Sentinel Publishes Step-by-step photos...
Meanwhile my jewelry is being worn by international models at a Peter's Island photo shoot! I wonder if sunsets there are as pink as the one out of my window right now. It makes me want to make my 'sky glass' series again.
Recycled Bottle Tree 2010: Red Hot and Recycled
We delivered the tree today. We were on Channel 6 news. Click if you would like to know how to make the ornaments! Here's the tree skirt made of recycled plastic shopping bags with centers our Preschool students made out of bottle caps.
Saving up Sharpies, autographs anyone?
Jean Patteson came out last week to write a piece for the Orlando Sentinel about our glorious tree. I have known Jean since my days of hand-painting clothing over twenty years ago. She is such a lovely person and always enthusiastic about our goings-on.
Courtney Cachet's NBC piece featuring one of our arrangements is scheduled to air November 28th and yesterday Orlando Arts Magazine published a full page featuring our tree and a how-to so that we can keep the holidays glitterful and the landfills a few bottles less full. And today Channel 6 came out and spent an hour chatting with me and with our students getting the low-down on how we spin gold out of straw... I mean glass out of plastic. Here is the Orlando Arts article for anyone that would like to try their hand at it:
Glitter-copia in Sparkle-topia
The photo to the right is an image of my world until the Festival of Trees. Between doing the tree with my students and creating the ornaments, bottle stoppers, and arrangements for the boutique I even dream in glitter. Inspired by a project I saw on-lines my students and I painted our still life with glue and presto! Gourd-geous don't you think?
The Orlando Sentinel comes tomorrow to see our tree and learn how we do what we do. We are scheduled to do a how-to segment with Channel 6 news next week so that everyone can enjoy making ornaments. Our trail of sparkles may lead right up to your door. Boo!
I could use a few more elves... and one less dog.
My friend Shelly came over to make ornaments for the upcoming boutique at festival of trees. Many hands make light work? I think it is more like 'friendly hands make light work.' It is amazing how much more fun making things is with company. Zuzu, my Dalmatian got so excited she was jumping in and out of the pool then ran over and trampled some of our finished pieces. She has a knack for finding even the most remote items to either consume or destroy. Some of you asked how the coffee filter flowers we made from auntpeaches blog turned out. Snapped this picture for you.
More Fire Power! Winning the PMC kiln contest...
Here is the entry that won me a brandy new PMC kiln from Cool Tools. Read all about my project in their blog!
Room for Inspiration...
I was stuck while designing a necklace until I saw this room by Courtney Cachet. I love the color palette. Here is how I translated it into jewelry.
A Handful of Possibility
Here are my latest glasslings, off their rods and all clean and full of potential. I read a quote by a glass jewelry artist once who pondered the intimacy of what we make. Our work is treasured and worn against the skin, a prized possession, a fashion statement, and for me an affirmation of a good work to be walking in.
New Batch of Glass
I have a crazy day again today but am hoping to make some glass inspired by Courtney Cachet's oh so cool design. We are working on a recycled arrangement for it and I figure she needs a matching necklace.
Coffee Filter Fun
We made giant coffee filter roses. I could show you the picture I have of these enormous filters stacked on top of real filters but it is much more fun post this picture of them drying with Chloe looking up and wondering what the fuss is all about. Thank you Aunt Peaches for the inspiration! The rose making party was a great success in no small part due to the company and the chocolate wine. We had so much fun I forgot to take a picture of the finished flowers in the vase and the one on top of my friend Chritine's head.
New News is Old News
We are doing another recycled plastic Christimas tree this year for the Orlando Museum Festival of Trees. I accidentally came across the Channel 6 interview link so I added it to my press page. Here it is in case you missed it:
dirty work studio space
I thought y'all might like to see where I make my glass forms, solder, assemble, and all that messy stuff. I am thinking of moving the assembly part into my new space but it's so pristine I may just make it into a museum.
Below is my glass bench. How could you not get inspired looking at all that Italian glass in the converted shoe cubby? A plastic necklace a student gave me is hanging on the window latch. Though my mini-blinds belie this, we do not have a cat. The blue box is my kiln where the glass goes after it melted, shaped, and decorated. You can barely see my little torch in the middle of the bench.
To the right is my tool bench where I used to assemble but I needed more table space. I have a drafting table in the middle of the room now but it is overflowing now so I may relocate to the big table we made for my glamorous new studio. I don't know if I can trust myself to be neat.
The last photo is of where I do my soldering of silver and copper. The painting is there to remind me to finish it, but I just keep moving it out of the way. Maybe I should put it into the museum I am going to make out of the new studio space.
New Boutique and Studio Space
My friend Susan and I finally got my new room finished. It is so beautiful. I am thinking of using it for classes, assembly, and hiding. If anyone wants to have a jewelry party they can have it here. I'll have the champagne waiting!
Indie Bride Feature!
I just remembered the nice folks at Indie Bride an Oh so cool web site offered to feature me. I forgot all about it until this morning. Here is the link to the gorgeous page they did back in July on my work.
Coin Collecting
Coins are the inspiration for this necklace. I made a few copper coin charms coupled with glass discs with iridescent edges. I especially like the copper cameo and the big glass ring with embedded silver foil.
It was fun adding the chain to the earrings.to change things up a bit. I felt so avant garde!
Her Master's Voice
Good-bye Santa Fe Dawn
A little hummingbird buzzed in a loop right next to me as I leaned out the window to take this photo. John's mom loved hummingbirds and when I see one I figure she is looking out for us from above.
Santa Fe
. It has been so fun being around so many creative people and hearing from professional writers and artists. I am taking a drawing from life class and final drew something decent today. I want to live in Santa Fe! Wednesday was my 31st anniversary. I went to chapel in the evening and the first hymn was Praise to the Lord the Almighty. I went down the aisle to that hymn 31 years ago.Praise to the Lord , the Almighty the King of creation!
Oh my soul , Praise Him for He is thy health and salvation!
All you who hear, Now to His temple draw near;
Praise Him with glad adoration.
Praise to the Lord, who o'er all things so wondrously reigneth,
Shelters thee under His wings , yea so gently sustaineth!
Hast thou not seen How thy desires e're have been
Granted in what He ordaineth?
Praise to the Lord, who doth prosper thy work and defend thee;
Surely His goodness and mercy here daily attend thee.
Ponder anew what the Almighty can do,
If with His love He befriend thee.
Praise to the Lord, O let all that is in me adore Him!
All that hath life and breath , come now with praises before Him.
Let the Amen Sound from His people again,
Gladly for aye, we adore Him.
Auction Necklace
I am leaving tomorrow for Santa Fe to attend an artist and writer's conference. They are having a scholarship auction so I made this necklace especially for the event. Now I want to keep it. I boxed it up nicely so I won't be tempted. I am taking solace in the fact that I took pictures of it. I think I will make another necklace similar to this one.