Ben and Sean and Dessert Saturday, Aug 11 2007

11 August 2007

Day Thirty-nine at Bristol

Today was one of those days at faire where business was so slow that we had no choice but to make our own fun.  And fun we made!  This photo was taken as the fun was really just beginning.  This incredibly yummy-looking dessert tastes every bit as good as it looks!  It’s been one of my favourite things to eat at this faire for years, and although the price has gone up a bit, the  yummy-factor has certainly stayed the same.  In fact, right after Ben (he’s our wonderful “Cabana Boy” who does errands for us and makes sure we are fed and such) brought us this plate, Kat and I decided we needed another one!  Then, Sean (the other guy in this photo) got the bright idea to label his spork—the spork of doom!  It was all crazy downhill from there!  At one point, when we needed to move the large vase of flowers on the counter,Sean added to his self-designated title:  The World’s Largest Man-Vase.  (The rest of his title includes things like: Keeper of the Dread Pirate Duck; and He of the Foofy Hair and now there’s something about wielding a Spork of Doom!) And a little later, there was a bizarre few moments of improvisational mouth music and street dancing involving not only Sean, but Maron and Kat as well! 

Anyway, it was a fun day, if not a profitable one.  A somewhat impromptu visit from our friend Ian on his way from Colorado to Michigan is helping to make the weekend brighter for me, as well.  The weather is awfully warm and muggy, but we can certainly hope for a better day tomorrow.

~MB

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Una Alla Volta Saturday, Aug 11 2007

10 August 2007

Day Thirty-eight at Bristol

Una Alla Volta:  One at a Time.  That’s the newest slogan at Girl Glass.  It refers, quite clearly to the fact that the work of an artist is created by hand, one at a time.  Our master glassblower, Shannon Jane Morgan has built a successful business creating amazing art glass—one at a time.  And as an artist who loves her craft, she gives of herself by teaching others to know and love and dream of excelling at glassblowing.  For four summers now, we “baby apprentices” have poured our energy into learning as much as we can, grateful for every opportunity to be in the glass studio.  The first three years we learned in a “class” setting.  We’d watch, we’d take turns doing basically the same things, and we always had the gaffer right there, to guide us every step of the way.  She was there to blow a bubble for us when as beginners we were trying to work the glass too cold.  She was there to deal with our pieces when we’d chosen difficult colours that were harder to work.  She was there to pull and cut when we weren’t coordinated enough to do it.  She’d hold and guide our hands through working with the tools, and almost always did the final heat and put-up.  We even experienced pieces hitting the floor that Shannon was able to save!

I have (and have given as gifts) a dozen or so pieces that I made.  But always there was hands-on help somewhere along the way. 

Yesterday, I had the wonderful experience of creating a piece, start to finish, with only verbal coaching. No hands on help, no rescue procedures, no catastrophes.  This photo is of the sweet little tumbler that lives!

I still need the verbal cues and reminders during the process, although not as much as in the past.  I cannot thank my dear Ginger enough—I know my beautiful little tumbler is a reality because of her excellent coaching yesterday.  (Did I mention that the gaffer actually left the studio!)  But there is an awesome sense of accomplishment, here.  I made that little thing—all by myself—yep!  I’m feeling a bit smug!

~MB

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