We all have our favorite tools that we just can't work without. They become part of our personal arsenal to guide, poke, and prod the glass into the desired form. Easy access to the tools that you need for the project that you are working on allows you to work through each step of the process losing as little heat as possible, shaving time off of each piece you make. This issue showcases tools that many artists find indispensable.
Eric Goldschmidt covers three of his most loved "tools," heat, gravity, and centrifugal force on page 16. Scott Griffin features his Griffin Tools "Rock It" foot pedal for use on sculpted projects that require many reheats on Page 60. My husband, Wil, shows off his number one hands-free tool, his Menzies torch-mounted marvering pad on page 72. If you would like to chime in about your own favorite tool, please go to The Main Flow Forum on our website in the Community section. We would love to hear about your most cherished tool or how you optimize your workspace.
As always ... Keep your light shining and your torches lit!
Jennifer Menzies
Upcoming Deadlines for Submission
Spring 2011 Fantasy Art
Submission Deadline December 1, 2010
Release Date March 16, 2011
Summer 2011 Marble and Paperweights
Submission Deadline March 1, 2011
Release Date June 14, 2011
If you are interested in becoming a contributing artist for The Flow, visit www.theflowmagazine.com for a link to themes of upcoming issues, author guidelines, and submission forms.
To share an article or forum post, click on the"Share" button. You can also contribute comments to the website at the very bottom of every article. We think this will be a fun way to build an interactive online community. 
Karl Taylor
The Fall 2010 issue of The Flow, the glass journal for the flameworking community, features favorite flameworking tools that artists just can't live without. This great issue includes a look from Eric Goldschmidt at how heat, gravity, and centrifugal force can become tools in the hands of the flameworker. Tutorials from Melanie Moertel, Don E. Parker, and Laurie Ament share tips for using curved mashers, Fyrsmith tools, and scissors, respectively. Milon Townsend shares his favorite rod rests, shears, elevated marvering plate, and tank manifold, and Craig Milliron discusses the advantages of using the Cylinder Speed Shaper. You can also meet JC Herrell, Yung W. Jung, and Karl Taylor, the three Fall 2010 Glasscraft Emerging Artist Award nominees, pick up tips from Ken Schneidereit for shipping glass art safely, and discover ways to use a blow hose assembly with a puffy mandrel from Laurie Nessel. Scott Griffin lets us in on the secrets of creating his gnarly fish, and Jesse James presents his Electroformed Marble Wrap. Finishing out this issue are answers from Arnold Howard for diagnosing kiln problems, a trip to Lauscha with Marcie Davis to visit master ornament maker, Michael Haberland, a look at the 2010 GAS Conference through the eyes of a first-timer, and the happenings at the latest Degenerate Flame Off plus a gallery featuring the work of pipe artists. You won't want to miss our regular What's Hot section featuring all of the latest and greatest products to enhance your flameworking experience, and subscribers to the magazine can also now look forward to receiving e-mailed links to Subscriber Only bonus material with each issue. For more information or to become a subscriber, call 1-800-719-0769 or visit 
