Nebraska Landscape Commissioned Lightbox

Detail of fused glass hills, mosaic flowers,
painted church and cloud.

During my last visit to Flowing Stone Art Gallery in Beatrice, Nebraska, I was able to slip into the public library to see my piece installed. The remodeling of the library has taken a bit longer than planned, so the piece has been waiting to go up for awhile. It looks so great on the wall, all lit up in it's own framed light box. I heard that the family who commissioned it was all really excited to see it and happy with how it turned out. It's a memorial piece for their father, and they all agreed that he would have been very happy with it.

Installed on a basement wall within a light box.

The window is a combination of techniques in glass. The whole thing is leaded together in the traditional leaded glass technique. The cloud and the church are painted on with stained glass paints that are fired in the kiln to be permanent. The flowers are glass on glass (GOG) mosaics, glued and grouted, then leaded into the panel. The landscape glass is all fused glass, with several bits of glass tacked together to make it layered and textured.

To view the window in person, visit the newly remodeled Beatrice Public Library.

Mosaic Stepping Stones with Girl Scouts

As a Girl Scout Community Collaborator, I work with Girl Scout troops to create glass art. Sometimes we meet for glass fusing, but this post is about mosaic stepping stones...

I prep the paver stones, so we're ready to get started when you get here.

There are a few different approaches to making mosaic stepping stones and as an introduction to the process I choose the easiest and most accessible way! Instead of having to build upside down, pouring cement and having to wait to get your stepping stone back, we use paver stones from the hardware store. I gather all the materials and get them prepped before you show up. I choose the 6" x 8" paver stones, because that guarantees that we finish close to the 3 hour mark. After I clean the stones, I prep them with the adhesive. (It's a heat set adhesive that cures quickly to allow us to finish the class by grouting, instead of waiting for glue to dry.)

Piecing the glass together on the paver stones

Then, when you show up, we talk about how to safely "play" with glass, how to cut it with nippers and rules for arranging a mosaic and using the groutlines for design. If the weather permits, we work outside the whole time. Otherwise, we'll work in my studio. (For large groups, we meet at Architectural Glassarts.) I encourage everyone to come to class with an idea of what they might like to make: flowers, cars, animals, sun, moon, ocean, mountains, pineapple, etc. It doesn't mean you won't get inspired by the glass to make something else, but it helps get past the "creative block."

Grouting the stepping stones

After covering the paver stone with glass, it's time to pop them in the oven to cure. Then, we take a studio tour, and I talk more about glass and different things you can do with it. If you'd prefer to make this snack time, we can definitely do that, too! We have about 30 minutes to wait while the stones heat up and then cool back down and are ready to grout. Then it's time to get dirty! You may want to wear clothes that can get stained...

Stepping stones finished in 3 hours

We grout in the grass because it's super easy to clean up that way. I show you how to mix the grout and help you to get the right consistency. Then, we spread the grout across our pieces. It needs to sit for 5-10 minutes before we can polish it off and make the glass shine and sparkle, but then we're finished and the stones are ready to take home with the girls!

Beautiful flower stepping stone

If this is something you'd like to do with your Girl Scout troop, please contact me for a list of available dates. Current pricing is $25 a girl, which is a steal!

May Exhibition at Meadowlark Coffee

During the month of May, I'll have some of my fused glass, stained glass and mosaics on display at Meadowlark Coffee in Lincoln, Nebraska. My friend Lilith has hung her paintings alongside my work, and I think they complement each other nicely.

If you're in Lincoln, stop by and check it out while having a cuppa joe or tea!

Sculptural Stained Glass Mirror Project Complete

Remember this post from February? Yeah, neither did I, apparently! I began documenting the process of creating this fabulous mirror for the "Stars Are Out" gala supporting the Memories in the Making art program for the The Independence House (a care facility in Lincoln, Nebraska) and the Nebraska Alzheimer Association. Then, I got really busy with about a hundred other things all at once!

Well, I'm happy to say that the mirror turned out fabulously...

At the Artists' Reception with my mirror

(photograph by Julie Lemons)

I was able to get a photograph of the mirror before letting it go to get auctioned off. The gala was a success and a lot of fun, to boot! My husband tagged along and my friend, Julie took a great photo of the both of us:)

 

Sculptural Stained Glass Mirror Project

I've volunteered to participate in an upcoming fundraiser for The Independence House (a care facility in Lincoln, Nebraska) and the Nebraska Alzheimer Association for their arts program, which engages the residents with various art projects. We, the artists, have each chosen a piece of artwork created by a resident and will be creating a companion piece to be auctioned off at the spring gala.

I had a few different ideas for the project, but it wasn't until I found the mirror (via FreeCycle - donated by a generous family whose aunt is struggling with dementia) that I was able to pull the pieces together.

I gathered my materials together: the antique mirror (dated 1947 on the backside), a fused glass flower cast with frit (donated by a fellow glass artist, Ed Breed), and some stained glass (also a donation from a high school friend, who had to clean house for a friend who died of cancer).


After playing around with the materials, I came up with a general idea for placement.


Jump ahead to post cutting and grinding the glass. I foiled it while watching re-runs of the new Battlestar Galactica. Then, even though I had a rough pattern, the only way that made sense for me to continue was to assemble the leaves into garlands.


So, I soldered and built the garlands, one leaf at a time.





Next, I need to wrap the mirror in lead and figure out the pattern for the glass frame. Keep an eye out:)

A Trip to New Hope

In the rest period between Christmas celebrations and New Year's Eve, the in-laws, my husband and I took a drive to New Hope, Pennsylvania, a quaint little artsy community across the Delaware River from New Jersey. Last year, we took the trip in colder weather, and my treasure included a new wardrobe of vintage clothing from a fabulous little clothing store there, Night Bird Vintage Clothing.
This year, however, I wanted to go back to the Topeo Gallery which is jam packed with gorgeous, contemporary stained glass windows, mosaic mirrors, fused glass art, and hot glass treasures!

I love these kiln cast pieces, but forgot to see who the artist was!
(UPDATE: Thanks to a commenter who let me know that these pieces are by Susan Gott)
For a virtual walk through of the gallery, check out some of the artists below:

Little River Hot Glass Studio - These ornaments were the whole reason I wanted to come back!!!
Thomas Meyers Studios - Mosaic Mirrors that incorporate iridized glass, dichroic glass, fused glass elements, textured and painted sheet glass with beveled mirrors
Chickadee Studios - A mother/daughter team of lampworkers creating playfully elegant jewelry
Rollin Karg - Hot glass artist out of Wichita, Kansas. Watch several video clips of the hot glass process on his site.
Mary Darwell - You NEED to see this intricately beaded jewelry!
Zweifel Art Glass - Beautific iridescent, almost carnival glass-esque blown vessels
Richard Satava - Of course, there are the famous jellyfish!
Momo Glass - Unique enameled recycled glass jewelry
e.b. glassworks - Fantabulous swirly perfume bottles and ornaments
Kliszewski Glass - Colorful, whimsical blown glass vessels



Read a little more about Topeo Gallery and other New Hope attractions at That New Hope Blog.

2010 Las Vegas Glass Expo

While traveling through the skies to New Jersey (to visit my husband's family for the holidays), I was reading the latest issue of Glass Patterns Quarterly. I enjoy reading all the articles, but I also scour each page for the ads, as well. When I came upon the new Las Vegas Glass Craft and Bead Expo ad, I was surprised to see that I was nationally published!!


See my stained glass windows? Yea!!! Granted they were images that were submitted for the class schedule from the year before (I assisted teacher Michele Mitcavish with her No Days Glaze classes and made the samples), but I was exuberant nonetheless!

Barring unforeseen events, I'll be attending the Glass Expo again this year to help with classes again. So, I thought I'd check out the list of classes and share the ones that I thought sounded intriguing:

Of course, I'll begin with the classes where you may find me assisting ;)

****All class descriptions are from the Glass And Bead Expo Class Listings for Website****
Note: WE - Wednesday, TH - Thursday, FR - Friday, SA - Saturday

WE-40 LEADING THE NO DAYS WAY
9:00am–5:00pm Michele Mitcavish REPEATED: Friday, FR-24
SOME LEADING EXPERIENCE NECESSARY. BEGINNER SKILL LEVEL
Leaded stained glass can be a labor of love. Finished stained glass panels often take your breath away, unfortunately, so can the glazing and cleaning process. Labor costs soar from the hours involved in the cleaning and setting time, which may result in the loss of a client. Streuter Technologies has developed an innovative and time saving glazing system that removes a lot of the labor involved in leaded glass. This system introduces heat, replacing the putty process that seals and supports the finished window for indoor and outdoor use. This class will take you through a small leaded project which will include glass cutting, leading and the No Days Glaze process. Other topics will include repairs, reinforcement and the complete line of glazing sizes and colors. You will come out of this class with the skill of creating the No Days Glaze way. Students bring: Glass cutter, running pliers, breaking grozers, leading hammer, safety glasses, lead nippers, soldering iron and stand, metal ruler.
Class Limit: 10............................ $250.00

TH-39 FUSION INCLUSION
9:00am-5:00pm Michele Mitcavich (it's Mitcavish, BTW)
ALL SKILL LEVELS
Did you think fusing is just for fusers? Fusing only to make dishes or jewelry? Well it is not. I have been in the glass industry for 17 years and have learned a variety of glass utilizing them while working for a Public Glass artist. I now teach my method of mixing all those techniques to those who are tired of the confines of manufactured glass. Whether you are a stained glass artist, fuser or glass painter I want to show you how to look at a piece of art and transcribe it into a unique glass piece. In class we will be using clear Bullseye and translucent glass powders to create your own elements to be included into your own stained glass or fused glass piece. This class will be for any type of glass craftsmen out there and will be focused on opening you eyes to the innovative ways layer, fusing, laminating and other techniques are used to create a piece of fine art. I hope that you will come out of the class inspired. There will be a discussion of multiple techniques used in public art installation, like the use of optically clear glues for laminating on multiple layers of tempered glass, that we will cover also. Come ready for this intensive course in seeing glass in all
the art around you. Students bring: Glass cutting tools, safety glasses and dust mask. Bring artwork they would like to discuss as a potential future glass piece.
Class Limit: 10 ........................... $250.00

SA-24 MOSAIC THE NO DAYS WAY
8:00am-4:00pm Michele Mitcavish
ALL SKILL LEVELS
Those of you who teach classes know that having to split a class into multiple days can lose students. Waiting for glue to dry is one of the biggest culprits in delaying a class. Also if you are off-site teaching and you have to transport multiple pre-fired glass pieces, you may have had plenty of glass destroyed by a quick stop. Streuter Technologies has developed a heat set adhesive that will take the waiting out of finishing that mosaic project. In this class you will create a mosaic using a variety of fused glass pieces and broken glass we will provide. Due to the requests of last year’s students we have made this class a full day. We will not only be giving you a larger flat project to work on we will also have multiple demonstrations planned for you. Some of the things demonstrated will be the use of the No Days Mesh for wall surfaces, working on 3-D objects like clay pots and gluing glass on glass and using the Morton portable glass shop. Also if you avoid mosaics because of the mess the grout makes, I will be showing you what I call my dry grout method. Last year everyone said this alone was worth the price of admission, you will have your grouting and clean up done in minutes instead of hours. Students bring: mosaic nippers, metal ruler, glass cutting tools, black sharpie, safety glasses.
Class Limit: 10........................... $250.00

And then...the classes that I would LOVE to attend (Make sure to click through on the links to learn more about the artists that will be teaching and see some fabulous pictures):

WE-42 MICRO-MACRO MOSAICS
9:00am-5:00pm Gina Hubler REPEATED: Saturday, SA-25
Join Gina Hubler of the Miami Mosaic Academy in creating Micro-Macro Mosaics inspired by the Vatican studios and their artisans. We will use smalti filati, and other glass inclusions, creating small masterworks with a contemporary spin. Learn the history of this art form, and the mystique behind the creation of this specific style of mosaic. With only two major collections world wide, this is a style with limited exposure! We will work hand-on with a mural style project, as well as a functional micro-macro inclusion mosaic during our classtime. This is a chance to work with smalti filati, and develop your own style of setting with classical and contemporary tooling. Known as the souvenirs of the “Grand Tour” of Europe during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, we will reinvent our own! Students bring: Magnifying glass, or Mag-eyes type magnification. Class Limit: 15........ $265.00

WE-43 FRITOGRAPHY
10:00am–5:00pm Michael Dupille REPEATED: Thursday, TH-28
The painterly use of crushed glass frits and powders has opened up a whole new world of artistic imagery. Anything is possible when working with small particles of glass from tight, photo-realism to loose impressionism. Working in the panel format, you will learn how to control color density, shading, soft and hard edge lines and some unique specialty looks. This class will focus on the principles of multiple firing to create a rich, vibrant panel piece. There will be enough studio time to experiment with some technique pieces to assure a greater understanding of the process and how to create a palette. Just imagine how you can expand these techniques to creating unbelievable wall pieces, tiles and continuous murals. As one of the early kiln working artists, Michael has pioneered this and many other glass working processes. His dynamite slide show will inspire as well as educate. He does request that only those with previous fusing experience take this class. Students bring: notebook and writing implement, basic glass tools, and a couple of simple photos or images to work from.
Class Limit: 12........................... $285.00

WE-45 FACETED DICHROIC GLASS PENDANTS
9:00am–5:00pm Kent Lauer REPEATED: Thursday, TH-40
BEGINNER
Join Master Beveler Kent Lauer for this brand new one-day class. You'll make beautiful, faceted Dichroic glass pendants and learn awesome cold working techniques. This exciting hands-on class will cover all aspects of creating these breathtaking pendants, from cutting 1/4" thick glass with a diamond ring saw, to laminating and beveling. A thin layer of Dichroic glass will be laminated between two layers of beautiful Starphire glass, then ground and polished into an incredible jewel. No glass cutting experience required. Class size is limited to ensure individual attention, and each student will have access to a 12" lap wheel. Students will have the opportunity to make several pendants of various shapes.
Class Limit: 6.............................. $325.00

WE-04 KILN FORMED BRACELETS - THE FORMING CLASS
9:00am–4:00pm Jayne Persico REPEATED: Thursday, TH-03
INTERMEDIATE
An introduction to an innovative way of forming glass bracelets. This technique was developed by Jayne, and she designed the metal molds and tools used to support this process. In this class students will work with pre-fired components, creating two bracelets and a watch. She will teach you sizing and bracelet forming as well as the wiring techniques to complement and complete each design. Students bring: safety glasses, wire wrapping pliers (Miniature Needle Nose, Round Nose and Flush Cutters), a watch face and Magnifying Glasses (if needed).
Class Limit: 12............................ $280.00

TH-21 STAINED GLASS CABINET DOOR DESIGNS
9:00am-1:00pm Denny Berkery
Come learn everything you wanted to know about stained glass cabinet doors from the author of "300 Stained Glass Cabinet Door Designs." Author Denny Berkery will discuss every aspect of creating glass for cabinet doors including door prep, design considerations, glass selection and installation. We will have time for design work and we will discuss strategies for marketing your creations to cabinet companies, builders, etc. Students bring: drawing tools and paper.
Class Limit: 20............................ $135.00

FR-01-A THE POWER OF POWDERS
1.5-Day Class Gail Stouffer Part 1 Friday 8:00am-4:00pm Part 2 Saturday 9:00am-1:00pm
INTERMEDIATE
Want to get the most out of working with glass powders? Learn to create imagery, depth, and drama in your work by incorporating exciting powder techniques. Students will learn to create Powder Wafers for small and large projects, explore crackled powder techniques, experience layering powders for depth, making pattern bars with powder, and more. This specialty class will show you the true power that adding powder can have! Students bring: Safety glasses.
Class Limit: 15............................ $375.00

FR-43 "VERRE' EGLOMISE"
Have a blast with Verre'Eglomise & Float Glass
8:00am-4:00pm Peggy Pettigrew-Stewart REPEATED: Saturday, SA-27
ALL SKILL LEVELS
Each student will learn a very unique technique and process to create stunning glass. This process can be used to create a variety of glass creations (from sculptures, to functional). Vessels, large bowls, tables, furniture, even sinks. And can be used to create beautiful small art & decor as well. Each student will learn sandblasting, sandcarving and the beautiful Verre' Eglomise technique of Intaglio (reverse) glass carving. This technique will also teach each student the process of intaglio / reverse glass painting along with the inlay of exotic metals such as copper, gold or silver. This process can be combined with kiln forming to create stunning and unique glass. No experience is required. However this class is suitable for all, from beginners to professional level glass artists. Each student will take home a minimum of two completed glass pieces, including at least one large major piece. This piece will range from 12" - 16" diameter and 1/2" thick. Completed pieces can be used to create a beautiful bowl, sculpture, vessel, and more. The technique can be combined with fused or cast glass, and can be used on any type of glass. For this class we will be working with thick float glass. This is a technique that will change the students glass art forever. The students will be able to return home with the skills, knowledge and ability to continue using this unique technique. It is an incredible process that allows all to create unique glass art. You can use this process to make large or small pieces, even furniture. But don't forget it can be used on jewelry and small decor as well. Students bring: Notebook, pencil & pen, apron (or old shirt), design ideas.
Class Limit: 10............................ $250.00

****All class descriptions are from the Glass And Bead Expo Class Listings for Website****


And this is just a FRACTION of the classes available! If I were a lampworker (and I think that one day I will branch out in that direction), then I would surely have added a few of those classes here, as well! The hollow bead class sounded interesting...perhaps next year?

Miss Carrie's Stained Glass....

I've almost finished my leaded stained glass piece to match the stained glass project that I did with the kindergarten and first graders at Salvador and McPherson Schools. I was able to grind, lead, solder, and putty all in one three hour period! Then, I polished it up for the final clean, the next day. Now, I just need to solder some hangers on it, so it can hang from my window, instead of sitting on the overpopulated windowsill!

My first REAL Repair

So, I've been working on stained glass pieces for a few years now. And, I have done a few repairs, but only on pieces around the house, like the broken candle box. While that was a three dimensional piece, it was a cube; making it fairly easy to repair.
This lamp, however, posed a bit of a challenge. The repair was a bit of a puzzle, really. When it first arrived at the studio, we thought that we would slide the bottom pieces off, and then slide the middle pieces out. However, after examining the piece awhile longer, I realized that it would be easier to slide the top off. Anywho, it wasn't too hard, and didn't take much more than an hour from start to finish. I think my favorite part of the whole repair process is breaking the broken pieces to get them out!
So, I think the two pieces that were broken are the two pieces just to the right of the piece that's centered in the photo. But, I did such a good job :) that I can't pick them out!!

Let's Get This Putty Started!!

So we can get it over with already!
Wow! I thought that cutting all the tiny pieces of glass was tedious. Now, I think that puttying all the little, itty, bitty, teeny, tiny spaces around the wee pieces of glass is more so!

This is definitely a messy job, but a friend of mine has stated, "Art should be messy!" :) Well, then, this is a masterpiece!

I've finished putty-ing perhaps one half of one side. These first two pictures show the putty that has been applied and already cleaned up a bit with a toothpick to reuse some of the putty that was clumped on.

This third picture shows the edges that still need putty, just for reference. So, I had thought that I may go into the studio today to continue putty-ing. But, when I work my "real" job in the evenings, it's hard to commit the other half of my day to the studio. So, if I have a spare moment, after Todd and I run to the store to pick up pizza and salad fixin's, I may head out to the garage to cut some strips of glass for my next plate.

All done soldering...

The Beginning Fused Glass class is finished, so with tonight's Tuesday night Independent Study session, I both began and finished soldering the joints of my Frank Lloyd Wright Stained Glass Window. Now, all I do is putty and polish!
Unfortunately, my fiance and myself both are of the opinion that "our" (read "his") camera is dying. Not only has it stopped registering preview mode, it is only taking smaller pictures. What this means to you and me? No detail shots:(
But, on the plus side, look how fabulously perfect and clean my solder joints are! Of course, no one can prove me wrong, so I must be right:)
I may go in tomorrow to begin putty-ing. However, seeing as how I set my own schedule,

I may feel like playing with glass in the garage, beginning one of the myriad of projects I have lined up.
Also, tomorrow is gym day. I love going to the climbing gym here in Napa (Rockzilla) with Todd! My arms are really getting some definition; I can see triceps! I absolutely hate exercise for exercise's sake. Thus, I play soccer and climb walls:)

Ready to Solder!

Woo-hoo! This morning's three hour studio session witnessed me finishing the final pieces of lead being cut and placed...
I've almost finished cutting the zinc edge came with the handy dandy little powerhouse saw that Michele has at the studio, and everything fits perfectly.
Being so close to being done makes me begin to dream about my next project.
So far, I've got a couple of kilncasting ideas, four stained glass windows to choose from, a bag of bottles to etch, strips of glass to cut for my next plate idea...
Hmmm...where to begin? At the beginning?

Zipping right along...

Well, it won't be long before I'm ready to solder the joints of the lead came together.

Tuesday, I worked for another three hours in the studio and finished almost all of the mitred cuts that are left to make in the came.
I imagine that I'll finish up on this coming Tuesday.
Then, it's time to pull out the solder.
After that, I'll putty, then polish...
Yea! I'm so close to being done.

I'm getting ready to start my next piece already!

Prairie Window Continued...

I'm getting quicker! Yesterday, in the three hour period that I was in the studio, I finished almost the entire (center left) row of diamonds and small mitred cuts of lead pictured here:


The previous row took me twice as long! To see previous stages check here and here and here and lastly, here.

Each time I go into the studio to work on the piece, I devote a three hour period to working on the window. If I stay longer, my patience thins, and I start to make imprecise cuts. Yesterday, however, I felt as if I could keep on going. But, I stopped nonetheless.

Just looking at the pictures makes me want to get into the studio and work on the piece some more... I think I may be coming addicted to leaded stained glass!

Raffle Necklace for GGE

I recently received an email from Mandy Van Deven, the Associate Director/Community Organizing Coordinator for Girls for Gender Equity in NYC, asking for items to be included in a raffle for a fundraising event that's coming up in July.



From the website: "Girls for Gender Equity is committed to improving the physical, psychological, social and economic development of girls and women. Through education, organizing, and physical fitness, Girls for Gender Equity encourages communities to remove barriers and create opportunities for girls and women to live self-determined lives."

I did a little research and checked out their website to see what the group is all about: afterschool leadership programs, basketball, soccer, boxing, self defense classes...The list goes on. This is a group dedicated to making a positive impact in the lives of young women.


So, I decided to send a piece to be included in the raffle. This is one of my newer necklace designs, incorporating stained glass into jewelry. I soldered the lotus/fuschia-inspired flower pendant with Silvergleem, a lead-free, super-shiny solder composed of tin and silver, added Czech fire-polished Aurora Borealis beads, and finished with a rubber "chain" and sterling silver components.
I made the necklace 17" long, but since it's for a raffle and whoever ends up with it may need a longer length, I added a chain extender to each clasp (there are two). So, the necklace extends to approximately 19".
This is the first necklace that I've incorporated chain extenders into, and I like the outcome. They add a little extra flair while serving to make the piece more versatile. I'll definitely be adding this technique into future necklaces.

Frank Lloyd Wright Prairie Window

Still working on the window.
I went into the studio today for another three hours.

So, I did get more done in this session than I did last week. Plus, I cleaned out the bottoms of the glass grinders. They needed it!

Yesterday, I worked at home in my garage studio.
I soldered some more pendants, plus I worked on these nifty window tassels:

This is an updated photo, so you'll also notice the beaded suncatcher I recently made hanging in the middle along with a glass ball made by Saint Helena glass artist Ed Breed.

The triangles are purple and cream and look great in the sunroom!

I go back to the studio later tonight. But, before I leave, I'm going to thumb through a book I checked out at the library about Tibetan symbols and meanings. I've got a great idea for some stained glass prayer flags...

View of a Prairie Window

I've been wanting to take pictures of the Frank Lloyd Wright Prairie Window that I've been working on for the last month, but keep forgetting to bring the camera with me when I'm at the studio. Then last week, I remembered to take the camera to the studio to take pictures of my window all cut up, but alas! I forgot the camera battery.

So, I began leading the window, figuring it will be awhile before I finish. I'm bound to get a picture of it at some point. Of course, I was right! It will take awhile before I finish.
Here are the before pictures I took at the studio on Tuesday:

Tuesday afternoons, from 11:00am to 2:00pm, are Independent Study times. In three hours, this is what I accomplished:
See the little area in the middle? The approximately 3" by 7" area with all the mitred cuts, and tiny pieces?!? Yup, this will definitely take awhile to finish.
Fortunately, it's a somewhat meditative process, and I enjoy it - in 3 hour sessions.

Previous posts:
http://www.calyxann.com/2007/04/picture-of-prairie-window.html

Di Rosa Preserve Open to Public!

The Di Rosa Preserve "encompasses 53 acres, including a 35-acre lake, plus 162 acres of natural wildlife preserve, all under Napa County Land Trust open space protection. Holdings include Milliken Peak and a stunning variety of habitats such as oak woodland, native grasses, ferns, herbs and wildflowers."

More than that, though, the Preserve is the legacy of Rene di Rosa and a treasure of art and architecture. According to one of the volunteers, there are more than 900 artists with 2000 pieces on display.

Normally, to see the entire grounds, you need to schedule a tour and are guided through the large museum of pieces that Mr. di Rosa has collected throughout his lifetime. But, Sunday was a different story. There were throngs of people wandering about, taking in the more than 2000 pieces of art adorning the walls and ceilings of the former di Rosa residence, hanging on the walls of the two galleries, and spotting the prairie garden. There was even a cow that walked on water!

My favorite of the glass art pieces was the glass chapel. It was beautifully leaded with poppies and irises. Aside from the glass being beautiful, the architecture of the house itself was amazing. Here's a detailed view of one of the apexes:

Another glass piece in the sculpture pasture was this glass pyramid that combined sandblasted glass and dichroic glass pieces to surround a rock that rested within a circle of broken glass bits. There were several petroglyph-like symbols left in the negative space surrounded by the sandblasted glass. The dichroic glass was attached with glue (UV glue is my guess) in areas of the base glass that were not sandblasted, creating windows for the sun to shine through and cast pinks, blues, greens, and yellows onto the rock below.
To the left is a picture of part of the pasture with a view of the hilly vineyards surrounding it. (The winery at the top of the hill is Artesa.)


And, of course, if you're going to have a sculpture garden in the wine country, you must have a house made of bottles!

I ventured inside, warily, to check out the granite slabs that were etched with a verse,

something to the effect of, "I remember the place of my birth."
But, unfortunately I didn't write it down, and so cannot remember it...
Ah! My mind, the steel trap.

Not glass, but provoking and somewhat eerie - though I suppose it would be close to frightening if viewed under a full moon - were the ghostly hands coming up out of the ground in the middle of a patch of California poppies.

There was so much art to see that the mere two hours we were able afford was a pittance. I had to rush off to work, so my visit was cut short, although the Preserve was closing down at that time anyway. This is definitely a day trip we will return to with visitors to the valley. Another one of the wonderful things to do in Napa when you get tired of wine tasting.

Art Nouveau "Hanging Gardens" Necklace

My newest listing on Etsy, I've finished the third of my Art Nouveau-inspired stained glass necklaces. Although, the first two were gone before I was able to take pictures! Oops!
Spring Cleaning is in full force, so there's not much to add to this post, except that the bathrooms and the kitchen are clean!! Yea!