Ardith at Chicago Avenue Fire Arts Center

Something that I have always wanted to do, thought of for so long is to take a class to learn how to weld, solder, braise to make my own vessels to design in. The Chicago Ave Fire Arts Center www.cafac.com is located on Chicago Avenue in the old Nokomos Theatre building. There are classes day, evening and weekends. Look at their website for more information. They have an area they show and sell all type of fire art projects from jewelry to stained glass to sculptures.

There are 8 students to a class, men and women of all ages and skill levels. This is another reason it is so fun. The main focus is safety, education and creating. Everything you will need is there. Each student chooses the project they want to complete within the 10 week class schedule. We went on a wonderful field trip to Ambles Machinery and Hardware to choose the materials for our individual projects. Heather, the instructor is with us each step for guidance and direction.This week , number 4 we begin our projects. Up to now we are learning about safety procedures and practicing with the tools and torches. My " butt weld" was the best one in class, by my own judgement. My torch cutting and soldering need some practice. Some I say--no a lot !!!

The outfits are interesting, nothing matches, and everything is for safety. In my imagination I see a line of welding clothes. There are burn holes in them, no open tears,just lots of little holes, boots, and gloves with gauntlets are the best. The safety glasses and # 5 shade glasses are not pretty, but are necessary. Cotton, not synthetic fibers for everything. Go to a second hand store, or your closet, find the painting ,gardening,cleaning the garage clothes,anything is good.

I will post the progress of the project.

Thank you to Duane Boom, one of my friends and students for sharing Chicago Avenue Fire Arts Center information with me.

go visit bevs new blog, it is here

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11/12/11 Chelmsford England

The Wedding Day started very early, 5:00AM here with a nice brisk walk. The weather is nice and warm, overcast, no wind. Great day for Emily and Ross to be married.
After my walk, I cleaned up and went to Deborah's house. We had wired and taped beautiful cymbidium orchids for bridesmaids and several table "decks" as they say, decorations.I also made Emily's bridal bouquet of gloriosa. WE were anxious about the lilies holding up. Some were in a bouquet holder but many others were glued into the frame. I glued lily leaves on the back of the bouquet holder. Then I made an armature of silver aluminum wire to wrap around the holder and down almost to the floor for the plumosus and gloriosa support. Tying the armature at intervals with silver metallic wire. With this structure the bouquet may as well been several feet long and it would have been sturdy. The armature was positioned , then held in place by cuttings of the fern for greening and shape. The stems of plumosus were very long and beautiful. 10 nice long stems, from my hip to the floor were 18 pounds, wholesale, a pound is worth $1.60. That is wholesale!!!I glued many pieces of the fern along the frame with the cold glue. The gloriosa lilies were purchased on the stem, also from my hip to the floor in sealed packages of 15 flowers in a package. The flowers were beautiful. Some of the 15 were buds, new green blossoms, but most were the perfect flower. We were concerned at how they will hold up over night. Some stems I put in the foam bouquet holder, many, a lot were glued in the bouquet, on the armature and the fern, no water source. There were 100 blossoms in the bridal bouquet and 8 stems of the plumosus fern. It is the first all lily bouquet that I have ever made. Thank you Emily for an exceptional experience, and knowing it was especially chosen by you was amazing. So I covered it, put it in a cool place.
The flowers were all white for the church with English Lavender, eucalyptus and hearts for the pews,white cyclamen plants with trailing English ivy, white roses,white spray roses, white gerbera,Italian ruscus. Simple, organic and classy.
The flowers for the reception were stunning red roses, hypericum,pinkish calla,pink cymbidium orchids, viburnum,red berries,red spray roses.
Back yo this morning,the cymbidiums had all gone down, every wired one was soft. We took them out, put them in a bath to harden them, which they did harden off, after I cut them all off of the wire. The last flower we ever thought may be sensative was, the gloriosa were perfect, in the bouquet I cut 3 flowers out and glued three in. At the ebd of the night they all looked brilliant!!!! fresh and new in the holder and in the glue. The other flowers were truly perfect.
We decorated the urnails which was a big hit, or miss?? Emily gave Ann, Db and I creative freedom, we took it.
The " Button Holes" for the men were delivered to their prospective homes, the bridal bouquet and bridesmaids were delivered to the brides home. The Best man is in charge of making sure everyone has one. Parents flowers were delivered to their homes. The Town Cars picked up the bride, groom and wedding party, 6 maids and 2 Best men.They had pictures taken at their homes, then came to the church. Everyone was in the church, the groom and Best Men were in the front of the church, Emily came in with her father who stayed with her the entire time. The maids sat in the front pew during the ceremony. They were pronounced man and wife, then went to the main alter with the vicar, then to the side where they signed the papers. The mother of the bride and mother of the groom were the witnesses. We left the church, many photographs, throwing of biodegradable rose petal looking confetti. The town cars took them away to the reception site. We arrived to a line of servers with trays of wine, and appitizers, stood outside on a nice patio area by the golf coarse, more pictures, then into the reception, great set down service meal, speeches, and a really great band, photo booth, everything.Unique to the bride and groom
Tomorrow ( Sunday ) I will head home, good feelings about my experience, and looking forward to coming home. The best of the best.
I will add pictures when I learn how, promise.
Thank you for sharing my trip with me. The shoes were perfect Marge.

11/10/11 England

This morning on my walk I could see my breath, not really cold, just crisp on the edge. The clouds were so low I was walking through them. Each morning I go a wee bit further, watching the street signs and names. The street manes are low close to the road, say calf high on me, white with black lettering. The names keep entertaining me, with the names, Wills Old Road,
No end Lane, The Fen, Woodhill Close, Stepford Turn. Many of the homes have names. The area where I am living is Parsonage Farm, the cottage I am in is Goose Cottage. The names go with the property so have been the same for many years.
A cottage, small, old style, bungalow is larger and newer, one story, floor. Chalet is a two story house that looks one story on the outside. On Cape Cod they are called Soap houses. Terraced house id larger, with two homes. The Semi,is attached to another house but with a driveway between. Then the detached home, single family, from three to 8 bedrooms, then the Mansions, Manor Houses, Estates,are huge homes. Man of these have areas the owners live in and open the main areas for people to come visit, tour and some are bed and breakfasts, all depending on area, economy.Some have, as many large plantations in Southern US have sold the land in front of and around the main house to keep the main home. The land on each side of the driveway is held on to.
The flowers for the wedding arrived this morning. We cut and processed outside, a bit wet and chilly. I caught a bit of a chill, so came in to do the corsages and bouts inside. The flowers are beautiful. Emily's brides maids dresses are dark navy blue. The maids have handtied of roses, calla, ivy,viburnum ivy,hypericum. The bride is gloriosa lilies and foliages. The flowers are lovely. I will finish them tomorrow, detail it .
There are pictures, I will send them when I can.