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Written by Ray Cooper
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 New PMC classes at IBE show in Edison, NJ in November- see Teaching Schedule
 “Welcome to Cooper Beads, the on-line home of borosilicate and soft glass beads and marbles, and metal clay beads and pendants made by me, Ray Cooper, a flameworker and Certified metal clay instructor and artist from Blue Hill, Maine. (That's me at work in the glass part of my studio.)
In June I will be taking 2 sculptural glass classes, so will be away from the studio quite often. Look for glass flowers and animals starting in July, I hope.
If you are vacationing on the beautiful Downeast Maine coast, please stop by and visit my studio. Since it is a working studio, and not a shop, I am open by appointment only. Please call ahead to make sure I am home and I will give you directions. I am a bit off the beaten path, but the trip is worth it, especially this year, as I will be rarely leaving Maine for shows, only for teaching. For a listing of shops (and lots of other other interesting things) check under LINKS. (If you currently use or carry my glass or PMC® and would like to be listed, drop me a line- see CONTACT US.)
Do you want to learn how to work with PMC® (Precious Metal Clay), the wonderful silver in the form of a clay, or the new Art Clay Copper? Look under TEACHING SCHEDULE to see my entire year's teaching schedule, including all of my Innovative Beads Expo (IBE) shows throughout the Northeast. My new 2010 Bangor (The Beaded Moose) and Boston (Beads+fiber Gallery) classes are now listed, as are all of my 2010 IBE classes. There will be 5 different classes offered this year, including an Introduction to Copper Clay class, and a Tips and Tricks class for experienced PMC® artists. Keep checking back for new class additions. Email me with any questions about classes. Thanks
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Last Updated ( Saturday, 17 July 2010 )
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Oxygen generator and soft glass for sale |
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Written by Ray Cooper
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I have an OGSI-20 oxygen generator for sale. This is not some reconditioned plastic medical concentrator. It is an industrial grade oxygen generator (metal casing- weighs 70 pounds), one of the best on the market. You can read about it at ogsi.com. It is the model OG-20. I don't know the price now, but when I bought it four years ago it was on sale for $1,600 (normally $1800) I am willing to sell it for $1000. It is in excellent condition as I have used it very little. It produces enough oxygen to run any small to medium size torch- Nortel Minor or Mega Minor, GTT Bobcat or Lynx, Carlisle Mini-CC (this is what I have it hooked up to), etc. I have all the manuals and will throw in a set of 25 foot fuel hoses. You can come and pick it up (in fact you can try it, if you want, as I will leave it hooked up to my Mini-CC, or I will deliver it within a 2 hour ride of Blue Hill. If you are a soft glass bead maker using one of the torches I have mentioned, then you will never have to lug another heavy bottle of oxygen again. You just need to replace one filter every year or two.
So why am I selling it, if it is so great? Two reasons: 1) I don't mind lugging oxygen bottles (well, sort of), and 2) I work with borosilicate (hard) glass and a much bigger torch than the OG-20 can supply. I don't make beads much any more, mostly bigger things, like marbles and small sculpture, so it is just taking up space in my studio. My loss is your gain- it's a real bargain.
BTW, I also have some remnant soft glass for sale. No more Moretti (COE 104), but I do have a bunch of Bullseye (COE 90) and quite a bit more COE 96 glass from Uroboros, Reichenbach, Kugler, and Gaffer. (Ya gotta move quick- almost all the 96 COE glass is gone already- just a few random rods left.) - I still have a whole bunch of 96 COE frit mixes from Val Cox and Glass Diversions left- some beautiful combos. But even those are going fast (at only $8 per container!!- around half normal price).
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Last Updated ( Friday, 27 August 2010 )
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Written by Ray Cooper
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Being the techno incompetent that I am, I am having trouble posting new show entries for 2010 in the proper place, so for now I will do it here.
April 16-17 -Beads and Baubles Downeast- Maine Grind Building, Ellsworth,Maine - Friday 12-6, Saturday 10-4. Everything left from my big JEWELRY SUPPLY SALE will be at this show, plus my own glass beads.
May 22 - Acadia Fiber Faire- Southwest Harbor, Maine - 10:00- 3:00 - One day fiber show on beautiful Mount Desert Island - I will have lots of yarns, spinning fibers and especially buttons- in copper, bronze, silver and glass- plus glass beads and other goodies.
June 5-6 - Maine Fiber Frolic- Windsor Fairgrounds, Windsor, Maine - I am getting back to my fiber roots- will be selling spinning fiber, yarns, glass beads, buttons in metal clay and glass, and a whole lot more. This is a really fun event. FMI: www.FiberFrolic.com
August 14 - Blue Hill Farmers Market - 9:00-11:30 - Guest artist- about as local as it gets - this is at the Blue Hill Fairgrounds, about 5 miles from my house - great organic produce too!
September 24-26- Common Ground Country Fair - Unity, Maine - This is the biggie, and I actually got in this year. I will only be selling glass at this show- beads, marbles, bottles, ornaments. My booth will be in my own tent outside the smaller of the two craft tents. Not my favorite location, but it will have to do. I will have a big article on this show sometime in late summer.
October 9-10 - Northeast Marble Meet - Marlboro, MA - obviously I'll only be selling marbles here (and maybe some custom made marble stands) - There is an auction Saturday, and the vendors show, where I will be selling is open to the public from 9-3 on Sunday. Location: Marriott Courtyard- 75 Felton Street- take I-495 exit 24B (Route 20 West)
October 22-23- Beads and Baubles Downeast- Fall show- Ramada Inn, Ellsworth, ME - more details to follow
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Last Updated ( Friday, 27 August 2010 )
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