Seder Plate Just In Time!

 

I am quite thrilled with the outcome of this seder plate. 

True Confession: The customer selected a beautiful Bullseye cranberry that had purples and blues subtly woven in.  Despite my best efforts, the cranberry glass developed a severe case of devitrification. My attempts to resolve it failed. And of course I didn't have another piece of cranberry large enough to start over. The clock was ticking and the plate had to get done .... get shipped to the mid-west....and arrive in time...IN ONE PIECE!

This amazing piece of glass revealed itself in my storage bin.... ! This piece has incredible movement and depth of color. Fortunately the customer agreed with me...and I am thrilled to report that it arrived safely...and most importantly, the recipient is delighted with it! Phew!!!

Happy Passover Everyone!

Seder Plates for Chanukah?

By the Sea Seder Plate

NO! There aren't any new Chanukah rituals or customs involving a seder in December....at least none I am aware of!

I did read an article in Alma (https://www.heyalma.com/the-hilarious-reason-why-this-writer-hosted-a-hanukkah-seder/) that described a Chanukah seder inspired by Bed, Bath, and Beyond.  

BUT ... Seder plates can be a lovely gift for someone...or yourself at Chanukah time! They also make great wedding gifts, birthday gifts....or a gift for ourself!

This seder plate will be available for purchase beginning November 25th at the ORA Virtual Market Place:       

https://northwestjewishartists.org

I rarely have many seder plates in stock. Most of my customers prefer commissioning a seder plate/ They want some choice in the design, color, wording...and whether or not they want little insert dishes. I love working with my clients to help them imagine what their seder plate might look like and what symbolism they would like it to carry. You can reach me at sparksofspirit@gmail.com

A NEW SEDER PLATE!

I've been commissioned to make a new seder plate. The glass pictured above is even more gorgeous than it looks. What appears to be charcoal grey here is actually purple!  The plate will be inserted a custom black maple tray that my neighbor and co-artist Jack will make.

I'll post my progress on the project when I have something to report!

Never to late to Get a New Seder Plate

It's that time again....Above is the seder plate I made in honor of my family who survived the holocaust. It has 6 small dishes that accompany it.

Below are some other plates I have made. While it is too late to commission a plate for this Passover, I do have a couple in stock....and you could always commission one for the future. 
They make great wedding gifts!

Happy Passover!

This is one of my more favorite seder plates depicting the journeys we have taken as a people. It has small fused glass "blobs" or "puddles" that are tack fused to the surface of this plate. Hints of sparkling dichroic glass are mixed in with white and silver-gray glass.

As the holiday approaches I wish you all a sweet and joyous Passover!  Chag Sameach!

Journeys Seder Plate

Slumped and ready for a seder!

Yes, there are 6 spots on this plate for  traditional seder items....

....you just can't see them!

The color of this glass camouflages the dips. That means that this seder plate is also perfect for display on a stand. 

Some of the glass beads are translucent dichroic glass which give off interesting color shifts.

This plate is available for purchase and will be on display May 19th-24th at the MJCC (6651 SW Capitol Hwy- Portland) during the Jewish Arts Month Exhibit and Sale in the lobby.

A NEW GLASS SEDER PLATE IN THE MAKING!

Step 2 (see 5 steps below)

Fused glass blobs made from expensive scraps of glass help create this new seder plate. As I mentioned in earlier blog posts, glass is expensive. Glass is purchased by weight or by square feet. Every bit of it has value and it can be used! The glass blobs are made from salvaged dichroic, clear, and the white/silver scrap from cutting this circle.  This plate is currently in the kiln at Step 5 (see below)  It should be cool enough to handle before Shabbat tonight!

Step 1: Cut two circles from clear and from the patterned white/silver glass. Clean and stack in the kiln.

Step 2: Create various sized glass blobs by cutting salvaged glass into small rectangles and squares. Cut matching sized pieces of clear salvage to cap. Stack in the kiln.

Step 3: Full fuse to 1450° (about 6 hours to fuse and 6 hours to cool.)

Step 4: Clean all the glass, then arrange the blobs on the plate. 

Tack fuse (going MUCH slower!) to 1425° (about 18 hours in the kiln.)

Step 5: Clean the glass then place on the seder plate mold. Slump slowly to top temperature of  1250° and slowly cool for proper annealing (about 16 hours in the kiln.)