SPRING HAS ARRIVED

I’m so excited about these new pieces and they are way fun to make…

This is what I did this week..

SAND, SODA, & a TWIST of LIME

I have been invited to participate in a Colorado glass artists show in the Canyon Gallery in Boulder and created this piece to show what I am up to these days.  It looks to be a really nice show and i’m proud to be a part of it.  Always exposure is good and showing with all these folks is special.

Magless Project 2008

The Warm Glass board did a fun project that I took part in consisting of making 125 magnets without the magnets, hence magless.  I chose to do mine trying out various paints used in glass.  125 pieces of anything is lots even if they are only 1.5″ x 1.5″ big.  I did them in batches of 6 using the same color combos for that many.  I did learn lots about the different colors and how they worked with each other…

 

Finally a new post and project…

It’s been a while and I forgot how to add a post…Umm I guess I need to do this more often.

 I did finally finish my self-portrait for the warm glass site and am happy with it but already I see things I would change.  This was a challenge putting together previously fused pieces into a tack fired whole.  I played with many different kinds of paints with different fusing temps, frits that I use often and a cast small heart.  Loved the project and hope to do more soon.

Something for the Season

Turning out some new work, actually a design I came up with for 2006, but a new twist for 2007.

Another little piece I’m working on and can’t wait to get new paints I have ordered to brighten up the leaf pattern……

 

 This I call Leaf Dance and the leaves are stenciled on with coral frit, but I think they need a little more punch so maybe some paint airbrushed on instead of or with..I do like the colors at this time of year.

Sometimes it just doesn’t work the way you want it…

It is about time I showed these huge mistakes, and we are supposed to learn from this stuff, even tho it way hurts.  This was a project for a design center showroom (36 x 28 x 1/2″) that I tried 3 times.  The first I went up too fast to slump it, the second I slowed down the ramp and it turned out beautiful, then when I drilled the drain we got a crack that went up about 2″ from there… Since the ramp had worked for the second, I repeated it and we did this again in the ramp up… still too fast up and the second had been a fluke, I guess.  So, after completing a mirror, a shelf, a backsplash and 2 lamps, I decided to cut my losses  and opt out of the design center.. I did learn that I did not want to do sinks for a living and to slooooow way down in the slump ramp for a project this size.  Lots of potmelts here……..

ghost ranch 2007

This years experience was wonderful as usual.  Going there is such a retreat away from the worldly everything and I love it.. a group of 8 of us have been going every fall for the past 9 years and we use a large studio on the upper mesa and bunk up there as far away from the main goings on as we can be.  It is beautiful and quiet and oh so inspiring to be in a studio with floor to ceiling windows with views so large and clear one can see miles.  We have to walk up and down the mesa for our meals and have daily hikes to various spots around that are beautiful as well as inspiring.  An after-lunch hike out to Georgia O’Keefes summer house and studio truly kicks your butt back to the studio to paint inspired as all get out.

This year we had 10, the biggest group we have allowed.  What a great bunch though, we all painted, painted, painted.  Only a few had Open Studios later so there wasn’t as much pressure to perform and that was nice.  Amy’s presence kept the studio buzz to a minium, the music was eclectic and I already wish I was there now again..  Next year……

Recent stuff..a hike & new gallery…

I woke up early, cleaned the kitchen, made my tea and worked on a gift certificate for Sue R then after posting a while happened to look at the clock on the computer and realized I missed my extra hour of sleep this morning….It’s only 6:10am and we had the time change last evening, I forgot.  Oh well, maby a nap today is in order. 

A call from a new gallery that wants to carry my glass came last week and I am working overtime to get work in for a good showing before the holidays.  Also need to work on ornaments for this year, somehow I can’t get into that head too early.  I do have a plan though.  Going to try some pattern bars then slice them up and put mica around the edges for a different look.  We will see. 

Mija and I went on a beautiful fall hike up near St Malos with Karen and Ruler and Noah.  We live in such a beautiful spot that we need to do such things regularly….

Another recent pic…

These are some new plates I am selling at the Boulder Arts & Crafts Gallery and they have been good to me..

fused layers of glass with paint, then slumped.

COOL, it’s working

Am I going crazy here, talking to myself was bad enough now I am writing it down…………..