My name is David Lovins. When I was in my late teens and early 20's I was lucky enough to be able to learn a little glassblowing at Frabel Studios. To everyone there I give my best wishes. I will try to make this short. When I left Frabel, I tried to follow in glass work doing neon for a while, but eventually ended up in construction. I also got involved in the darker side of life on more than one occasion. Anyway, I was recently diagnosed with a rare brain disorder called Arteriovenous Malformation. Its located in an area in my brain that is going to require open surgery. This will be in 2 weeks. I have not been able to work for a while, and have really been doing a lot of thinking about being able to get back into glass art. I am trying not to ask for charity, but as it stands I am just not able to bye any equipment. If there is anyone that has anything laying around, not in use, that you would be willing to donate to me, You can believe that it will be for a great cause and will help me to be able to relax and enjoy what i used to so much. Thank all of you for taking the time to read this and keep me in your prayers.You can reach me here or at davelovins@yahoo.com
Thank you
Dave
Hello everyone
Posted on: July 25, 2009 - 3:39pm
Hello everyone
Comments
Dave,
Wow, your story is incredible. I hope that you are able to recover and live a full life.
I have a national torch that I can send you. It's not the best out there, but better than nothin'.
Reply with your address and I'll send it.
Kathleen
Thank you Kathleen. I cant express how grateful I am to you and your genorsity. This is a great start. If anyone has any hand tools or anythng else that you dont need, You will never know how much this means to me. Thank you again. Anyone can contact me at 973-262-1354, or via e-mail at davelovins@yahoo.com
Hi Dave,
The torch is now on its way to you. What kind of glass are you going to work with? Boro, soft, lead? I look forward to seeing what you make and hope your glass work helps you build something new and enriching for you!
Very best,
Kathleen
Thank you so much for your sincere care. The torch is great. I have a couple of tanks, and have started setting things up in my garage. I still need a lot, but it's a great start. You are a Godsend Kathleen. I'll keep you up to date
Peace
Dave
Hi David,
I am sorry to hear about your health issues, and wish you well. Hope the operation will go well and that you will be up and running again soon. Glad to hear that you haven't lost your passion for glass art. I believe you had a knack for glass and it would be great to see some of your work. I have asked someone in our studio to contact you to see if there is a way we can help you with some materials to get you back on the burner again.
Godo
Hey Godo,
It's great to hear from you. to bad under such circumstances. I had a Dr.s appointment last week. and it was determined that the risk of surgery was too great, therefore I will just have to wait for the innevitable. Please don't think that I'm trying ask for pitty Godo. you guys were a big part of my youth, and I just really never had the guidence to make the right decisions and went down the wrong roads. I really did love working with glass though. It was always a passion of mine, although I really never got many chances to work with it. Any way. All I have is a torch that Kathleen sent me and some tanks. ( lots of construction tools). Anything you guys can send would be Greatly appreciated. If you are interested in knowing more about whats going on with this thing in my brain, you can go to a website called AVM survivors network go to members and look up my name. Again, It was good to hear from you, and hopefully I'll be able to enter in the Frabel Awards soon. Who ever from the Studio that needs to reach me can e-mail at davelovins@yahoo.com , or my mailing address is 37 N. 16th St. Prospect Park, NJ.07508
Peace
Dave Lovins
I just wanted to take a moment to give my thanks to Godo and the Frabel Studio for their kindness with their gift of glass and some hand tools. I also want to especially thank Kathleen Elliot for her gift of the torch, and also for her moral support. I am hopefully going to have the regulators and rent the tanks this weekend. I am really looking forward to getting back in front of the torch. I keep looking at all of the amazing things that everyong has created on this website, and am blown away. All I can hope for is to be able to pass the time, and who knows, I just might come up with something really nice too. Good luck to everyone. Peace, Dave
Dear David,
Praying for you. You are ight God is good and the people here are so wonderful! Will be praying you make something so beautiful it takes your breath away!
catherine
Dear David,
I am sorry that you have such a health problem. I am however a stonch believer that, if you keep giving positive suggestions to your self, you can surmount any, I mean any obstacles, even the type you have encountered, in life. I have gone through and personally seen people achieving success. To quote an example, my father had cancer upto grade III, at the age of 77. With his attitude and positive thinking, with the help of a doctor, he WAS FULLY CURED and even the doctor was amazed at the results and called it a miracle. He passed away after completing his 95, missing his century; on which he was very keen; DUE TO OLD AGE and NOT the cancer.
So dear David, I AM confident that you will be able to get over this and be bouncing back in the GLASS WORLD of Godo and his crowd.
Wish you ALL THE BEST.
Vijay
Hi David,
My name is Rochelle. I started lampworking this year and am addicted to it. I would hate to see anyone miss out on this medium. There is nothing else like it. I am happy to hear that you are going to return to the glass world . I have some different size tips I could send you for the National torch you got from Kathleen. Do you use boro or soft glass? I have some soft glass stuff too. Please email me and let me know rochelle_yvonne@yahoo.com
Hang in there David, You are not alone.
~Rochelle
HI David,
I know about bad decisions in life - we all made them. Praying for you too. Glass working is a great passion that gives purpose to life, and that purposeful drive can be quite healing, so get in the shop and produce! (Dr's orders).
Cathrine,
Thank you so much for your prayers. I am overwelmed that so many people responded with there well wishes. I have admired your work since joining the site. I started to make a few peices. I hope to have some pics posted here soon. Thanks again.
Dave
Vijay,
Just like you, I have always been a firm believer that any person is able to do amazing things with their minds when it comes to healing the body. I've been telling everyone since this happened that if it were curable, I'd have already healed myself. Unfortunatly, this is called an AVM, which is a birth defect, therefore irreversable. I truely am amazed by art. Is it acid etching or sandblasting, or maybe something that I'm not arawe of. Either way, it sure is very nice. Thanks for your words of encouragement. As for being in Godo's crowd again. I don't known ifn that is possible, but his friendship is enough for me. Thanks again
Dave
Thanks for your prayers. Hopefully I'll be back to work soon so that I can get a few more things that I need.
Peace,
Dave
Dear David,
The problem since birth or otherwise, Keep feeding and bombarding yourself with very positive thoughts. I have just successfully completed a course on Hypnotherapy, where I learnt the tremendous power of our inner or subconsious mind. It really is amazing. The things we did and saw being done, even without a Hypnotic trance, were just unimaginable. I am extremely happy that I am able to achieve some of these and confident enough to try the other methods and acts. Remember dear, what Nepolean said, "NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE IN THIS WORLD." Wish you the best of everything in life.
Vijay
Hello everyone,
I just wanted to take a moment to say thank you for all of your kindness and support. I think think I have all that I need to play with now. I have made a couple of small pieces that I have posted on my page at LE. I hope you can stop by and check them out. If you would like to see them, and cant get on LE, just let me know and I'll e-mail them to you. Again, I truely thank you from the bottom of my heart. As far as my AVM goes, well it's a waiting game now. I can't seem to find a Dr. that can operate. Well take care.
Peace
Dave
http://www.lampworketc.com/forums/member.php?u=16614
Hello everyone,
I just wanted to take a minute to let everyone know what my progress is. The Dr.'s have decided to do open brain surgery to remove my AVM. I'm pretty nervous. I'll include a link to my AVM page, in case anyone wants to learn more or follow my progress. I really want to give my thanks for all that everyone here has done to help me and all the kind words and inspiration. When I have time, I just go through all of your work, and only wish that maybe one day I might be able to make some things worth showing. My biggest worry with this operation is there is a 50/50 chance that I might be paralyzed on my left side. But, at least I won't ever have to worry about this doing even worse damage. Again, my thanks to everyone (especially Kathleen, Rochelle, and Godo for the things you sent). Please keep me in mind and prayers and positive energy.
Peace
Dave
http://www.avmsurvivors.org/profile/DavidLovins