Glass Notes, the book

[Henry Halem]

Two years of blood, toil, sweat, and tears + a lot of information from experts and it's all come together in one big 352 page 4th edition. My basement is filled with Glass Notes ready to find a home, preferably any home. But seriously folks Glass Notes is here. What is Glass Notes (http://www.glassnotes.com) you ask? It's really a compilation of information from myself and many expert sources on and about glass. Our own Pete V., Hugh J., Charlie C. and others have provided scads of information to help you understand the intricacies of the glass studio. I know this is a shameless plug for my book but what the hell. So be the first on your block. Operators standing by.

[Doug Chaussee]

OK, I'll ask. How much and where do we send the money? Take credit cards? Phone orders accepted? Special deal for Craftweb members........Ok that's a stretch.

:)

[Ben Rosenfield]

New editon special: We're offering a 5% discount on all orders until Jan. 1, 2007

[Rosanna Gusler]

i want one but all my credit cards are on time out. address to send a check or monay order? rosanna

[Henry Halem]

Is there something wrong with the website page that has all the information your requesting? Call me at 330/673-8632 and I'll tell you all you need to know. The underlined Glass Notes in my first post should be the link to the site.

[Franklin Sankar]

Henry, I am going to fax you an order tomorrow.
I want to be the first to get your book on the island. I bet glass life will not be so lonely after the book.
Franklin

[Randy Kaltenbach]

Originally posted by Franklin Sankar
I want to be the first to get your book on the island. First? Only! ;) ...unless you have some compadres now?

[Sky Campbell]

Another great book! Thanks Henry I'm already inspired. I really like the doors on Mark Peiser's color furnace. I feel a similar design in my near future.

BTW: I can say with great certainty Sarah definitely got it in glass. LOL

[Dave Bross]

Henry,

Does my contribution on moisture in the chemicals for batching rate a free copy?

[Henry Halem]

Originally posted by Dave Bross
Does my contribution on moisture in the chemicals for batching rate a free copy? It hit the cutting room floor.

[Rich Samuel]

What's all this I hear about the new "Glasnost?" The original "Glasnost" was just fine, and I admire Gorbachev for opening the political process and encouraging free speech. Why mess with a good thing?

What?

Oh, never mind.

[David Patchen]

Do they cost more if they're autographed, or does that warrant a discount? Maybe I could get an insult inscribed? :)

[Henry Halem]

Originally posted by David Patchen
Do they cost more if they're autographed, or does that warrant a discount? Maybe I could get an insult inscribed? :) You get a one finger discount and a really funny insult inscription. Funny to everyone except to the one being insulted. Take your pick:
David, you call that art?
David, its been done, and better.
David, my kid could have made that.
David, don't give up your day job. Oh, that is your day job? Well, maybe you better find a day job.
David, you'd do better if you subcontract.
David, your mothers so ugly a peeping Tom puked on her window sill.
David, go play with your friends. Oh, sorry I thought you had friends.
David, (this is where everyone else writes insults)

[Dave Bross]

That's OK, I'll buy a copy.

[David Patchen]

I'll take:

"David, I wish I thought of that, but we it was all we could do to get the damn glass to melt back in the day. This left us all permanently cranky as hell!" Hehe:):)

Henry, I'll be calling you to order mine.

[Rollin Karg]

Originally posted by Henry Halem
Is there something wrong with the website page that has all the information your requesting?
Yes there is!!!!!!!!! The contact info and discount show up as red print over some black print. Not real easy for an old man to see.
I know you just want me to call you for some witty conversation.

[Wes Hunting]

Rollins right, it reads like the new Bush strategy for Iraq.

[Henry Halem]

Hmmm. shouldn't be doing that. I will get to it today and see if I can fix that. Better yet I should get to Ben and have him do the site.

[Ben Rosenfield]

Henry, as you mentioned on the phone, we should work out a time when I can visit Halem Manor to plan this thing.

[Henry Halem]

Since neither you or I have anything to do with Xmas we should get together over a Chanukah brisket.

[Wes Hunting]

watch out for wire taps!

[Pete VanderLaan]

It looks wonderful Henry. In these days of disinformation, it's a real beacon of information that sadly is no longer available at schools.

Forty years in the wilderness. Long time.

[Henry Halem]

When I undertook the project to rewrite the book I knew it would, like the 3rd edition, have to be a meeting of minds. My technology is mired somewhere in the 70's and early 80's. Everyone I asked to help with contributions immediately agreed to help. As a matter of fact everyone seemed excited to add their contributions and for that I'm grateful.
As an aside; I once asked Nick to tell me about annealing (all my castings were cracking). He told me to do my homework and then come back to him. I wasn't sure what he meant by homework and even if I did I had no idea where I'd go to do the homework as I hadn't discovered Scholes yet. So I sort of left and went back to doing castings. Some worked and some didn't. A few months later I packed up my cracked castings and drove to Maumee Ohio and showed Nick what I was doing. He looked at my cracked castings and to my surprise he said, "I see you've done your homework". Homework to him was based on my sculptural aesthetic not on teaching myself annealing fundamentals. The moral of the story is this, the book has nothing to do with the technical it's all about aesthetics. Technique will now cost you $40 plus shipping. Yes folks, technique is cheap.

[Wes Hunting]

Just got my copies! Nice work Henry.
Everybody on this board will learn something from this book.

[Brian Blanthorn]

Yo Henry


Glad its finished at last





But I thought U could have done more with the title

After all those ideas I gave U

Still there is always

GN5

Brian

[Henry Halem]

I'll get right on it Brian.

[Brian Blanthorn]

Originally posted by Brian Blanthorn
Yo Henry

Another thing U seem 2 have overlooked

I realise U been busy on GN4

Is the merchandising

Like

The Breast signing pens ( one further thought on this is dont put a lot of coulur in n make em washable then U can get everone resigned n sell lots refills )

Henry n Pete Dolls ( + all the other contributers )


And all the other stuff

MayB there is a link on ur web site but I cant find it

Remember often its the merchandizing where the real $$$$$ is




While were on this

What about an errors / additions page link on yr web site

For GN4 would also B a good place 2 get more hits on that lucrative merchandising



Another thought occured 2 me

U mentioned U were stuck in the 70 / 80s technology

Nothing wrong in that but I cant remember them

Anyway I was thinking 4 all those new nerdy types that cannot do anything unless it involves a screan or something stuck in there ear

What about a downloadabble pod cast

U will have 2 rename it tho as they cant read anything kinda full length due 2 there brains micro second attentio span

Something like

HH GN4

All the best

Brian

[Henry Halem]

Brian,
We, here in the colonies, feel you should part with some of your hard earned currency and purchase your own copy HH GN4. I will even inscribe it with a comment that will be guaranteed to increase its value on the used book market by at least 500%. The cost to you would only be 25.3637 GBP. Such a deal. That price does include shipping.

[Brian Blanthorn]

Originally posted by Henry Halem
Brian,
We, here in the colonies, feel you should part with some of your hard earned currency and purchase your own copy HH GN4. I will even inscribe it with a comment that will be guaranteed to increase its value on the used book market by at least 500%. The cost to you would only be 25.3637 GBP. Such a deal. That price does include shipping.

Yo Henry

Over here in the Old Country great poverty has befallen me

So 4 now I will just have 2 make do with all ur wonderous comments I already got

MayB SAnta will give me some ££££ then I could make a recosideration

U do get a free Henery Doll in each or is that just a USA deal ???

I think a signed Henry Doll would make a great addition 2 my retirement portfolio



Anyway getting back 2 marketing as I know U wanna cash in while the promo is ongoing

Thinking about the new generation

There R those now that live entirely on a online world who R completaly oblivious to old media / papers tv etc

The old moguls R completaly petrified hence all the recent net take overs



What about a little shop in http://secondlife.com/

U could then sell HH Vr.GN4 direct + all the virtual glass studio stuff as well

And the Virtual marketing

I guess U could have the first Vr Glass Studio U could reasly make a killing

Here is something from my culture

Merry XMass http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LH7vrLlDZ6U

Brian

[Steve Stadelman]

There are no Henry dolls, or action figures, not even HH drink coasters!

[Virginia Slawson]

Henry,
A great compilation of information!
Our copies arrived safely, securely wrapped, and amazingly fast. Your team of operators, standing by, must be a sight to behold.

One thing though... while I don't miss the action figures, I was disappointed to discover that you forgot to include the bonus brisket. Tsk, tsk. I know it's a busy time. Perhaps you could send it to arrive in time for New Year's? Thanks!

[Rosanna Gusler]

got mine today. tried to unrap with out tools in the car. you all love some tape. anyhow after glancing, looks like a good book and i liked the sketch next to the signature. thanks, rosanna

[Don Burns]

Henry - too cool!!!

I see yer new book here - call the cadre of operators and darn if I did not get THE MAN HIMSELF!!! WOW - what a treat!

2 books on the way - I can't wait!!

Have used the book a lot - built my glory hole and bench and learned a ton of other stuff - I just wanted to say THANKS for all the HARD WORK and TIME and EFFORT to make an excellent research tool that I am sure everyone here has read or benefited from - and if they have not - THEY NEED TO GET A COPY!!!

THANKS HENRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:thumb: :thumb:

[Dan Ellis]

Hey are you gonna toss down some latkies with mine? I forgot to ask when I ordered.

Thanks in advance. All that info will be some good learning. Any plans for a volume II?

[Henry Halem]

Originally posted by Dan Ellis
Hey are you gonna toss down some latkies with mine? I forgot to ask when I ordered. Latkes latkes, no i in latkes. I challenge anyone to a potato latke cooking contest. Brisket and latkes, now that's a meal fit for Hannukah. Order 10 copies of Glass Notes and receive 1 dozen frozen latkes with your order. Place on baking sheet, bake in the oven at 350 for 20 minutes. Serve with sour cream. Never reheat a latke in a microwave.

[Dan Ellis]

I never did make a good jew, I always want BBQ ribs and fries for Hannukah dinner. Sorry Grandma.

[Mark Rosenbaum]

Henry: I like mine with applesauce.

[Steve Stadelman]

Originally posted by Mark Rosenbaum
Henry: I like mine with applesauce.

As a dessert after the Crayfish?

[Mark Rosenbaum]

No Steve, bread pudding souffle' comes after the crawfish!

[Ben Rosenfield]

Originally posted by Henry Halem
Brisket and latkes You write erotica too? :D

[Dave Hilty]

Henry,

Very fine presentation! I brought it along on our family trip (we drove) to Florida for a break from the Michigan weather.

Now, since you rightly concede the importance of aesthetic values in our glass work, do you have or could you point us to a suggested reading list that would help in addressing this need? I know its not a simple "how to" read, but your travels have taken you through a lot of material so perhaps you could hint at some material that begins to get at this subject.

Thanks for making possible my favorite gift under the tree this year!

[Henry Halem]

Dave,
My experiece both as an artist and teacher indicates that an aesthetic is usually developed over time and a lifetime at that. What we create is tempered by many things, reading being just one small part of the equation. It is very difficult to put in writing what will help you or anyone for that matter develop a keen aesthetic. What I do know is that my insights into my own work as well as my criticism of student works was tempered by my looking at all forms of art, gaining an understanding of art history, reading what others have written about aesthetics and of course trying to understand what my own work was about. When we first begin to make art we are usually awed by a whole grab bag of artists but over time as we become more and more involved in the making of art and as we gain a technical dexterity we are not as impressed by the sound and fury of complex technique and our tastes usually narrow to those objects that stand the test of revisit. That is, does an object or painting maintain the excitement we first experienced when viewed over time? The "wow" factor is only momentary and after the "wow" is gone and the wizard comes out from behind the curtain does the work hold our interest? My bottom line is that criticism from those that we respect can help us see into our own work. If you have other artists, and they do not have to be glass artists, in your area you might think of getting together once a month or so and bring your work, any work, experimental, production, etc. to someones studio and have a go at it. Fight it out, go for the throat, don't hold back. Remember though you have to talk about the work and not just like or not like. It can be a very humbling experience to hear what other artists have to say about our work. Of course the evening should end with a good brew and chicken wings.

[Pete VanderLaan]

and to remember that making art is hard work. You go in the studio in the morning and work at it all day. You throw things away and sometimes you keep things. I find it to be really rare to hit on a piece the first time. It takes a very measured approach to refine a good piece. Even so, it can still be less than acceptable. I think it was Hammeda (SP?) who said that if you are fortunate, you will make fifty truly good pieces in your lifetime and those are the ones that should get signed. Don't confuse your art with ornaments for the table.

I don't see a whole lot of work that I like in glass particularly but the ones that I do like usually inspire me to go down a new path that is oblique to what I just viewed. Narcissus Quagliata was on the money when he said "don't make your job your art."

The great thing for me about schools is that you are exposed to so many different ideas thru slide shows and workshops that it has to rub off some or you must be dead. The schools need to do a better job of not celebrating the mundane. The great disadvantage about private studios is that they are totally goal oriented towards a product and are a terible place to really learn anything more than rote skills with blinders on at the same time.

Marvin Lipofsky used to throw students out of classes if he found them doing insignificant production. I used to think that was terrible. Now I think it was a great idea with bad presentation.

[Dave Hilty]

Henry & Pete,

Thanks to you both for thoughtful & open-hearted replies. I have wrestled with the issue for some time now. I have a skimpy formal art education background always forsaking an inclination toward art for a more "practical" set of vocations.

The answer I always give people who push the art issue with me is that I am more a craftsman than artist. I have always felt that without complete mastery of the technical aspects, I could never conceive, feel and execute with the freedom necessary to achieve somthing original, with true artistic value. I first came at this in drawing classes and on to painting and while my ability to capture the object (basically copy) was terrific, I recognized that this was not my own voice but just the craft of a copyist.

The challenge today for me in glass is to accept what I consider to be extreme technical deficiencies while aiming at an outcome that I have true feeling for; almost a feeling state that drives me to make a piece that captures something of the direction I want to take.

A gallery has asked me to be the glass artist along with a sculptor for a show in April and of course I'm thinking, "Now i have to do some serious art". My best shot will be to keep on the path with the vessel series that interests me the most, hoping that I can extend the quality of the work over the next 3 months.

Thanks again for the guidance.

[Henry Halem]

Originally posted by Dave Hilty
A gallery has asked me to be the glass artist along with a sculptor for a show in April and of course I'm thinking, "Now i have to do some serious art". My best shot will be to keep on the path with the vessel series that interests me the most, hoping that I can extend the quality of the work over the next 3 months.
That's wonderful Dave and all I can suggest is to just be yourself.

[Pete VanderLaan]

I think that when people are confronted with the notion of putting themselves on the line, the greatest worry is that people will think their presentation to be inadequate. That kind of thinking will stop most people from ever trying. Stay curious.

[Dave Hilty]

Thanks again for the encouragement & of course I will push ahead...

[Hugh Jenkins]

Henry, mine arrived last week. Now with Ed's book out too, there is a lot to pour over. Thanks for the push(es) to get some things written up and presented well. When I look at the total of what you have done with this book, it is awe inspiring. You have truly made your mark, again. Happy New Year!

[Rich Samuel]

Henry, my check is in the mail. :)

By the way, you might want to update the pricing on this page (http://glassnotes.com/orderpage.html). ;)

Am looking forward to (another) good read, and some inscribed words of Talmudic wisdom. :D

[Henry Halem]

Originally posted by Rich Samuel
Henry, my check is in the mail. :)

By the way, you might want to update the pricing on this page Rich, that page really does not exist anymore but it is still on the server. How are you accessing it? If you go to glassnotes.com there are no links there so I assume you getting there from a bookmark.

[Rich Samuel]

Not from a bookmark, Henry. I Googled Franklin Mills Press to find the mailing address, and that was the first link that appeared. I hope that PO box is current, as my funds are heading there. :D

[Henry Halem]

Yes, all my addresses are correct. I forgot that my old web pages are still listed on search engines.

[Richard Huntrods]

My copy arrived today. Yipee!!!!

Excellent book. Thanks, Henry!

-R

[Ben Rosenfield]

My copy arrived today. It's superb!!! And the inscription is to die for. Thanks, Henry. Great job.

[Scott Novota]

Henry got mine yesterday. That was really quick turnaround time on the shipping.

I look forward to dipping into it this weekend and planning out the shop build.

Thanks,


Scott.
.

[Jeremy Scidmore]

Henry , the new edition is great. All the new additions to this edition make it definately worth the purchase! I did notice there are some ommissions the most obvious to me was the section on electroplating. I'm wondering why it was left off this edition?Which also got me thinking about the first and second edition of the book. I started with edition 3 , was there anything left out of edition 3 from the previous editions?

[Henry Halem]

Jeremy,
Thanks for the kind words. There was only one thing left out from the 2nd edition to the 3rd. When I started putting together the 4th edition I realized if I included everything that was in the 3rd plus all the new stuff it would just be too large. I felt I needed to cut information that I felt was only parenthetical to glass and electroplating got the ax. The references for the purchase of electroplating materials and equipment were outdated as well and the person that put the information together in the first place was no longer available to update that info. If anyone is interested I can easily put together that info. in .pdf format as it still resides on my hard drive.

[Ben Rosenfield]

Online ordering is now available. ;) :)

[Henry Halem]

Ben put the new site together and added the PayPal ordering system which, I might add, works flawlessly. Great job Ben!