shells and feathers and acorns

 

I've been meaning to take these photos for awhile, but got caught up in moving home and some unexpected hiccups along the way (which you may have seen on instagram).  Anywho, I left the bottom of my Companion Lamp open, which, besides making it easy to clean, provides a little dust-free home for a curio collection!  Although I really like uncluttered spaces, I have a habit of picking up pleasing pebbles, shells, feathers, acorns... and now I have the perfect place to home my seasonal treasures .

Find both sizes of my Companion Lamp here

(I just had a vision of the base filled with colorful autumnal leaves, now you know what I'll be doing today!)

new in shop

a few more new items in store...

my companion lamp is now available for ordering and I've decided to list a new colored glass pyramid every 1-2 weeks, so keep your eyes out for your favorite color.

the companion lamp (fall/winter 2012)

This is a sample of the smaller companion lamp.  At dusk it gives off a beautiful, diffused light - strong enough to work and read by, but soft enough to not strain the eyes.  The reflections of the solder lines give the illusion that the frame is rooting into your furniture, becoming one with your room.  The smaller size is perfect for desks, bookcases and shelves, and bedside tables.

Measurements: 15" high (with shade) : The glass lamp base is 9" high and 8.5" at the widest part : the shade is 9.5" wide at its base x 6.5" high.

Email me for details on fall/winter pre-orders.

experimenting

lately I've been experimenting. with new shapes, sizes, ideas... after one too many days of staring at all the terrariums piled on our one table, it occurred to me that some of the shapes could make beautiful lamps.  the first lamp I made looks wonderful, and it really makes me wish I had a place to put them, but since the table is full they're sitting on the floor for now...

next on my ever growing list of ideas : figure out fittings for a wall mounted light...



* Edit 8/3/12:  I will definitely be putting the lamp in my shop soon, I'm looking to have it ready for the fall/winter season.  I'm making it in two sizes:

Large measures 18.5" high (with shade).  The glass lamp base is 12" high and 11" at the widest part, and the shade is 14" wide at its base x 8.5" high. 

Small measures 15" high (with shade.  The glass lamp base is 9" high and 8.5" at the widest part, and the shade is 9.5" wide at its base x 6.5" high.

I'll be offering them in either silver or with a copper patina.  And I'll be offering the shade in either chalk white or light sand.  As with all my work, the lamps are handmade using glass and a lead-free silver alloy solder.
 
I'll start taking pre-orders soon, email me for details!

lovebugs pt.2

There is a whole array of colors in the lovebugs section of my shop!  You can now choose from purple, amber, red, green, or teal blue.  I've also changed the chain to be a bit more refined.  The sun is shining today so I'm going to take some more pictures wearing the various colors. 

I also finished a mega-lamp this week.  When I started I didn't intend for it to get as large as it did, but as I work free-form it just started growing and growing.  I even had to go back and cut more circles for it about halfway through when I realized what a behemoth it was becoming! I love the colors in it though.  I planned it with spiraling shades of light blue, amber, orange/yellow, and a bit of lime green, and the effect is perfect!  I love when a plan comes together.

baby it's cold outside

fire dodecahedron lamp :: some new birds

 For some reason this week I just couldn't shake the chills.  It's probably why I've been working with a lot of fire themed colors lately, in the hopes that those reds, oranges and yellows will generate some warmth!  This weekend I'm heading on a roadtrip to Pittsburgh to have a belated bday celebration for one of my best friends.  I'm looking forward to some time on the road (hopefully my roadtriping partner likes Bruce) and I'm planning on remembering my camera to capture some moments. 

Next week I'm going to be tinkering with my website layout/design, so if you stop by and things are looking weird that's why.  Hopefully I'll get them ironed out, but I just wanted to give a heads up!  Also from now through Monday I'm offering 15% off in my Etsy shop with code spring15, so go on, treat yourself :)

geometrics

new Dodecahedron lamp

I love playing around with geometric shapes and color combinations.  Someday I'll figure out how take a photo of myself sitting on the floor surrounded by sheets of glass, waiting for a few sheets to yell out "Choose us!  We'll be perfect together!"

In the meantime, what colors are your favorites?

p.s. yes, that is a woolly rhino in the background, who doesn't have a woolly rhino lurking in their photos?

regrouping

New lamp incorporating what I call "the Monet glass"   ::   Stand from last weekend!

I'm going to be taking some time this week and next to regroup.  I seriously need to replenish my jewelry and a few other items that have proved popular at the shows recently.

I've listed a few new items in my shop, but there will be more coming.  The yellow dodecahedron nightlight is up (the last one from the first set!), and the blue circles nightlight is up as well.  The circles proved so popular that I sold two of them before I even had a chance to take any good photos. I finished three of them on Thursday and by Monday I only had one left!

A few people have also been asking about the star ornaments I had at the last two shows, so I've posted a listing for those as well.  I'll be making those pretty much as custom orders (unless I just happen to have the colors you want already made up), so when ordering make sure to give your color preferences, and let me know if you want more than one - there is a discount for purchasing two or more!

Have a great week, and feel free to contact me with any questions or custom orders.  I'll be posting soon with images of some recent commissions... there's still plenty of time before the holidays!

new work: weekly wrapup

Lamp with Circles, 2011 :: Yellow/Orange Bird, 2011 :: Purple/Black Bird, 2011

Last week's weekly wrapup comes a bit late, but I think it's worth the wait. I started the lamp at the end of last week, finishing it off yesterday. It is made from four hand-pieced "fins" that extend at 90 degree angles from the central pole. The whole structure is stabilized with a glass base and glass disc topper that are soldered to the frame. I counted the circles yesterday and there are exactly 60!

I made both of the birds last week.  They would look great hanging on a wall, or even from a ceiling.  I had the idea for these birds a few months ago, sculpting them so that their wings undulate as if they are caught mid-flight.

Burst, Sky, 2011 :: Purple Icosahedron Lamp, 2011

Also from last week, another Burst, this one in shades of light blue and white, and an icosahedron lamp in ambers and purples.

I will have all of these pieces at the PA Guild of Craftsmen show in Blue Bell this weekend!
Go here for a list of all the exhibitors.
Check out the HiP list of exhibitors to look for in which I'm mentioned!

© 2011 ABJ Glassworks

All Rights Reserved

new work: dodecahedron lamp sculpture

Just a preview of what I've been up to this week.  I'll do another weekly wrapup soon, it's been a very busy (and productive) week!

p.s. remember I'll be at the 4th Annual Downingtown Log House Arts & Crafts Show this Sunday from 10am-3pm.  Arts, crafts, food, music... sounds like a great afternoon to me!

new work: lamps

right: Purple Cubes Lamp, 2011

center: Blue Marbled Triangular Lamp, 2011

left: Blue Pentagonal Lamp, 2011

The story behind these lamps is a bit funny.  At the first show I did on Headhouse Square here in Philly I seemed to get the same question over and over again, and it was very unexpected ... "do you make the lamps?"  The answer was... "well, no."