What a PARTY!!!
We had live demos from some of the best artists, great food, sale booths and lots of FUN!!
Report by Helen Starkweather ('Hels')
Rocio's Studio
Rocio's studio is perfectly set up for both classes and parties. There's a 8 student circular station, plus a 2 torch demo area for instructors with different sized torches. The Florida Glass Dragons are very fortunate to have Rocio as a member and Sponsor!
 
The Work!
Margie Chan and Chris McElroy have outdone themselves with their work to get this Fling together! From the Welcome Tent to the Food Tent, plus the raffles and the display booths, the Dragons owe them a huge thanks for pulling this off so perfectly! Mary Shafer made all the member glass dragons buttons for the event, and Candice and Mary got donations from a bunch of fantastic vendors which were raffled off.
 
The Welcome Tent (with Susan Matuszek) and the Food Court (Margie Chan's fantastic and talented Hubby cooked) - can't forget to mention the fantastic beans and chili that Marie of Art Glass House made for everyone... if I weren't on a diet, there'd be none left of that for anyone else...
The Vendors!
We had fantastic opportunities to buy goodies from everyone. Art Glass House/Rocio's Studio had a great setup to buy glass at fantastic prices. Brent Graber sold his gorgeous multi-colored silvered pendants, Mary Shafer of J&M Jewelery sold her beautiful jewelry and lampwork, Melody Spence sold beautiful silver findings and beadables for great prices (as always). Something for everyone!
 
Brent's Display - in person his pendants are even more spectacular than the pix
 
Mary Shafer with her beautiful display & Melody Spence with her wonderful findings
The Raffles!
Thanks to our awsome sponsors (listed on the Sponsor page), we had a wonderful raffle that was very exciting! It was a total hoot as we anxiously awaited the outcomes of the drawings. What fun!!
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Only PART of the raffle displays! There were many more beautiful donations from artists and vendors!
The Demos!
Ok, here was the 'meat' of the Fling. In every Florida Glass Dragons Meeting (monthly), we have fantastic demos where we learn something new. For our 'Fling', we have MASS demos of LOTS of amazing and talented artists. Florida Glass Dragons know how to have a Glass PARTY!!
As there were 2 Demo Torches on the bench, we usually had 2 demos going on at the same time. Each demo person made several pieces of their specialties each, so everyone got to see some amazing things being made! The demos were by (in order of appearance):
Brent Graber - demo'd a huge 3" paperweight, a glow in the dark goddess, and his signature squirrel nuts
 
Dave Schwartz - demo'd a gigantic glass planter sculpture
Master Ray Olsen demo'd an amazing fairy with dicroic wings in boro, a gorgeous full body woman in soft IVORY GLASS, a filligrano heart, and his signature hollow glass turtle
 
 
 
Ray Olsen's handmade press and fillagrana heart
 
Heather Ferman Demo'd a flower murrini and a butterfly bead
 
Shawnette Pankey demo'd a cute blue cartoon dragon
Pam Dugger Demo'd a soft glass blown 'Florida Glass Dragon'
 
 
Ron Bearer Jr Demo'd a silver glass marble and one of his signature spiders
 
 
And finally, here's Joe of Glowing Glass, who gave everyone a stick of glowing boro glass!
Our Guests!
And what's a party without guests? Here are some snapshots of a few of the people who came. Thanks for coming, hope everyone had a great time!!
 
 
 
Pam Dugger kissing her awsome raffle win... a Glass Dragon Goblet donated by Ray Olsen- Lucky Pam!!
After the Fling was over, we ended the great day by heading to Grills, an awsome waterfront seafood restaurant recommended by Diane (Thanks Diane!). It happened to be Ron and Rocio's celebration of their vow renewals AND Dave Schwartz and Diane's wedding anniversary, AND a celebration of Ray Olsen's birthday last week, so Rocio brought the frozen top of their cake (WOW! GOOD CAKE) and about 20 of us went out to eat. Ron & Rocio, Margie, Chris, Susan M., Melody, Shawnette & BF, Shamie, Glenda, Candice, Brent, Ray, Bunyip, Chuckie, Holli & BF, Pam, my son and I, plus everyone's kids too! Unfortunately, I didn't bring my camera inside the restaurant so got no pix of that... the food was great, and so was the company:)!
What an incredible day, Florida Glass Dragon Style!! |
