Painting with Nail Polish

I was spotted this afternoon at a local Target store, perusing the cosmetic isles! Yes....that was me!

I was looking for cheap nail polish. For those who know me...this is funny! 

Although my nails would probably benefit from more care and attention than I give them, the nail polish is for the chair affair project- not my nails!

I am sealing the silvering on the mirrors. The silver nail polish was on clearance so....I bought it! It sparkles!

No one will ever see the nail polish, but if it does it's job there shouldn't be any more de-silvering beyond the damage that age and abuse brought to these mirrors.  

A few more pieces of glass need to be cut, wrapped and soldered...just another 2 hours of work and the mirrors should done.

Mirror, Mirror on the Rug....

The mirrors have been removed from the backings and each mirror has been wrapped in copper foil.  The bird is assembled from about 20 pieces of hand-cut glass. Decorative soldering and copper foil holds it together and when the rest of the stained glass elements are completed, I will attach them all to the three mirrors.

Tomorrow I'll paint the wood frames for the mirrors and finish the stained glass work. It's been awhile since I've done stained glass and I find I'm really enjoying the different rhythm of this work.

Finished projects by other artists are starting to come in to the warehouse. It's exciting to see what has been crafted for this wonderful event. The end of my project is just a couple of days away...I'm looking forward to calling it done!

Glass tops!

I just love this glass! 

I successfully cut all the counter tops for this dresser and now they are in the kiln to get a fire polished edge.

The tops will be permanently placed on the dresser Tuesday!

The mirrors will be completed and attached to their frames on Wednesday.....!

I could paint a house faster!

There have been many reincarnations of this project. The burgundy paint didn't adhere well in spots so I have had to lay down many coats. The stripes I painted looked nice while wet, but not so much dry.

I believe today I successfully applied the last coat of burgundy and the last coat of blue (although I may need to touch up the blue later?)

The picture doesn't do this piece much justice...but believe me....it's an improvement! 

Frankly, I probably could have painted a house by hand in the time it took to paint this!.....But I like it and hopefully so will someone else!

It's All in the Rustic Details

The stripes are almost done!

The paint job is a little more rustic than I would like....and not quite done. The look is supposed to be rustic...just not this much!

Sunday morning I'll solder the glass to the mirror frames, go to to the warehouse for more painting and attaching, then...hopefully attach the mirrors!  The last stage should be complete on Monday when I attach the glass counter tops.

PUT A BIRD ON IT!

Stained Glass Mirror Adornment

CHAIR AFFAIR 2013 Project Update

Here's a little preview of the stained glass I will be mounting on the mirror. It's been quite some time since I've worked with Stained glass but I am giddy about the new glass and ecstatic that I can now work to complete the dresser. 

I shopped the Bullseye sale and waited for the right glass to call my name. The first piece of glass to call me was a solitary piece....and I need 2 full sheets! (You'll see why next week!) 

This beautiful blue with burgundy was screaming at me just across the isle....and I listened!

 Just in case you don't remember what the dresser looks like (yes, it's been awhile).... here it is!

"BEFORE"

I couldn't be more proud!

Piecing it all together

This is my young apprentice, Tamir!

He's completing his first complex project involving about 100 pieces of hand cut glass in the construction of a table top for an end table. This is his donation to Portland's Community Warehouse fund Raiser "Chair Affair+."

I can't begin to count the number of hours he has put into this....but he has done it all with a smile!

I'll post a picture of the actual "before" piece of furniture soon. I will continue to document his progress over the next couple of weeks.

My project resumes Wednesday!

How To Cut Glass: A FREE Demo!

This is what we use to cut perfect circles

I'll be demonstrating various ways to cut glass at the MJCC (6651 SW Capitol Hwy- Portland, Oregon) on MONDAY 
FEBRUARY 4th  between 10am- 2pm.

If you'd like to try your hand at it, I will have some glass available for you and will show you how to make simple cuts.

I'll also have some of my work available for sale...and if you mention my blog, I'll give you a discount!

This is part of a new program at Mittleman Jewish Community Center called ArtWorks.....each month an artist will be featured in a demonstration of their work!

Can't make it? Want some of my glass at a discount? Contact me by email (sparksofspirit@gmail.com) and we'll set up an opportunity for you to check out my selection or place a commission order. This offer is effective January 30th-Feb 8, 2013!

Serving Tray FInished

Ready to serve!

It's ready to go! (almost!)

All that's needed are four bump-ons on the bottom and this serving tray will be good to go. Delivery to its new home is scheduled for Monday!

Another Commission- early stages

In Process

It's a flat tray with raised handles. It's called After "Gee's Bend"....inspired by the remarkable quilts made by a community of women quilters in Gee's Bend (Alabama). Their history is long, dating back to times of slavery. Their quilts were made from scraps of material and then put together in artful and non western ways. This pattern is more western but is patterned after a quilt I saw in an exhibit and then later on line.

HOME!

The new owners are happy and report their initial reactions to this new installation!

"Not only is it constantly changing with the light, it is visible from the Dining Room table, from the kitchen table where we eat breakfast, and even from the spot in the kitchen in front of the sink, the better to enliven dish-washing moments. After all, we need to be fully present for all aspects of life. All activities, including simply being, invite us to affirm "hineni;" all are gates that can be open; all are part of HaMakom. Your vision in glass helps us remember."

Commission goes home

Here's the glass work mounted on the wall. French cleats hold the piece in place.  It's such a challenge to photograph glass. There are many details involved in this piece that haven't been explained but each section represents a portion of the biblical story including a river of glass with Torah text inscribed across the panels.

My husband came with me to install the piece. We both enjoyed seeing it on the wall in its new home!

ALUMINUM AND GLASS!

A trip to the scrap yard yielded some aluminum sheeting. A little elbow grease and some cleaning solution....and I had a beautiful, shiny piece of aluminum backing. Since the sinter board covers the center of the aluminum, I didn't have to work as hard! 

My first gluing attempt failed. I forgot that the glue needs some air circulation in order to cure.....so
on try #2 I laid up some spacers (probably overkill) and it worked! The finished product is something I am happy with. 

Check the next posting to see what it looks like mounted on the wall.

MOUNTING EFFORT

STEP 3 : I located some black sintra board and had it cut to size. It is a pvc foam board and a wonderful new discovery.

I used squares of clear glass and glued them to the board. After 24 hours of curing I added the glass panels and let them cure for 48 hours.  

HOW AWESOME! part 2

I started over with panel #1. A different tree with better leaves!
Hineni doesn't make an appearance as a word (or proclamation) in this parasha but it is absolutely implied!

Hineni means "Here I am" or "I am here". Jacob encounters God and God's angel.....It felt right to include this word here. The letters are made of clear glass and the leaves are made from dichroic glass.

New Commission!

THE CHALLENGE? 
Use the following phrase: 
"MAH NORA HAMAKOM HAZEH!" 
These are words proclaimed by Jacob in the Torah. "How awesome is this place!" is the translation. 
I was also asked to incorporate:
"Ein zeh ki im beit Adonai v'zeh sha'ar ha-shamay im" :  Surely this is the house of God and this is the gate to heaven.

Step 1: Create the Glass Panels

Step 2: Rethink Panel #1 (far right)....hated it!

I'll post what I did to repair the piece....tomorrow.

Chair Affair + PROJECT UPDATE

I'm taking a break from updating the Community Warehouse Chair Affair + project. I need new glass for the top of the dresser.....and the glass sale starts February 5th. Meanwhile, I will catch up on some long overdue commissions. I'll be posting those soon.

Some very messy construction to shore up our garage and deck have kept me out of the kiln shed....so hopefully Sunday, I will resume firing. Temperatures here in Portland have dipped below freezing.

It sounds a bit strange, but it is best not to start the kiln below 39 degrees! So I will simply assemble numerous pieces and head to the kiln as soon as it warms up. 

See you all again as soon as I have some photos to post!

Goodbye Fuschia, Hello Burgundy!

So pleased to discover some leftover paint....much deeper and darker......YAY!

It may require one more coat but then the burgundy paint days are done!

I'll be back at the warehouse on Thursday or Friday to get the other colors of paint going.

Tuesday will be glass shopping day and then I will begin making the stained glass overlay for the mirrors. I've enjoyed the break from painting but am totally jazzed to get back into it now that the dresser no longer screams 

PINK!!!!!!

MIRRORS GO ON VACATION

Taking off the mirrors was a 2 person job!

This dresser couldn't look much worse right now!
...but good times are ahead!!!!

I'm grateful that my husband could come help me. Once a few screws were removed, each mirror needed to be braced so it wouldn't fall. 

The paint color is still of great concern but I will get to that next week.....Wednesday?......maybe? Burgundy and burnt umber to the rescue.

I imagine the mirror work will take 2-3 weeks to complete, but if I can get caught up on my commissioned art work, I might be able to get the mirrors finished sooner.

On another note, the warehouse desperately needs some financial donations in these next few days....$5? $25? $100?

Every dollar donated is used carefully to support the needs of those who would like to have a reasonable home with a bed, a table, some dishes. Their goal is to raise $2000/day for the next several days....please help!

communitywarehouse.org  in Portland, Oregon

When 2 Coats Are Not Enough!

Magenta is not burgundy!

I want Burgundy!

                       

Two coats of paint on some of the dresser helped. I laid a first coat

on the drawer faces. The color definitely deepened, but the difference between magenta and deep burgundy is huge. Basically this color screams HOT PINK! I do not like hot pink!

So what's next? On the advice of an artist (painter), I will investigate streaking the surface with burnt umber. That should deepen the tone. If that doesn't work, I will mix my own paint and start again.

I still haven't had a chance to get everything coated with at least one layer of paint, so it's time to remove the mirror and have at the back facing of it. 

It'll be two weeks before I get back to the dresser. Meanwhile, my mirror plans are firming up. See you on the 19th!