Buzzini Paperweights Blog

A Thank You and An Update

Chris Buzzini — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 21:29:00 GMT

Chris L. Buzzini

February 24, 2010

Dear Collectors,

I recently had a major computer crash and lost a great number of unsaved emails from the latter months of 2009. I spent four days installing a new hard drive on my computer and reinstalling all my programs and files. Wow, what a job that was! Unfortunately, the majority of these emails were from friends and collector/friends who were concerned about my well being during my prolonged bout with depression and spent the time and effort to send along well wishes and wonderful words of encouragement. I had planned on replying by personal email with an update of my progress, but sadly, this is no longer an option. So, I am resorting to plan B; a ‘blanket’ email to all. I do hope you understand.

I am so grateful for all the support, both emotional and financial, that I received from the paperweight community (a group of the finest people I have ever met!), Joan Parsley, the International Paperweight Society, Mitch and Ben Clark, the new owners of L. H. Selman Ltd. and of course Larry and Marti Selman. Without this help, I would certainly have lost my home, glass studio and my career. Words seem so lacking, but from my heart and soul, thank you all.

I am very pleased to give you a positive update on my life and progress since undergoing Electro Convulsive Therapy at Portland, Oregon’s, Health Science University Hospital last November. I received a total of eight treatments, scheduled most MWF’s and ending the Monday before Thanksgiving. The treatments leave one a bit ‘fogged in,’ so on Thanksgiving Day I flew to Los Angeles, CA to spend some much needed time, with both my children. My son has been living in the Los Angeles area since graduating from the University of California at Northridge several years ago, and my daughter just moved there last June to attend Southwestern Law. The visit was a perfect place to be while the ‘fog’ lifted and I returned home at the beginning of December.

With December came the harsh reality that although I was making great strides with my depression, the five-month absence from paperweight artistry had taken its toll. I took stock of my situation, formed a loose game plan and immediately got back to work. Since the beginning of December, I have taught two ‘one on one’ classes in my studio, one just before Christmas and the other during the middle of January. I have been very productive at my lampworking station and have created some extremely nice paperweights. Some of these can be seen in the Recently Sold Gallery on my website while others were special orders that I completed.

Last week I had a follow-up appointment with my Doctor from OHSU and he seems very pleased with my progress. I told him that the treatments were an answer to my prayers and that I feel like a new man. I am so pleased that my life appears to be back to normal and I can continue on my artistic journey. Two more positives in my life: I will be going back to Japan in April to teach a floral paperweight class and my daughter has transferred from Los Angeles back to Portland, to attend Lewis & Clark Law School. She is currently living with me.

In closing, I must say that my life is full of blessings. I still have my family, health, home, career and more friends than I ever realized. The Paperweight Community is an amazing group of individuals and I am honored to be part of such a group. I’m grateful to everyone who has helped me in my time of need. Thank you all!

With respect and best regards,

Chris

Chris Buzzini Featured in Profitable Glass Quarterly

Chris Buzzini — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 20:16:00 GMT

Dear Paperweight Aficionado,

I am very pleased to announce, that I am one of the featured artists in the Spring 2010

issue of Profitable Glass Quarterly. The magazine did a fantastic, four page layout and

the current issue is available for purchase through PGQ's website. An addendum/web

version is also viewable in a PDF format on their website. Links to all are listed below.

Profitable Glass Quarterly home page: http://www.profitableglass.com/

To purchase current Spring 2010 issue: http://www.profitableglass.com/current_issue/index.htm

To view PDF addendum/web version, go to the following link:

http://www.profitableglass.com/current_issue/index.htm

and click on (Chris Buzzini Studio) right under 'Hot Glass Studio Profile'

When you reach that page, scroll down a bit and click on:

(Click here) to discover how Chris Buzzini has created innovative equipment solutions...etc....

Thanks for taking a look.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to send me an email at:

cbuzz@buzzinipaperweights.com

Or, give me a call at: 503-632-8533

Best regards,

Chris Buzzini

Humpback Whale Spotted in Buzzini's Garden! Wait a minute...What?...

Chris Buzzini — Sat, 30 May 2009 23:14:00 GMT

Yes! it is true, a whale has been spotted in my Garden! With such 'big' news I felt a blog was needed to show all. So,
please scroll down and you will see that indeed in one of my flower beds, a thirteen foot whale has appeared! There
are also some nice images of recent blooms in the Garden...

View of back yard from path leading to my studio.

Awesome Blossoms!

There she blows! I am removing lawn to increase the size of my flower beds, but this baby is staying put!

Nellie Moser Clematis.

Oriental Poppy

Wisteria with Golden Chain in background.

Golden Chain Tree.

Wisteria...Look at that trunk! I love it!

Shooting stars...One of my all time favorites.

Peonies.

Peony close up.

How I spent my Christmas Vacation.

Chris Buzzini — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 16:10:00 GMT

I have lived in Oregon since 1991 and I have never seen snow this deep since I moved here. I know that many of you in the colder regions of the country think this is a normal winter, but there must be others that think like I do, that this is just way to crazy! The snow started sticking around the 15th of December and I did not leave my property until Christmas Eve day. That was a trip to the store in my neighbors Toyota FJ Cruiser (all wheel drive with snow tires and chains!) which took about three hours. And the store is only about three miles away! My daughter, who lives two hours south in Eugene, Oregon could not make it home for Christmas, and I could not get down to see her. She finally was able to visit on the 26th, but had to return the following day...I hate snow and ice!

Looking out of south studio window.

Apple tree branches with about 1" of ice.

16 feet tall Arborvitae, now about eight feet tall!

This is my "cold shop" where I grind and polish my paperweights (when I can get in).... What an appropriate name!

Trampoline anyone?

Looking out my studio door.

Brrrrrr.....I'm glad I'm not a Doug Fir.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Latest blooms 2008

Chris Buzzini — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 17:31:00 GMT

Here are just a few of the wonderful flowers that are currently in full bloom in my garden. Sorry the photos aren't better, but I do not have time to reshoot them.

Western Columbine

Evening Primrose

Rhodie

Blue Lupine

Red Lupine

Aster and Friend

Foxglove and Friend

Bleeding Heart

Veined Wonder

Japanese Iris

Green Oddity

Lady Stratheden Geum

Buzzini Garden June 2008

Chris Buzzini — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 08:17:00 GMT

Well, after weeks of non-stop gardening, mostly in the wet and rain, I have finally whipped my garden into shape!
This set of photos will be an overview of the yard and hopefully in a week or two I'll have some spectactular close-up shots of some of my favorite blooms. I hope you enjoy the pictorial.

Front Yard

Left side back yard

Overview main garden

Closer view main garden

Even a bit closer

Right side looking toward main garden

Left side again towards studio

Closer view toward studio

Apple trees and vegetable garden (Japanese style)

From cold shop towards house

Wisteria and arbor

Left side rear towards main garden

Right side rear towards main garden

Main garden from deck

Buzzini "Ribbon Bouquet" at L. H. Selman Ltd. Fall 2004 Auction

Chris Buzzini — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 16:22:00 GMT

In the blog I posted yesterday, I stated that I had no recollection of any of my Ribbon Bouquets coming up for resale on the secondary market. Since that posting, I received an email from a paperweight collector who stated, "I have come across a ribbon bouquet paperweight in the L. H. Selman auction of Fall 2004, it is lot No. 169." This lot was a Ribbon Bouquet paperweight created in 1996 and the original price in 1996 for all the full ribbon bouquets was $2400. If you include Selman's 10% buyer's premium fee (from 2004), it pushes the price realized for this paperweight to a $4125!

Lot 169
Chris Buzzini 1996 "Ribbon Bouquet" paperweight, with red azaleas,
blue phlox, golden asters, buds, green leaves, and white ribbons looped
around the stems. Signed/dated. One of one. Diameter 3-3/8".
$2250-$3000

Current Bid: Sold
$3750

Buzzini Ribbon Bouquet

Chris Buzzini — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 23:14:00 GMT

I thought some glass collectors might enjoy a few extra pictures pertaining to my latest "Ribbon Bouquet." I first created these pieces in 1996 and between 1996 and 1998 I produced about fifty different "one of one" designs that were sold through L. H. Selman Ltd. I don't recall ever seeing one of these for sale on the secondary market.

This is my "hot plate" where I place all the finished components for the "set-up"
I am working on. Not every single item will end up in the paperweight, but it is
better to have a few extra components, than not enough!

This is the final "set-up" ready to be encased. It is only 2-1/4"
in diameter which is the same for all my designs.

The completed "Ribbon Bouquet" paperweight.

Buzzini Paperweight Showcased on Austrian Postage Stamp

Chris Buzzini — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 17:35:00 GMT

Here is part of a letter I just received from my friend and Paperweight Dealer Ronny Paulusch of:

http://www.paperweights24.de/shop/index.php

"What you see in this attachment, is the first offical stamp, showing a Chris Buzzini Paperweight! It´s a limited edition of only 100 stamps and is a special service from the Austrian Post, but it will work, when I send letters from Germany to my customers. I think you will like this idea and it is also a special thank to you, for our wonderful relationship!...All the best, Ronny"

Buzzini Wallpaper Bouquet

Chris Buzzini — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 20:43:00 GMT

For over a year I have been thinking of and dabbling with the idea of creating some kind of "glass" wallpaper
or linen or fabric to use as a background for floral designs. So, throwing caution to the wind, I finally just sat down at my torch and worked on this until I got, what I think, is a pretty unique and excellent result.

I tried several different ways of trying to create the background and ultimately I settled on the following procedure. After pulling out about 150 small diameter rods of pink and purple glass encased in clear, I sized and grouped the rods in sets of two. The longer ones to use for crossing the center of the paperweight and decreasingly shorter ones for use on either side of the center rods. Then I fused each set of two rods together at both ends and pulled a bit of a tip on each end. After all the rods were done in groups of two I started from the center with two rods of purple and started adding groups of two pink rods on both sides. The groups of two are fused to the next two with a very small dot of clear between the points of each end. So working from the center to each side I fused all the tips of the rods together, creating the 'circle' of wallpaper background. Then the lampwork flowers were fashioned, the design created and fused together and then all was placed right on top of the "wallpaper" rods. My major concern was that after all the work was done, when I encased the design, that the "wallpaper" rods would not allow the vacuum system to properly draw the air out of the design. I had visions of bubbles trapped all along the rods. But, low and behold, the result was flawless!

I would greatly appreciate any comments on this new direction, be they positive or negative. Any comments submitted to the blog will be published and that would allow readers some insight into what others collectors might think. There is a "Add Comment" link right below the image of the paperweight.

Sincerely,

Chris

Buzzini Paperweight at L. H. Selman Ltd. Auction

Chris Buzzini — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 18:07:00 GMT

Lot 143 of the latest L. H. Selman Ltd. Paperweight Auction was a paperweight that I created in 2002. I believe that
this paperweight originally sold for about $1500, and if you include Selman's 15% buyer's premium fee, it pushes the price realized for this paperweight to a bit over $3700!

Lot 143
Chris Buzzini 2002 one-of-a-kind flowers and berries
Bouquet paperweight. Small yellow sunflowers bloom
among white gentians, a spray of purple lilacs, dark red
raspberries, two large brown-speckled green leaves and
spiraling tendrils on a clear ground. Signed/dated. Dia. 3½".
$1600-$2500

Current Bid: Sold
$3250

The Oregonian - HGNW - A Torch for Nature

Chris Buzzini — Sat, 29 Sep 2007 09:25:00 GMT

This latest post from... www.buzzinipaperweights.com ...contains
a recent article and most of the included photos which appeared in:

The Oregonian
Portland · Oregon · Homes & Gardens Northwest · September 27, 2007

NW ARTISANS
by Nanine Alexander Photos by Marv Bondarowicz

A TORCH FOR NATURE
A glass artisan re-creates his visions of flower and leaf

A week's worth of Chris Buzzini's work can be lost in the seconds it takes to pour molten glass over one of the floral sculptures he has painstakingly created.

"I can literally feel my heart muscle tighten," says the artisan, who re-creates nature in botanical paperweights. "The results are made or lost in the blink of an eye."

It is this do-or-die outcome that makes glass an irresistible medium for Buzzini, a solitary and spiritual artist.

"I try to take my vision of flowers and put it back into the glass," Buzzini says in his 500-square-foot workshop just beyond the garden of his Oregon City home.

Every paperweight is a miniature marvel. His artistry and technical skill shine through the crystalline spheres that cover his molded-glass bouquets of lady's slippers, lilacs, peonies and numerous other blooms.

Buzzini, 57, says he feels the pull of nature and art as a spiritual calling. "My talent is God-given. . . . I've asked for more talent and it's been given."

The work is tedious; the material temperamental.

Turning a slender rod of glass in the torch's flame until it softens into a green teardrop, Buzzini touches the tip with another glass rod, pulling it into an elliptical shape. He flattens it with tongs and returns it to the torch.

The technique is known as lampwork, and every petal and leaf is formed this way.

The behavior of glass under flame is predictable only within a narrow range of temperatures. It can't be touched by hand while it's being shaped. Everything, Buzzini explains, must be manipulated with a tool.

Buzzini began working in glass in art school and worked professionally at several highly regarded California art glass studios, including Orient & Flume, Lundberg Studios and Correia Art Glass. After 13 years as a studio artist, Buzzini launched his own studio in 1986. It was a step that both excited and frightened him. But he had strong encouragement from colleagues and fans.

"What I needed was a 16-hour day in my own studio, not eight hours in someone else's," says Buzzini. In 1991 he moved to Oregon, settling on a half acre on the outskirts of Oregon City.

Today, Buzzini works his own schedule, selling his paperweights through his Web site, www.buzzinipaperweights.com.

His floral creations shine as expressions of beauty and light.

By: Nanine Alexander: 503-221-8340; nalexander@news.oregonian.com

Potpourri of Oregon Paperweight Personalities

Chris Buzzini — Sat, 11 Aug 2007 09:37:00 GMT

This post on Buzz Blog is less about me and more about three of my best friends, all of whom are Oregon Paperweight Personalities. I'll pat myself on the back first and then on to current updates involving Ken Rosenfeld, Gary and Doris Scrutton and Randy Grubb.

Those of you that have perused the Buzz Blog in the past, know of my love of gardening. (If you haven't been here before, please view the other posts. Of late, in watching all the flowers grow in my garden, I have been absolutely intrigued by the centers of disk style flowers. So the other day I set out to make something a bit different for the centers of some "Oxeye Daisies" I was working on. The idea was to create a flower center that had greater detail and although it might not be botanically accurate, it would still be kind of botanically credible. I made a "honeycomb" style cane that has about 50 segments in it and then took two short pieces of that cane and headed out to my cold working shop to grind and polish them into small dome shaped pieces. Then back to the hot shop to fire polish them and use them in my flowers. The results are in my latest paperweight on my website and here are a couple of close-ups to allow a better look at the final result.

Oxeye Daisy with complex center

Straight in view

____________

Ken Rosenfeld was recently approached by a paperweight collector wanting a memorial paperweight created
in memory of a beloved family member. The creation of that paperweight and others since have lead Ken to
start a new paperweight sideline venture. The following two photos are from his new website for this venture at: www.cremainsincrystal.com

Website banner

Memorial paperweights by Ken Rosenfeld

____________

On a recent visit to Gary Scruttons "hot rod" shop in the Sellwood District of Portland I asked Gary how many
Parabelle paperweights he had remaining in his "retirement fund." The answer was about forty. Wow! I thought. After twelve years of producing magnificent millefiore paperweights, there are only about forty more to choose from. I picked up a half dozen and have posted them on my website. The stock number on the remaining Parabelle's on my website will be numbered starting with Parabelle_1 and when you see Parabelle_40 hit the web, you will know that the only place to acquire Parabelle paperweights in the future will be at auction or eBay! Here is Parabelle_1. http://www.glassartworld.com/M10023/105.asp

Parabelle_1

____________

As you might know, well known paperweight artist Randy Grubb, turned his attention to building monster size Hot Rods some years ago. His first build, the huge "Blastolene Special" was purchased by none other than car collector Jay Leno. Well, Randy has just completed his third car, the "Blastolene B-702" and he will be rubbing elbows with the rich and famous car collectors next weekend at Pebble Beach, California. Here is an excerpt from http://www.good-guys.com/news/newsStory.aspx?newsid=798

"Randy Grubb of Grants Pass, Oregon is putting the finishing touches on a creation he's calling the "B-702." A spectacular roadster based on the "French curve" boat tail roadsters of the 1930s. Built almost exclusively in house by Grubb (he hand built the entire car and performed all the fabrication other than the interior - which was done by Randy's Rods in Williams, Oregon), the "B-702" will make its long awaited debut the weekend of August 17-19 at the Pebble Beach Concours. http://www.pebblebeachconcours.net/

Inspired by the great "French Curve" cars of the 30's with a shot of Blastolene, the hand formed aluminum body and fenders ride on a custom 155" wheel base made out of 2"x 5" x 3/16" wall steel box tubing. The front axle is a custom oversized I-beam located by hand made hairpins and a custom tranverse leaf spring.

Here are a few "in progress" photos from the GoodGuys Rod & Custom Association.

Tail end

Front end and engine

Engine side view

____________

If you have made it this far, and find yourself in Portland Oregon before October 31st, 2007, please check out the paperweight display at the Pittock Mansion. http://www.pittockmansion.org/

On now through October 31, 2007 "Beautiful Botanicals":

Vintage botanical prints from 1613-1920. On loan of courtesy Elisabeth Burdon and Oldimprints.com

Forty paperweights from area artists and collectors. Chris Buzzini, Ken Rosenfeld, Gary Scrutton in the billiard room. Others shown upstairs are Perthshire, Baccarat, St. Louis and Paul Stankard.

Pittock Mansion in Portland Oregon

Latest Blooms

Chris Buzzini — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 23:25:00 GMT

One of the greatest rewards of gardening is to watch the flowers as they go through their different stages of growth. On my last post, I chose a close-up of a Raspberry Wine Bee Balm blossom. I was out in the garden this morning and to my surprise, the Bee Balm is blooming again right up through the first set of blossoms! Also included are some close-ups of other flowers that have just started blooming in the last few days.

Raspberry Wine Bee Balm

Bee Balm with double blossom

Frilly Shasta Daisy

Black-eyed Susan's

Red Gladiola

Chris Buzzini's Garden

Chris Buzzini — Sat, 30 Jun 2007 19:02:00 GMT

One of the main reasons that there is not always a steady stream of Buzzini paperweights on my website is that I am often sidetracked on the way to my studio. The path to my studio is a very short one, maybe 125 feet, and on a rainy Oregon day it is easy to walk straight out to the studio to avoid getting drenched. But, the same does not hold true on a lovely spring or summer day. It is so easy for me to be taken in by a new blossom spotted from the path or a Golden Finch satisfying his hunger at one of my bird feeders. And once I leave the path...anything can happen! I might find myself weeding the flower beds or hunting for the most evasive moles I have known, or just sitting on one of my benches or chairs enjoying the fruits of my labor and the beauty that God bestows on all of us. It is so peaceful. It replenishes the spirit and offers great artistic inspiration. Gardening is truly another passion of mine. The first seven photos takes you up the path and to the studio, next a photo of a metal sculpture I made, then there are photos taken from other vantage points mixed in with some close-ups of flowers. I hope that you enjoy these photos!

Garden-1 Renee's Garden

Garden-2

Garden-3

Garden-4

Garden-5

Garden-6 Bowling Green

Garden-7 The Charles 'that would be me' Patio

Nakazono Garden

Buzzini metal sculpture

Coneflower 'Magnus'

Garden-West 1

Garden-West 2

Shasta Daisies

Stickseed

PITA Corner

Hosta Haven

Rasberry Wine Bee Balm

Garden-East

Sunwheel

Speedwell

Mystery Flower (I lost the tag)

Gayfeather

Calla-Lily-Cove

2007 PCA Convention

Chris Buzzini — Fri, 04 May 2007 05:16:00 GMT

Well, let's see what kind of mess I can make out of this! This is an attempt at the first entry for the newly created "Buzz Blog" and it is obvious to me that there is a learning curve to be able to use and manage a blog. I must apologize for the somewhat lengthy delay in uploading my PCA Convention update, however, since returning from the convention I have been dealing with some quite severe issues of an upper respiratory infection and asthma that landed me in the Emergency Room of my local hospital last week. Medication and some much needed rest seem to be helping and just in the nick of time as I have a paperweight class to teach, starting on Monday.

So on to the 2007 PCA Convention...Don't hold your breath...It is going to be awhile...

Left side of my booth.

right side of my booth.

A rose and two thorns. From the left, Chris Buzzini (lampwork paperweight artist), Suzanne Landis (A lovely rose and paperweight collector. Her husband Brian is behind the camera), and Drew Ebelhare (millefiore paperweight artist).

More to come, but probably not until about the 16th.