The Chihuly Museum

A couple of weeks ago, our Uncle asked if some of us kids

would be so kind as to join him for the day at the Chihuly Museum, in St.Pete:)

Our Group, happily smiling:) (Really?)

We were disappointed to find that we couldn't take any pictures inside the museum:(

So we had to try to get all that we could of the "two" Glass sculptures, outside:)

Tom and May's having a ravished time! ;)

This a the view from the back of a REALLY neat display inside.

It has the sun shining through this end, which makes for a very unique look on the inside.

(Very creative)

This piece came from Jerusalem.

But when it was there, it looked allot different than this.

They said, whenever they move any of the sculptures, there's no particular way it goes

back together and it ends up being different every time:)

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The Hot House

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After the museum, we went a few blocks down the road to the "Hot House".
There, they made and demonstrated how to make the blown glass sculptures.
It was really interesting, and Hot! But allot of fun:)

A mixture of powdered limestone, sand and ash is shoveled into a hot, 2,300 degree furnace
and allowed to cook overnight. This is added a bit at a time in order to allow each ingredient to melt together and form liquid glass:) Hot hot!!

Next, they took a tool, referred to as a blowpipe, and slowly turn it to gather the molten glass around the end of the tube.

The man demonstrating,

drew an idea of what the finished product would look like on the floor:)
At this point, they roll the glass around in crushed up colored glass. This is what will give the piece color. The number of times the piece is rolled in the "frit" will vary depending upon the blower.

Tom pointing to the table of colored glass pieces :)

Adding the bottom holder thing:/

They flung the piece around, giving it an interesting shape:)

And the end Product:)

Ta da!!!!!

Then they made a fish:)

There was another furnace they used to re-heat the glass, so they could continue shaping it:)

Every time they opened any of the furnaces, there was like a rush of heat! So imagine if you were the ones standing right at the furnace.....Oh my!! Serious heat wave there....

End product again~:)

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The Pier

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After leaving the hot house, Uncle Tommy asked if we would like to walk to the pier before we head home, So............

On the roof of the pyramid building.

Awesome view!!

Mary's just not sure about this statue :O

After walking several miles, Uncle Tommy asked us if we'd like

to stop somewhere and pick up a sandwich and water.... And seeing as all of our throats were dirt dry, we all said "sure". So we got on the elevator to go down, and he took us to the fourth floor:o And when the doors opened.....It was this Extremely Huge Fancy restaurant!! It was the "Colombian Spanish Family Restaurant" We were all shocked!!!

But it was a great end to a perfect day:)

Out the window we watched a sale boat show out in the ocean. Which was very neat.

Thank You so much Uncle Tommy for taking us!! It was all Wonderful!!

Quote of the day:

Remember the sun is always shining somewhere!

Posted by: Christiana