Repurposed Molds!

Inspired by a thread in a glass forum, I went searching in my kitchen for alternative molds for fusing glass. Can you guess what the prior use of this cactus mold was? A wrought iron cornbread pan! It took many, many small pieces of glass to create this cactus paperweight and the detail of the mold is terrific! Go on - check out your house and garage and I’ll bet you find a funky object you can repurpose for a mold for fusing glass too!

(sorry about the cornbread mold, guys, you'll have to get your cornbread in a loaf now!)

 

A couple of years ago my husband and son made me 2 of these large planter boxes, one for the front of the house for flowers and one outside the kitchen door for herbs and fun fairy chimes. Didn't they do a great job?!

This year they're going to make me a wishing well. They just don't know it yet.
I'd like one with flat sides so that I can decorate the sides with bits of glass, stones, and pieces of whimsy that I've been collecting over the years.

After they stop jumping for joy at this latest request and actually build it, I'll post a photo of it in its naked state. It will probably take me a couple of weeks to finish and I'll post those photos too .... stay tuned :)

Repurposing Glass: Another Reason to Love Flavored Extracts!

Here's a sneak peek into one of my kilns where I was slumping vanilla extract bottles.

I'll turn these into mini spoonrests when they're done and I plan to acid etch some for a matte finish and I'll keep others shiny, beautiful root beer brown!

I love off-time in the studio just experimenting with new designs and techniques and I look forward to using more of these upcycled little bottles in my work (next up will be those tiny syrup bottles you get at Cracker Barrel!) 

 

Another fabulous way to repurpose glass and keep it out of the landfills. 

Take the Long Way Home

Early this morning I was driving back home after dropping Chris off at work and heard Roger's words in my head and after I went over the Valley Falls Bridge, I turned into the little hamlet and took the long way around to home instead of taking my usual route.

This song has always been one of my favorites, one whose words I know well, and one which applies to my life. All too frequently, we don't take the "long way home" and miss out on so many things we take for granted. Wife, mother, grandmother, full-time caregiver of an aging parent - my plate runneth over and there is little time for "me". I am grateful for music and for what it brings to my life.

Spring has long been my favorite season, the buds on the trees after a harsh winter and the birthing of new baby animals - horses, cows, goats, lambs - is so very beautiful and truly awesome. I know that word is so overused, awesome, but this truly is.

I will carry this song with me today. I know I am fortunate in being able to work each day at something I love and am passionate about. I hope that each of you will be able to take the long way home today too. ♥

Life's Majestic Moments

Yesterday Tony and I were driving up our road and saw the most beautiful thing in the neighboring property. A mama cow had just given birth, literally, to her little calf. She was licking all the birth sac from her little one and the afterbirth was still spilling out of her. It was so beautiful, I started to cry. Mama Cow kept eye contact with us while we watched for several minutes from a distance.

We went around the bend of the corner to the farmer's house but no one was home. We searched the barns, acreage, etc. but could find no one. Assuming that Mama Cow knew what she was doing (of course, because animals are just so instinctual and loving at the birth process), we went on our way to the store. When we returned 2 hours later, it was late afternoon and starting to get chilly.

Mama Cow was now lying down next to her babe, still licking away and giving much needed warmth to the calf. I knew she must be exhausted and most likely in need of nourishment and in the rapidly approaching dusk, must be getting cold. I don't believe for a minute that farm animals are "hardy" and don't feel the elements. Luckily, I knew the farmer's name and because she works at the same store that Chris does, I was able to give her a call. A short time later Tony drove back up the road and Mama and baby were both gone from the field.

I feel so blessed to have witnessed part of which was an amazing thing (and having actually helped our Katie Lala have her 10 pups many years ago, it is truly one of life's great moments.

Week-end Spotlight on Loving Anvil

Three words:

BIG HONKIN' RINGS

Now I've made thousands of fused glass cabochons in my life, but none so big as the ones I make for Coco of http://lovinganvil.etsy.com/

Her rings are truly amazing. A marriage of glass and metal like no other. Thanks, Coco, for making my glass look so damned good (and for always making me smile!).

Week-end Spotlight on Silver Made Studios

I'm always in awe of the incredible work by some of the silversmiths on Etsy and ArtFire.

Look at the rings that http://silvermadestudio.etsy.com/

made with my fused glass cabochons. Little bits of glass encased in such beauty. Thanks, Teresa!

Week-end Spotlight on An Original By Peggy

Peggy of http://anoriginalbypeggy.etsy.com/ designs, hand knits, felts and lines beautiful purses which are one-of-a-kind and come in various sizes and a multitude of colors.

The hand purses pictured include my fused glass cabochons as the focal point. I'm always so honored when another designer incorporates a little piece of my work in theirs. Thanks, Peggy!

Week-end Spotlight on jewelry designer Gemma Beads

I love seeing what other artists create with my fused glass cabochons. Here's a pair of Organic Black cufflinks from jewelry designer http://gemmabeads.etsy.com/ - didn't they come out great?

Small Pleasures or Sometimes You Just Need Orange Sandals

Simple pleasures. Just the phrase brings a smile to my face and I asked some friends to share what their simple indulgences were, especially during these warm Summer months. How does this fit into the Guild and Teams section? Well, I like to think of my friends as my own team, whether they be local or around the country!

My daughter Jen's favorite indulgence is a pedicure or manicure, particularly now that she's 5 months pregnant with her second little boy. She loves being able to sit back and relax while having someone else pamper her in a small way, especially since she soon won't be able to see her toes! Her friend Heather's pick for an indulgence would be a massage, even just a 20 minute one in the middle of the workday. Heather is also about to be a new mom, so many of us can relate to her choice! Their good friend Michelle, mom of 2 little ones, loves ordering Chinese food and renting a movie with her husband and having a glass of wine too. Simple pleasures.

My friend Carol who is a glass artist loves indulging in glass but for smaller pleasures, adores buying handmade soap and body lotion online, mainly because it's much better quality than the big box stores offer. There are so many awesome soap sellers both on Etsy and Artfire that I confess to treating myself and my family often to their wares. My friend Lawatha (also a glass artist, are you surprised?) confesses that her simple pleasure which doesn't happen very often, (not nearly often enough,lol!) is a delicious treat from Coldstone Creamery and I'm with her on that! Can't you just taste the Cake Batter ice cream?

Browse around the categories on the artisan marketplaces and you'll find one-of-a-kind cards for every occasion, beautiful handcrafted jewelry that's unique and affordable, wonderful artwork for your children's rooms (I just purchased some pirate wood signs and mermaid prints for my grandchildren's room in my home), and just about anything you can imagine. Find some simple pleasures of your own and put them in your Favorites for future purchases!

My own recent personal small indulgence? An absolutely wonderful pair of butter soft orange Aerosole sandals that are so comfortable and like walking on air - ahhhhh! So, two different generations and their simple pleasures and indulgences. What's yours?

Sprucing up your Online Shop - Part 4

In previous columns in this series, we looked at avatars and banners, location, sections, profiles, currency of shop updates, featured items, titles and descriptions, and photography. In this final installment of Sprucing up your Online Shop, we'll wrap up with some thoughts on random concerns that have come up in team chats, as well as, on site forums.

Does the quality of the work in your shop appear to be professional? Are your photos clear and crisp with at least one closeup of the piece? Are both sides shown so you can see that the craftsmanship on the back equals that on the front? Objectively, can you get a sense that you as a seller love your work and take pride in the finished product? If you feel that you need some help with a critique of your shop, ask in the forums and if you're a member of a team or guild, don't be shy in asking for feedback on your shop! People love to give it!

Regarding feedback - what does the person's feedback say? Are there glowing reviews and not just positive marks (plus signs)? Do you get a sense that the artist or craftsperson does a stellar job, has a passion for and takes pride in their work from the comments left for them? Feedback is your reputation online, so make sure you provide excellent customer service as well as a great product.A lot of concern comes from newbies to selling online when they have no feedback. Remember that we all started with 0 feedback at one time and don't stress too much about it!

There have been many suggestions for starting to build feedback by making a few small purchases from other sellers just to get you going. In real life while shopping you have the advantage of seeing merchandise first-hand and being able to pick it up and feel it. Do your best to give potential customers that same confidence and remember that your online shop is open 24/7 and there's always someone shopping, so why not from you? Put a lot of effort into making your shop the best it can be and promote, promote, promote and your feedback from buyers will come!

Are your shop's policies clearly defined as far as shipping, payments, returns and other information? Try and keep your tone upbeat and positive in writing this dry stuff, but also be clear and thorough. If you're shipping internationally (and I strongly suggest that you do) make sure your mailing costs are realistic and accurate. Don't expect your buyer to pay additional funds if you've made the mistake of adding too little for mailing costs. On the other hand, if the cost of mailing is significantly less than your buyer has paid, it's very wise to refund the difference to that buyer as good customer service and they will be more likely to purchase from you again. Good customer service is a cornerstone of your business!

Selling online can be nerve-wracking, exciting, financially rewarding and give you a tremendous sense of pride in your work. The most important point I can leave you with in this series is that you must promote your shop and bring buyers to it. Work each day at honing your craft and making your online shop visually appealing. If you're newer to this vast e-commerce marketplace, consider joining a team or guild for both support, encouragement and camaradie from veteran members. Good luck and if you have comments or questions, please feel free to contact me!

Sprucing up your Online Shop - Part 1

From Handmade News http://handmadenews.org/article/index.php?id=1934

During my almost 3-1/2 years of selling on Etsy and also as a founding member of one of the original street teams, there have been many questions on the forums (or is it fora?) on how to make shops better and increase sales. In this series of columns, we'll take a look at some of these concerns and some possible solutions!

Your shop banner and avatar are the entryway into your shop and you have a few mere seconds to either catch someone's interest or have them click away, so make them professional looking and unique. Your avatar and banner are your personal calling card so make them pop and draw those buyers in! Think of some successful boutiques and shops and their entryways and facades to get an idea. In this highly competitive online marketplace, you need to toot your own horn. There are many talented graphic designers on both Etsy and Artfire who can help you design an avatar and banner if you need help.

Make sure you have your geographic location filled in. If you're worried about disclosing too much information, at least put a state and possibly a city close to you (if you're International, put your country). Many, many buyers will click away from your shop if your location is blank. People have different reasons for wanting to see a seller's location, such as to either support local artists or to judge how long an item might take to reach them after it's been shipped.

Are your sections options being used and are they clear? Personally, I usually have about 350 items in my shop and if I didn't use my sections, it would be a lot to wade through! Make it easy for your customers to zone in and target items they would have a high level of interest in. Maybe they'll click on your other categories if they're well worded.

Is your profile filled in to give potential buyers an idea of who you are as an artist and person? I'm usually disappointed when I click on profile and find it blank. While you don't have to write a novel, some info on who you are and also showing some humor can help. I love knowing who I'm buying from and their passion for their art! Keep it upbeat and proofread and proofread again so there are no spelling or grammatical errors.

Next time we'll look at some more tips for sprucing up your shop. Until then, keep creating and I'll keep a warm kiln!

Drilling Beach and Fused Glass

The following was published on Handmade News http://handmadenews.org/article/index.php?id=1617



Now that Summer is quickly approaching, visions of beautiful sea glass are on many people's minds, both jewelry designers and their buyers too!
On the Etsy and Artfire forums, there have been a number of questions on the best way to drill sea glass. Teams and Guilds are wonderful in the value they have as a brainstorming tool. Whether you're looking for advice on a new technique or just a better way to do something, they're a great resource for bouncing ideas around. Here's one of the questions I was asked as a glass team member:

Question: I have a collection of sea glass and I wanted to make a bracelet using the glass. My first question would be, what do I use to drill the tiny hole in the glass? And my second question is, would fishing line be fine to string these sea glass beads onto or would metal wire be better? Please keep in mind that I have no experience with glass or beads or any type of jewelry making.
Answer: I love beach glass, all shapes and colors and textures! I use a cordless Dremel drill with a diamond bit to get the hole you're looking for. You would need to drill underwater (hence the cordless drill, because combining water and electricity = yikes!). You'd be drilling underwater both to reduce stress on the glass and to keep the drill bit cool. Use either a piece of styrofoam or a piece of modeling clay on the bottom of a water-filled container to keep your glass steady. The water should cover your glass and the styrofoam will give you some grip and stability while you're drilling. You should be able to feel when you have hit the styrofoam or clay when your hole is completely drilled through.

Start the drill at a low speed which you can increase once you get started. Just go slow and easy and do some practice pieces first, with glass you don't absolutely love, just to get the hang of it. Try to drill on a slight angle at first to get the hole started; it will then be easier to continue from that point and your drill won't "skitch" as much. Take your time and with practice it will become easier to drill both fused glass or sea glass.

As far as stringing material, I'd keep away from fishing line because it is too brittle. You could use Tiger Tail, Acculon, or a similar type of beading cord instead, so your beautiful jewelry will hold up to wear. Most important, have fun with your new beading hobby and when you're ready to take your hobby to the next level, I'd encourage you to join one of the teams or guilds on Artfire or Etsy!!

Safety and Protection While Drilling Glass

The following was published on Handmade News http://handmadenews.org/article/index.php?id=1877

In a previous column on Handmade News, I shared tips on how to drill beach and sea glass. In part 2, we'll look at a question asked in the Etsy forum about how to protect yourself while drilling glass. One of the best things about posting in forums is there is always someone (or a dozen someones!) willing to help out, especially members of teams or guilds who can offer many viewpoints. Along with my advice is some terrific input from Mary of http://marstinia.etsy.com/ who is an accomplished enamelist.

Question: Since I am relatively new to fusing, I have a question on how to protect yourself from silica dust. I am at the grinder every day shaping my glass and noticed a lot of dust covering everything in my studio. So it's probably safe to assume that some of this is getting into my lungs, not good. I have read articles stating the little paper masks are not enough to protect your lungs from this sort of dust, so what do you do?

Answer: Good ventilation is necessary in your studio and work area, but sometimes ventilation alone isn't adequate protection. It's a good idea to wear a respirator or mask with a filter any time you're around airborne particles of glass (silica). It's the silica that can cause damage to your lungs and eyes. I use a respirator mask for grinding (even though everything gets soaking wet), for scraping kiln wash off shelves, for using powdered frits, if I'm vacuuming out the kilns or studio, etc. It's also a good idea to keep a bowl of water by your workspace to frequently dip your glass pieces in, both to keep the dust down and to cool off the glass. And remember not to bring food or drink into the studio!

Mary adds that ventilation and a good respirator is the way to go. Exposure to silica dust can cause very bad lung problems. As an enamelist, I'm working with powdered glass all the time, so I have to be extra careful. I would also recommend good cleaning habits in the studio. Areas where the dust builds up should be wet-mopped or wiped down with wet cloths. Never sweep glass dust as that will cause it to become airborne again.

So that's the glass pros advice on how to protect yourself while at the grinder. I know that whenever I have a question about pmc or art clay, I'll find the answer from a knowledgeable team member. Some wonderful collaborations have come from different teams joining together. So go ahead, ask those questions of teams and guilds!

Handmade News

I'm excited to announce that I've joined the Guilds & Teams Dept. of http://handmadenews.org/


My first column published today ~ on Drilling Sea Glass & Fused Glass and you can read it here
http://handmadenews.org/article/index.php?id=1617

Handmade News is all you'll need for news about the handmade world and the crafts in it. Check it out each day. My columns will publish on Sunday and Wednesday in the Guilds and Teams section!

Irises from the Garden

Perfection is when you wake up to new blooming treasures from your garden. My gardens are relatively new (we've been in our house less than 3 years) and we've been taking our time getting the gardens just right. In the last month or so, we've been making a Sunday trip to one of the local nurseries and just picking out two or three things at a time.

One of my favorite flowers is the beautiful iris and these are glorious orange (many of you know this is my favorite color!) and black with just a hint with very deep purple. These are in the front of the house in front of the lattice on the dorch (in Willow World, dorch = deck + porch, hahahaha!) I also chose a Monarda and something called Goat's Beard (hahaha) and I'll post pictures of those when they come up.

What's blooming in your garden today?

Glass 101: What is Dichroic Glass?

What is Dichroic Glass?

What is Dichroic Glass?

Fusing glass - getting it so hot it melts together and thus fuses - is an art with a long tradition. In my studio, I use art glass specifically designed for kiln fusing. Many of the "special effects" are created through the use of dichroic glass. It's visually beautiful, mesmerizing, and depending upon the angle you look at it, you see a different color.

But what on Earth is it?

Dichroic glass is the result of placing a multi-layered coating on glass using a highly technical vacuum deposition process. Quartz crystal and metal oxides are vaporized (zap!) with an electron beam gun in an airless vacuum chamber. The substance then floats upward and first attaches and then settles on the surface of the glass in the form of a crystal structure. The glass has many layers of these materials, yet the thickness of the total coating is very, very thin. The coating that is created is very similar to some gemstones, and careful control of the thickness creates different colors.

While originally created for the aerospace industry, dichroic glass is available to the artist community through several specialty manufacturers. Dichroic glass is specifically designed to be hotworked, but it is just as beautiful in its original form.

The main characteristic of dichroic glass is that it has a transmitted color and a completely different reflective color (di=two, chroic = colors, dichroic = two colors!). Light passing through dichroic glass transmits one color, while light bouncing off dichroic reflects another color. And to make it even more amazing, these two colors shift depending upon the angle they're viewed at.

One special way to work with dichroic glass is by etching a design onto it before firing. A special acid is used to burn away part of the colored dichroic glass (leaving it as a black base). When it's clear capped with a thin layer of clear art glass, the design really pops!

When you combine the play of light with the vibrant colors of dichroic glass, the visual beauty will delight you! Pictured are exposed dichroic earrings, an acid etched pin and also a pendant with a fully fused topcoat of clear. I'm sure you'll agree that all ways are beautiful!

Monday Motivation 2/23/2009

Monday Motivation

My 5 year old granddaughter spent the last 8 days with us while she was on school break, so needless to say, not much work got done in the studio! A lot of what we did involved boa feathers, paint, and dress up, so little glasswork got done :)

So - today is Monday, new start to a new week, and I'm totally psyched to be spending the day (and week) in the studio. I have many, many new sheets of glass and my brain is on overload with new possibilities. I'm ready to restock both my shops at http://willowglass.etsy.com/ and http://willowglass.artfire.com/

What's your motivation for today? First I need some fresh brewed iced tea and then I'm headed down to the studio. Have a splendid motivated Monday!

It's a New Day

Good Morning. Isn't this a glorious sunrise? The picture was taken from my front porch.

I've had a rough few weeks. I made a tough decision to leave a group after a few years that I had nurtured and grown from its infancy. It was the right decision, but it's been a painful journey and quite enlightening. Right now I'm feeling very alone which is odd because by nature, I'm a hermit-like person and enjoy being with myself. I enjoy my creative time in my studio and don't view it as "being alone", but rather enjoy the solitude and freedom that I'm grateful to have. The past few weeks I've taken a beating though .

So this morning I pulled up this picture from my files and I'm ready to let go. I deserve it.

Have a peaceful and blessed day today.

Fresh from the Garden

Yum. Fresh picked snap peas from our garden. A quick rinse under the garden hose and the overflowing basket was minus more than a few before we went into the house! The ones that made it inside were quick blanched and then frozen for future use.

What's growing in your garden this summer? Ours has snap peas, broccoli, tomatoes, corn, squash, cucumbers, pumpkins, 3 varieties of lettuce and garlic.

The birds also have their own snacks from our giant sunflowers! I love early summer mornings when the bunnies and deer are all over the front lawn grazing. Yes, another day to be grateful for simple pleasures.