Creating the Display

Both Torah Adornments are finished. I will put the chains on tomorrow.
Figuring out how to display them was a challenge.
I borrowed two High Holiday (all white) Torah mantles.
With the help of a dear friend Diane F, we shopped for dowels and finials at Home Depot. 
Problem #1: How to hold up the mantles SOLVED
Problem #2: How to keep the pseudo-Torahs upright SOLVED

#1. Not only did Diane shop with me, but she also cut the dowels on her chop saw...and she cut cardboard inserts. The woman is a wizard with an x-acto blade!

The Torah mantles fit well over this structure. Two drapery finials were used to create decorative handles (Aitzey Chaiim- Trees of Life.)

#2. Solving the standing upright concern required a trip to the local hardware store. I picked up some plaster of paris and then scavenged some old clay flower pots from the garage. My husband provided the badly needed extra set of hands!

We begin the installation tomorrow. I'll post pictures!

Sending much gratitude to Diane and Jeff!

INVITATION

You are all invited!!!!

Cutting holy letters

This took two tries...sigh! Unfortunately the saw blade chips the edges of the dichro but it's still better than the alternative...not doing it at all!

The letters do get progressively bigger which means it is a little easier to cut. These are just freshly cut letters waiting for a gentle washing and lay up.

The words are from Torah: "Build for Me a sanctuary that I may dwell among  or within you."

Another few words to cut out and I will show you where I am headed with these letters.

CHAMSAH PLATE DONATION

My synagogue has an annual auction. This is my donation.
Hoping they get a reasonable price. 

The chamsah is made with dichroic glass. The dish is slumped into an origami mold. I might have to make another one or two of these!

The shul is about to celebrate it's 150th anniversary. If you scroll down you can see the first of two Torah Adornments I am making for the lobby art show.

More info to come...but first, I need to finish cutting the glass for the second adornment I am making.

...stay tuned!

Tiny Letters and More

Cutting tiny hebrew letters has been my challenge. Surprisingly, I only had to re-do 2 letters. I placed one of the letters on a time for perspective.

The Asseret Hadibrot, commonly known as The Ten Commandments is more accurately translated as "The Ten Utterances." I couldn't possibly cut letters small enough to write them all out, so instead I cut just ten.

The letters are all dichroic and the centerline is a dichroic stringer.

The whole piece is in the kiln for a slow fire up to tack fusing temperature...with a slow cool down as well. 

Copper Wire Hooks as Inclusions

The next step in assembling the project is to create hanging hooks which will be included in the fusing process. Copper is compatible with glass but one must proceed with care. The wire should be bent in some fashion in order to better be contained and offer resistance to pulling when the project is hung. Copper wire is pliable so simple pliers are enough to do the trick. Because this project uses clear glass, the hooks should match because they will be visible.

Bending copper wire

In order to make the fusing as problem free as possible, it's best to hammer the wire to flatten it, thus reducing the potential for air bubbles. I usually use a mini anvil...but it's gone missing so....I improvised! Using the head of another hammer as an anvil, I managed to hammer the wire flat. My fingers also managed to survive the process! Phew!

Hammering the wire flat

Testing copper in the kiln

Copper is a wonderful material to use as an inclusion in fused glass projects. The color it turns is a bit unpredictable because copper will react not only to heat, but also to the chemical composition of the glass it is sandwiched between. Most often it will turn into a deep red with bluish or purplish notes. Sometimes it will turn blue. Treated with lemon juice it tends to stay true to its copper notes. Before I gamble with the star I just cut out, I need to make sure I will achieve the desired effect. 

My next project needs the the copper to turn red. Step 1 is to take pieces of sample glass and test what happens when the copper is sandwiched between 2 layers.

BEFORE

AFTER 

The top piece has two pieces of clear reactive glass.

The middle has clear reactive glass on the bottom and is capped with clear.

The bottom is 2 pieces of clear.

I fused these to a top temp of 1450° with a bubble squeeze at 1250° on the way up.

THE RESULTS:

The reactive glass causes the copper to turn quite dark....too dark for my purposes...but clear on clear is the magic I was hoping for!

Check back in a few days to see my next steps in this project.

A follow-up on the Puppy Mask

Teddy is the beloved dog of a sweet girl. Her grandparents commissioned a glass portrait (mask) of this sweet little terrier.

She sent along a photo of the mask mounted on her bedroom wall.

Another Wedding Glass Gift

I made the couple a class vessel to smash after their wedding vows. The shards were retained until they decided what they wanted me to make.. The snow on the mountains doesn't show up well in this photo. It is a milky mottled glass with shards of wedding glass. The stream is also covered with a layer of chards and iridized clear frit.

The moon also didn't come out clearly in the photo, but is made from clear dichroic glass. The whole disc experiences color shifts as the light shifts.

Mazal Tov to the happy couple!

New Commissioned Mask Completed!

Meet Teddy....a miniature labradoodle!

His owner is a sweet 11 year old girl.

Her grandparents are surprising her with a glass mask in the likeness of her beloved pup. It comes equipped with mounting brackets for easy hanging on a wall.

RBG: Fused Glass Mask

I have long admired Ruth Bader Ginsberg. Two years ago I started designing a mask of her. I stopped, feeling like ..."who am I to attempt this? what kind of chutzpah do I possess to do this?"

Finally, I screwed up the courage to finish my tribute to her. Her left earring is a mini Constitution scroll that says "We the People."
Her right earring is a mini book titled "I Dissent!" Using my smallest penmanship , I penned many of her most famous dissents on the first several pages. Her brooch is fused glass with rhinestone letters glued on...and yes, she has a lace collar too!

This mask drew a good bit of attention at the Celebration of Art at the end of October. I wasn't sure I could part with her,  but then...a repeat customer came into my booth . Two years ago (or was it 3?) she had visited my booth and purchased my "grandma mask" for her daughter  in California. 

She saw the RBG mask and knew immediately that her daughter needed RBG on her wall!

Her daughter wrote me a sweet note saying that RBG is now keeping "grandma" company on her wall. 

I am sending blessings to RBG for speedy healing. What a remarkable woman.... even broken ribs won't keep her from her work! Refuah Shleymah Justice Ginsberg!

Another Mask: Albert's Bad Hair Day

Albert was fun to make. 
I like making masks of fictional and real life characters....
Perhaps my most favorite quote by him is:
"I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious."

What if we were all so passionately curious? 
What could we accomplish? 
We may not all have his amazing intellect, but we all have the ability to be curious; to imagine that we can accomplish something of value that benefits everyone, and the wisdom to recognize where the dangers are if we take things a step too far.

Well, at least Albert and I have one thing in common...I too have bad hair days!

Vinnie, the Wine Guy!

His motto is "Life is too short to drink bad wine!"
I think he's right!

Glass Inserts for Wood

This sweet little plate will be installed in a beautiful hand-turned wooden platter.
This kitty disc is only 7" in diameter...but will pop once it is installed in the wooden base Jack (my neighbor) will craft.

I don't know if it's the "cat's meow", but it's cute! She'll be at the Celebration of Art '18.
scroll down to my previous post to get the youtube video preview and info about this show!

Pomegranates !

This time of year always makes me think about pomegranates! It's a fantastic fruit with incredible symbolism! These two are the first poms out of the kiln!

You can see what else I'll be featuring at our Celebration of Art '18 show on this video: (click on it!) oregonmjcc.org/ora

Why I haven't been posting!

This is the less than glamorous side of being an artist!

In nice weather I like to work outside. Both saws use water, as does my polisher so I sometimes have to work outside regardless of the weather. When it is beautiful I also like to cut my glass out there.
         The deck is old! We had half of it replaced ...then we needed to stain it. The other half needed to be power washed, sanded and stained. That meant moving all my glass, tables, saws, polisher, etc to the other side of the deck. It also meant doing all the labor involved ....phew!
         I am back to glass work now and will post things coming out of the kiln soon!
         In the mean time...check out this preview video of an upcoming show I will be in.... 

oregonmjcc.org/ora

And please....DO COME TO THE SHOW!

New Mask!

Meet Matok aka Toki. 

Matok means"sweet" in Hebrew. She is a lovely dog belonging to a friend. I thought I would try my hand at making a mask in the likeness of this sweet almost 3 year pup as a gift. 

This mask isn't for sale but I do plan to make custom-ordered dog masks. This mask will be on display at my next show coming up at the end of October. More info about that show will be posted soon.

The Start of Something New!

What is it going to be?

When I Am Not Making Glass

Well, it's been a little quiet in blog land...but I have been busy with a few things!

I just came back from an amazing retreat to the Oregon Coast ....where good food, relaxation, and lovely walks on the beach nourished my belly and my soul.

For several years I have taught a writing class at Rose Schnitzer Manor, an independent and assisted living facility right here in Portland. The group named themselves Older But Wiser several years ago. This is one of the most delightful groups of folks I know....and the average age hovers in the low 90's!

This year we have focused on the art of story telling, inspired by podcasts of THE MOTH.

They are now ready to perform. Each story is only 5-7 minutes long. They are humorous and wise.
They are also true stories. I can't boast enough about these incredible souls! I may be their teacher, but each of them is mentoring me in the fine art of aging well. Won't you join us?  We have a rehearsal at Rose Schnitzer Manor in Zidell Hall, August 21st at 7 pm but I want to encourage attendance at the Mittleman Jewish Community Center, 6651 SW Capitol Hwy, Portland OR....September 4.
Admission is of course, free.

Roses Window...a Blast from the Past!

We're visiting family and in addition to the amazing food and hospitality, it's an opportunity to visit one of the last stained glass windows I made before my shift to fusion. 

One of the best parts of making glass for others is the joy in knowing where it is going. In this case, it is family. More often now, the glass is a commission either by someone I know or someone I get to know as we collaborate on what the theme/imagery will look like.

I am pleased to be able to see this older stained glass work....but I am even more grateful that I had the opportunity to learn fusion and could pursue warm glass. Even more special is this celebratory time with family.