Perfect Fit

When I look at my collection of clovers, I am often amazed at how they seem to elude fitting into the settings that I have to work with. Note to self: learn to make bezels. :)

This clover pressed so nicely **and** it fit in this sterling silver adjustable bezel ring. I have it on a layer of white resin with a thick clear resin cap. It is really nice. I would wear it to Las Vegas!

Musical Glass

I tend to work tiny with glass, but I find myself more and more interested in designing larger pieces. This wind chime combines so much of what I love about working with glass. Glass mixes well with metal and here I have copper wire that was formed into jump rings, copper sheet that was worked into the hanger, chain that holds it securely in the breeze. The glass is transparent, and makes the most beautiful sound when it moves and bumps into its neighbor...no need for an "excuse me" here....these pieces of glass need to be a bit clumsy in order to make their music. These are custom order pieces and can be a visual and auditory delight either inside or outside of your home.

Time

I had a wonderful time creating this line. I spent time with my father, who collects and repairs vintage pocket watches. He gave me some wonderful parts that I chose for inclusions in the pendants. Some parts were copper, which turned a beautiful red in the kiln and some were brass while others were enameled. After a couple of test firings, I tweaked the firing schedule to minimize air bubble formation and stress in the glass from the watch pieces. This is the type of glass fusing that I really love. It takes more time than doing a dichroic piece but they are so different and rich with their own past history.

Gingerbread Houses!

With the supplies at the ready, my son and daughter were eager to begin to build their annual holiday gingerbread houses. We do it on Thanksgiving day, as if the bird and the stuffing is not enough to throw us over the edge....mmmm...candy!!



This year, my 11 year old daughter went with a traditional look....above is her house in progress. My son's house started out great and then...well..and then he decided to put in the detail of the reindeer ummm....marks. While I snapped these pictures, he was making a sign that said do not eat yellow snow. Ha. He is 13 and well....full of life. That is a good thing.

Thank You Pie

Apple pie with a 240-volt outlet with switch as a vent. Maybe the first apple pie like this you have ever seen! What's it all about? Well, I got a new kiln and it needed a special outlet. My father came and did the wiring for me and he is really hard to buy something for as a thank you...but he loves homemade apple pie! You should have seen him smile when my children and I brought it to him. I have fired the kiln a couple of times and am loving it!!

Owl in a BowTie

As soon as my daughter started to develop fine motor control, her creativity began to emerge. Although I was and continue to be somewhat weary of her experimental ways, I strive to allow her color outside of the lines. Never one to like little arts and crafts kits, my daughter will take the ordinary and make her inner vision come to life. Like when at 2, she made it snow in her bedroom and down the hallway with a container of cornstarch. Much to her older brother's initial horror, he too enjoyed slipping and sliding in that "snow". At 3, she began a series of toilet paper sculptures. Lined up in the bathtub to dry, I was happy that we had another tub to actually take a bath in. I never took a photo of those sculptures. Not even the one that ended up being 2 feet tall. I regret that.

She is 10 now and shows some interest from time to time when I am working with my glass. She had me cut an oval and I showed her how to cut her glass selections with the glass cutter. I kept quiet while her inner vision surfaced, and smiled when I saw the owl that was born. She warms my heart.

Political Pendants

Fresh out of the kiln, these are my new Republican and Democratic fused glass pendants. Designed to be passed on through the generations, these pendants will help support your favorite political party. We have a presidential campaign right around the corner, so lets start thinking about who we believe will best lead the USA. One vote can make a difference.