clear swirled in Centennial Rose frit. The loops, which clearly need a lot of practice, are Moretti clear stringer.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v216/Mincot/Beads/HEE-0702-02-1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v216/Mincot/Beads/HE-0207-01.jpg
Mr. Smiley
2007-02-09, 6:40pm
Awesome! I love seeing people explore new directions and try something that's not easy to do. A heart is nothing like making a round bead on a stick. Great job! :love:
Laurel Boyle
2007-02-27, 10:51pm
I acquired two of your gorgeous hearts before I started lampworking and they are my favourite pieces. I can't wait to try one. Thanks for sharing your secrets Brent!
Bob Torbett
2007-03-04, 9:42pm
Since I only work in soft glass at the moment, I have to ask are the color variations reactionary or are they created with additional colors used in the process? I haven't been able to make any beads since December due to a problem with the studio in the travel trailer. I just finished rebuilding it back in the house and melted my first glass yesterday. I'm looking forward to trying your technique in soft glass and later with some boro since I now have my Piranha working.
Thanks Bob
Mr. Smiley
2007-03-05, 3:53am
Bob, with the boro colors I use, the colors depend on layering and striking. Not much of what I use is WYSIWYG. I like the color shift boro striking colors give me. It's just more fun for me. ;) Have fun and let us see pics when you get some soft glass ones done. :D
Bob Torbett
2007-03-05, 6:56am
Thanks Brent. Love your work. The tips on making the loops is great. I've been off the torch so long, I'll have to spend a couple of days just playing around to get the feel back before any serious work can begin. I'll post some pics as soon as I have some.
Bob
Bob Torbett
2007-03-06, 4:03pm
Well Brent. here are the first 3 I made last night using moretti. The lavender one with the Ivory loop across the top dropped while I was removing the punty and broke the loop off. While reheating to make a new loop I heard that dismal clink and it shows in the pic. I also picked up some Boro today and will try it tonight.
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60980
60979
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60977
60976
Bob
Mr. Smiley
2007-03-06, 4:36pm
Bob, nice job. I find them much easier in boro. Boro is like sculpting soft glass in slow motion. Nothing happens fast. With the soft stuff, you really have to watch the heat base. it will go from solid to runny, quick. Boro isn't that hard to keep under control. it seems the range of softness is much larger. Thanks for posting the pics. You are right on track! :D
Bob Torbett
2007-03-06, 7:32pm
Well I have my first boro piece and it's a heart. I couldn't believe the difference from soft glass. I had to go to tanked oxy since I only have 1 Devilbis oxycon. Here's the picture. This was made using NA's Multi for the body and Blue Exotic for the loop.
Thanks for the encouragement Brent.
Bob
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Mr. Smiley
2007-03-06, 8:00pm
See, you can do it. Run with it man! That looks so much better than my first boro heart, I'm a little jealous. :D Boro rocks! I am starting to like soft glass too, for it's own set of bennefits, but BORO is and always will be my first love. It lends so much more control, it's not even funny. If you pay attention to the heat base (glow), you can really learn to speak it's language. You'll know when it's ready to move, before it moves. You'll be able to read the darker spots and know where to put more heat into it. It's not just about melting glass, it's about learning how to control how soft it is. Study it and learn the dance moves it takes to mold your vision. ;)
Suestress
2007-03-07, 6:45pm
Mr. Smiley - Thanks so much for the tutorial!
I'm having so much fun making these!
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And I want to show my hubby's first and only attempt at lampwork
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I could never get him to try a bead :rolleyes:
You are so generous to share with us.
:waving:
Susan
Mr. Smiley
2007-03-07, 7:04pm
Tell your husband he just pissed off a bunch of lampworkers by making that on his first try. Oh and he needs his own torch now. ;)
Suestress
2007-03-07, 7:24pm
Tell your husband he just pissed off a bunch of lampworkers by making that on his first try. Oh and he needs his own torch now. ;)
LOL! It kind of pissed me off too! I'm still not that good!
Bob Torbett
2007-03-13, 5:54pm
Well Brent. I made a few more following your tut and here's the results.
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61713
61716
61717
61719
The first two are boro and the last three are soft glass. As you can see, the last one cracked before I could get it to the kiln. I guess that's just one of the hazards of batch annealing. There are no loops on some because Judie asked me to leave them off so she could attach silver bails to them.
Thanks for the encouragement. Having tried boro has given me a big boost in confidence and better knowledge of heat control it would have taken me several more years to learn.
Thanks again
Bob
Mr. Smiley
2007-03-13, 6:27pm
Hey Bob, any time. I'm glad you're finding it useful. I hope to have time later this summer to work on my book. I like tutorials that use gravity and heat control as a tool. :D
Thanks for the tutorial, Brent. I'll post some pics once I get a chance to try this.
Mr. Smiley
2007-04-04, 7:06am
You're very welcome Dusty. If you have any questions, just ask. ;)
josielv
2007-04-05, 1:30pm
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Ok Brent, I had to try it!! Still have a long way to go, but it was fun!!!!! Thank you Sweets!!!!
NLC Beads
2007-04-10, 9:54pm
Thanks, Brent - here's my first try, using ivory, because yes, when I want to play with something that's already going to be flopping everywhere, let's go all out with a soupy color! [-o<
Thanks, I'll be making more!
Nikki
Mr. Smiley
2007-04-11, 2:05am
Thanks, Brent - here's my first try, using ivory, because yes, when I want to play with something that's already going to be flopping everywhere, let's go all out with a soupy color! [-o<
Thanks, I'll be making more!
Nikki
I agree! If you're gonna try sumpin hard, make it damn near impossible! :D I love it, you did a fabulous job, even with a watery color. ;)
ibory es esmooshie...
;)
Way to go with the ivory. I'm sure it would have dripped all over my bench!
ellyloo
2007-04-13, 9:25pm
My turn!
I smooshed it first.
hate loops. grr.
wildorchid
2007-06-21, 1:24pm
I am a beginner. Have made about 50 beads so far but loved your hearts and tried to to make my first bead without a mandrel. My first problem was I had a hard time getting the ball at the end of the glass rod round. It would keep melting at the juncture of the gather and the rod so I would let it cool there, heat the gather and smooch it slightly into a marver so it wouldn't droop. Finally it looked fairly round so I flattened it til it was pancake-like. Where is the heart shape supposed to show up, on the rod side? I had no heart shape so I started to add some glass on both sides of the glass rod to make the heart shape and I cut the side that wasn't attached to the rod. I had a flat circle with hearts on both sides of the rod. I cut the free side with a scissor but it kind of didn't make sense. Where do you cut? I didn't know how to make it full like yours so I just started to decorate. That was coming out OK. I puntied a clear rod up to the side of the heart and when I tried to melt off the original rod I was left with a 1/8inch piece of rod so I just flipped it over and made it the loop.
It looked pretty but fairly flat. Unfortunetly it broke after I put it in a blanket to cool thinking I would batch anneal it later with a bunch of my beginner beads as I just got my kiln. It broke right along the place I had cut it. I know I did a bunch of things wrong but if you would be kind enough to point out one or two I might get better next time. Here is the sad photo of my broken heart.http://www.lampworketc.com/forums/uploadedimages.php?viewid=74784
http://www.lampworketc.com/forums/uploadedimages.php?viewid=74785
Thanks
Joy
Karen Hardy
2007-06-22, 9:15am
Joy, with only 50 beads under your belt - that's not a bad start.
I think I speak for most of us when I say that our first tries
of getting a big gather on the end of a rod either ended up
on our tables or worse. Let's just say - if you ever need
information on how to get glass off the front of a Minor
Burner, I'm your gal.
Keep up the good work!
Laurie L
2007-06-22, 9:25am
Wish Smiley would post the "how to pics"...LOL. Somehow my hearts dont look like they should, but I'm trying...I'm trying.
wildorchid
2007-06-22, 3:34pm
Thanks Karen for the thumbs up but I sure could use a hand up. Think of it as a conservation project, a green project. Save lots of broken glass and a few years of frustration. I'm over sixty. No time to waste. A link to "a gather at the end of a rod tutorial." A tut here, a tut there and pretty soon "mission accomplished" By the way Karen, I have seen your work many times as I started with polymer clay and wire wrapping and your jewelry is tops.
Let me be clear. This is a general beg not one directed at Karen.
Joy
Karen Hardy
2007-06-23, 11:47am
Well, ya know Joy - I was THAT good when I started (NOT:lol:).
I'd post my first efforts, but they met their death at the
hands of my water cup. Everyone on this forum has
their "bowl of shame" full of beads. Trust me.
Your best bet is to spend the money and get thee
to a class if you can afford it. It really makes a big difference,
and you'll probably make up the cost of the class in the
glass that you will save in the long run.
Else fails - go online and check out some of the tutorials
on www.youtube.com. There's lots there that show
people doing some basic stuff with glass. Just search on
"bead" or "glass" and see what comes up.
You can even start a thread here asking for people's
favorite video links to online tutorials - I'm sure some
of the fine upstanding citizens here will be glad to share.
wildorchid
2007-06-23, 12:10pm
Thanks Karen, Thats a great idea about the video tuts. There are no schools that I know of close to home. If any of you experts live near Port Charlotte FL drop me a PM.
Joy
Bob i think your blue broken one is the perfect break for a 2 part pendant (-sharp edges) a bail on each one, on a charm bracelet or 2 necklaces... very cool!!
________
Michigan Dispensary (http://michigan.dispensaries.org/)
nouvellecoeur
2008-01-27, 12:16am
someone just asked for this tut, and i thought it needed to be bumped for valentines day :-)
<3
Rose Leslie
2008-01-27, 3:34pm
Brent just wait I will be in the shed soon. Then I can play with boro. Just don't have any room in the back bedroom of the house. Yeah. Been moving in today. Will take a week or two. To much junk in there. Yuck.
hi, Brent u do amazing work!!! i always wondered how you make your beautiful hearts. I dont have a torch yet :) but as soon as i get it and everything else i need, i suure gonna try this. I got a quick question for you, its a newby question so please dont laugh, if i make a round gather on a clear rod, then try a loop, melt it in, try a loop, melt it in and so on.. and at the end of the day i leave it out on the table for the night, would i still be able to work on the same gather the next day? (Boro gather) Im just trying to mminimize my glass consumption while i learn.. so i dont have to trow away so much glass :)
Laura Bronson
2008-03-28, 9:59am
this is sooooo helpful----- been trying to no avail to figure this out. U rock!!!!
Hi Brent:
Love your work. I have been trying to follow your tutorial and watched how great everyone was doing. In one of the th:-kreads with Bob he asks about colors and you mention layering and striking. What is striking? Should you ever have a class in the Boston area please let me know.
Thanks
Bob Proulx
Well Brent. I made a few more following your tut and here's the results.
61712
61713
61716
61717
61719
The first two are boro and the last three are soft glass. As you can see, the last one cracked before I could get it to the kiln. I guess that's just one of the hazards of batch annealing. There are no loops on some because Judie asked me to leave them off so she could attach silver bails to them.
Thanks for the encouragement. Having tried boro has given me a big boost in confidence and better knowledge of heat control it would have taken me several more years to learn.
Thanks again
Bob
Bob great job I love the last blue one.
Bob proulx
I've tried a heart on a mandrel that was kinda neat. I just gave this a shot and the first one turned out looking like a mix between a chili pepper and a skinny heart. :)
I'm using soft glass and a hot head torch and prior to this, I hadn't done anything without a mandrel. The loop is obviously something that is going to require some practice.
WildatHeart
2008-04-02, 12:26pm
Wow, Brent! Thank you so much for sharing this!
I tried a couple and here are the results. Not anywhere near yours, but I was happy with them for a first try, especially considering I am a real newbie to lampworking.
114434
114435
Back to more practicing! :-)
Beth
I see this is an old thread but people have been posting in it for quite some time. lol. So in hopes that Mr. Smiley sees my thanks I shall post my attempts at his beautiful hearts. This whole boro thing is brand new to me, only a week in so the off mandrel stuff is very liberating in a way. lol Thank you Brent for your instructions.
:biggrin:147451
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Beautiful hearts Anzie! What colors did you use in the first one?
rguttierrez
2008-12-05, 5:22pm
I like the sparkles in the second one!
Thank you, they are all Tag colors. I think it's Carmelo, and Teal Blizzard.
The sparklies is actually Blue Blizzard in the bottom one. The Blizzard colors have tiny white flakes in them
Thanks again! They are my first hearts and I'm totally new to boro. Man it's different to work with. I'm really liking it.:-D
Um.... is this tut available with pics?
Can someone (Brent? ) Pm me?
Please and thank~you !
I tried the cutting method and it works better too bad I cant find those trusty lil scissors I bought from Lori RObbins at the gathering just FOR that purpose...my hair cutting scissors just DO NOT work as good lol. But here is my first try at the cutting method...The left is the front the right is the back.
you used you hair dressing scissors......AAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!! I hope they weren't expensive.
simvet02
2008-12-06, 7:01am
I love the fact that this thread is still alive. I've tried it but there is no way to make the bead with soft glass and keep the heart warm. I keep breaking the hearts.
And Brent, I think I could make these all day long and without the magic of boro they just don't sing. I have a bit of boro but truly, there is so much to learn with boro that I have stuck with soft glass. Would you mind giving us a hint about which boro glass makes the beautiful pinkish yellow colors? Pleeeeeease.......
Mr. Smiley
2008-12-08, 6:25am
Anzie... beautiful work! Thank you do much for posting! :love:
Jan, it's Amber Purple over White. ;)
Jan, don't give up! They can be made w/soft glass... I just did an ivory one.
http://gellybutton.com/images/dec8/7/heart1.jpg
simvet02
2008-12-09, 4:22pm
Oh, I never give up. When I messed up the one the other day I just wadded it up and wrapped it on a mandrel....LOL
Thanks for the color hint Brent, I may have to get the boro out and try it, it moves much slower and give me more time.
Mr. Smiley
2008-12-10, 4:37am
Here's one I did in soft glass... it can be done, but it requires a lot less heat. ;)
Very nice in Ivory... I may have to try one with my new favorite curdled ivory and silver glass combo.
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Brent,
Wow!! Not only do you rock boro. This soft glass heart is beautiful. What colors did you use for this heart?
Candace
Mr. Smiley
2008-12-10, 8:18am
I'm pretty sure it's Psyche... ;)
Karen Hardy
2008-12-11, 8:44am
Wow, that's beautiful, Brent!
rg9403
2009-01-01, 12:57am
Wow Mr.Smiley...you gave away your secret. I have to say some of these hearts are very scarey...I'm gonna have to give it a try 2morro.
Nice colors with the soft glass Brent.
oh and to those that have trouble with loops...have you ever tryed poking a hole with a tungsten pick...first you place a glob...then shape...then squeeze with tweezer like tool(you have to buy one) and open hole with tungsten pick...its pretty simple but hard to explain. Maybe someone else can chime in with a tut.
Mr. Smiley
2009-01-01, 9:51am
Drilling with tungsten is always part of my class and is in the first video... that's almost done. ;)
do you ever come up to canada to teach?
sorry no pic yet...cut finger open and need to get more oxy 2morro.
Mr.Smiley... yeah I find that the tungsten way is the way to go for those hearts...is that what you usually do?
Mr. Smiley
2009-01-02, 4:27am
Yeah... this tut is old. The loop method changed not long after I posted this. ;)
Mr. Smiley
2009-01-02, 4:27am
do you ever come up to canada to teach?
Maybe... what studio did you have in mind?
As long as you are near Calgary......and with that being said i would drive about 6-7 hours to take a class with you.....so middle of BC over to about Saskatoon.....
Mr. Smiley
2009-01-02, 8:38am
Drive to the airport and come to Florida... we have sun and warm weather. ;)
I'll see what I can do. I'm pretty much booked for this year, but I may be able to squeaze something in. :D
umm.. why don't you just come to seattle & then everyone will be happy. ;)
Brent - i would love to.....but right now i have no vacation time......sorry :( the sunshine would be great right now.
I could try to drive to Seattle......I would just need to know well in advance when the classes are.....
Mr. Smiley
2009-01-02, 1:42pm
I'll be scheduling something in Portland... will also look into Seattle. Is Portland too far? It's a great facility... really fun owners. Always a good time. ;)
i don't know where portland is.......google is my friend......lol.....brb
ok how far of a drive is portland to seattle? about 2 hours????
2 - 3 hours, depending on traffic/weather/etc.
Rhymnoceros
2009-01-14, 3:22pm
http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo225/rhymnoceros2009/_MG_9701.jpg
http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo225/rhymnoceros2009/_MG_9708.jpg
thanks so much for the tutorial smiley!
Beadbug
2009-01-14, 4:23pm
Thanks for the Tut,
Here are my first try's I didn't do loops just a holes, I am loop challenged. They aren't bad, I was sitting on a broken tail bone, heavily medicated.
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These are 104
Mr. Smiley
2009-01-14, 4:24pm
Nice job! and you're welcome...
I can't wait to get back from Tucson and start on this DVD. It's gonna be so much fun to cover hearts on video. I love making them... and I love seeing other people make them too. :D
here's my second attempt. the first one has nice shape but the colors are just aweful so i'll spare you the pain.
Mr. Smiley
2009-01-15, 3:38pm
Very nice... wicked cool colors! :D
Nitadee
2009-01-17, 8:50pm
It's Saturday night, and I can't wait for MONDAY! (my day off) Once again valentines day is just around the corner, I should already have some of these, but alas, real life gets in the way.
Kudo's again Mr. Smiley on sharing your wonderful work and giving us newbies a chance to make something that sells WELL all year long! I've always been a fan of hearts anyway!!! Come on MONDAYYYYYYYY
Nita
litejugler
2009-01-17, 10:58pm
I found this thread last week and just wanted to say thanks for the tut. I have been lurking around here for a few years and have had a lot of great tips but this one was one of the best and most fun to use. so thanks again brent. Here are some I made this week, plus a zen inspired pendant.
I also want to order your video but have to save up 40 bucks.
peace all keep the flame hot.
Jay
Sharon Abood
2009-01-18, 12:14am
I watched your video on making an implosion and decided to give it a try again. I wore it yesterday and my doctor bought it right off my neck for his wife for valentine's day.
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Mr. Smiley
2009-01-18, 4:42am
One more day Nita... hang in there, you can make it! :lol:
Awesome work Jay... so glad you liked it. They are a lot of fun and you did great!
Sharon, a sale right off your neck is always a good thing. I'd look kinda funny taking that sales approach. I just don't look too hot with a pink heart around my neck. I tried, but strange men kept trying to talk to me. :lol: I'm glad you liked the test video... can't wait to do more DVDs. This is gonna be so awesome seeing everybody's work. :D
Nitadee
2009-01-20, 9:12pm
\\:D/\\:D/I got my "big kid" torch set up yesterday (monday) and didn't get around to making a heart.
Had to destroy a few rods of glass first. PPP again.
Started out with boro, on the big torch, but it moved, so I ended up with a gifted HH
and fell in love with the soft glass.
CIM is my fave. Just about any color!
Anyway, here is my Newbie Heart.
In fact I made 2 of them today (tuesday)
after running all over hell's half acre for my Pirate.
Got HIS stuff done and came home to make these...be gentle!
Thanks again Mr. Smiley, Brent you are a gem!
Nita
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Mr. Smiley
2009-01-21, 8:36am
Awesome! New torches are so much fun! Those rock! Make more make more! :D
Hey thanks for the initial tutorial! This sounds so much fun!!
can't wait to try tomorrow! I just got my new GTT Lynx on 2 oxys and am barely starting off boro. LOVE it so far!
Thanks a lot for bringing this tutorial back up on top so I could find it!!!
Those hearts are so beautiful!
Will try to post pics when I have hearts!!
Nitadee
2009-01-22, 9:03am
Aw thanks Brent....do you have peeps telling you that your hearts look like Butts? GRRRRR! I'm going to try some more in a few days. PPP after all....:biggrin:
Nita
Mr. Smiley
2009-01-22, 3:38pm
Hips, butts or boobs... I take that as a compliment, because I like them all. :lol:
Mr. Smiley
2009-01-22, 3:39pm
Hey thanks for the initial tutorial! This sounds so much fun!!
can't wait to try tomorrow! I just got my new GTT Lynx on 2 oxys and am barely starting off boro. LOVE it so far!
Thanks a lot for bringing this tutorial back up on top so I could find it!!!
Those hearts are so beautiful!
Will try to post pics when I have hearts!!
Woohoo! :D
They are so much fun! I can't tell you how many people I've taught these to over the years and it never gets boring! :love:
onebizebee
2009-01-24, 9:40pm
Woohoo! :D
They are so much fun! I can't tell you how many people I've taught these to over the years and it never gets boring! :love: You'll soon be teaching me I got you new DVD! Now I just have to wait for it to get here!!!!! Patience, I must have patience!
LFCookie
2009-01-24, 11:05pm
Brent, I see that your basics dvd is out....when is your HEARTS dvd going to be out??
And at last count I have made over 150 hearts, that is pretty much all I make when I go to Aquila! (thanks for getting me hooked) Hopefully we will see you at Aquila this summer!
Mr. Smiley
2009-01-25, 3:09am
The heart DVD will be in the works as soon as I get back from Tucson. It'll be a few months at the soonest, but I do plan to get crackin. ;)
Will be coming to Aquila in the next few months as well. Have to shoot Don an email tomorrow. :D See you soon! :love:
I have been making hearts! 2 sessions!
It is SO MUCH fun!!
I really now found how to use gravity and dance with the melting glass. This is amazing and great fun. I took pics, just need to bring them to the computer and post them now.
I will try tomorrow.
thanks!!!!
as promised, here are the pics. Sorry they are not great pictures and they don,t do justice to the colors but it will give you an idea!http://www.malem.com/onlinepics/hearts.JPGhttp://www.malem.com/onlinepics/hearts2.JPG
Mr. Smiley
2009-01-29, 3:56am
Awesomeness! You've been going like a champ... I need to channel some of that ambition for my torch session today! Great job! :love:
Thanks Mr. Smiley!!
I happily share my ambition! take some to your torch!
have a great sessions
CollinFellows
2009-02-07, 8:52am
Hey Brent, do you have a date yet for Portland? I was at aquila last week making some marbles while i wait for my new equipment to be set up at home and they said they were not sure.
Whenever...i'll be there.
Donna P
2009-02-08, 7:35am
Hi Brent,
I just got your DVD and it's awesome! I need a couple of tools then I'm off to try out your teaching. BTW, this is one of the best DVDs I've seen. you are a wonderful teacher!
DonnaP
Mr. Smiley
2009-02-16, 6:38am
I haven't set a date for Portland just yet. I have to do that, but scheduling isn't easy. I'm trying. ;)
Thanks Donna, i try my best. Let me know if you have any questions. :love:
I have been having a ball with your heart tutorial - This is my favorite so far!
Thank you for sharing :-)
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Mr. Smiley
2009-02-17, 3:20pm
Awesome full bodied heart! Love the voluptuousness... :D
d2063614
2009-02-18, 12:04am
i just found this and wow im wanting to go and try this but its 11:04 and i need to wake up soon. maybe tomorrow :) il be sure to post pictures
Awesome tutorial...thanks Brent. I had a blast making these. Here is a pic of the first few I made. I gave a tiny one to my niece for her 6th birthday and she loved it.
http://img183.imageshack.us/img183/2466/dsc00880f.jpg
Mr. Smiley
2009-04-30, 7:13pm
Nice! :D
Marion&Maud
2009-05-01, 12:17pm
I know I'm very new to this forum so I hope its OK for me to show some pictures.
I just wanted to say a HUGE thank you to Brent for this tutorial, although I've been working with soft glass for a couple of years I've only been playing with boro for about a week so don't laugh! :0)
This is my second heart from this tut.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3565/3491428335_1602be00de_m.jpg http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3578/3492245220_6bd1bce338_m.jpg
I'm very new at glass bead making and this forum also. My first heart from this tutorial I have to work on it :
http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/5651/cimg0001uwg.jpg (http://img11.imageshack.us/my.php?image=cimg0001uwg.jpg)
Thanks Lana
Nitadee
2009-05-08, 9:34am
hi Brent I'm baaaaaaaack!!!!! I've been having a great time with these hearts! Otter stopped by my studio and showed me his take, and between the both of you, (LOL!!!) I have come up with some loverly tiny hearts, thanks again!!!!
Nita
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d2063614
2009-05-09, 11:38am
sorry i havent posted any pictures what was that 5 months ago or something? i need to make some moree... as soon as my girlfriend and people at school saw it they basically stole them from me XD
Hi All
My name is Rex and I am new to this forum ( I live in Queenstown New Zealand). I only found this thread 2 days ago and I have read the whole thing. Brilliant everyone Really interesting as I have had Brents first video for a few weeksn now ant it has been a revelation to me. Extremely helpfull. I have just had a crack (if thats the right term) at the hearts. I cant get the fantastic reds and yellows from the amber purple but this is what came out.
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Cant wait for the heart Video !!
Mr. Smiley
2009-05-20, 4:15am
Awesome! I love coming back in here and seeing what you all are up to. There can never be too much love in the world, so keep making those hearts! :love:
Mr. Smiley
2009-05-26, 4:43pm
A buddy snapped a few shots of me making a heart... not the right times... or not the shots I would include in a tutorial, but maybe they will help just the same. :love:
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Here are some of my first attempts.
Brent is an awesome teacher!!! I took his class at AS last September, and we all had a great time!! I had some photos of the class, but a hard drive crash took them to the grave!! I will post some photos of the hearts that I have made soon. They are not "Mr. Smiley" quality, but they look o.k.!! Thanks again Brent!!:wave:
Mr. Smiley
2009-05-27, 4:37am
Thanks for the kind words Scout... it was an awesome class... great folks at Arrow Springs. You guys really make the class. I'm just the hired monkey doing my dance. :lol:
Can't wait to see what you've been up to. :D
:poke:
I am still waiting for the video!
Mr. Smiley
2009-06-16, 8:50pm
I know... I'm trying... ;)
Laurie L
2009-06-16, 9:06pm
A buddy snapped a few shots of me making a heart... not the right times... or not the shots I would include in a tutorial, but maybe they will help just the same. :love:
Very helpful Brent !!! Thanks for the pics
theglasszone
2009-06-23, 10:54pm
My turn! :)
Although working in 104, and on a Hot Head, I decided to give this a try today! I've admired these for so very long - and all the work here is wonderful! Thanks so much Brent for sharing your technique with us.
Funny what inspires us...
I wanted to make a "remembrance" piece. This is my first try - it's named "Neda", which I believe speaks for itself. In the colors of the revolution...
http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x280/theglasszone/Bead%20Photos/Smiley%20Hearts/NedaHeart1.jpg
http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x280/theglasszone/Bead%20Photos/Smiley%20Hearts/NedaHeart2.jpg
Then I tried one in Moretti White; always fun trying to control off mandrel melty 104 white...but I got it to behave!!! I used striking red for the drip. I call this one "Pure Heart":
http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x280/theglasszone/Bead%20Photos/Smiley%20Hearts/WhiteHeart.jpg
And, of course, it just wouldn't be right if I didn't try and "miniaturize" one...this is only 1/4" long - in Hades, with clear/silver dichro drip. This one I call "Love on Ice":
http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x280/theglasszone/Bead%20Photos/Smiley%20Hearts/BlackHeart.jpg
De
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Okay, so as promised, here are a few of my "smiley style" hearts. I have been using the techniques that I learned to work on some different pendants as well. I will post them as I get them done. Also, Here is something that I am doing with the pendants that I am making. I am adding silver bezels and bails. Let me know what you think.
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The silver bezel pendants look exactly like a lady I know who makes them here in Canada. She has been making them like that now for 10 years if not longer. she does tear drops, round, square, rectangle and oval shapes. Her's look more like your first picture but she does mainly fusing. I like them. Did you make your own bezel?
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