Glass, new and old work

 I am always keeping the kilns warm, but not always sharing about my adventures.

It's the height of gardening season in Wisconsin. My dog Sam finds a new place to dig a hole when it gets too warm or the bugs are bothering him. He then sinks down into the hole and patiently waits for me to be done with whatever chore has my attention.

My new work from behind the flame is different and yet the same. I have created a few new and smaller wreaths for sale at a local gallery's shop. I hope they sell; they are the perfect size to brighten a small portion of a wall.

This is an orange flowered wreath created for the gallery shop.

While in England last spring I saw a piece of metal work that I loved. The metal work used an open space for the stem of the flower. I have tried creating this work 5 times now and I have not been successful. I told myself that if the last attempt fails that I would give up the idea and move on.
It failed. I am moving on.

Both of these Coneflowers pictures are taken pre-fire and therefore pre-breakage.

My kiln is currently warm with some failed flamed hollow beads that I am fusing into a small round. I will then turn it into a dish or sun-catcher depending on how it turns out. I figure it is a great way to rework my failures into something functional and it's better than just allowing the failures to sit and mock me from the shelf;-)

 

Hollows ready to fuse.

I am also working on an idea for some flameworked balls on the end of a long mandrel. Title will be 'Balls in the Air'. A bit tongue in cheek, but I hope it turns out. I have been looking for an item that could be used to place the flameworked balls on that would have enough mass to support the balls on the end of a long rod and also be eye and garden friendly. I may have landed on an idea, but I need to create one to see if it will work. Stay tuned.

Here are three of the balls on long mandrels (steel rods).

Zinnias from my garden, I love these colors together and I want to replicate in some glass beads -

Another fused project that I have played with in the last few months is a fused glass obelisk. I'm still working on this idea. I believe that the obelisk will really stand out in the garden if I can find a small solar light to place inside. I did have a problem with the size I wanted and the actual size of my kiln. The size difference forced me to create 'stitched' seams on the sides that I 'stitched' together with wire.

Keeping the kilns warm. Enjoying each day.

~Julie