One exciting thing about the Gathering this year was the introduction of GTT’s new torch the Scorpion. This torch is optimized to run on two concentrators with a Cricket as the inner fire. If I ever decide to get into boro I want one of these. These are cool little torches and I saw some fancy boro work being done on this torch. The flame goes from needlepoint small to nice and bushy hot.

Thursday the technical vendors opened up. Unfortunately, there wasn’t quite as much glass this year as there was last year, but there was still glass. These beads here were made with Double Helix NE-323. This is a test batch or development glass – I don’t know which, but I like it. The beads look like shades of blue and green in person with some of the amber coming through at the ends. Notice my spiffy new bead stand – got that at the Gathering too. I also got some of DH clear – Aether. This is nice clear. No scum at all so far and melts really well – it’s a little stiff, but still nice.

Friday and Sunday were the presentations and demos. There were so many great thing here I can’t list them all, but I did come home with a list of skills that I want to work on. One cool thing I saw was that one of the presenters held her mandrel between thumb and forefinger, and then between the pinkie and whatever finger is next to the pinkie. This gave her more stability. Well, it didn’t work for me, but my friend Beth (in AL) found it helpful. You never know what you are going to pick up.

Saturday was the bead bazaar, and my birthday. I got some very nice beads from the Japanese guys and an Einstein bead from Studio Marcy. I also got a lovely boro bead from Gregory Huff. After that the show wasn’t as much fun because I had spent all my money. Also, it was my birthday. I got a little down, but I perked up again later.

The closing party and bead swap was Sunday night. This was a bit of a low point last year, but this year was much better. People actually traded with me, and I got some really cool beads! It was fun! Now I have to figure out what to do with these beads. For now, I like looking at them, and remembering the fun time I had at the Gathering this year.

Now to make some beads…