New Year - New Work

 I have been working on a bit of new work in this new year of 2023.

I have neglected to take pictures of some of the new work, but I did get these pictures - 

I have been making glass flower wreaths for years and I have sold quite a few, but I had this new idea of putting the flowers into a glass form that can be hung on the wall.

I have a few more in the works.

I have had this idea for months. I wanted to include some flameworked items with my mosaic and last summer I created a bunch of 'smiles' to include with this mirror.

Since this picture this mirror has been grouted. 

I hope folks will understand the tongue in cheek 'smile' reference.

I am also excited to have a picture chosen to be displayed at the Garden Expo in Madison, WI. I have it packaged and ready to send off for the competition during the garden conference.

The growing season was ending fast with a hard frost, but this coneflower was still trying to bloom.

I am excited to see what my competition will be and also because I have never exhibited my photos before.

~ Julie

Early September 2022

 September 2022. Here we are

My Zinnias are still going strong. I always know that summer is coming to an end when the daylilies stop blooming for the year. Here is one of the last blooms along the side of the garage.

I have been taking an online class on glass flowers and components recently and have enjoyed learning a few new ways to create flowers and components.
I think new flower wreaths going forward will look a better.

I also took a local class on creating with mosaics. We created an obelisk.
Very fun.

Here is my obelisk pre-grout.
I need to get better pictures since it has a place of honor on my kitchen counter.

Today I'm heading back to the garden. 

I harvested spaghetti squash this morning. I need to get the rest of the ripe tomatoes and start pulling the corn stalks that are done producing for the year.

Keeping the kilns warm. Enjoying each day.

~Julie

Staying warm

Wisconsin is cold and full of snow. Our last snow storm almost buried this garden art. 

I tend to create with flowers and colorful glass when the landscape outside gets bleak.

This is a bowl or bird bath in the kiln ready to fire.

I have been playing with Bullseye reactive glass. There are only two colors of glass, but when they are fused together they have a reaction that gives the darker outlines and a third color.

This is a small 8x8 plate. Lovely.

I have been working with lampworked flowers and creating them into hangable wall art. I thought a nice bee would be a great addition. This bee is my first attempt. It needs work, but I was proud of it.

A few of my lampworked flowers that will either become magnets or pins.

~ Julie

Flowers in January

I love glass.

I especially love the sun shining through glass. I love its luminescence.
Glass sun catchers are particularly wonderful when experiencing a Wisconsin winter.

Keeping the kiln warm.

~ Julie

Happy Saturday!

It is a beautiful day today in front of a possible snow storm in Wisconsin.

The kiln has been cooking recently making glass flowers for the garden. I have made five this week and now I just need to get mounting hardware. My goal is to get these in my garden before the snow falls so that I can enjoy them sticking out of a snow bank this winter.

The above flower is in the kin pre and post slump on the CPI flower mold. I hope to show more about the flowers once they are ready for the garden.

~ Julie