My compilation piece is finished. Darrell Tomlinson gave me a copper-wire basket when I visited him in Conifer, Colorado. It was cool...he fashioned it himself, brazing the copper and bending it in place.
The basket rolled around in my car until I hit Whidbey Island. Callahan helped me throw a bubble into it. Got it on the first try. And, it annealed perfectly! The copper looked burned, but that was to be expected. I figured I would sandblast the entire piece, that would clean up the copper, too.
When I visited Seattle Glassblowing Studio, they cut the top using a diamond saw. This step was necessary as the glass was uneven at the opening.
And, after meeting Gil, I asked him if I should sandblast the entire piece. I thought that would look cool...but, I had to decide if I wanted to keep the copper or remove it. Had I removed it, I would expose the design of the copper as it had imparted on the glass. Or, I could keep it and blast it with sand.
Gil made a different suggestion: Keep the copper wire on the bubble but do not sandblast it. He gave me a brass wire brush. I used the brush to clean up the copper. What happened was the brass wire imparted a certain patina on the copper. I like it!
I think the piece is interesting...it looks like something Jules Verne would have used in 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.
I think it will look nice no matter where I put it; 20,000 leagues under the sea or 4 feet up on my dresser.
Thanks, everyone!
February 26, 2007
