ARTCO is very proud to be involved in helping bring world famous lampworking artist Norikazu Kogure to the United States, and organizing his first ever workshop here! Read more about this upcoming workshop here.
Have you ever wanted to meet us in person? Have you ever wanted to see and play with some of the products we carry? Have you ever wondered when we may be in your part of the country? Now, you can check out our calendar of shows, and always know where to find us.
There are so many manufacturers making reducing and striking glass (those made with silver), it is difficult to keep track of them all. Hayley Tsang has compiled a list of most of the colors from the various manufacturers. If you want to know who makes what colors of soft glass (all 104COE) lampworking rods, check out the list here.
Happy First Day of Spring!
We had a great time in Tucson and Mesa last month, and would like to thank everyone that came by to say Hi.
We're on the road again, this time to the Glass Craft & Bead Expo in Las Vegas. We'll be exhibiting Friday through Sunday, April 4-6. We'd love to see you there!
Happy New Year !!!
We're already busy with the new year. Next weekend, Feb. 1-3, we are going to be supplying tools and torches for Akihiro Ohkama's workshop at the Mesa Arts Center in Mesa, AZ.
The following weekend, Feb. 6-10, we will be exhibiting at Lewis Wilson's Best Bead Show in Tucson, AZ. If you are in town, come on by and say Hi!
Dawn Putman, of Trades' Bears Studios, has come up with some very cute new presses. Check out her Heart press and her Bone press.
If you do lampworking at studios other than your own, you know how difficult it is to take your glass with you. Try one of our Storage & Travel Tubes.
Check out Brad Pearson's new DVD, Demos: Volume 1, Scuptural and Off Mandrel Beadmaking Techniques. It is a great new instructional video.
Jim Kervin has released the latest in his series of booklets, The Lampworked, Fused and Carved Dichroic Beads of Carol Fonda and Monty Clark.
We've expanded out line of lampworking tools to now include a complete selection of Torch Top Marvers.
Lastly, to go along with our Lampworkers Safety Glasses, check out our new Optx 20/20 Stick On Magnifiers.
Check out our first offering under our Specials category! Get a great deal on a nearly new Carlisle Mini CC torch and Crowley Marver combo!
We've also added a nice selection of Phillips Safety Products Lampworkers Glasses, and our new report, "Selecting the right lenses for your glassworking safety glasses".
It was time for a refresh of the web site, so we're incorporating a few new ideas. The first was to move this, the "What's New" page, to its own area. This allows us to keep a more consistant message on the Home Page.
We're also working on adding some new areas, such as 'Specials' and 'Contests', as well as some new product categories. Not everything is fully implemented yet, but these changes all pave the way for future growth. Check it out, and tell us what you think.
Several new things for you this time.
First, I would like to introduce you to Dawn Putman and her Dad. Together, they make a unique line of lampworking tools. Probably the most impressive is the Bead X-Press, a parallel bead press with interchangable mould blocks!
Dawn also makes a line of Brass Styli, and Brass Shapers.
And finally, I found a tool that reminds me of my Dad: a Bladed Shaper.
Lauri Copeland has just released a great new instructional DVD called All Fired Up. Check it out!
Since out last entry, we've been to, and returned from the Gathering. We also exhibited at the Flameoff, at the Eugene Glass School. We would like to thank everyone that came by our booth(s) and said "Hi"!
We have some truely exciting news! We've been working with a fantastic graphite machine shop, Weaver Industries, for some time. They have been working with noted glass artists Ruth Nicholas and John "vinE" Vinson to develop a new line of graphite tools for lampworkers. ARTCO is very excited to say that we now carry the "The Perfect Tool" system, as well as graphite 3D Push Molds, graphite Optic Molds, and the amazing Vin Pins! You have to check them out!
Recognizing Weaver Industries's expertise in working with graphite, we got their permission to publish 2 of their reports. Check out Graphite is not just Graphite, and Graphite Oxidation
We're off to the Gathering! Hope to see you there! We'll be back in the office on 7/31, and will return any calls or emails then.
Being the book people that we are, we just can't pass up the chance to add to our library of available books. Here are a few new titles:
It's amazing how all of us sometimes have problems with simple basics. Deanna Griffin Dove and Marjorie Langston address the basics in their book, Just Plain Beads!. Setting aside color, texture and other distractions, this book focuses on the basics: how heat and motion affects a beads shape. This is a must-have for all beadmakers!
I wonder why it has taken us this long before we carried Cindy Jenkin's books! Cindy has pioneered so may aspects of the glass bead world, and her books have been the basic tutorial books for many glass bead artists. We're happy to say that we now carry Cindy's books.
What do you do with your glass beads once you make them? Susan Ray and Richard Pearce show you in their book, The Art & Soul of Glass Beads. They work with 17 bead artists, explaining how the beads were made, then how Susan turns them into beautiful jewelry.
We've been busy! We recently returned from the Glass Art Society conference in Pittsburgh. We'd like to thank everyone that came by our booth and said Hi!
We are now preparing for the ISGB Gathering in Minneapolis next week. We have several new product lines that we will be unvailing there, so please stop by!
Lately, we've been asked how one goes about placing an order with us. Yes, we don't have a shopping cart yet, but we are working on one. In the mean time, please feel free to phone or email us with your order. All the details are here.
Tired of flat looking flowers in your beads? Push your petals to a new dimension! We've just received our latest shipment of tools from Japan, and we now have some more Petal Pushers! You too can achieve that 3D flower effect in your beads.
We had a great time last week in Las Vegas at the Glass Craft and Bead Expo, and want to thank everyone who stopped by to say Hi!
We're still trying to get caught up listing all of the new books and videos that have come in lately, such as Dichroics, Flameworking, Get Fired Up!, Uncommon Stained Glass, Fritography, and others too many to list here. Just scroll through the books and videos sections, and see for yourself.
We'll be in Oakland, CA next week for the Beadwork Bead Expo. We hope to see some more of you there!
Counting down the days to Las Vegas! New items this time include Hot Head torches, Stump Suckers, mashers, optics molds, and hot fingers. We've also added some additional marble molds and a new tungsten rake.
We've been busy, getting ready for the Glass Craft and Bead Expo, coming up next week in Las Vegas. We're trying to get all our new products listed here before the show.
New items this time include tweezers (can anyone have too many tweezers?), rollers, kotes (a Japanese style steel paddle), 3M diamond handpads and files, and the Raz Steadyrest Marver.
If you're in Las Vegas, stop by and say hi. We'd love to see you.
ARTCO is extremely proud to carry some of the finest marble molds available anywhere! These are the Infinite Rim Mold ™ marble molds, designed by Drew Fritts (author of the book Torchworked Marbles) and manufactured by Dan Grumbling (a fine marble maker in his own right). In my 30 years of working in manufacturing, I can say that these are some of the finest quality tools I have seen!
ARTCO is now offering a complete selection of oxy/fuel torches for the lampworking artist. All of the popular names: Carlisle, GTT, N.M. Knight, and Nortel. Just check it out under Products | Torches.
We've also added some more lampworking tools: hemostats, leaf mashers, mandrels, marvers, and rod holders. They are all under Products | Lampworking Tools.
Ok, here's the first batch of lampworking tools, many from Japan! Flaring tools, rakes, marble molds, pushs, paddles, reamers, shears ... A baker's dozen in all ... too many to list them all here. Just check it out under Products | Lampworking Tools. You'll see them all listed on the left hand side. Enjoy!
They're here! They're here! The new Japanese torches are here! We also have some air pumps to run the torches.
A few more books and videos sneaked in while we weren't looking:
We're still busy cataloging all of the new Japanese lampworking tools, but we didn't want you to miss out on these other new items:
Japanese Torches - No Oxygen needed!
ARTCO is proud to announce that we've partnered up with JPLampwork in Japan, and we are now carrying their line of Japanese torches and tools. Experience for yourself the freedom from oxygen bottles or concentrators!
Our first shipment has just arrived. We'll get these exciting new items on the website as soon as we get everything unpacked, inventoried, and pictures takes.
Happy New Year! We hope everyone had a safe holiday season.
We've been busy! We've been adding lots of new products. Check these out:
We're also working on our show schedule for the year. So far, we'll be exhibiting at:
And, we'll be adding more shows as time goes by. We really hope that you can get the chance to stop by our booth and say Hi!
We've been saying for some time that James McKelvey's excellent instructional book, The Art of Fire - Beginning Glassblowing and the Companion DVD are the best instructional book and video set available for learning the process and technique of offhand glassblowing. I just wished that these were available when I learned to blow glass!
Now, you don't have to just take my word for it! Tony Patti, over at Glassblower.info, has written an incredible review of the book! He says, "I predict that 20 years from now, folks will still be referring to this as the standard classroom textbook for glassblowing."
Read the rest of Tony's review here.
Have you noticed how many of the best artists also teach, write, produce videos, and/or sell the tools and supplies that they use? I have. We are pleased to work with some of these artists, and carry their products here.
Wil Menzies is a fantastic glass artist, publisher of The Flow, and a designer of some of the BEST graphite lampworking tools available. We now have them here!
Milon Townsend is a phenomenal glass artist! He is also a prolific writer, teacher, and public speaker. We are proud to now carry his terrific series of videos.
Just in time for the holidays, we've added to our library of books and videos. These make great gifts for that hot glass enthusiast on your list!
The people over at Dichroic Alchemy say that dichroic is the 'magic, sparkly stuff dreams are made of". Their aptly named video, Dichroic Alchemy, shows many step-by-step ways of using this magical material.
In addition to having one of the best glass museums in the world, The Corning Museum of Glass has a terrific school, called The Studio, featuring many world famous teachers. The Studio has produced two series of videos, one highlighting individual Master Class artists, and the other focusing on Glassworking Fundimentals. We carry both series.
Do you want you beads to come out the same size, and the same shape, every time? If so, check out these great Bead Presses!
We are pleased to now have in stock the Companion DVD to James McKelvey's excellent instructional book, The Art of Fire - Beginning Glassblowing.
In addition, we have added the popular Kevlar Sleeves to the glove page. We've had these all along, but somehow forgot to include them on the web page.
Sometimes, you may require something more than what a standard Kevlar high temperature glove can provide. So, ARTCO has expanded its product line by also carrying the Newtex brand of gloves. Made with their propriatary Zetex and Zetex Plus materials, these gloves may provide the additional protection you need.
Adding more support for the lampworking artist, we are proud to now offer the National line of hand and bench torches! The famous National 3A blowpipe (now called the 3A-B) is a useful torch for all artists, not just glassblowers. Jewelers, sculptors, even plumbers and electricians can find uses for this handy torch.
For the lampworking artists, National has expanded their line to include both surface mix and premix bench torches, all offering the flexibility of interchangable tips! Now you can put together a torch to fit YOUR needs. Check it out!
ARTCO has been published! In their Aug/Sept issue, Glass Craftsman Magazine has published our paper, How to select the right High Temperature Glove. We are so excited!
ARTCO has been listed on the WorldArtGlass.com website! So naturally, we've included them on our Links page. Check it out!
The Art of Fire - Beginning Glassblowing is the book I wish I had when I first learned to blow glass! This is rapidly becoming the standard textbook in glassblowing programs all around the country.
Plus, we've added a free online tool to help you see if your computer monitor's brightness level is set correctly.
Lastly, check out our new report, What is Potter's Soap?.
Greetings! One of the first things that is new is this, the "What's New!" page. For the last 8 months, I have been adding new product and content to the web site so fast, I was afraid that people wouldn't dig deep to see what's new. So, I'm putting it all up here!
I'm proud to announce that we now have the Polytek line of mold making materials in stock. Check out the 74-30 RTV Polyurethane, 71-20 RTV Silicone, and all of the Polytek release agents. I also strongly recommend getting and reading the Polytek Manual & Catalog ... it's more than just a catalog!
For those looking for a cost effective 3-beam scale, we now carry the MyWeigh 3-beam scale. Every studio needs one of these!
Finally, please check out our Bolg for the latest ramblings. Feel free to post a comment, too!
Thank you, our customers, for the support that has kept us going for 21 years! Without you, this would not be possible. Thanks!
Malcolm, Joyce, Alexander, and Alisha