15 minutes to finishing

We've had the best three days!
We decided to end it with great pizza in the dark, lotsa beer and a great bonfire...(not like flame working and glass blowing wasn't enough of heat through the day!) oh and roasted marshmallows for dessert!

Looking forward to one last day of the country before we head back to Toronto.
Thanks to all of you that have been checking the blog and keeping up with whats going on..more images will follow!

Aneela

Last Day!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi Everyone!!

This our last day of full on work, been working steadily so haven't had time to blog! Did my first flame worked bead yesterday, and it turned out really cool. Nice work for a first timer, thank you Nadia!! Amazing help from Andrea to create my felt pod pieces. We collaborated on a felt and copper bead ring, looks so good!! Met so many amazing artists and am having a blast. We worked from morning to past midnight last night, the day just flew by.

Shannon

Nadia Tasci at the bench in the glass studio making beads

Mark Lewis and Nadia Tasci

"Look Mom, I'm changing careers!"

Aneela Dias D'Sousa works her vision in the glass studio

Day 2...

View from the studio at the start of day 2...a cool light rain, and fog rising over the highlands. Deep in the studio though...

the kiln opens and...

Out comes the first round of glass beauties

The Copper Bee

Copper Bee: Immortalized in Precious Metal Copper Clay (thanks www.pmc-source.ca!)

Aneela Dias D'Sousa found this lovely little guy legs up in the garden this morning and has been carefully painting him in Copper Clay, soon to be fired in to a solid copper piece!

More New SPARK News...

Introducing Fish Thelwell the felting dog (note small felt bone between paws), official mascot of SPARK 2009

Yusun Ha and Aneela Dias D'Sousa working away in the glass studio

Official SPARK headquarters in the Beaver Valley Glass Studio


Jim Lorriman, in search of the perfect branch - soon to be felted by Andrea Graham

What's new SPARK?

After some minor technical difficulties we're back on and blogging!

No delays in getting right to making though...


After checking out all of this year's lovely items Carolyn Scandiffio introduces copper mesh to the flame...

Mark Lewis gives everyone a quick glass blowing demo with a little help from Nadia Tasci

Can't wait to see what comes out of the kiln!

Good Morning SPARK Fans!

All things crafty are well under way up here at Beaver Valley Glass Studio. Be sure to stay tuned - we will be bringing you live updates over the next 72 hours as we continue to make, create and debate the age old question...

Spark...Spork...Spock?

Yusun Ha and Caitlin Erskine Smith try out the mini-loom

Andrea Graham gives everyone a quick crash course on felting techniques

Welcome!

Thank-you for visiting the Ontario Crafts Council's SPARK blog. Over the next several days, we will be bringing you live updates from Beaver Valley Glassworks & Studio in Kimberley, Ontario.

What is SPARK?

From July 22nd to the strike of midnight on Friday July 24th, thirteen craftspeople will be locked in together at Beaver Valley Glassworks & Studio in Kimberley, Ontario. Pushing the boundaries of traditional craft practice, they will create a series of unique collaborative pieces that will be auctioned off this fall at SPARK, a fundraising event in support of the OCC.

This year’s collaboration will feature the incredible talents of the following participants:

Aneela Dias D’Sousa

Caitlin Erskine-Smith
Andrea Graham

Yunsun Ha
Shannon Kennedy

Davoud Khosravi

Mark Lewis

Jim Lorriman

Carolyn Scandiffio

Nadia Tasci
Jane Thelwell

Each unique piece created during this event will be available to bid on through a silent auction at the OCC Gallery on Saturday, September 26th and over the evening of Nuit Blanche on Saturday October 3rd through to Tuesday, October 6th. 100% of all profits will go to support the OCC's exhibition and programming schedule. But there is only one chance to place the final bid…

On October 7th, join us for the SPARK party and final opportunity to place your bids and bring home your favorite piece from this year’s collaboration. Pick up a $55 ticket (or 2 for $100) and be part of the exclusive group to place final bids on all auction items – or join us later in the evening and kick off the after party, dancing the night away in support of your craft community for just $25. Location will be announced shortly.

Get your ticket early – they won’t last long! Visit www.craft.on.ca/spark or call 416-925-2222 ext. 229 to learn more and reserve your ticket today.

Thank you to our sponsors for their generous support of this year’s event: