Thursday, April 10, 2014

A Visit To A Friends Studio

 
My Aunt and Uncle were visiting from Alaska and we always try to finds some interesting fun little day trips to do while they are here.  They are originally both from New England and are very familiar with the shore, the coast, the water etc. so we often have a chance to find something new and different that may not necessarily be Maine or "Coastal" every time they are visiting.  I contacted my friends Terrill and Charlie of Tandem Glass and asked if they were blowing glass on Thursdays...yes!   They are Tandem Glass of Dresden Maine, a wonderful husband wife team creating all this beautiful art in their Salt Box barn.   They sell at the same farmers market as me on Saturdays in the Winter. 
 
We were soo lucky to get to see them work!  Here are some pictures from our trip.
(Please forgive me for not using the correct terms for the "metal blowing pipe" or the "hot molten glass" I was too excited to remember it all).
 
 
 
Here is Terrill picking up a glob of molten glass on the end of one of her metal blowing tubes....

 
Checking out how it is shaping up and using her tools to manipulate the hot glass....

 
Charlie is in charge of blowing this one.   It is Terrill's piece and he is the assistant here...

 
Here is Charlie putting a small piece of glass on the end of Terrill's piece so she can then knock it gently off the blowing rod...

 
They use this mold for texture and shaping some of the hot molten glass, isn't is cool!
 
 
Terrill is assisting Charlie with his piece....

 
See, they take turns.  What a great partnership! Charlie is shaping his piece and Terrill is waiting for instructions to blow in the pipe...
 
 
Look at all the cool glass rods of color!  They will make little pieces of glass art to attached to the pieces they are blowing....






 
Like this super cool bucket of finished little pieces!  Each one a little work of art!  They will take a "glob" of hot glass and roll it around in a dish of these and they will stick.  As they blow and shape the piece, these little colored glass bits will morph and change shape a bit and randomly create the most gorgeous pieced of art!
 
 
Some of the beautiful items they create....
 
 
Vases...
 
 
Drinking cups....

 
Pitchers....

 
More pitchers (can you picture some fresh made lemonade in one of these!?)

 
Totally Maine - a Lobster Claw ornament!

 
and a super cute blue Whale!
 
 
Thanks Terrill and Charlie!  It was great to learn about your craft, thanks for all the information and the explanations.  I was super impressed with all that you do and wish you the best with your business! 
 

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