Demos
with Alexx Cheng
July 6, 2021
Hosted this month by the Virginia Firebirds, Alexx Cheng joins us from Thailand. He plans to demo a dichroic floral bead, a vessel, and also a glass pen! Alexx is always a pleasure to watch, so if you’re a Dragon or a Firebird, don’t miss it!
After the Demo Update!
(If you missed it, remember that members can watch the recorded demo on the Facebook Members’ Page, check it out! And if you aren’t a member but would like to be, visit the Membership page)
Alexx, hosted by the Firebirds, was entertaining as well as an informative guest speaker. He is an engaging speaker, and an innovative glass worker who always has a trick or two to show us!
For this Tech Tuesday, Alexx started out by showing us the two styles of pens that he makes, and then demonstrated one of them. For this demo, he made a simple yet decorative pen, and showed us how to create the pen nib using ribbed cane from Lauscha.
Once Alexx completed the pen, he switched gears and made a vessel for us. Alexx says instead of a cork stopper, he now puts a small amount of cotton inside. A drop or two of essential oil or perfume dropped onto the cotton for fragrance is a finishing touch that can be supplied by someone wearing the vessel.
Two demonstrations were not enough for Alexx, and he moved on to an encased floral bead with Cubic Zirconia flower centers. We learned that not even those who have made beads by the bucketful are immune to things going wrong. Alexx’ bead release broke during this demonstration, not once – but twice! Luckily for us, the second bead was almost completed and he had a previously made bead at hand that allowed us to see a finished bead. Alexx explained the two steps that were still to go when the release – too early – released!
Alexx has an engineering background, and it shows in his studio. We saw a few of his inventions and he explained how he uses them to make his bead making more efficient and easier.
Thank you Alexx, for sharing your time and expertise with The Firebirds and Glass Dragons on this Tech(nique) Tuesday!
Dragon members have access to this recorded presentation, found on our Facebook Members Only Group page.