taught my first class today

[Lou Ann]

well, I taught my first class today where the student actually wants to come back  (I did a class over a year ago for a friend's adult daughter and she hasn't been back since  )...

The lady had all her own tools which was great because I'm a firm believer you need to learn on what you are going to use and for some reason pliers are all so different (even within the same brand)...

we got her project all cut out and the first few pieces ground... she has a grinder at home so she is going to knock the edges off on her own but wait to do the fine fitting when she comes back next week (she does mosaics and doesn't quite understand the fitting process)...

because she has been cutting glass for mosaics she has a few bad habits I was able to point out why she doesn't want to do it that way so I feel like I actually taught her something.

she left happy and excited for next week so I guess that is all that matters.

LA

I attached my completed version of the project she picked -- worked better for the glass she had with her...

[Anne]

and you had fun right? That's the most important part.  Looks like a good starter pattern, straight lines and curves.  Glad you're back Lou Ann

[JoanFrances]

Good for you, she will be back and you had fun too.  Sounds like a double win.  Happy for you

[Lou Ann]

thanks guys, good to be back...

I had fun and I'm pretty sure she did too... I'll be curious to see how she does grinding on her own this week...

LA

[ct4mom]

Sounds like you both had fun. Thats great.  Welcome back.

[Rebecca]

Good for you, Lou Ann!  And you are SO right about pliers.  My favorite runners disappeared.  I think a student must have thrown them in with thier own stuff and not realized it.  I have not been happy since!  I think it's been two years and I still haven't found another pair I like.

Rebecca 

[Lou Ann]

Good for you, Lou Ann!  And you are SO right about pliers.  My favorite runners disappeared.  I think a student must have thrown them in with thier own stuff and not realized it.  I have not been happy since!  I think it's been two years and I still haven't found another pair I like.

Rebecca 

Thanks Rebecca,

Her pliers were horrible too -- really tight... she was having trouble with a couple of breaks and I thought it might be the glass so I tried it with her pliers and saw it was the pliers so then I used mine and they snapped like they were supposed to... I've had my pliers so long that I don't remember if they were tight when I got them or not (talking about breaker/groziers)

I would die if someone took my pliers; I even take mine when I go visit my mom in case we have a chance to do glass...

LA

[Kev]

Welcome back Lou Ann...nice to see you again. I hope your vacation was all you hoped it would be.

Congratulations with your student. I bet it is so rewarding to know your helping someone develop a love for something you feel so passionate about. Once you done teaching her, point her here. She might pick up some more tips and info and is another way to keep in touch with you as well.

[Kev]

You guys are so right about pliers. I was not having the best of luck with a pair of running pliers I had, and I saw a nice pair at a shop so I bought them..omg...day and night!!!!!!!

[PiscesGlass]

I'm glad that you had fun teaching your friend.  She's going to have a wonderful time glassing with you I'm sure and learning lots. 
My old friend started with me a couple of years ago, and we have an absolute blast together!  It's great to be able to get together with her at least once a week and catch up on what each others families are doing and just create! 
I'm sure that you'll be looking forward to the next session and so will she!

Congrats, De

[Audrey]

I am so glad all went well and you had fun. I'm sure she is looking forward to next time. Great design to start with.
I have been through 3 pair of running pliers in the past year before I finally found some that work well for me.

[JoanFrances]

Boy am I glad that someone wrote about pliers.  I have 2 pairs and my second pair has always given me fits, I was starting to think it was me.  The first pair I ever bought are my favs and when I try to use the others they just don't work the same. 

[Bleedy Pokes]

Good to hear your lesson went so well! Hopefully you'll get her as hooked on glass as the rest of us!

As far as pliers go, I bought a pair of breaking pliers once that were machined wrong or something, the tips of the pliers didn't even touch each other on one side! And they weren't even cheapie little no-name pliers! Ah, tools... You can't live with 'em, you can't live without 'em!

[Rebecca]

Good to hear your lesson went so well! Hopefully you'll get her as hooked on glass as the rest of us!

As far as pliers go, I bought a pair of breaking pliers once that were machined wrong or something, the tips of the pliers didn't even touch each other on one side! And they weren't even cheapie little no-name pliers! Ah, tools... You can't live with 'em, you can't live without 'em!

They sent me a pair of Vicki Payne running pliers to see if I wanted to stock them in my shop.  They were machined wrong!  The center wasn't in the middle.  Um,  how do I explain?  The bump that should be in the center was off to one side.  They worked okay on easy cuts, but on something a little tricky, they messed up.  I would think if you were sending someone something to try, you would be sure to send a good one.  Maybe that was the best one they had?!

Rebecca