Shopping with a Gift Guide...

from the Creative Glass Guild of Etsy!

Check out some of the great things I found!!!

From jsglassart,

Fall Daisy Fused Glass Magnets ($14)

So playful, and I love the bright colors, of course! Sure to brighten up any kitchen for the winter.

From nivenglassoriginals,

Blue Jay Ornament ($14)

And then, there's this cute little Blue Jay just waiting to perch on your tree...he could even dress up the windows after the tree comes down. Or, maybe nest in your house plants!

From livingglassart,

Golden Amber Starburst Stained Glass Mandala Suncatcher ($60)

If you haven't noticed, I tend towards the oranges and yellows :)

Another bright cheery flower to perk up the winter months.

(BTW, I've recently moved back to Nebraska from Napa, California, so I'll be surrounding myself with all the bright cheery things I can get my hands on to help me through this winter!)

From etherealgirls,

Blue Frida Strength Amulet Necklace ($21)

For the art lover, or more specifically, the Frida Kahlo lover...what a great little pendant and I love the oxidation on the chain that gives it a very vintage feel!

From Glassprimitif,

A l l s o r t s Cufflinks ($15)

Not sure what to get for him? I love these whimsical and playful cufflinks! Perfect for a little stocking stuffer!


There are so many great gift ideas here, you won't go wrong! Promise!

My Elegant Troll...

I started it more than four years ago, but I've finally finished putting her together! Before my evening soiree with the Lincoln Doll Club, I had but bits of troll in a bag. May I informally introduce.... Ms. TrollUp! You may not have noticed, but she's rather well-endowed. She also doesn't care much for shaving; and I totally understand that!
Like teacher, Ute Vasina, I had to be different! My "Fritz" troll is a lady troll, but as of yet, she's still a naked lady!


I fashioned my troll from the kit for "Fritz" (above) by Ute Vasina. I don't yet know her story...but I think she'll be wearing a lovely green evening gown and showing off her sexy legs!

Action, action, action!!!

Yes! Since I've got my photo area all set up, it's been no problem shooting some photos of everything I've been meaning to list but just never got around to. It's so handy having a spot all set up that I don't have to take down!
I even got this plate listed in the shop today! This is one of my favorites for entertaining because it's got three different spots for munchies!

Lights, Camera, ACTION!!!

So, I've made the move from Napa, California back to Lincoln, Nebraska and am slowly, very slowly, getting my studio set back up. But, yesterday, I finally got my lighting and photo tent set up in it's permanent location! I actually have enough room now, that I don't have to take it down and set it back up!!! Yea!!!
I was able to take a few pictures of jewelry that I've been meaning to list for a VERY long time. Now, I just need to find the box with the rest of the items that I need to photograph in it!

Napa Valley Open Studios - 2009

For the last year, I've been working with Saint Helena hot glass artist, Ed Breed. I've been learning to work with hot glass so that I can assist him in making pumpkins, glass tumblers, and vases. While he can make pumpkins by himself, it certainly is quicker and easier with an assistant. But, when making larger pieces and pieces that need to be transferred back and forth between pipe and punty, two or more people are needed to complete the process.
In the beginning, I was very timid. It's rather sketchy working with hot glass on the end of a stainless steel rod. Especially when that glass is so hot that it moves around like honey. (In fact, in the very beginning, I would practice with actual honey and a wooden skewer.) "How hot is glass when it moves like honey?" you ask. Well, it's about 2000 degrees F, or hotter. Hot enough that you probably wouldn't feel it right away, because it would burn your skin off and then the nerves as well!

So, my feeble attempts in the beginning made the work harder for Ed. The glass that I would bring him for the pumpkin stem was hot, but not nearly hot enough. He would have to pull harder than is comfortable to do repeatedly, to get a pumpkin stem...and then need a day or two to recover strength in his overworked arm muscles... (My first solo pumpkin attempts can be seen here, and are a great example of what happens when the glass isn't hot enough.)

What really helped me to get my heat right was the repeated pulling of flowers, which I really enjoy. Once I got my heat right, it was no longer a race against time with me trying to pull the glass before it got too cool to move. It was also easier for Ed and I to work as a team. Now, he could focus on blowing, and I could bring the stem when he was ready. After a year of working with Ed, I am now able to anticipate the steps, and we can work more efficiently with fewer mistakes.

Sporting my hot glass gear and my hot glass flower

Here I am at Open Studios in Napa, this year. I made the trip out to Napa, shortly after moving back to Nebraska (to be nearer to my family), to help Ed out with hot glass demos. We had a beautiful setting on the patio of Beverly Wilson's house in North Napa. We were set up outside, with Beverly showing her bright and bold Napa themed paintings both inside and out, and jewelry artist Marjorie Shachnow displaying the tools of her trade and her beautifully organic precious metal jewelry inside.

It was a hot time in the sun with the weather being over 100 degrees and the glory hole blowing 2000 degrees out at us, but we had a great turn out and a lot of friends were able to stop by and see what I've been doing.

For the demos, we pulled flowers, blew a few pumpkins, and made some drinking glasses. We were able to keep most of what we made, but the traveling hot shop's annealer is much too small to hold everything. There were several broken hearts every time we had to let a piece break open or shatter because there was no where to let it cool slowly. Below, are pictures of Ed and I making a tumbler...

Ed blowing hot glass into the shape of a tumbler using a wooden mold

After Ed has blown and shaped the glass to the point where he can go into the mold, we need to transfer it to a punty and shape the lip of the glass, knock it off and put it in the annealer to cool.

Transferring a blown glass from the pipe to the punty

Shaping the glass with a paddle and jacks

Finished glass

I really enjoyed my short California vacation and can't wait to get out there again!
As a side note, Ed can only make the drinking glasses with an assistant, and they really are beautiful and impressive when entertaining guests. Hint, hint ;)
Thanks to Erika for the great pictures of Ed and I working at Open Studios!

Ed Breed's pumpkins
(photo courtesy of Ed Breed)

Ed's "Pumpkin Patch" at Open Studios

Happiness

I made a bunch of these small fused glass pendants quite awhile back with the intention of fusing the variety of precious metal decals that I've collected. Then, I had an inspirational moment...and Voila!! I absolutely love this new design and have been experimenting with color combinations. The amber chips on this necklace work perfectly with the faceted purple glass beads, and it truly makes me happy!!

Looking at new techniques...

Have you ever looked at a piece of art and said, "I wonder if I could do that?"
Now mind you, this isn't the question, "I wonder if I could do that and make a whole bunch to sell?!?" That is copying....
I'm talking about the artist who is looking to expand the techniques in their repertoire, see's a new technique, and begins to wonder, "How could I do that?"
Then, the artist tries the technique and expands upon it, or moves on.

Well, recently, I was emailed a link to a video of hot glass artist, Cal Breed working on a piece:
(and if you have time, you should really browse his website, Orbix Hot Glass, because he's got some gorgeous stuff there.)
After watching the video, we had one of those moments that I mentioned above. I say "we" because if you've watched the video or worked with hot glass, then you realize that in order to make substantial pieces as a glass blower, you really need a team of people.
So, "we" studied the video and decided to try out the technique to see what we could come up with. And it was mighty successful, for a first attempt!
Check it out!

The outside:

The inside:

The bottom:

I really love how the addition of a bunch of globs of glass to the outside of the vessel really add to the dimensionality and depth of the piece.