New Plate Panel

I managed to spend a lot of time on this panel.
Every time I thought I had the right idea, 
some thing else would come up and I would need to work on that.  
The ideas just floated through my head and did not stay there.
Finally, I caught a break and had the time to finish.
I think it turned out pretty well.  
The antique amber plate, set in a surround of "Frost" glass,
with glass globs, an amber streaky border with bevel accents,
and a fine black/brown patina.

This 16" square panel is really spectacular 
with the light shining through it.
Enjoy it.

Traditional Bevel Flower

I just finished this traditional bevel flower panel.
The flower bevel is made from extra thick glass and has great refraction as the light flows through it. Sparkles are just everywhere.
I made the rest from various textures of clear (not colored) glass and even added a bit of iridized glass for a counterpoint of soft tonality. A very small red accent on each side set into the Jack Frost glass border and a rich black patina completes the panel.
This is the current trend. The use of textural glass in clear or very soft colors.
These panels compliment almost any decor and do not impose themselves on the room.
Yes, I had to put it on Etsy.

Jack Frost Bevel

Glue chip bevels...just like a normal bevel except the flat / clear center part has been glue chipped. They make a different look when used in place of a regular bevel.
They seem to add a dimensional look to a panel. They give more visual interest, more texture, and a way of harmonizing with the "jack frost" surround. 
Yes, it is going on Etsy.

Hanging Around

WOW!   Have things ever been busy around here.
So many places to be, panels to make, orders to
deliver, and designs to draw up. 
Panels for weddings, panels for anniversary, panels for fun, and just to fill window space with color and great prism effects.

It has  been a very busy June. 
Now the rush has slowed down a bit and 
I can get back to this blog.
The photo shows some of the panels about to go out for delivery.
Now, they are all gone and the new owners are able to enjoy them.

Meow !!

Ah, the cat ....
We love them and they make nice engraved bevels.
Well, the cats themselves do not make the bevels....
But they look nice in an oval bevel.
This is one of the small panels I made for the First Friday show.
A favorite of everyone (except a few dog lovers...lol) I have now made another one to go on Etsy.
A bit of wispy glass, some nice amber glue chip with blue accents.
Framed in zinc and given a rich black patina.

New Panels

A lot of work around the studio in these last few weeks. 
Several panels to turn out for clients, restock the sales site, make small inexpensive pieces for advertising (the First Fridays that I mentioned in an earlier post), and getting a few more done for Etsy.
I may need to get myself cloned just to keep up with the demand.
Don't get me wrong...this is a good thing..I would 
much rather stay busy than sit around the studio and do nothing.
After all, if there was no work...I might even have to clean the studio and destroy my finely put together clutter.   lol

So, here are a couple of images of the new Etsy panels.
They are 9 1/2" square, copper foiled as is almost all my work, and framed in zinc both for looks and strength.
The red panel is water glass from Spectrum.
The gold panel is an old Vertigo glass made by Kokomo.
The center surround is glue chip...what we used to call "Jack Frost" Glass since it resembles frost on a window.

And Yes, they are available on Etsy...see the sidebar.

Stained Glass Mini Transom

This is the latest from the studio.
A 6" x 18" mini transom. It was modeled after a full size, 12" x 36", transom I made for a restored craftsman home a while back. This is just "half" size. It does make a great small hanging window panel.
Three square bevels turned on point, surrounded by glue chip, and framed in a ruby waterglass.  A zinc frame, bi-directional hooks, and hanging chain finishes it off.
Yes, it is now available on Etsy. See the right sidebar.

Agate/Waterglass Panel

A quick close up of one of the small projects.
Cobalt blue Waterglass surrounding an agate slice.
This 6" round piece is a good combination of
decoration and affordability. These sell very well 
at the street shows.

Studio Promotion

This has been a busy week in the studio. 
I have spent the time making a lot of small projects that will sell for small $$. 
A few of them are shown in the photo above. I have many more to do....
This is part of the studio promotion that we do in the 6 warm months of the year. Our town has what they call "First Fridays" where some of the local merchants set up outdoor street displays of their products. There are a lot of hand made items, some yummy baked goods, live music, and good crowds of lookers / shoppers.
We have found this to be a good venue. Not just for showing and selling our work but for bringing more public attention to our studio. The small sales we make more than pay for the space rent and the resulting commissions are great. 

Stained Glass Spring Project

A few weeks ago I posted some photos of my work area. On the project board at that time was the beginning of this Stained Glass Spring Project. I wanted to create a panel that would reflect the idea of spring. The feelings and the colors that we experience in spring time. A feeling of new growth coming from the darkness of winter, of new life breaking through as the warmth of the sun returns.
It has spent a lot of time on the table, off the table, being looked at, being changed around, being slightly re-designed, and has even had the occasional adult word or two used in its direction.
Where to place the globs...how to  balance the positive and negative space...what size globs.....etc. 
The interior bevels are done in clear, pale blue, and a pale green to reflect the spring season. The globs range from a rich cobalt blue, green, light blue, to a iridescent clear....a reminder of the budding trees and flowers of spring time.
Each piece is first ground, darkened, and then wrapped in copper foil and placed in its proper location. A bit over 1 1/2 lbs of solder was needed to provide the negative space. The solder was then darkened with a rich patina so that the glass globs seem to "bloom" from the darkness. 
The entire panel was then surrounded with clear bevels to allow 
the "sun to shine in" and bring the change of season. 
The finished, zinc surrounded, panel is 10" X 20" and weighs in at almost 4 pounds!  Tell me what you think...

Yes, it will be available for sale on my Etsy site...see the right sidebar.

Happy Easter

Spring is here. The flowers are blooming.
HAPPY EASTER !

Glass Glob Project

The stained glass "glob project" is progressing but 
at a rather slow rate.
It keeps getting changed...first one thing then another. 
The final (?), I hope, revision has been done and the  
panel has been wrapped in foil and is ready to solder.
If there are any more changes they had better happen right now. When I start the soldering I do not want to change anything else.  I will post a finished photo.

Shop Photo

My really well-organized workstation.........LOL.
When working in a too small space everything tends to get cluttered.
My work area is spread out over several parts of the former photo
studio.  I am looking forward to the time when it can be all together and better organized.
But this works for now.

Here you can see my latest project on the work board.
I will show you a close-up photo and write more about this panel later.

A Happy Mistake

Well, this sure did not end up the way I had planned for it.
The original plan had rondels going up and down in the center space.
Somehow, when I saw it that way, it just did not look right.
So a different center was added with the hanging jewel, the red waterglass edging and the heavily textured glass in the very center.
Just goes to show that we need to be open to new inspiration as we work. You will never really know what you can do if you don't allow yourself to be open to all ideas.
Yes, I am going to do the other idea with the rondels
as soon as I figure out how I want to do it.
And Yes, this has been added to my Etsy store.

Spring Flower Bevel Panel #2

OK, I made another one.  Smaller this time and a bit less expensive.
The first one did not last very long. Sold within 2 weeks of being displayed.
This one is about 1/2 the size of the first one...and about 1/2 the price.
I wonder how long this one will last.
Yes, I put it on my Etsy site.

Amber Waterglass Panel

I was sitting around thinking about all the things
I could do with the new box of bevels that just
arrived.  I just love sales, don't you?
Anyway, I now have a lot of different sized
bevels and was looking for ways to use them.
A bit of Waterglass in a rich amber...

and a lot of new bevels.
Yes, it is on my Etsy site for sale.   Enjoy!!

A Few Bevels For Fun

These are really cool in my window. A bit of sunlight hits them and the room just glows with the prism effect all around. Little rainbows accent every wall and the windows just sparkle.

I had the bevels out working on another project and decided that it would be fun to make a few of these small panels. By using 2" bevels around the outside and in the center with a 1" accent surround of red water glass or gold glue chip glass I was able to make some simple yet very decorative small panels.

They have both been listed on my Etsy site which you can find in the sidebar.

Purple Bevel Panel

I brought this purple glass home from the antique mall, where it had been just a piece of sheet glass in a frame, a week or so ago.  Not sure what to do with it but knew that it did not belong there.  From the front, with no backlight, it looks very dark almost black, it seemed to be saying: "I dare you to find a place for me!"  It obviously needed to lighten up a bit and I decided to help it.
The strong lines formed by the bevels almost force the viewer's eye into the panel. This brings the necessary light to the dark glass and creates a stunning window piece.
This piece is now available to purchase on my Etsy site.
You will find the link in the right sidebar.

Purple Plate Panel

12" x12" Plate Panel

A recent trip to an antique mall turned up this plate along with several others.

I bought them, not knowing quite what I would do with them.  I liked the patterns and the fact that they are old....hmmm, there must be something that I can do with them.  So, over coffee this morning, I started playing with color and texture.

Looking for some glass that would complement this plate.  A lightly textured royal purple and some heavier textured glue chip in princely gold.  

Corner bevels for accent, a  fine black patina, wash, polish, 
add the hanging chain, and we have a really nice way 
to preserve and share this antique plate.

A family heirloom has been created. 

This piece is available for purchase in my Etsy store in the right sidebar.

Blue Butterfly Bevel

Blue Butterfly Bevel

I know, the butterflies are not here yet but I am looking forward to them.

So, yesterday afternoon I made this panel.  A butterfly etched diamond bevel with 2 square bevels turned on point, surrounded by a nice rich blue cathedral glass. Really a very nice piece.

     Latest News:  This piece has SOLD already !!   Thank you!

Afternoon Abstract

Abstracts are fun and easy to make.  This, a tribute to spring is

6 1/2" round and done in a light green textured glass.  

Glass "globs" are added around a hollow centerpiece.  

It is finished in a rich black patina with a black zinc edge.

Spring Glass Panel

A friend asked yesterday if I had gotten out in the nice warm weather.
Think about it,  the last day of Feb and it was almost 70* here in
southwestern Ohio.  It has been a record-setting winter for us.
But no, I could not get out to enjoy the nice day....the glass
projects call...and the clients are waiting.
Since I was in the studio anyway, I decided to make my own
spring flower. I found a nice light spring leaf green glass for the background
and a tulip bevel as a center piece....add some golden glue chip with red
iridescent accents and 1" square bevels at the corners, and  Voila!
Almost as good as being outside....almost.

Welcome To My Shop

Welcome To My Shop

After several weeks of putting it off, I have taken some time just to work on my blog.

I  have been a glass artist off and on for over 30 years. 

My first exposure to glass art came when my father commissioned a local artist to make our front door into a piece of custom glass art.  I was hooked!  Seeing the light as it came in through the new door and sidelights. Being outside on a crisp autumn evening and seeing the warm glow sparkle from inside the house.  Yep, hooked!

From then on, I have loved the art of glass.

Over the years I have taken and taught a lot of glass classes while I made a living as a photographer.  Many times I would create an image with the camera just because it would make a great glass panel.

Fast forward a bit: I am now at a point in my life when I am able to devote more of my time to the art of glass. I no longer photograph weddings or commercial work. I now teach photography and mostly photograph landscapes. 

The time pressure is off and I can relax a bit.

Therefore, I have a lot more time to work as a glass artist.  A sizable portion of the photo studio has now become a glass studio and the glasswork is beginning to flow from it.

I hope that you enjoy seeing the work and the blog.