January Glass

I have three pieces for sale at a small art center, Riverfront Arts, in Steven's Point. It is a garden in art show. Last year I sold two out of the three pieces that I exhibited during this show. I'm excited to see how this year goes.

I've been working on some new glass pieces. Today was a round blank for a bowl using some lovely green colors. This is in the kiln now. I look forward to opening the kiln tomorrow morning.

 






I also have played with Leatherbow's crackle technique recently. I have had mixed results, but I learned a bunch and will keep trying this technique.

Here is a bowl that mostly turned out. The back is a bit ugly.

I have also been working behind the torch. This month's challenge from the beginning lampwork Facebook group is to make snowmen, trees, and penguins for a small diorama. Here are a few of my first beads.

I also have just completed the 40 bead challenge. This challenge is to make 40 dot beads with regular rods and no tools. It teaches heat control & creativity, and is great practice. Here are my beads -

Keeping the kilns warm,

~ Julie

New work - December 2019

I've been doing a bunch of work at the torch. With the almost daily time behind the torch, I'm really enjoying my increase in glass control. 

Here are a few new earrings that I have for sale on my Etsy site.

I have also been working on some lampwork challenges from a Facebook group that I follow. The November challenge was to make a glass mandala. Here is my best attempt. I will need to practice this skill more.

The December challenge is to make twisties in glass. I have been turning these glass twisties into icicles for my tree. I have always had glass icicles on my tree, but this is the first year that I created some of those icicles. I am really enjoying this result of the December challenge.

Finally I have been working on some small holiday animals - penguins, snowmen, santas, etc. I really like creating these. I have then attached them to the small honey jars from my bees as holiday gifts. 

Keeping the kiln warm.

~ Julie

Work in Progress

Winter has hit with a vengeance here. Cold and snow.
My bees are now hive bound.
One day last week it was sunny and 40 degrees and a few ventured out of the hive -

 

I have had some glass failures recently and needed to complete something that I felt good about.

Sunflowers.

I always feel happy making sunflower suncatchers.

Prefuse.

After Fuse.

Sunflowers always make me happy.

I also worked on some enamels on float glass. I love the colors, but the edges are wonky and I'm not sure how to fix them in order to slump into a mold.

I have created a bunch of beads and created bracelets with them.

I have worked on these garden stakes and love the design.

I'm currently working on another green one.

Keeping the kilns warm.

~ Julie

Cozy Beads

I am smitten with making flower beads and cabochons.

I have created a few each day for the last week.

I have some great ideas for using the flower beads in various creations.

Here is my first use -

My kombucha cozy is now bedazzled.

~ Julie

Crochet

When I was a child and teen I used to crochet. My grandmother taught me when I was very young. I always had my own technique, but it worked for me. Through my career I struggled with carpal tunnel symptoms, and crocheting aggravated these symptoms, so I put my needle down. I was looking for a good way to use my homemade beads and found drink/cup cozies. What a lovely way to use beads.

I love the idea of an item that is completly made by me. I crocheted the cozy, created the lampworked bead and put them together for a nice functional product. 💖

I then decided that my homemade kombucha that I brew on the counter was too cold this winter and needed it's own cozy.

This is my kombucha brewing on the counter. The large gray cozy that I made today just needs an ornament.

I have been making some new beads and flowers recently. I think I will find one to attach to this nice gray kombucha cozy.

Of course I needed an appropriately large bead to match the larger cozy. The new beads that I made this afternoon are annealing in the kiln. I should have a good choice to attach tomorrow.

Keeping the kiln warm.

~ Julie

New Year

2019 has been snowy in Wisconsin.
I was able to get out and continue walking which is good. I prefer snow over ice.

I have been both lampworking and fusing this past week.

I made simple beads for a new bracelet. The colors don't show well in this pict, but they are a pinkish with green - lovely. I am using a purchased frit blend from Val Cox to provide the color.

 

I created a recycled plate/dish with recycled glass and enamels for color. I think I'll call this one the starry night. It is dark with the black on the one side.

I finally slumped this dish and it turned out better than expected. I had created the glass round for slumping in a summer class that I took last August. I like how the colors work together.

Another project that has been sitting on the back of my bench was this vase. I created it by dropping glass through a drop out mold at least 5 years ago, but never cut off the top to make the vase.

I fixed my glass saw this week.

I loved it and was excited until is broke as I was smoothing/sanding the top to finish it off yesterday. I will have to drop another vase/glass now that my glass saw is fixed.

Keeping the kiln warm.

~ Julie