They've Been Framed!

This framed photo is headed for Hawaii.....
The photo is 10"x14"- the yellow board is 21"x22"

I am happy with the frame...but nothing is as beautiful as the smiles in this family reunion picture!

Picture Frame Almost Done!

Ok, watching glue dry is a waste of time!
   That said, this glue is taking it's sweet time. 

Step 1: Cut the glass, measure, re-measure, measure again!

Step 2: Decorate with glass design elements

Step 3: Fuse the glass

Step 4: Glue museum glass to the frame- wait for it to dry!

Step 5: Place photo into the slot, tape on cardboard backing.

Step 6: Glue supports to yellow board- 

Step 7: Glue frame to supports and.........
                                         ....wait for it to dry!

The customer asked for something wild.... I hope this is what they meant!

I will post the final project once it has been delivered to the customer.

Celebration of Art 2013

November 3, 2013

MJCC

Portland Oregon

free admission

See our new youtube video to catch a glimpse of some of our artists and their new art work.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-X4dExdAjYk&feature=youtu.be

I'm excited about the new projects I am working on.

    Check back often.....I'll be posting pix soon!

New Temporary Digs!

One of My Kilns...camping on the back deck

Trenches have been dug for the foundation and concrete should be poured sometime this week.
Meanwhile, our bedroom and bathroom have been completely emptied out and our new temporary bedroom is in the dining room. The kiln will move to its new digs long before I will!

Big Art Show/Sale November 3 !

New work will begin appearing after the Jewish holidays conclude!

Celebration of Art '13 will take place Nov 3, 2013 at Mittlemann Jewish Community Center
                                6651 SW CAPITOL HWY


Admission is free   10:30am-4:30 pm

I HAVE NEW GLASS....NEW DESIGNS...NEW COMMISSION OPPORTUNITIES!

We have new artists with beautiful and affordable original art available for purchase.

More info to follow!  

SCROLL DOWN!

            The Jewish Holidays are upon us , so there won't be any new posts for a bit.

I want to encourage new readers to scroll through the blog... 
(as well as those of you who are familiar with my work!)

                             JUST KEEP SCROLLING  

...You'll find samples of my work! 

Google doesn't always link the reader to the right spot in the blog...but if you keep scrolling you are likely to find what you are looking for.

Seder plates? Yads? Tallit Clips? Trays? Plates? Bowls? Candle Bridge? Wedding gifts?   YUP, IT'S ALL THERE!

If you want to commission a project....just send me a note!
sparksofspirit@gmail.com

             IT'S 5774.....   HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

Just a Big Empty Hole Now

The last of the shed has been hauled away. In another week or so, concrete trucks will come to pour a pad....the floor of my future kiln room. My wonderful contractor hooked me up with some temporary power on my lower deck...so tomorrow I will connect one of my kilns (ok, maybe both)....and I'll be fusing again!
I feel positively giddy!

Good bye Old Friend!

Kiln Shed

My shed has hosted 2 kilns for many years.... 

but now I must bid it a fond farewell. We're remodeling and the shed will be replaced by a dedicated concrete space...roughly the same size, but less flammable!

We're half-way through deconstruction. Meanwhile my kilns sit unplugged and wrapped in tarps...waiting.....waiting...waiting.... but our dear contractors promise a temporary hook up ...maybe next week!

Returning Waves

Look familiar? This is a picture of a new bowl (in process) pre slumping. It was commissioned as a wedding gift after my recent post... 

.....Congrats to the newlyweds!

Glass on the Edge

A clear glass base with a fiber paper support creates the frame for this new glass piece in my kiln. The fiber paper is pinned to together and then reinforced with kiln furniture to hold it in place. This creates a dam effect, preventing the glass from spreading out.

 Individual strips of glass are laid out on the edge rather than flat. This piece will should be about 3/4 of an inch thick.

But then what?  hmmmmmm......

....stay tuned

The Sea was the Theme

I'm visiting my inlaws in Florida and that allows me to visit a few fused glass pieces I made them.

Pictured above is one of my favorite platters ... the Sea was the theme. 

My inlaws used to live right on the gulf and loved the water. This bowl is positioned in front of a window and transmits light in such beautiful ways. 

 I love the simplicity of the design. Too many sea themed items seem to be a little tooooooo much....crabs, fish, shells. This design captures the movement of the water and plant life not often depicted.

 I may need to make another one of these!

Bat Mitzvah Commission!

Before the first firing

This is an 8x8 sushi style plate. Rectangles of cathedral iridized glass were clear-capped and embellished with dichroic accents. The Hebrew letters are cut from copper foil and are sandwiched between the two layers if glass to spell out the name Avigael.

Lucky girl!

Wedding Commission

One more round of firing to go!

This tray is made of clear and blue streaky glass

on top of opaque white glass. I cut a "river" through the streaky glass  and "planted a stream" of clear dichroic chips. 

The tray will go through one more firing to cure the white gold ink I used to trace the stream.

This was commissioned as a wedding gift! The ceremony is Saturday. Congrats to the newlyweds!

Sigh!

I'm thinking it should make a lovely mosaic.

WITHDRAWAL!

I've been in Eugene since Sunday evening and finished teaching Day #3 of my month long summer intensive at the U of O. I am loving every moment of working with amazing education grad students who are so motivated and idealistic and brilliant!

BUT....I miss my glass! As soon as I get back to pdx, I need to see what I can do to repair the broken "ping" dish (see the next post down). I will barely have enough time to repair that (I hope) and possibly get a couple other commissions ready for the kiln but I fear the time will escape me before the weekend comes to a close.

PING!

That's a sound a glass person never wants to hear.

I had a lovely platter that came out of the kiln this morning.

I brought upstairs and set it on the dining table, then welcomed my first student of the morning (I tutor kids.)

PING...my student looked at me and asked "what was that?"

"That" I told her "is the sound of my heart breaking!"

Then there were two more pings.......

No pictures.....it's too painful!

Goodbye Old Friend

Remodeling will begin soon. This shed has housed my two kilns for many years.
Soon it will go to a new home and be replaced by a real room attached to the house.
It will be slightly bigger and will have a concrete floor. I might even have running water so I can also use it as a wet room.    Good Bye Old Friend!

Bat Mitzvah Gift-A Commission!

Stage 1

Stage 3- final product

                         Lucky Bat Mitzvah Girl!

Sheet Metal and Glass

Today I learned how to cut sheet metal! The tool is a pair of scissors on steroids!

Sheet metal isn't compatible with glass in a kiln, but I can use glue!

I have an idea.....we'll see what happens! 

As always....stay tuned!

NEW FUSED GLASS TALLIT CLIPS!

                   MAGIC happens inside a kiln.....sometimes!

The aleph bet clips came out of the kiln just as expected.....silver on black! (even though the ink was white gold)

The silver pink dichroic glass started out smooth but developed a textured surface in the kiln.The silver pink shifted to light greens and lilac and soft pink! The white gold ink flashed a very subtle gold tone. I'm happy with both. 

Time to glue on the clips and attach some chains!

I am happy to custom design clips for you...just ask!
sparksofspirit@gmail.com