Glasscaster: Hot Glass Talk in a High-Tech World

Join Marcie Davis in her international glass adventures. Travel the world...without leaving home.

Glasscaster with Robert Mickelsen 08/02/2019

Glasscaster with Robert Mickelsen Join Robert Mickelsen on his journey through the ever-evolving world of fine flameworking! In this interview we discuss his entrance into the functional glass world, and the fabulous collaborations that followed. /episode/index/show/firelady/id/10753613

The Unsinkable Lisa Vogt 05/17/2019

The Unsinkable Lisa Vogt I'd always wanted to interview Lisa Vogt...she was the first artist I knew who made glass sinks, which were high on my bucket list at the time. She's been working glass since 1988, has published 14 books and numerous articles. Her work has been exhibited in major cities throughout the US. She's done plenty of Art in Public Places, many commissions, and she's a terrific instructor. We've produced quite a few Glass Expert Webinars™ together. We ran into each other recently at a glass industry event, and finally had the opportunity to do this interview while hiding out in a somewhat cavernous and echoey back room. You can find out more about Lisa at And you can access her recorded webinars here: Enjoy the podcast! /episode/index/show/firelady/id/9827924

Bert Cohen's Marvelous Art Glass Marbles 11/04/2018

Bert Cohen's Marvelous Art Glass Marbles I was lucky enough to interview Bert Cohen, known to the world as Marble Bert, by phone back in 2011. Bert believed it was better for kids to shoot marbles than drugs or each other! He collected hundreds of thousands of marbles in his lifetime, and gave away almost as many! Sadly, Bert passed away in 2015 at the age of 83. Here he is, digitally immortalized for your listening pleasure. Enjoy this insight into the history and world of marbles! /episode/index/show/firelady/id/7430234

Fusing Musings with Richard La Londe 05/31/2018

Fusing Musings with Richard La Londe Join us as we take a trip down memory lane with glass fusing artist Richard La Londe. You'll delight in hearing how fusing has transformed since the early days. Reminisce about kilns with no digital controls and shoot-from-the-hip firing schedules. The days when frit was smashed by hand! Hear about the origins of Bullseye Glass & the efforts of the original artists that made it all happen! Fusing wouldn't be where it is today without the adventurous spirit of Richard and his creative cohorts. Enjoy! /episode/index/show/firelady/id/6653780

Shatter Some Glass with Tony Glander 06/17/2017

Shatter Some Glass with Tony Glander If you've ever wanted to throw caution to the wind and shatter your glass before you play with it, you've come to the right place! Tony Glander loves breaking tempered glass and reassembling it, then popping it into his kiln for transformation. In this interview he'll tell you about his "Shatterglass" technique, his photographic screen printing, evolution as an artist, and what inspires him. He thinks in marvelous and mysterious ways, loving to break the rules that we've come to think of as norms in fused glass work. Enjoy this Glasscaster podcast. And if you'd like to take a 2-hour online webinar workshop with Tony, you can /episode/index/show/firelady/id/5456840

Old World Sparkle! 05/12/2017

Old World Sparkle! If you've ever wondered how traditional old-world ornaments were made, here's how! Michael Haberland, a third generation ornament artist from Lauscha, Germany, shares the entire process with you. In addition to finding out how traditional European ornaments are created, you will also find out first-hand what it was like for this young man growing up under Communism, and how life has changed since the Wall came down! An insightful look into glass, history, and the politics of our times! If you'd like to meet Michael, or enjoy one of his Christmas ornament workshops, come with us to Lauscha, Germany! We host a small tour every summer. /episode/index/show/firelady/id/5351476

The Many Faces of Peggy Pettigrew Stewart 04/23/2014

The Many Faces of Peggy Pettigrew Stewart Join Glasscaster as we share an exciting look into the world of Peggy Pettigrew Stewart. Her work with fused glass, kiln casting and Verre Eglomise has brought the world some phenomenal glass art. We discuss at length her current project casting the faces of some of rock and roll's greatest legends in glass. Focusing specifically on the San Francisco Bay area bands during the Summer of Love, she has cast the faces of Big Brother and the Holding Company, (Janis Joplin's Band), Country Joe McDonald of Country Joe and the Fish, some members of the Jefferson Airplane, and all of Santana. These complex pieces of glass each take several painstaking months to create, and are all a labor of love. There are many more stars to immortalize, and Peggy shares her concepts and methods in this insightful interview. Rock on, Peggy! /episode/index/show/firelady/id/2798404

Glasscaster Celebrates Edith Franklin 02/09/2014

Glasscaster Celebrates Edith Franklin Edith Franklin was one of the lucky few to participate in the legendary 1962 glass workshop with Harvey Littleton. This momentous occassion heralded the beginning of the Studio Glass Movement. In this interview Franklin shares her memories of Littleton, Nick Labino and the humble beginnings of studio glass. /episode/index/show/firelady/id/2670873

There and Back with Milon Townsend 04/10/2013

There and Back with Milon Townsend Travel from Paris to Pakistan with glass artist Milon Townsend! Hear about his early adventures with fire and glass, and how how path led from flameworking to casting and back. Enjoy thoughtful discussions about teaching, webinars, and intellectual property. Plus....a little bonus content on homemade explosive devices and how glassblowers like to make things go "boom!" /episode/index/show/firelady/id/2282168

The Great Santini! 03/20/2013

The Great Santini! You're going to love this interview with the Great Santini! One of the most talented transplanted Italians to grace American shores, Emilio's comedic antics will have you rolling in the aisles! You'll learn about life, love and the pursuit of happiness from one of the foremost flameworkers of our times. /episode/index/show/firelady/id/2257424

Glasscaster with Tom Philabaum 01/14/2013

Glasscaster with Tom Philabaum If you don't know Tom Philabaum, you should! And here's your chance! This is an artist who's life story reads like an adventure novel….He studied with Harvey Littleton, has worked with Dale Chihuly, and has created immense public installations, including glass waterfalls and flying carpets! Now involved exploring the architectural limits of Dalle de Verre, he's a man of many talents. Have you ever enjoyed a Flame Off? You can thank Tom for that! He's the force behind the Sonoran Glass School in Tucson, where the Flame Off style of team competition originated. He has also given unselfishly over decades with the Glass Art Society. So pull up a chair and have a listen. This talented and laid-back artist is more influential than you ever dreamed! /episode/index/show/firelady/id/2184276

Memories of Fairglade 08/15/2012

Memories of Fairglade As so many parents and children get ready for “Back to School” and anticipate the excitement of a fresh start and a new school year, I wanted to share some memories of Fairglade, my all-time favorite school. This alternative educational environment, which changed the lives of hundreds of families, was located in Miami, Florida. /episode/index/show/firelady/id/2036381

Behind the Iron Curtain with Fred Birkhill 06/24/2012

Behind the Iron Curtain with Fred Birkhill Join us on a trip down memory lane as Fred shares his wacky and perilous journey behind the Iron Curtain. Obsessed by the glass of Lauscha, no regime could keep this passionate artist away. Home to some of the most complex glass techniques in the world, Fred risked life and limb to befriend a number of the influential artists who's work was hidden from the world in communist East Germany. /episode/index/show/firelady/id/1986796

Flower Power- Flameworked Flowers with Margaret Neher 03/28/2012

Flower Power- Flameworked Flowers with Margaret Neher /episode/index/show/firelady/id/1900669

Playtime with Deb Carlson 03/25/2012

Playtime with Deb Carlson Join your host, Marcie Davis, and Deborah Carlson, as they explore ways of getting in touch with your inner artist. By getting ego out of the way and reconnecting with the spirit of play, you can find your creative center. Playtime with Deb gives you ideas for getting beyond ego in both individual and group settings. Look for excerpts of this podcast in the upcoming issue of The Flow Magazine. Sponsored by Glasscraft Inc. /episode/index/show/firelady/id/1897394

The Care and Feeding of Seahorses and Silver Colors, with Kimberly Affleck 12/03/2011

The Care and Feeding of Seahorses and Silver Colors, with Kimberly Affleck Join us for an under-the-sea sojourn with Kimberly Affleck! Her seahorses are delightful and unique. She shares how they came to be and her journey of discovery through glass. You'll also great technical advice on how to work soft glass silver colors; how to get them to "pop" and generate the great effects that they're known for. /episode/index/show/firelady/id/1773492

The Invasion of the Italian Stallions/Part2/Lucio Bubacco and Emilio Santini 06/24/2011

The Invasion of the Italian Stallions/Part2/Lucio Bubacco and Emilio Santini Get a rare glimpse into the boyhood memories of Lucio Bubacco and Emilio Santini. Friends since birth, they share some of the hilarity of growing up together in Murano, Italy. Join us as two of the world's foremost flamework artists share their common past. /episode/index/show/firelady/id/1774361

The Invasion of the Italian Stallions/ Part 1/ Cesare Toffolo 03/03/2011

The Invasion of the Italian Stallions/ Part 1/ Cesare Toffolo Join us for the first installment of "The Invasion of the Italian Stallions" featuring Cesare Toffolo. This Muranese Maestro shares his life, his work, and his innovations in glass. As a special bonus, we have a guest appearance by Emilio Santini, our talented and mischievous translator. This interview was conducted at the International Flameworking Conference. You can see excerpts of it featured in the Winter, 2011 issue of Glashaus Magazine. /episode/index/show/firelady/id/1775625

The Birth of the Studio Glass Movement Through The Eyes of Marvin Lipofsky 07/09/2010

The Birth of the Studio Glass Movement Through The Eyes of Marvin Lipofsky Witness the birth of the Studio Glass Movement through the eyes of Marvin Lipofsky. As one of the students that participated in Harvey Littleton's first glassblowing class, he was present from the beginning. His work as a glass artist has taken him all over the world, where he was often the first American artist to collaborate with local factory workers. From the Czech Republic to Russia, Japan, Finland and Yugoslavia, this international glass master has seen it all. You'll also hear about the events leading to the formation of the Glass Art Society. /episode/index/show/firelady/id/1167287

Build Your Dreams with Tim Macfarlane 05/19/2010

Build Your Dreams with Tim Macfarlane /episode/index/show/firelady/id/1167282

Paul Stankard: My Life So Far 02/26/2010

Paul Stankard: My Life So Far Paul Stankard's contributions in glass span more than four decades. You'll enjoy this candid and revealing interview with one of the world's foremost and well-loved paperweight makers. Find out about his thoughtful and provocative book, "No Green Berries or Leaves", and see what's happening at his alma mater, Salem Community College. Their new Glass Center now fuels it's furnaces using methane from a nearby landfill while turning extra gas into electricity. An ambitious undertaking! (Recorded at the 9th annual International Flameworking Conference.) /episode/index/show/firelady/id/1167276

Love Your S'elf, A Hot Glass Tutorial 01/29/2010

Love Your S'elf, A Hot Glass Tutorial Our first podcast tutorial! For a very long time I've considered the podcast potential for creating "enhanced tutorials." So here we go....Watch! Look! And Listen! /episode/index/show/firelady/id/1167273

A Fireside Chat with Shane Fero 12/19/2009

A Fireside Chat with Shane Fero Shane shares his personal history, cultural influences, & artistic evolution as one of the foremost American flamework artists. Follow his path from its early beginnings at Santa's Workshop & Cypress Gardens, through his trailblazing career as one of the visionaries that redefined the hot glass world. /episode/index/show/firelady/id/1167263

Figures, Fairies, and the Flameworking Magic of Julie Riggs 12/19/2009

Figures, Fairies, and the Flameworking Magic of Julie Riggs Join us as we explore the personal cosmos of Julie Riggs. Her glass sculptures blend spirit, sensuality and nature with passion, conviction and skill. It's a successful mix! We discuss fairies, figures and flamework, as well as technical subjects such as amber purple, surface mixed torches, and her recent collaborative work in Las Vegas. This interview was conducted as we stole extra time before checkout at the end of a GAS Conference in Corning. Excerpts of this interview were printed in the Winter, 2009 issue of The Flow Magazine. /episode/index/show/firelady/id/1167270

Roger Parramore, on the Japanese Aesthetic 07/04/2009

Roger Parramore, on the Japanese Aesthetic Join us as we explore the Japanese flameworking scene. Roger Parramore shares with us how the Japanese aesthetic has influenced his work. Try as he might, efforts to resist the artistic flavor of the Far East proved futile! Enjoy this cultural immersion, and his articulate & candid observations on the joys & dangers of absorbing and adapting the artistic imagery of a foreign land. Find out about the Osaka University of Art, and it's world class flameworking program....the first program of it's kind, anywhere! /episode/index/show/firelady/id/1167259

Suellen Fowler: Sharing the Chemistry of Color 05/18/2009

Suellen Fowler: Sharing the Chemistry of Color So you think you know a little about borosilicate color, do you? Join Suellen Fowler & I as we take a walk down memory lane and explore the history and chemistry of colored borosilicate glass. Boro is notoriously difficult to color, because traditional coloring agents burn out at the temperatures required for boro. Starting with her early experimentation under the tutelage of John Burton and Margaret Youd, Suellen began creating her own color recipes while still in her teens. Her formulas became the basis of some of Northstar's original formulas back in the '80's. Her hand mixing techniques and incredible attention to detail produced some of boro's best beloved colors, including the rubies & the precurser to the amber purples. Find out how it all happened in this intriguing interview. Excerpts of this interview can be found in print in the Spring 2009 issue of The Flow Magazine. /episode/index/show/firelady/id/1167251

Lisa St. Martin; On the Workhouse at Lorton, the Miami Gathering & Gold Fuming 05/11/2009

Lisa St. Martin; On the Workhouse at Lorton, the Miami Gathering & Gold Fuming Listen to Lisa as she enthuses about the all new Workhouse at Lorton. This historic center has the infamous distinction of being the holding tank where protesting suffragettes were held after marching on Washington! Currently open to the public, this newly revamped center will become the largest arts community on the east coast. Lisa also discusses details of the upcoming ISGB Gathering in Miami, and additionally gives us a step-by-step discussion on the best ways of fuming with gold. /episode/index/show/firelady/id/1167242

Let There Be Light! Wayne Strattman's Illuminated Glass 01/30/2009

Let There Be Light! Wayne Strattman's Illuminated Glass Wayne Strattman is a pioneer in the world of illuminated glass.Taking neon to new levels, his installations are architectural in scale, and internationally acclaimed. A PhD with an engineering background, his inner mad-scientist escapes on occasion. His book, "Neon Techniques" is the industry standard. His own work , however, leaves ordinary neon behind, and expands into product lines such as lightning and crackle tubes, plasma spheres, and his famed Luminglas. Created through a patented process, Wayne and his company, Strattman Design, have managed to sandwich lightning-like effects between two pieces of flat glass, using phosphor-sensitive beads. Luminglas has enthralled people in museums and night clubs across the globe. This interview was recorded at the Glass Art Society Conference in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. Strattman helps promote an annual neon show at GAS, and does much to nurture the evolution of illuminated glass as an art form. Listen to this engaging interview! You can find out more about his work at: www.strattman.com /episode/index/show/firelady/id/1167234

A Window on the World of Carmen Lozar 07/23/2008

A Window on the World of Carmen Lozar Carmen Lozar tackles ideas and ideals and translates them into glass. Her narrative scenes become commentaries on human behavior and modern life. She insists that we look upon the dark and the light within our society and within our own human nature. Her work can be startling, shocking, whimsical and humorous. Join us in this brief slideshow, narrated by the artist. /episode/index/show/firelady/id/1167229

Burner Bash! A Brief History of Glassblowing Torches 07/15/2008

Burner Bash! A Brief History of Glassblowing Torches I love fire! So I find this insiders' look into the history of torches to be tons of fun and rather fascinating. In this very informal telephone interview, we find our heroes, Fred Birkhill & Bruce Lawrence, discussing the intricacies of flame and combustion starting at the very beginning. Fred has some torches dating from ancient Rome! Have you ever seen a gasoline powered crossfire with glass tips? You will here! This animated discussion was initially conducted as a research-gathering conversation contributing to Fred's Glass Art Society lecture on the history of the glass burner. It was so intriguing I decided to release it as a podcast! /episode/index/show/firelady/id/1167224

Glasscaster: Hot Glass Talk in a High-Tech World

TOPICS