Getting Closer!

 

Traveling has occupied a good bit of my time...as did Passover, it's been a couple weeks since I worked on this and now that I am back, I have other more tedious tasks (like housework!)

I have a lot of things scheduled in the coming 6 weeks...so this project is on hold. I will finish cutting out the pieces and then build a glass frame around this before it visits the kiln.

I'll post about my other exploits soon...but updates on this glass probably won't appear until mid June. Now that I've written that, I feel like I might be able to sneak some work in before June....We'll see!

It's Been a "FUN" Few Months

 This is a picture similar to my second new knee. It's been quite the summer leading into fall.

I'm still not healed...that will take a little more time...but I am slowly getting back to the studio. There's an upcoming Winter Marketplace and a sizable commission looming large.

Stay tuned! When I have new items, I promise I will post....but it will be a month or so.

Thanks for following me!

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!

Writing About The Tedious....Is....Well....Tedious!

During the spring, summer, and fall, I do all my wet work on my lower back deck. ARGGGH!  

Okay, I think I am done with sharing the tedious aspects of art making. I haven't yet shared my reflections on the storing of display equipment, the storing of the artwork, the record keeping, the labeling, the pricing, the advertising....and sigh....the list goes on. I love making glass and I hve learned to get past my introversion tendancies enough to actually enjoy meeting with my customers. It's been awhile since I have heard a comment like, "oh, I made a glass tray once...this is easy!", and I fortunatley haven't heard someone complain about the prices of my art and others being too high. But my last several posts and this one are reminders to all the wonderful art lovers and consumers of art...that when you purchase a piece of art, large or small, it's more than just a bit of glass with some doo-dahs on it. It's more than just some paint slapped on a canvas. It is the result of study, hard work, the aquisition and maintenance of tools, the cost of belonging to a guild, renting a studio or maintaining one, advertising,etc. Most artists I know are happy to just break even.

A POP-UP SALE!!!! Last Minute Shopping!

 

It's a pop-up in our neighborhood! This is what happens when two artists (Jack and Eddy) live next to each other and like to collaborate!  It's what happens when there is a pandemic, you have been making art but you can't be in show. 

We've invited two other friends: a silk artist (Diane Fredgant) who also has incredibly lovely and well made face masks using surgical-grade filters for sale, and a chef (Lani Raider) who will have beautifully prepared treats available for purchase as well as a menu of items that can be ordered for future consumption.

Virtual Shows are great, but often customers want to handle the merchandise or at least see it up close- personal!  WHAT KIND OF MERCHANDISE? I'm so glad you asked! Turned wood, fused glass, hand-painted silk, and chef prepared freshly smoked salmon (cryovac packaging) and an assortment of holiday treats.  I'll feature information about each artist on this site, beginning Tuesday evening.  Check this site on Sunday if it's raining. We plan to be open unless there is a deluge. This is Oregon after all....it does rain. We'll stay open during showers

So on Sunday December 20th we will set up some open air booths with heaters...and invite friends and neighbors to browse through our work. COVID SAFETY is our main concern!

LOCATION: The turn-around space between 02 SW Canby and 16 SW Canby,

•We will limit the number of guests entering at one time to members of a single pod or if alone, just one customer at a time. If you are a drive up guest, you may be asked to wait in your car for a few minutes...if customers are already in our booths.

•We're offering hot drinks and small nibbles that are individually wrapped

•We will accept  payment for art via cash, check, PayPal, or credit card

• Hand sanitizer will be available for your use.

A Fairy Tale on Glass

                           AVAILABLE November 25th @ https://northwestjewishartists.org...click on the shop button.

 Tillandsia, commonly known as an air plant come in many shapes and sizes. I love them! They don't require soil, but they do thrive with a little indirect sunlight and a weekly bath! They originate in Central and South America but thrive as houseplants. They make me feel like I am hosting a small fairy land forest.

I will have a couple pieces of glass available with these tropical plants on the ORA Market Place site.

           

I do have a variety of Tillandsia  and additional glass displays available in my studio. If you are looking for a different color or style of glass, just ask! Send me an email and tell me what you are looking for. I am happy to help you! Direct orders for commissions or items not posted on the ORA site are welcome beginning November 16th! 

Tillandsia and glass are only available locally. To preserve the health of the plants, I won't be shipping them but I will do what I can to either deliver your purchase or arrange for a pick up from Portland, Oregon and the the near by areas.

COVID ART SHOW!...VIRTUAL!

 I am quite pleased to be in this show....I will show some of my process in upcoming posts...

In order to attend out virtual show you will need to register! It's free! You don't have to be a member of the MJCC (our co-sponsor and host).  Art is available for purchase...but there is no pressure to buy....

COME LEARN ABOUT THE PROCESS EACH OF US ENGAGED IN DURING THIS BIZARRE TIME OF COVID!

This is piece is different from anything else I have done. I am excited to share it with all of you!

Register at: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAtfumqrz8uG9U5CcRupkenyf--NGMkaAIg

A Beady Eye

This is just a small sample of the almost 200 bead/blob sets I just finished.

That means I had to cut a total of 200 dichroic squares and 200 size-matching clear squares. Two hours later...they are becoming blobs in the kiln as I write this.

Let me just say, this is not creative work! It does allow me to get into a groove, listen to music, and.... get a sore back. That's my next challenge. How to stand at my bench for long periods of time without developing a bad back.

Sunday I begin cutting flowers, vines, and leaves. I'm excited because the work isn't repetitive. The colors and the shapes change!
Bring it on!

Collaboration with my Neighbor

My neighbor of 30+ years retired and now has returned to his passion of wood turning. He is turning a beautiful tray and asked that I make a grape themed disc for it.... Hey Jack, here it is!

Taste of Art/Celebration of Art

November 5-6 At the MJCC: 6651 SW Capitol Highway

ORA NW Jewish Artists is again presenting a fabulous show and sale!

Saturday evening 7:00-9:00 we will feature a live band, gin and beer sampling and some tasty treats. Over 20 artists will be available to sell you art.

Sunday the doors will open at 10:30 am. More live music and lots of beautiful art work to enjoy and purchase.

I have new artwork....stop by and see me! Lots and lots of glass!!!!

Photos of new work coming soon!

Tools of the Trade

My father was a skillful tailor. His primary tools were needle, thread, thimble, chalk, patterns, an old converted pedal Singer sewing machine, and a measuring tape. He would wear the tape around his neck the way a physician sports a stethoscope.

I never learned to sew. I tried! Dad was a perfectionist and I just didn't "measure up".

Today I rummaged through his sewing machine drawers and found an old tape measurer....I needed something longer than my T ruler.
After my measuring and marking I immediately draped it around my neck. It felt so right! Dad, you would be proud of my insistence on careful measurement. I get it now!!!!!!

Time For a New Filter!

Utterly Clogged!

This is a thoroughly clogged and rather disgusting hepa filter for my shop vac. I only use it to clean out my kiln and kiln room. 

My husband was so kind to help me change it out. This dust is a hazard to breathe. We bagged it then sealed it in plastic.

Thank you Jeff for all your help!

He sounded a lot like Darth Vader in that mask!

A New Journey Gass Project Begins

A long over-due project begins with firing numerous dichroic blobs....1 layer of dichro capped in 1 layer of clear.

Hebrew Name Plate

ASHER

This is a commission for a lucky Bar Mitzvah boy in the midwest.

Mazal Tov Asher! I hope you enjoy your new name plate.

It's 10x10 inches and slumped into a sushi style form. The Hebrew letters are cut from Dichroic glass....most of the other colored glasses add sparkle because of the iridescent finish.

Another Wedding Bowl

Blessings to the newlyweds! ...and gratitude to the folks who commissioned this gift.

I am so honored to be asked to craft a piece of art that will hopefully be a keepsake that can potentially be passed on to future generations.

FUn WIth Mid-century Moderns

Fun little serving tray...great for olives, pickles, other finger food!

Come check out the variety of mid-century modern items I've crafted just for the upcoming show.

Details can be found at: northwestjewishartists.org
just click on the link at the top of that website!

Remember...mention the this blog and get a small gift.

Another project in the making

A wedding gift commission in the making. I'm hoping for better results. I made a beautiful bowl that did something really weird in the slump phase. I'll have to start over on that one, darn it!

This piece will be part of a wall mounted piece...kind of a punk-graffiti feel.  It comes out of the kiln tomorrow and then the assembling and cold fusing begins... Come back tomorrow night. I'll post a new picture !

Flowing Stream

The photo (as always) doesn't do the piece justice.

This piece just sparkles and pops.

Polished aluminum provides the backdrop. Black acrylic supports the glass panel. The center stream is aventurine blue glass (imagine microscopic glitter in the glass!). The stream is bounded by dichroic glass blobs and the outer stream bank is made with broken wedding glass shards.

This was commissioned as a tenth anniversary gift. Blessings to the beautiful couple!

Mid-century Modern Plates

These are based on some designs Bullseye glass created for one of their tips sheets. My son saw the design and asked for a set for his home in Berkeley. I made 4 of them....2 in light gray and two in dark grey. Plate 1 has orange stringers, plate 2 has light blue, plate 3 has black and plate 4 has yellow stringer.

It was fun playing with stringer and fire. I might just have to make some more of these. He has asked for some matching coasters.... back to the kiln I go!

Kiln room gets a sweet entrance!

Kiln Room Porch

I have a new little porch for the kiln room!
Next week a motion sensor light will be installed and I can officially proclaim that this space is DONE! 
(well...almost done...I still need to move in some shelving units and my molds.)

Bedroom Tree House (sorry for the messy bed)

Our bedroom/bath remodel is basically done with just some touch ups left to be done. We will have someone painting our entry hall next week and....a tile guy should be here in a week or so to install new countertop tile that I made in our main floor powder room.  Of course , we haven't begun to deal with window coverings....but the plastic has been peeled off or windows and now the forest is present in our space. It really does feel like we are living in a tree house. 

Main Floor Reading Room

I wish I could say that is the end of it all...but....we still need to paint the house and re-do the upper deck. I suspect that another project will creep in to our minds....but it's really quite thrilling to see the results . We are blessed!