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October 21, 2011, 3:46 PM
Filed under: All Writing Challenges | Tags: 100-words #Flash Friday, Madison Woods
Filed under: All Writing Challenges | Tags: 100-words #Flash Friday, Madison Woods
The artifact topped the shrine in his studio, one marble in a growing collection. The orb inspired him.
Jason adjusted his flame, reached for a stick of white glass. When the glass glowed, became transparent, runny, his free hand dipped in green water, searched for the slimy mold; its contact with molten glass produced the enticing smell of burnt cherry. Next, his creation rode the edge of the flame in constant revolution, maintaining its spherical perfection while a scatter of colored glass melted smooth. The following day, Jason sandblasted his creation with coarse grit—until it became one more copy.
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15 Comments so far
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Robin Hawke 
aha — and the marbles will multiply! Beautiful description of the melting glass.
Comment by The Lime October 21, 2011 @ 6:52 PMThank you! Robin
Comment by Robin Hawke October 22, 2011 @ 1:10 PMI like the creative bent of the narrator to make something new, inspired by something old.
Comment by Madison Woods October 21, 2011 @ 8:49 PMThat would be Jason’s saving grace…now if he would only use that talent to build on the past. Thanks Madison!
Robin
Comment by Robin Hawke October 22, 2011 @ 1:14 PMBurnt cherry. Now that’s imagination at work.
Aloha,
Doug
Comment by dmmacilroy October 21, 2011 @ 10:19 PMWish I could take credit, but cherry wood molds are used by many makers, though graphite molds are popular.
Comment by Robin Hawke October 22, 2011 @ 1:20 PM“Next, his creation rode the edge of the flame in constant revolution…”
Loved that bit especially. 🙂
Is this something you’ve done before, Robin, working with glass? ‘Cause it kind of sounds like it!
Comment by Tiyana October 22, 2011 @ 12:56 AMI’ve never made a perfect sphere, but I have made a marble…thanks! Robin
Comment by Robin Hawke October 22, 2011 @ 1:12 PMFascinating, and very imaginative! I like how the marble inspires him to create something new.
Comment by Thomma Lyn October 22, 2011 @ 2:02 AMToo bad it’s a copy! Robin
Comment by Robin Hawke October 22, 2011 @ 1:09 PMPerfect little story. Tight and as spherical as the marble!
Comment by Lindaura Glamoura October 22, 2011 @ 10:03 AMLinda
This one proved how valuable 100 words can be–abridging the marblemaking process pushed me to describe three or four steps in one sentence. Thanks!
Comment by Robin Hawke October 22, 2011 @ 1:12 PMRobin
I enjoyed this one, although I thought he was making stained glass windows until I got to the comments (no idea about glass making other than sand heat = glass)
Comment by chriswhitewrites October 22, 2011 @ 11:02 PMThis is a great use of the prompt. I always regret not learning how to blow glass when I was at the UW. Your story took me alongside gave me a glimpse of what I missed! Very nice!
Comment by susielindau October 23, 2011 @ 2:27 PMTechnically, the process described above is called flameworking. It uses the techniques of glassblowing, but on a smaller scale, in front of a torch flame. A soldering iron is used in stained glass to connect the banding metal–no direct flame.
I should have resisted such an ambitious take on the prompt…I didn’t tell much of a story; the flameworking process consumed words. Anyway, if I’ve passed on a bit of info, maybe it will help another writer some other day…
Robin
Comment by Robin Hawke October 23, 2011 @ 4:39 PM