Winter Solstice is next week -

Next week we will experience the Winter Solstice. December 21st is the shortest day of the year and soon we will see our days getting longer. I look forward to that.

I recently completed this star made from recycled window glass. The window was an old house window from my childhood home. It was a great way to use this old glass. This was modified from a Jim Mathews project,  Glasshoppa.com.

This is a closeup of the star. I love how the glass catches the light.

I also completed a new electroformed flower stem/sepal that I inserted a small, red & yellow, blown glass bulb into. I created the glass to fit and it does perfectly. I am very excited about this project. The glass reflects the light in interesting ways. All three of the following pictures are the same piece.

Keeping the kilns warm,

~ Julie

Keeping on . . .

 I find it difficult to work in my basement glass studio when the weather is nice, but I miss working creatively with glass if I don't do any work for a few days. Such a problem. November here in Wisconsin was a very mild month with many sunny, warm days. This last week in December also had some beautiful days. I have been working with glass, but in fits and starts rather than prolonged times. No excuses. It's just the way it is.

A few projects - 

My latest is a red and white lace bowl. This process can challenge my glass cutting abilities especially with white glass, but I love the results.

     

It can be found here in my Etsy shop.

I sold this Poppy Wreath from my Etsy shop this week. So excited.
It can be affirming to randomly sell some of my work.

 

I have been making coffee, tea, hot chocolate, etc. drink stir sticks lately.
I love to use them in the morning to stir honey/oat milk into my coffee or tea and they also work great to stir an evening cocktail. I have been using them for a couple for months to make sure they wouldn't break and were functional. 

No breakage and YES, they are very functional.

I have been continuing to play with electroforming. So fun.

Christmas ornaments - 

I have blown a few small bulbs for our tree this year. Small is one inch in diameter, but we only have a small tree that we cut from our property, so it fits in well. No large ornaments on the tree, the branches will not support them. I have also been practicing icicles. I'm not consistent or happy with my icicles, but I keep practicing. Someday I may figure it out;-)

I have made some gnomes and viking gnomes. They are part of a Facebook challenge, but I like them and will be putting them on my tree this year.

Keeping the kilns warm,

~Julie