Tutorial- Grape Hyacinth- Soft Glass Sculpture

[@zipunk-99]

My favorite flower!!! Amazing 🩷

[@VickiSchneider-ov2fg]

Thank you. They are fun to make, too.

[@sarahpocock9279]

You are so amazing Vicki I love your videos so much.

[@VickiSchneider]

Thank you very much. Sorry for the delay in getting back to you. I didn't know you had commented.

[@thepearlatelier4256]

Hi Vicki, i just discovered your channel and i am nearly in tears, i cannot imagine how could you design and sculpture such beautiful pieces. I was just googling about murano glass jewellery as i collect jewellery and i got a few batch which i bought from an old man who lived in Europe and i was trying to identify them when i came across your channel. I have jus subscribed and i cannot wait to see more of your works and hopefully someday be able to own one of your fabulous works of art.

[@VickiSchneider]

How lovely to hear from you, Aileen. Thank you for your kind words. When you're ready to explore owning one of my pieces, please let me know. I ship all over. :-)

[@ginashear3766]

Thank you SO much for once again sharing your technique!

[@VickiSchneider]

Thank you, Gina. Are you going to give them a try? I’d love to see the results.

[@ginashear3766]

Not quite up to THAT challenge yet, I don't think! But I did forward your video link to all the Fireflies here, and told them the loud "cracking" noise they heard today would be coming from my studio lol!

[@VickiSchneider]

You made me laugh out loud. Thanks for sharing the link. Give it a try. You may surprise yourself.

[@alicesimpson6689]

I love your work! Thank you for sharing.

[@VickiSchneider]

You are so welcome!

[@darcy5474]

wow, amazing! thank you for sharing with us!

[@VickiSchneider]

Thank you very much. Sorry for the delay in getting back to you. I didn't know you had commented.

[@karonxls]

Beautifully don with the wood excite!

[@VickiSchneider]

Thank you. I like the wood with the glass. I’m happy you do too.

[@christinecaronnabeard1369]

How lovely, many thanks!

[@VickiSchneider]

My pleasure. Take a look at my other vids. I hope you like them as well.

[@Dove96]

Beautiful and well done. Thank you.

[@VickiSchneider]

Thank you, Karen. I hope you give them a try and let me know how it goes. Enjoy my other videos, too.

[@Dudus108]

Wow! You are amazing!

[@VickiSchneider]

Thanks! Do you flamework?

[@Dudus108]

Vicki Schneider no but I wish I could try!

[@VickiSchneider]

Depending on where you live, there’s probably a studio nearby that you could give it a try. For people like me, once you try it, you get hooked. So be prepared. Lol

[@LiterallyScarecrow]

Beautiful as always! You're a talented, stunning lady ^^

[@VickiSchneider]

Thank you so much. I just published this tutorial. Yours is the first comment. How did you find out about the vid?

[@elizabethwatson71]

Thank you! I see a Mother’s Day gift in my future! Can you show how to make a tulip?

[@VickiSchneider]

Thank you. Sorry for the delay in getting back to you. I didn't know you had commented. Making a tulip is far more complicated. I'm still working on creating a reliable process.

[@oscarpatton5623]

What do you use as a fuel source? Propane and tank air or natural gas and a oxygenator? What is the best source. One last question are you going to the sistersville wv. marble extravaganza at the end of September. Thanks

[@VickiSchneider]

Oscar, I use a 10 L per minute oxygen concentrator. The rest of my students in my studio use tank air. I also use propane for everyone. If you decide you want to use natural gas, I understand that works very nicely but most residential areas need a booster put on the line to get adequate pressure.You can’t just answer what is better, it depends on your situation. Propane lasts a long time, and is relatively inexpensive. But it needs to be kept outdoors. Mine is inside a locked cage behind cement barriers, but then again I run a nine torch studio. In terms of oxygen, I prefer working with the tank air, but that was getting rather expensive with the amount of time I spend at the torch. Tank to air is used up very quickly and you have to arrange for delivery. I use Kay tanks at the studio. The torch you use will dictate how much oxygen you need. Some people link more than one oxygen generator/concentrator together to give them more oxygen. I have not found that to be necessary. I use a Carlisle alpha torch primarily. I do very few shows. Most of my work is sculptural and I am looking to establish more collectors and to get into some additional galleries, so I will not be at the marble show in West Virginia.

[@oscarpatton5623]

@@VickiSchneider Thanks Vicki I'll use your advice. I'll let you know how it goes with the new hobby.

[@oscarpatton5623]

Why do you use a boro ponty on soft glass? thanks

[@VickiSchneider]

I use a boro punty because it is very stable in the heat and can typically be broken off from your marble very easily. If you use a soft glass punty you usually have to burn it off and I find that often distorts the end of your marble. Some people use stainless steel punties. I have a limited experience with that. If you use stainless steel you need to make sure that the steel is very clean or it will leave scuzz marks on your marble. I’ve been thinking about doing some remote coaching using online video at both my station and the student’s station. Is that something that you might be interested in? My in person coaching fee is $40 an hour. I’d probably set the rate for my video coaching around the same amount to start. And I would try to find a program that would capture the videotaped session so that you could have a copy to refer to in the future.

[@TheGlassyGardener]

Hi! I was wondering, do you have to keep your stem and leaves somewhere to stay warm while you are working on the flower?

[@VickiSchneider]

Katerina, thanks for your question. No, you don't have to keep the leaves and stem warm. They are relatively thin so they won't typically crack when you reintroduce them into the flame. You notice that the flower part, which is thicker, is kept warm. If that got cold and you put it back in the flame, it would crack.

[@BethLReed]

I didn't know you could let soft glass cool like that without it cracking. And I don't understand how you can put a cool piece into a hot kiln without it cracking...

[@VickiSchneider]

Beth, good questions. There are a lot of variables, such as how thick the glass is, how quickly you’re working. Oftentimes when you sculpt with soft glass, if you can’t keep the whole piece evenly heated, (which is hard to do), it’s better to let the sections be cool. If you go back and try to add insurance heat after it’s cooled, that’s when you get cracking. The reason I can put the completed piece directly in the kiln is that the components (leaves and stem) are thin and usually won’t shock if put in a 940 degree kiln. The flower has been kept warm by adding the dots, so it accepts the heat in the kiln. I can’t do that with every piece I make. I learn what the glass can tolerate through experience. Does that make sense?

[@BethLReed]

YES! That is so fascinating!! Thanks for your quick reply! I've been flame working with soft glass since 1999 and never knew you could do things like this! I love grape hyacinths and your sculpture is so realistic! Love it! Thanks so much!

[@VickiSchneider]

I hope you’ll give it a try and let me know how it goes. I have a number of other videos you might enjoy as well. Happy torching.

[@BethLReed]

I’ve enjoyed watching several of your videos. I’m fascinated with implosions!! I want to learn how to do an anemone implosion on a mandrel.

[@sarahpocock9279]

I’m also left handed so I know what you mean by left handed I was born left handed.

[@VickiSchneider]

I find it's best to let people know. It's important to use your dominant hand when applying glass and doing the more detailed work with tools. Sorry for the delay in getting back to you. I didn't know you had commented.