March -Flowers & Earrings

I have been working on some new earring ideas in the last week.

I enjoy coming up with new ideas. Here are some blue flowers that have been made into earrings.



Here are some that I'm excited about. They are clear with a red base and hollow to make sure they don't get too heavy for earrings. I have been wearing them since they came out of the kiln this morning and love them.

Today was a very sun filled day with blue skies. The sun was streaming in through the window and it offered a wonderful chance to take a few photos. I've been working on a new flower ring and it looked lovely with the sun shining through it even though it was a cold day in Wisconsin.

Keeping the kiln warm,

~ Julie

New Work - February 2020

I have a new earring design that I have been playing with. 

They are small and colorful, yet easy to wear. 

Right now they are my favorites. 

I have been working a lot behind the torch this month.

Here is a new flower compilation that I created.

It can hang on a wall and brighten a small space.

I can add leaves and bees to the composition.

I've also been working on a whimsical bird type animal. Playing with feathers and toes/talons.

I'm trying to determine how best I want to put this guy together. He is still a work in progress.

Keeping the kilns warm,

~ Julie 

Recycled Glass

I have been working with recycled glass. This glass had former life as a house window.  This glass is called float glass because of the process of making it. It melts at a different temperature from art glass and tends to be 'stiffer' than other glass that I work with.

If color isn't added, recycled glass has a greenish tint after fusing it.
I love to color this recycled glass with enamels.

Here are a few of my latest items out of the kiln -

This shallow bowl is lovely. Here is the Etsy listing for it.

This bowl is smaller and has an organic shape. I love how the colors are bright and engaging.

I also have been playing with recycled glass and suncatchers. Each petal needs to be colored and then fused.

I find it fascinating that the flower's orange center looks very different in different lights.
Both pictures above are the same glass flower. Etsy Listing.

Here is another - 

Keeping the kilns warm,

~ Julie

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

Roaring 20s - Here we come . . .

Happy New Year from snowy rural Wisconsin.

I love that glass can stay out in the weather all year around.

I love the new molds I got for Christmas this year.

Here they are filled and ready to fire.

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

acorns - color and shape

I've been working on acorns recently after finding one in the lawn under an oak tree.

I've been having fun with color, transparency, and shape.

Yesterday I continued these acorns and started to make them larger and more elaborate while not staying true to form, but loving the results.

~Julie