Fine Wine, Bassets, and Me!

Today is the Anniversary of my birth and as time passes, I feel like I am maturing as a fine wine. In this case, a bottle of wine from Argentina, Dona Paula Shiraz - Malbec 2006, is pictured with me and our youngest basset, Sir Isaac Newton, R.N. Dan just took this picture and I wanted to do something fun for this post...no I have not had any wine....yet. Maybe later this evening.

As I look back on my journey through this life, I am thankful for all that I have learned and experienced thus far. There have been peaks and valleys, as everyone experiences, but all of my life experiences have made me the person I am today. I'm grateful for all of those who have mentored me. I look forward to all that is to come. I know that the day I stop learning is the day I die.

We only have the present and I can't wait to experience what the future holds. I'm off to my studio to start working on a new idea. Life is a blast...cherish it and those around you.

Life, Karma, and the Universe

A couple of weeks ago, some friends of ours had a break in, burglary at their home. No one has been caught. Many theories. All of the jewelry is gone. The reality of insurance coverage, loss, personal violation has set in.

I really didn't know if my glass jewelry was something that she would like, but I offered to her husband (a co-worker at my day job) a choice from some of my latest pendants. My gift to his wife, if it was something he thought she would like. He chose this pendant and she loved it...to my delight.

The day after he gave this to his wife, he asked me what my 'ranking' was of this particular pendant, among the others I presented. I told him it was in the top three of my favorites. He smiled and shared that she was so happy with it and her co-workers wanted to know where they could get one for their own. How nice.

So I am calling this one, Karma. Life is a series of choices. Good Karma, Bad Karma. The universe ebbs and flows. I enjoy the knowledge that I have brought some happiness into someone's life during a time of personal adversity.

Soul Mate - #7 in the Series

I'd like to introduce number 7 in my Symbols of Love series....this is Soul Mate. This little guy intrigued me from the moment I took him out of the kiln. There was something about the shape, the colors...so very soft, subtle, gentle. I knew I couldn't part with him and this delicate heart inspired another way to wire wrap for me.

I found my Soul Mate in life, more precious than any bauble, the man who is my best friend and husband. I hope you have found yours. I'm dedicating this heart to him.

One of Today's Projects

Sometimes I think I have too many irons in the fire. It was a busy day of creativity and I felt totally immersed at times. LOVE IT!

One of today's projects was the painting of the branches and the leaf outlines for the big bowl in my Aspen Branch Series. I took a picture of it after the painting was complete and I was getting ready to fire the kiln so the paint would fuse to the glass. I found myself being less timid with the painting process and the effects that I added to the leaves. I'm happy with the results and hope they look good when the firing is complete. If I like the results, then tomorrow I will do the slump of this into the mold and it will become part of my update portfolio. I've considered that I may need to tweak the lines some if I'm not satisfied with how they look, and that would mean another firing...delaying the slumping part for a day.

I'm continuing to work on hearts. I'm focusing on wire wrapping them at this time and they will go out to my Esty store. Next weekend, I purchased a spot for their Valentine's showcase. This is the first time I've tried this avenue to get noticed on Etsy and I've read mixed results from people who have done that. So, I will see how it works and do my best to have plenty of hearts if there is a big demand for them.

And I even managed to do some house work today; not one of my favorite activities, but I love the results.

Majestic Heart ~~ Symbols of Love

Another Heart from my Symbols of Love series. This one is fairly large, with some dichroic inclusions. I added one of my last heart shaped leaf bails to it. It looked so regal to me that I called it Majestic Heart. It's number 20 in the series and is available through Second Street Art Market.

I plan on making more hearts this weekend, in the main color pallet and some of my new colors too. I have some new ideas for other pendants and will do a few of those as prototypes to see how they turn out.

Featured on Paragon's Fusion 8 Page

The folks at Paragon have been wonderful to work with. Arnold Howard, with Paragon, asked if I would like one of my pieces featured on the page with the kiln model I use, the Fusion 8. I said "Yes" and he updated the page today! I'm just thrilled to have one of my pieces on their website. Click here to go to the page, scroll down to the bottom, and one of my plates, with description is there.

Thank you Arnold for this opportunity!

And I LOVE my Fusion 8 too.

Symbols of Love ~~ New Colors

Here are a couple of the new colors in my Symbols of Love Series. I call the green one, Heart of the Forest. It has an emerald green inclusion and I thought the heart shaped leaf bail fit nicely.









The next one I call True Blue Heart. This is a rich, deep blue, with a few more dichroic inclusions. I wire wrapped this and added complimentary colored Swarovski crystals.







Another shade of blue, this one a little more subtle, called Steadfast Heart.










And this is a lovely shade of lavender. One of the new shades from Bullseye Glass this year. It's very rich looking and the picture just doesn't do it justice. I called this one, Heart's Desire.

All of these went to Second Street Art Market today. I hope they will be well received as I enjoy making them.



My plan is to add more colors, depending on the response to these. In the meantime, I will continue to work with the original red/pink glass as I think those hearts are wonderful.

I'd love to know your thoughts on the new colors... Do you like them? Stick with the originals? I appreciate your feedback. Thanks!

Fit for a Queen ~ Symbols of Love

I've been busy working with my Symbols of Love this weekend. The batch with colors other than the red/pink/white I've been using turned out well, however I needed to fire polish them after doing some coldworking to them. I hope to post pictures of a few of them tomorrow.

For now I thought I would share another wire wrapped one. This time I used gold filled wire. I looked at this one an thought it looked like it had a bit of a crown with the way I decorated the top, so that is how I came up with the name, Fit for a Queen. This one heads to the gallery, Second Street Art Market, on Tuesday.

My Kiln is Back in Business!

Over the past couple of months, my kiln has experienced some down time. Fortunately, repairs and turn around time has been fairly quick.

Here is a picture of more heart pendants and a couple of my talisman/amulet work, prior to fusing.

I visited with the gallery owner yesterday and she definitely likes the heart pendants, so I will be taking a variety in next week.

Prior to meeting with her, another idea came to me....why couldn't the hearts be in other colors besides pink and red? As a result, I mentioned that I would have them in other colors and she like that idea too. Today's fuse has blue, green, purple, and yellow hearts. I'm anxious to see how they turn out and that will have to wait until tomorrow when the fusing is complete. My Symbols of Love Series is growing.

Loving Heart ~ Symbols of Love

I think I have started to loose count, but I believe this is #5 in my series, Symbols of Love. I call this one, Loving Heart. It's the first one I wire wrapped. I used square instead of round wire this time. Experimenting, part of my creative process. It has a few pieces of dichroic frit and I love the effect. This one goes in my personal collection.

In the News

The follow up article about how my business is doing was published in The Tri Lakes Tribune and they have posted it online. Just a brief mention, under September, so you have to scroll to the bottom of the web page. It's nice to have a bit of publicity.

Peace Offering - Complete

Here she is. Completed and framed with sunlight truly bringing her to life. Milo Stephen's painting (shown just below) and now in stained glass. Even if I do say so myself, I think she is gorgeous. It's been such fun working on this piece and seeing her come to life in glass. I just love the glass, especially the red background.



Now I get to enjoy the wonderful state of "makarios", which Aristotle used to define the highest human happiness. I love that feeling when I finish a piece of stained glass.

Be Mine ~ Symbols of Love Collection

Here's the fifth in my Symbols of Love Collection. This is a very dainty heart with some rich deep red, mingled with white and transparent glass. I love how small and delicate this one is. I used a ruby colored satin cord for the necklace this time. This series is really a lot of fun for me and I plan on cutting more hearts out tonight and fusing them tomorrow. Thank goodness I have a small kiln as a back up for my jewelry pieces. My large kiln, the circuit board (new as of November), is having troubles again. Fortunately, the manufacturer is working with me and a new circuit board will head my way on Monday. In the interim, I'm using the small kiln and that helps keep my creativity moving.

Keeper of My Heart

The fourth in my series, Symbols of Love. I found some beautiful satin cord and thought that would make a nice diversion for some of these heart pendants. This one has some beautiful deep red to it and the satin cord is a merlot color.

I am very happy to report that my very first heart to sell, Pink is the One, was purchased by fellow artist and friend, Karen Phipps. Thank you Karen!! It's on its way to the windy city! :)

An Amulet - Spring Flowers

I think I'm starting to develop my style for this type of pendant. They are great fun to put together as I never know exactly how the glass will shape as it fuses. I see lots of little flowers as a result of the dichroic and stringers that I use. This one reminded me of a bouquet of spring flowers....although Spring is not even close to making an appearance here in Colorado. Our temperatures are suppose to warm up to the 40's starting on Wednesday....maybe my kiln will feel like firing again!!!

Peace Offering - Soldered

I just finished soldering "Peace Offering". Sadly, there was no sunlight today, so the picture was taken with artificial light and really doesn't do her justice. This was taken right before I applied some pewter patina, which creates a really nice aged affect to the solder lines. The patina needs to set for 24 hours. Then I will begin the final cleaning, which involves waxing the glass and the solder lines. This not only protects the surface, but adds a lovely sheen. The next picture I will post of her will be when she is framed in the oak frame I have AND there is actual sunlight to show her true beauty.

Symbols of Love ~~ Pink is the One

Here is the second in my new Symbols of Love series. This time I used a bail that has Celtic design to it. This little heart is so delicate and has a bit of marbling (pink and white) from the fusing process. I love the delicate colors, along with the added touch of a piece of dichroic glass. I called this one, "Pink is the One". I sometimes struggle what to call things, but that jumped in my head as I was looking at it.

And here's another amulet, I called this one, "Guardian of my Heart". I saw this erethreal creature guarding the dichroic heart. Healthy imagination here. :)

Symbols of Love ~~ A New Series

I had the concept the other day for a new series of pendants. Here is one of the results. This is from my Symbols of Love series. Glass hearts, which I drew free hand on the glass itself. I tend to see shapes in glass and this piece of Bullseye glass was no different. So as I cut one heart, another 'appeared'. I have about 12 of them now....some are still waiting to be fused. Once again, it's so cold out in the garage, that my attempts with the space heater to warm things to a point where I can fire my big kiln, have not worked.

So here's the first in the series, I called this one Heart's Embrace. I'm normally not a heart pendant person, but for some reason I find these very interesting. Probably has something to do with my glass addiction!

Peace Offering - Work In Progress, Foil Complete

I just finished putting copper foil around all of the cut pieces in "Peace Offering". She's ready for soldering, which I plan on starting tomorrow. Thought I would show a couple of different views as I'm trying to show the beautiful colors.

I'm really anxious to see the light coming through this one. Well, I'm anxious to see the light coming through all of my stained glass windows when I'm at this stage of the work. The glass I chose for this piece is so rich and colorful. I hope to have it ready for framing this weekend and will be posting more pictures of the final completion stages.

Happy 2009 everyone!