Wednesday, February 21, 2024
More frames
Wednesday, January 31, 2024
It's a frame up!
Thursday, January 18, 2024
Yikes! It's 2024!
I haven't written anything in a couple of months...OOOPS!
I've been busy filling commission orders and haven't really had the time to write about my work.
Above are pictures of 2 new gnome commissions that I'm pretty happy with. What do you think?
Here in Portland we have been blanketed in sub-freezing temperatures, snow and ice for almost a week. Today the temperature is above freezing but freezing rain and a temperature drop are predicted to hit in just about an hour.
While it is the perfect time to focus on cleaning up my studio, inertia has grabbed a hold of me. Maybe later today?
Meanwhile, I am sketching ideas for a future project and helping our artist guild ORA plan some new events. That just seems like more fun than cleaning!
Wednesday, November 29, 2023
Hanukkiah or Menorah?
Hanukkah is a festival lasting 8 days. Each day succeeding candles are lit: 1 for day #1, 2 for day #2, etc..... The candles are lit from a lead candle also known as a shamash. This candle holder is not a menorah but a hanukkiah.
I've made two additional ones which will be available for purchase at the MJCC here in Portland Oregon, tomorrow! Our Marketplace event will only be open through Friday Dec.1
Come check out my table...and all the other amazing artists!
Each of these has silicone feet. Candles are not included!
New Works/ Hanukkah MarketPlace
I don't know why I keep forgetting to post on this blog! Oh Well...I'm here now!
This is my table area at the MJCC (Portland Oregon). ORA has a Hanukkah MarketPlace event all week. In addition to my tallit clips, garden stakes, seder plates and quilted glass, I will be adding menorahs to the display starting this afternoon !
I'll post photos later this evening.
Wednesday, August 30, 2023
It's About Time!
Twenty +...yes...20 + years ago we renovated our kitchen area. We had a curio cabinet installed and I asked the contractor to leave space for my own windows.
Inertia, perfectionism, laziness, forgetfulness...more inertia, more perfectionism, more laziness and finally "What the Heck!!!!...just do it ! (to coin a much over-used phrase.)
I'm not getting any younger! I decided to opt for an easy solution. I used Bullseye Tekta and tack-fused blue and clear confetti . That's it!
How silly that it took that long to do something so simple, so basic!
Monday, July 31, 2023
The Long and Narrow
This is a commissioned piece for a long and narrow bathroom window. The hoe owners wanted to add a little more privacy to the space. It's approximately 20"x9".
The base is Bullseye Tekta clear and is topped with a cloudy white streaky glass. The tree is adorned with green fruit and dichroic dots. Powdered fruit was sprinkled on the background to create a "mood. The moon is a small disc of new lavender capped with iridescent clear. The grass is aventurine green with home-made aventurine green fruit.
Fingers crossed that it will make the journey safely...A family member is carrying it on a flight to the mid-west. Hopefully the bubble wrap is a sufficient to protect it!
Thursday, June 22, 2023
Gnome on a Stick
Just having a bit of fun in the studio. He was pretty popular at my last show....going to make a few more of him... I might have to start naming them....better yet, the new owners can do that!
Friday, June 9, 2023
Tree of Life: Aitz Chayim
This is the other commission I created, a gift of gratitude for someone who chaired a fund raising effort to benefit our community. Below is the explanation I provided.
Aitz Chayim, The Tree of Life is symbolic of so many things. Traditionally, it is a metaphor for Torah and also for knowledge and wisdom. In mystical Judaism the Tree of Life demonstrates the essence of God ( as best we can understand ) and the manner in which the world was created.
This glass plate was inspired by a quote from the book of Proverbs (referring to the Torah) where it says:
דְּרָכֶ֥יהָ דַרְכֵי־נֹ֑עַם וְֽכׇל־נְתִ֖יבוֹתֶ֣יהָ שָׁלֽוֹם׃ עֵץ־חַיִּ֣ים הִ֭יא לַמַּחֲזִיקִ֣ים בָּ֑הּוְֽתֹמְכֶ֥יהָ מְאֻשָּֽׁר׃
“Her ways are of a pleasant path, and all these ways are of peace. She is a tree of life for those who hold fast to her and all those who hold her are happy.”
Wednesday, June 7, 2023
Cycling
This was a commissioned gift for the editor of a local community newspaper. After 31 years of dedicated and loving service to the community , she is retiring and plans to spend a lot of time bike riding with her husband.
This was sooo much fun to make. It is a mask I call cycling because in addition to biking, cycling takes on all kinds of meanings that apply to her. The face, lips, eyebrows and eye balls are all made of fused glass. The hair is bike chain and the eyes are accented with bike gears. Her nose is a #2 pencil and her left earring is a stack of mini newspapers . The right earring is made of computer keys...page up and page down. It is equipped with mounting brackets so it can hang on her wall.
I think the recipient likes it! Yay!
Tuesday, June 6, 2023
I've Got My Eye On You!
The Commission is complete ...and will be presented to the recipients tonight.
Once it is in their possession I will publish photos of both pieces....
Keep an eye out!
Thursday, May 25, 2023
Turning Scraps into Art
Friday, May 19, 2023
New Commissions
Before and after pix ....I spent part of my day degreasing some really good looking gears for my latest commission, in progress.
Each gear was absolutely caked in thick sludge. I feel like I should become a spokesperson for Dawn liquid soap! I use it all the time to wash my glass...and I have to say it is fantastic at removing this gunk!
I looked up sludge in the thesaurus and among the synonyms I found these wonderful words: goo, grease, gunk, and muck! Dawn made a gross task simple and efficient!
Anyway, I can't reveal the details of the project until it is presented. but I am really excited about it !
I just started cutting the glass today....Due to other obligations, no glass work for the next few days...but I will resume the work late next week. I'll post more pix and info then!
I just finished another commission, but again, I can't share anything about it until later...in June.
Stay tuned. I know my posts are sporadic...but I appreciate you taking the time to read them!
Friday, February 24, 2023
Tuesday, January 17, 2023
Writing About The Tedious....Is....Well....Tedious!
Tuesday, January 10, 2023
Equipment maintenance ...The tedious, part 4
Wednesday, January 4, 2023
More Tedious Work
Tuesday, December 13, 2022
More Hidden Work
Friday, November 18, 2022
Balancing the Fabulous with the Tedious ...part 2
Sunday, November 13, 2022
Variations on a Theme
This is a 14" square Challah tray commission. The client wanted something large and simple....no words just geometric symbols. We played with a few ideas....none of them landed. I shared a photo of the Tree of Life-themed work I had done recently and it struck a chord.
Client and artist are both happy!