Sunday, March 27, 2011

Pickling and Labeling Glass

I'm taking on a big venture and I'm not even halfway done. My studio is just about set up. The walls are painted (thanks to my mom). Everything is in it's place (thanks to my hubby and boys). I'm working on pickling (cleaning) and labeling EVERY glass rod I have. Yes, it's going to be a huge project but after trialing the pickling of the clear rods and seeing them sparkle, I just have to do them all. Not to mention, I get very frustrated that I have rods here and there that aren't labeled. It seems they never get used because I'm "afraid" of them. Also, it will make it easier to order glass when I know which ones I'm actually low on. I read about pickling glass on the Frantz newsletter and read more about it on LE (a lampworking forum) and I'm so glad I found out about it. Scummy clear is always a problem. Well, hopefully, not any more. I'll take pictures of some clear encased beads after I'm all done with this venture to show you the details of pickling. To read more about pickling, hop on over to the Frantz newsletter blog and it should be in the December 2010 archives if its not on the first page.
As for labeling my rods, I'm making excel spreadsheets with the color, maker or brand of the glass and the ID number and taping it on each glass rod. I may make a little tip section on how to do this in case other lampworkers are interested. I'm on a mac so this is the easiest way I have found to do this. There is another way using a program that another LE member came up with but it's only compatible with Windows. Also, if you want my spreadsheets that I've done so far, you an email me and I'll send them on over for you. My email is karen dot e dot colaneri at gmail dot com.

Friday, March 18, 2011

Yahoo Pingbox

This new app for your blogs or website is totally cool. It's private so your visitors can leave a message and the whole world won't see it, only you. When they leave a message it goes directly to your yahoo IM. If you are offline, it shows you are offline so you will only get messages when you are both on. I think it's kinda neat. Especially if you love comments. It's also a cool way to meet new people that visit your blog.

Here is the Pingbox, so you can get yours.

Leave me a message! I can't wait to hear from you.

As for updates.. the studio is being painted this weekend and I'll hopefully have it ready to start making beads by next week. I still have clearance beads available in my Etsy.