I feel like I have already failed my blog. Between an end-of-show-season respite and the Christmas holidays fast approaching I've neglected to update my blog for almost a month. Never one to procrastinate, always on time, as I've grown older I find myself arriving 10 minutes late to the dentist and behind on my farm accounting. So it's no wonder the blog is floundering!

The shopping is finally completed and the packages all wrapped (if you can call throwing things in a pretty bag wrapped) and awaiting their trip back home for the holidays. Every year I swear I'm going to go back to pretty paper with fancy handmade bows and twirling ribbons but each time I receive so many gifts in bags that I feel obligated to reuse them the following year, which perpetuates the cycle. There is such fun in the anticipation of opening a wrapped gift, whether one rips the present bare with vigor or gently unwraps as if unswaddling a new babe.

With a few days to myself before the holidays I am now back working in my studio on new projects. I've got several new sushi/dessert sets in the works, a really nice coneflower bowl, and a new tuxedo cat bowl-all ready for their mold firing. Perhaps you'll see them on the blog next year!

Thanks for checking in with me. I wish everyone a very merry Christmas!

Winter has finally arrived in Ohio with brisk, chilly winds and our first inch of snow. I've decided to hibernate today and took a look through some of my favorite glass pieces I completed when the air was much warmer.

I really like exploring the process of pattern bars. If you're not familiar with them, they consist of a simple idea that finishes with a more complicated look. Strips of glass in varying widths are stacked and fused. Sometimes with a planned pattern but for me, usually quite freeform. This stack is built until it reaches 3/4-1 inch high. It is fully fused and sliced into 1/8-1/4 inch sections. These are layed side-by-side to create a repeating pattern. They can be quite beautiful. Above is one of my favorite pieces done in this technique.

When first conceived my mind was still on the pleasant memories of refreshing Belize breezes. Now looking at the piece with winter raising it's head I'm thinking of the brisk white snows & blue ice to come.

Great News!

Last time I wrote about the Glass Quilt Project. Toni Johnson, who headed the collaboration, has informed us that she has found a permanent home for the quilt blocks. They will be installed at the Sacred Heart Children's Hospital in Tacoma, Washington. She not only found a home for the quilt but also found someone to donate the fabrication work necessary to "sew" the blocks into a "quilt."



This is exciting for all of us. Installation could be late December. I hope to have a picture of the final installation or at least a link to the actual quilt once it's completed.

I've had a busy week with both my MIL spending a few days visiting and my last show of the season. I only do about 4-5 shows each year. While this last one's not the biggest it is nicely run and is "hometown" so it's always nice to see people you know and be able to show them what you've been working on the past year. People always want to know "What the heck I'm doing in that garage all year?" This is my chance to show my friends and neighbors.

One piece that got lots of attention was my contribution to the virtual warm glass quilt many of us worked on earlier this year. This was a collaboration of fused glass artists with each artist given the task of making a piece that would represent one of the four elements: earth, air, water, fire or you could also do all if you desired. Toni Johnson worked hard to make this a beautiful site for all of us to enjoy. Lots of fusing techniqures were used so take a few minutes to see all of the great blocks. There you can read about each piece by the artists, which included glassies from around the world. My entry is the "Dancing Inferno" piece pictured above.

A fellow fused glass artist, Cynthia Morgan, has a great listing of other fused glass blogs for you to check out. Such a wealth of talent all in one place! Also, if you are interested in learning more about fusing don't miss Brad Walker's site to learn everything you every wanted to know and more about fusing glass. He has by far the most comprehensive "warm glass" site with a great search feature and a group of fusers that aren't afraid to share their knowledge.

More Strips!

I can't help myself! I really enjoy making strips pieces. The biggest drawback is the amount of glass each bowl/plate takes. I've gotten pretty fast at cutting the strips but I usually underestimate how many strips each piece will need. This piece involves not only cutting the strips but inlaying the squares. I've also used a strip of a striped pattern bar along each edge. I had a hard time deciding whether to drop this into a mold or leave it as a stand alone piece in a iron stand. Obviously I finally chose the mold. Still unsure as to whether it was the right decision but for now this piece sits!

Winter's Promise

While not noticeable in the picture, this piece is composed of 3/8 inch strips of 1/8" glass. The strips are set on edge tightly against each other. Decor squares and handmade stringers are added. The piece is fully fused then placed in a ceramic mold to allow the glass to gently fall, creating the shape. This bowls consists of black and the new Spectrum 96 stone color. Really nice combination.

Cafe Latte

This is one of my newest pieces, "Cafe Latte." It didn't stick around long as it was created specifically as a donation piece for the Pyramid Hill Gala Event. Pyramid Hill is one of only a few outdoor sculpture parks in the US. For more info please see http://www.pyramidhill.org/. This piece is made by first full fusing a two layer blank. Then I add the decor along the edge and contour fused it. Once I was happy with how it looked I sat the blank on top of a stainless steel cocktail shaker and heated it in the kiln until the glass draped gently over the sides.

You Kept Asking Me...

For those of you who keep asking, and after many requests, I have taken the plunge and started this blog. I know it's not the same as a website, but it's a big step for me. Check in once in a while to see what I'm making.

Originally working in stained glass, almost three years ago I purchased my first kiln and have never looked back. I love cooking glass! There is something "freeing" about leaving the foil, lead, came, etc. behind and just working with the glass.

About three months into fusing I had already outgrown my baby kiln but had to wait a over a year more before I could afford the big one I coveted. What a difference! Now I can produce larger items and more than one thing at a time. I still use my baby kiln for tests and jewelry. I'm addicted...I'm thinking about a mid-size kiln now.

While I tend to make what I call "functional, decorative art" I also like making art pieces. I like doing strip pieces, pattern bars, dichroic jewelry and I've been playing with pot melts. If you are unfamiliar with these terms I suggest you check out www.warmglass.com. I'll explain more about them as time allows.

I hope you enjoy the site!