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!

Bat Mitzvah Tallit Clips!

The hot pink clips actually  match the kippah (photographing glass is such a challenge!) The tallit is a light pink organza with soft pink pomegranates.

The Bat Mitzvah is tomorrow!!!!!  Mazal Tov Lily!

Before the Chain

Thank you Linda in California! Your commissioned clips are boxed and ready to be shipped. The finished product has a silver chain and a small box to keep them safe. It's all dichroic glass and the purple really pops!

A Most Wonderful Week!

Jewish Arts Month concluded Friday afternoon.
This past week I had my art on display with three other wonderful artists. Yes, we made some sales...but more importantly, we had a good time schmoozing with those who came by to check out the art. My favorite moments were actually spent talking with children who walked by and would stop in front of art that captured their fancy. They freely shared what they liked about the art...the colors, shapes, and feel!

I certainly don't want to dismiss the joy in talking with adults ..it's just that kids have such wonderfully fresh things to say....!

More glass art coming!

I'm looking forward to seeing  you at the MJCC this week!

Tuesday 6-8 pm

Wednesday10am-2pm

Friday 10am-2pm

Ros Kane, Laurie Fendel, & Sharon Segal will be on duty at other hours......Beautiful pencil drawings, paintings, and fabric art are available, as well as my glass!

It Must Be Bar/Bat Mitzvah Season!

I've been selling quite a few Tallit Clips and Torah Pointers lately!

Sunday morning I will set up a new display of functional and decorative items at the MJCC: 6651 SW Capitol HWY, Portland OR. For one week, my glass will be available for purchase ...I'll post my work hours....stop by and say howdy and check out what I have to offer.

Don't see anything you like? Talk to me! I do custom orders and am happy to accommodate you!

My new kiln space

It's an awkward picture...but this is the glass door just after installation. both kilns are sitting in their new home! In fact one kiln is firing my first set of glass tiles....destined for the powder room vanity!

More photos soon.

Happy Torah Reader!

I just received a note via email with the photo above, attached.

Here's the note:
"Have you ever seen anything so beautiful? Thank you Deb for being so generous! Thank you Eddy for being so talented!

Love, Karen"

A beautiful blog post

http://hearhereparent.wordpress.com/2014/02/24/wrapped-in-my-moms-warm-winter-coat/

My yahrzeit candle bridge is pictured along with a beautiful post: a daughter remembers her mother.

Give Me One More Week!

My kilns have been off line for more than a week. Add to that a little snow and ice storm and you get a fuser itching to make some new glass!

My contractor hooked me up with a temporary plug and so I'll be at it again in a day or so.

I'll be posting in about a week or so....and with a bit of luck, my kilns will be moved to their new and permanent home within the next two weeks!

My new works will be on display at Mittleman Jewish Community Center for a week starting March 30th.... I'll post a schedule of times I will be on hand to talk about my work.
I hope you'll come see me!

Another Frame Commission

Polished Aluminum, red sintra board, photo + non glare glass and topped off with a black irid frame with silver glass and shards of colored glass.

The photo is of a family reunion..... fun to do a second version of a frame for a photo of a great family.

Next...a few tallit clips... and then it will be time to get ready for Jewish Arts Month in March (I will actually be on display at the MJCC the first week of April.)

I hope the new kiln room will be move-in ready SOOOOOON!

It's taking shape....!

top two floor additions (both reading rooms!!!)

kiln room with an outside door (eventually!)

Construction Back On Track!

The bottom level of our addition is framed and ready for walls.
After several delays, we are making good progress and soon my kilns will have a new home! 

NEW SHOW OPENS JANUARY 10!

The artwork is up and the labels will be attached shortly!
Sorry...no preview pix!

Featured artists: Michelle Katz, Robert Brenner, Jeff Israel, Glenn Decherd.....and me!

Congregation Neveh Shalom is our host for 2 months.
Come to an evening celebrating Shabbat, music, and art!
It all begins at 7:30pm. If you come early, you can spend more time with the art!

8831 SW Peaceful Lane..... Services will be led by Cantor Debbie Bletstein and accompanied by Ed Kraus & Klezmocracy. Special Guest performer Beth Hamon will round out the program.

I'll have a quick minute to talk about our art show. Join us for cookies, coffee, and schmoozing and take a look at some extra pieces of art we will have on display just for the evening.

See you there?

FINALLY!!!!!

Concrete arrived this morning......I couldn't get close enough to photograph the process and well.....because of rainy weather, everything is under wraps!

All our permits are in and with this pad poured, we will finally see the framing begin, which will create a home for my kilns....!
With a bit of luck, that will start on Friday after the concrete has cured.
                    I'll post photos of the progress soon!

STRUGGLING WITH IDENTITY!

That's the name of the new show I'll be in- opening January 10th 2014 @ Neveh Shalom
2900 SW Peaceful Lane.

PDX Live is an amazing Friday Night Service featuring Cantor Deborah Bletstein. On the 10th guest musician Beth Hammon will also perform along with the fabulous pdx band: Klezmocracy.

ORA artists are featured at each PDX Live. This show will remain in place through March 2nd.

STRUGGLING WITH IDENTITY will feature artists Glenn Decherd (ceramics), Michelle Katz (painting), Robert Brenner (photography), Dr. Jeff Israel (stained glass), and me!

Each of us has a different take on the theme...it will be fun to see how this all comes together.

We'll all be there to show our work and welcome questions and conversation about the art and our varied inspirations.

I'll post pix of everyone's work after January 6th.
Most, if not all the work will be available for purchase...just not on Friday night. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Neveh Shalom.

We are indebted to them for their gracious hosting of our art events

It's What I've been Waiting For....but

It's finally warm enough to fire up the kiln....so why am I still not  happy?

I opened the kilns (both of them) only to discover that my shelves need to be cleaned and primed with kiln wash. My hose bibs are shut off so, I need to carry water to the back deck and then start scraping......a very cold endeavor at 39º!...Then the shelves need to dry. 

So today is maintenance day rather than a firing day. I will spend time cleaning and priming shelves and cut some future projects. 

Firing will have to wait until I return home from a family trip.

More lessons in patience! Clearly, it's a journey!

Oh, here's a photo of a chunk of ice from one of my drain buckets!

It's about 5 gallons of frozen sludge water!

I am so excited.....defrosting should happen tomorrow!

The rains have come, bringing warmer weather (It might get into the 40's tomorrow....YAY!)

We've been stuck in the 20's and 30's for the last couple of weeks which means that the kilns can't be started up. I can hardly wait for our construction to resume so my kilns can move indoors!

I am behind, behind, behind!

New items should begin appearing on the blog late next week.

Why Am I not Posting?

I'm not saying my life is in the toilet....but I am spending a lot of time shopping for toilets, sinks, lighting, tile.....

.........the remodeling continues!

New glass in December!

Mayim Chayim: Waters of Life

This beautiful serving dish sold immediately but is a sample of this popular design. I have cut a river (channel) in the top glass and filled it with chips of dichroic glass. The "banks" of the river are outlined in a white gold ink that is baked into the glass.

Another one of these in another color has been commissioned and will go into the kiln tonight.