www.fosterfireglass.com

ìPlays with fire, runs with scissors!î by Robin Foster

I donít remember a time when I wasnít making something from something else. My mom was an art student and later an art teacher and my dad is an accountant. When we were very young there wasnít a lot left over in the budget after feeding and caring for 3 growing girls so I suspect mom kept us busy with what she had on hand ñ art supplies! Later in high school, when I had the option to pick some of my own classes, I choose every art class that was available. I was able to study silversmithing, lapidary, wood sculpture as well as the more common drawing and painting classes. I loved all of it but was most drawn to anything sculptural.

I came to work in glass by a fairly back door route. I had become addicted to quilting and from there had started making, then designing, my own whimsical cloth dolls. I hand dyed the fabric, thread-sculpted the faces and hands and gave them their own stories. When my older sister, Wendy moved back to Arizona from Florida she said ìwell, those are great but they need beads!î and dragged me off to a bead show. Kristen Frantzen Orr happened to be doing a demo that day showcasing her amazing floral beads. I was so impressed. She played with FIRE. She told me I could learn how, but I said no, quilting was all the hobby I needed.

Then one day, trapped in a cubical, deliberately tortured by heartless/soulless corporate automatons with no hope of escape from my well padded, somewhat well paid rut I reached over, picked up the phone, called Kristen and was surprised to hear the words coming out of my mouth ìwhere can I take a class to learn the glass beadmaking?î Kristen referred me to the Mesa Art Center which now has since a state-of-the-art glass studio that includes paperweights, glass blowing and fusing. I couldnít believe this was right under my nose. The only thing holding me back was my own intense fear of FIRE. So I persuaded my own darling husband to take the class with me and he made the first few beads. Then he carefully coached me through my first bead. That was all I made my first night at the torch ñ one bead the size and color of a green pea! The main thing I gained that night was to be able to go past my fear and learn something new.

That was about 5 years ago. I have taken several classes since then both in glass art and in starting your own business. I did my homework first and ran my little business part-time for almost 3 years before I left the ever-so-safe corporate rut. Iíve learned a lot about glass, about being in business, about networking and a lot about myself. I focus on my strengths in color and networking and try to improve each day on my weaknesses in organization and long term planning.

One thing I donít have to work at, that comes naturally is curiosity. I love learning about new things and seeing how they apply to glass. I recently met a neighbor from down the block who is an artist-blacksmith. His name is Michael Sobrado and we are already collaborating on a bakerís rack he has in progress that includes bunches of grapes. Iím making green glass grape leaves to drape over the bunches of grapes. The opportunities are endless and although I sometimes wonder where Iím going in the long run, I can honestly say I have never before had this much fun working!

Publications:

Better Homes & Gardens ìCraftwearî Magazine

Doll Designs and Doll World Magazines

Bead and Button ìYour Workî

Step-by-Step Beads ñ how to articles (example ñXmas stocking bead)

Lark Books ì1000 Glass Beadsî

Lark Books ìComplete Book of Glass Beadmakingî ñ Gallery

ISGBís newsletter ìThe Bead Releaseî ñ various articles

DVD ìEssential Glass Beadmakingî ñ Gallery, photos on cover

The Flow Magazine ñ technical articl

Classes:

Eugene Glass School ñ Color Theory for Glass Beadmakers, hands on 2 day workshop

Mesa Art Center, Mesa, AZ ñ various demos by request

Common Threads Quilt shop ñ instructor, 2 years

Quilterís Ranch ñ guest instructor, 2-4 classes per year for 5 years

T.A. for Henry Grimmettís class at Mesa Art Center

Presentations

Glass Expressions Show ìEven Dots Every Timeî

Greater Phoenix Wearable Art Society ìBeads and Quilts ñ Unlimited Possibilitiesî

AZ Quilterís Guild ñ ìColor Theory to Dye Forî

Borderís Books ìGlass Beads and Wearable Artî

Scheduled for ISGB Gathering August 2006