geode

working on new pieces for the holidays using the natural forms in nature

I know it's only September, but I'm pretty sure December is going to rush up and take me by surprise

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.

etching

I've been experimenting with glass etching this week, and let me tell you, it's pretty addictive.  I had to use a lot of self-control to prevent covering everything in etched designs.  Keep your eyes out for a few etched terrariums showing up in my shop soon.  In the meantime, I'm making some samples to bring to shows and generally offer up ideas. 

clockwise: feather, triangles, two arrows, anchor, birds

birds

I made these birds last week.  These large birds are my favorite things to make at the moment.  I cut all the pieces from fragments of glass, working the patterns from the center out to each wing tip.  I then grind, foil and solder all of the pieces together, giving the wings a 3 dimensional curve, as if I've frozen them in flight.  One day I plan to make a whole flock of these to install on a sunny wall, and when sunlight streams on them it will cast streaks of color across the wall.  I don't have such a sunny wall in my current apartment, but one day...

just a bit of air

I was looking at my tiny air plant the other day and felt a wave of shame.  You see, he didn't really have a proper home, just kept shuffling between the other terrariums, looking for a place to call home.  "Ah ha!" I thought, (can you tell I spend most of my days solitary working away?) "I will make you a home just your size!"  Introduce the smallest teardrop terrarium to date.  It's the perfect size for my little air plant, and would even do the trick for a tiny succulent (like the ones I ooh and aah over at Terrain). 

And my air plant is much happier too.

friend friday & some links

This week has gone like a blur!  I've been busy finishing off projects, like some new booth decoration in time for this weekend.  Yesterday I was up to my elbows in modge podge, earlier in the week i had hot glue stuck on every finger.  You get the picture. 

Instead of introducing one new friend this Friday, I wanted to encourage you to check out all the vendors at Clover Market.  There's quite a number that I have only met virtually (chez sucre chez, joeyfivecents, sevani botanica...) and I'm looking forward to meeting them all in person.

A few links:
Three shows in the Philly area
a very imaginative little boy
excited to order this cookbook

p.s. the photo is of my new 'love arrows'.  each one has a handmade heart shaped tip 

and feathered tail, and are individually burned with a unique pattern on the shaft.  

--> idea is: write a message, curl it up on an arrow shaft, tie it with a hemp bow and send it to someone special <--

p.p.s. thanks for the patience with my ongoing web layout changes.  this morning I had some inspiration and I am happy to say that I love the new changes, so it will be staying like this for awhile :)

it's beginning to feel like spring

It's beginning to feel like spring!  In the past I have never had trouble with seasonal allergies, but this year the early pollen seems to be getting to me.  I will never tutt at anyone's allergies ever again!  This sucks!  Luckily it didn't effect the weekend.  On Saturday we went for an 8 mile walk all over the city and along the river.  We couldn't figure out why we were so exhausted when we got back, until we mapped out a similar distance walk in London and realized that would be the equivalent of walking from our old flat in northwest London all the way to Leicester Square.  I think we're still getting used to American distances.  Then on Sunday I got to help my Mom clean up her garden for planting.  We stripped out last year's crop and weeds, composted, added more soil where needed, and planted some seeds, including some multicolored carrots.  I'm looking forward to the next gardening day.

The photo is of a terrarium I made recently.  This one is a dodecahedron, made entirely of clear glass and lead-free solder (I'm actually using lead-free solder exclusively these days).  I finally got it planted last week, and I like the results so much that I am going to start making terrarium kits to sell! The kits will include all the foundation to get your terrarium started and some helpful suggestions for plants.  I'm excited to get started on these.  You'll probably start to see them in my shop and on my stands mid-May.

Talking about stands, I have my first show of the season this Saturday in Doylestown, PA!  I've lined up lots of other shows, in PA, Delaware and New York, so check here for the current line-up.  I'll make sure to post at the beginning of each month where you can find me.  And there's always my Etsy shop in the meantime!

coins of glass

Whenever I'm making a large bubble lamp (like this) or nightlights I end up with hundreds of stained glass circles to organize by color.  If I'm in the zone I actually find this a really pleasing process.  And it gets me excited for putting them all together and seeing what takes shape, literally.  This photo is from a few weeks ago, but I'm gearing up for cutting another batch of circles soon.  Think of this as a mental psyching up.

Later tonight I'm going to get some pumpernickel bread baking, do some yoga and then Quizzo!  I had no idea what Quizzo was before moving to Philly, but it's a pretty serious thing for Philadelphians.  It seems like pub trivia to us, but I'm sure there are those out there who would disagree.  We're now in a team that meets just a few blocks from us every Tuesday night.  Coming up to the end of our first year here, it kind of seems appropriate we're now a part of this city game.

green thumb

Over the weekend I finished the frame for a dodecahedron terrarium.  Two of the sides are open to allow access inside.  This will be an open terrarium, perfect for some succulents that I've been wanting to get!  After dinner on Saturday we ended up watching bits from Bruce Springsteen playing in London in 1975.  Ever since then I've been on a young Bruce kick.  At least I have my soundtrack to this week figured out :)

diy

I really like taking photos of copper foiled glass pieces waiting to be soldered.  Copper is such a pretty color.  And that little heart and herringbone?  That's for a display idea I had for my stand.  Watch this space.

p.s. I know I need to stop taking photos at night, artificial lighting is blech

illumination

I've been working on some glass wall art this week - the hard thing with glass is that it really demands light.  Stained glass is pretty by itself, but when it's lit or catches the light it takes on a whole new dimension.  That's part of the reason why I started making lamps that would illuminate the glass from the inside-out.  These new pieces will be my version of a picture hanging on a wall.  3d stained glass panels suspended in front of a light box.  I have one panel almost finished and a second panel in the works (inspired by this).  Hopefully next week I can show you something finished and hanging.  Enjoy your weekend :)

productive mornings

jewelry :: commissioned "om" sculpture :: nightlight faces

I often make lists of what I want to accomplish at the beginning of each week.  There is usually one list of what I want to make before the next show, which is pretty loooong, and another list of what I want to finish that week.  For me, there is nothing like the satisfaction I get checking things off.  Often I don't quite manage to do everything, but I have to allow myself some flexibility for the unexpected... and there's always next week!

Look at all the things I finished off this morning!  All before noon!  

Check.

work: new projects & American Craft Week

new project in the works

As usual, things have been busy this past week.  After the chilly weekend show I finished off some projects from the previous week and started a whole bunch more.  On Monday I'll post with a few new works, some quite different from what you have already seen from me.  I also had my first post over on HiP!  Check it out if you haven't already :)

Also, American Craft Week started this past Friday!  I kicked it off by going to First Friday in Wilmington DE with some friends and I took some photos of some interesting exhibits at the DCCA, which I'll post later today or tomorrow.  A lot of the artists in resident opened up their studios and there was a great buzz there in general.  It's a really fun place, I highly recommend visiting if you get the chance!

And to top it off, the PA House of Representatives just adopted a resolution declaring October "American Art & Craft Month" as part of the craft week celebration.  How cool is that?  

Read the full text here.

(sorry for the photo quality, there will be a better photo of the finish product soon)

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."

work: portable art

I've been working on some stained glass jewelry as an extension of the Platonic Solid series.  I see these as a portable version of the series.  These jewelry pieces consist of the two-dimensional shapes I use to make the platonic solids: triangles, squares and pentagons. 

Like the platonic solids, this jewelry plays with the light.  I love that the color of the glass seems to change as the sunlight fades or strengthens throughout the day. 

To make the pendants and bracelets I worked with jewelry-quality stained glass materials.  To solder the shapes I used environmentally friendly flux along with Silvergleem lead-free solder, which makes the jewelry suitable for heavy, everyday use with constant skin contact :).  To finish them off I use  silver-plated chains and fastenings.

These pieces in particular will become parts of bracelets (which will be in the shop on the weekend), but I have pendants available in my shop already!

shop: update soon!

Look for my first shop update on Monday!