Spring 2023

Today is the first day of Spring.

We are experiencing a very cold and snowy March. I am hopeful that the weather will start warming and the snow will disappear soon (always the optimist).

I have had a good chance to work behind the torch lately and have loved playing with some new colors.

I have been working with some silver glass along with some dichroic glass. 

I love the shimmer and glow from the inside. Above is a cabochon using those glasses.

Above are pictures of the same necklace. 

I only included large beads to the front so the necklace wouldn't get too heavy.

I am enjoying this combination of colors and different glass.

~ Julie

Early May 2020

The first week of May finds us Safe at Home.

I am trying to continue to make art each day. Many times this will consist of just a hand full of beads for Beads of Courage, but it gets my kiln warm and sometimes it spurs a new idea. I do love experimenting with animals and animal heads for the kids.

We have had some warm weather and are in the process of getting the garden prepped for seeds and starts. We will start planting as soon as it is warm enough, but we are expecting freezing temperatures over night for the next few days.

I love this time of the year with the tulips, daffodils, magnolia and dandelions blooming.

I have one bee hive that is very active. I lost my other hive in April, but I'm getting a new package of bees this week. The package will include a new queen and bees so I can continue to have at least two hives this summer.

Recently I sold a few pieces on Etsy.

I enjoy making these assembly pieces. There are a lot of flowers that make up one piece, but it is so enjoyable to put them together and have them become a larger assembled wall hanging.

It is difficult to ship these pieces. The flowers are somewhat fragile. 

I haven't heard yet, but I hope they made it to their destination and didn't break in shipping.

~Julie

Glass Quilt

I really like the concept of creating a glass quilt. 

The finished product not only looks cool w/ the sun shining through it, it also is very tactile and I find myself drawn to touching it often.

I want to repeat this project w/ a bit more color and texture planning.

I placed a new glass and tools order last night.

It should get here in the next few days. 

:-)

I can't wait.

Spring, is not here. 

It was cold and cloudy on this Monday.

A very difficult day to stay optimistic and moving in a positive direction.

I really want to work outside and plant some things in the garden.

Even my spring bulbs are not blooming yet.

Working with glass helps.

A project in the works - 

My goal is to etch John Lennon's 'Imagine' lyrics into a glass panel. 

I will then rub black glass powder suspended in oil into the etched letters - 

removing any extra black glass.

After firing, the words should stand out 

and the panel should be able to be displayed on a wall or in a window.

I hope my plan works. 

I started etching the lyrics and then I thought. . . 

I better move a bit slower.

I created a one word test.

'Imagine' on a scrap of glass is in the kiln tonight.

Determining if this is going to work prior to putting in many etching hours.

This is the choice I made for tonight.

My 'Imagine' test fit in the kiln along side my first fuse of a white bowl with red dots.

~ Julz

Spring flower bowl

:-)

~ Julz

Recycled Glass Dish #2

Okay - I seem to be repeating good things lately. I created a new dish from recycled glass w/ a different frit design. Just pulled this from the kiln - - -

I love using recycled glass and I like these brighter colors.

I wish our weather mirrored the brightness of the new dish. Today is cold and windy with showers (although we can use the rain). I just wish it was a bit warmer.

~ Julz

Let the sun shine in -

A new project. Enjoying the sunshine and warmer weather this week in Wisconsin.

:-)

~ Julz