maker/mother: Maryanne Moodie

Well hello! It's been a long time since I last updated my blog. For awhile now I've been searching to find the right kind of post to begin anew. After my son Dylan was born last July I realized that I had changed in other ways than I had expected. I knew motherhood would change my life (duh). But, the kinds of information and images I was drawn to had also evolved. I was drawn more to the work (and lives) of other mothers with businesses. Cradling and nursing him in the wee hours of the morning I would stare into my phone in the darkness, wondering who else was awake, how often their babes woke in the night, whether they laid in a bassinet or on their chest as Dylan laid on mine.

When I started working again I wondered how other business owners negotiated this twisted dance. When did they return to work? Where were their children while they worked? And then it occurred to me, I could ask them.

I'm happy to say that my first maker/mother interview is with Maryanne Moodie, the vibrant Aussie fiber goddess. A mother of two, she is one of my top inspirational mothers, and her youngest son Rudi is only a few months older than Dylan.

My goal in this series is to provide a glimpse into a part of their lives that is not always as public, but which provides the foundation for everything- their families.

Read the first interview after the jump...
 

it's been awhile & important shop news!

Hi guys! It's been awhile since my last post and a lot has happened since then. If you follow my Instagram and Twitter feeds then you probably already know that... I'm pregnant! We're expecting our baby to make its arrival this July and therein lies the second part of my very important shop news. 

As most of you know, I run ABJ Glassworks by myself, which means that when baby comes along the shop is going to go on a little hiatus from new orders. I know it's hard to plan in advance, but if you already know that you will be placing an order later this year, I'd highly recommend making it before I close for maternity leave in July. 

Also, once my shop reopens it will be in a slightly different format than usual.
At the moment all items are always marked "in stock" (though everything is still made to order). After July things will change a bit. Twice a month (first and third Mondays at 10am EST) I will open a specific quantity of styles and pieces for ordering and once these sell out I will not take orders until the next date. I will not be able to have all of my pieces in stock for each order date, but I will still be contactable by email. So if your have a question or special request feel free to get in touch!

I hope this all makes sense. I'm looking forward to the next phase of ABJ Glassworks and thank you as always for all your support! I'll be sure to keep you updated on future events!

xx Ashley

new moon pieces for december

The full moon in December is called the Cold Moon or the Long Nights Moon. It is the month when the winter cold fastens its grip and the nights become long and dark. To evoke the cold and dark month that we are entering into I've made these moon phases from mirrored glass, a clear stained glass with black wisps (reminding me of the cold winds blowing) and a teal/blue stained glass (a beautiful but chilly color). There are 4 moon phases available in various sizes and colors:

 

December Cold Moon Phase No.1

December Cold Moon Phase No.2

December Cold Moon Phase No.3

December Cold Moon Phase No.4

I have also added a smaller moon phase ornament to my shop for the holidays. A smaller version of my moon phase garlands, it is perfect for hanging on a tree or on a window or wall. Each ornament has three phases: full, half and crescent handmade in black, purple or white stained glass. 

Moon Phase Ornament in Black, Purple, White

As an extension of the holiday season I will also be making posts on some of my go-to baking this season, a primer on succulent propagating, as well as an introduction to the New Moon Gathering that I and a few close friends have been celebrating the past few months. Happy Holidays!

one last plug...

Just wanted to share this beautiful flier that Beth and Jolly Bureau made for our booth at Renegade this weekend. I think it sums us and the event up perfectly! Hope to see you there!!!

September Harvest Moon

The full moon nearest the autumnal equinox is called the Harvest Moon, which is our September full moon this year. In other years it is known as the Corn Moon or Barley Moon because it traditionally corresponds with the time of harvesting corn and threshing the ripened barley.

September Harvest Moon No.1 is made with amber and yellow stained glass moon phases and a yellow stained glass full moon. Each moon phase is a complete circle, with the yellow representing the bright part of the moon and the amber the moon in shadow. There is a subtle change in size from a center full moon of 2.25" to final quarter moons of 1.75"

September Harvest Moon No.2 is made with amber and yellow stained glass moon phases and a yellow stained glass full moon. Each moon phase is a complete circle, with the yellow representing the bright part of the moon and the amber the moon in shadow. There is a subtle change in size from a center full moon of 2.25" to final quarter moons of 1.75"

Find them ready to ship here