it's gone to the chickens!

October is behind us, and as November starts rolling in, there is always room for change.

Over the last five months only a few pieces of my pendants, stepping stones and other glass items that I've created have sold in the space I rent at Homestead Handcrafts. (No where near coming close to covering the rent) So instead of keep paying rent for my glass to collect dust I've decided  to sell my finds!

I have always loved hunting for rustic/unique items on my weekends so I decided to go on a hunt, and what I found where chickens! lots and lots of chickens! Pictures, metal, ceramic and wooden chickens galore! I moved out Halloween items and moved in the chickens! I haven't removed all of my fused glass plates and pendants, but I have a feeling the chickens will move much faster. I hope they do so I can continue my hunts and supply my space with unique items. I think I might like this adventure!!!!!

                                Chickens and roosters painted on waved metal and framed in wood
                                                                      28"x 12.5"
                                                                      $10.00
I actually forgot to put this one in the shop, so if your interested let me know, otherwise it ill be in my space next week.

Better late than never!

I'm so glad that I was off of work today, it's the middle of October and I just finished the Halloween pendants this morning and put them up for sale at Homestead Handcrafts.  I am about two weeks behind getting my holiday items together, so the price for each pendant with a cute bat or pumpkin charm on the back are only $5 each!  I think they turned out cute!     Now all I need to do is create some things for Christmas!!!!! (easier said than done!) :)  By the way, if you go out shopping at Homestead Handcrafts at the Thousand Oaks location, and you want to see what I have up for sale, my vendor Number is 1769!

Fall is for craft fairs

Fall is the time for craft fairs!

I have specific craft fairs that I look forward to every and this year was no different for me.  I knew the first weekend of October, the church by my house would have my FAVORITE fair of the year.  I had two special vendors that I would visit every year to buy some of their crafts.  My favorite was an older couple, he would build bird houses and create wind jigs out of soda cans, His wife would delicately paint the bird houses with bluebonnets and create miniature paintings. Every year their booth was located in the same spot outside and I could see the wind jigs spinning as I would pull into the parking lot.   This year their spot was empty. I was so disappointed.  I asked the people who ran the fair and they didn't know why they weren't there.
So I moved on looking for my other favorite vendor, a doll creator. I had bought several dolls from her over the years and even had a custom mermaid doll created for my best friend a few years back. The doll maker was nowhere to be found either......

As disappointed as I was, I went on the hunt to find some other unique artists, which I did.  I found a great artist that paints on gourds. This was the first time I ever saw her work and it was beautiful.  I came home with a bird house gourd. (I guess there is something about me and bird houses:)

Things never stay the same, I will miss my favorite vendors and hope they return next year.

For now I have four bird houses  in my tree and put my two wind jigs out that I bought last year.

Maybe next year I will start to participate in the craft fairs instead of just shopping at them.


  

is it summer?

This morning I woke up to a refreshing breeze.... it actually feels like the first day of summer to me! I turned off the air conditioner, opened the windows and let some fresh air come in house and the studio. Why can't Texas be like this June  through August????  Summer months here are oppressive as hell. I miss New York summers :(

Anyway, enough of my rant.  I was actually productive today and worked on some fun stuff for Halloween. I'll be getting my space at Homestead Handcrafts ready for the fall season this weekend. It seems I'm a month behind from the rest of the vendors, but I don't like when stores (or vendors) put seasonal items out too early, it takes away from the excitement of the holiday.  Really, who wants Halloween in August??? or Christmas in September??? I don't.

Since my kiln is already on, and I didn't take pic of what I'm cookin', I'll just post a picture of how the weather feels like to me today! Pure stick my toes in the sand summer!!!! no humidity and it's not 100! along with a refreshing breeze! :)

"Do-Over"

As an artist, sometimes I create things and I rush myself to complete the project at hand. Not because I just want it done, but because I'm excited to be creating it, and can't wait to get it the person who requested it.
Well, when I do that, things don't always turn out the way they are suppose to.

The contemporary leaded glass was one of those projects. The measurements were slightly off and I felt my craftsmanship wasn't 100%, but I was excited to be "finished" and handed it over(with a slight pit in my stomach) to my friend that commission it from me .  Her husband was suppose to create a frame and they decided not too, so she asked me if I could put "hooks" on it. Of course I agreed, because I really wanted it back so I can make it right!.  As soon as I got it back, I sent her an apology, returned her check, and told her that I would be re-doing the window and to give me until Christmas. I think she was a little disappointed because she was happy with the piece, but she agreed (what could she do since the window was now back in my possession).

I tore it apart, with a loss of  just a few pieces of glass. I decided that I would use the Tiffany technique of copper foil instead of lead. I took my time, I measured, measured again, and kept measuring until I completed it!

I brought it to her on Monday with perfect measurements and NOTHING was off! Merry early Christmas! I was happy, she was happy, and it now hangs in a space where everyone can see it that goes into her home. It was a REQUIRED do-over for me. I feel much better as a person, and as an artist.

Lessons learned:
1. Slow down
2. If I don't feel good about it, do it over before I hand it over!

Fall is in the air

With August flying by, and start of school  around the corner, I couldn't help to think about the Fall season.

Halloween is the first holiday that in my mind represents Fall. So what better way to prepare?
Paint some fun Halloween art!  I did have fun creating these little pieces. I have them up in my space at Homestead Handcrafts.

                                              4- 8" x 10" acrylic paintings

This weekend I finished a couple of projects.

This morning I opened my kiln to a few White Tail  Deer pendants for a friend who commissioned these.  I was pretty happy with the way they turned out and hope she will be too!

The stained glass window I have been working on for the last several weekends is finally finished! A friend of mine has commissioned it for a space in her home.

Overall I think the piece looks nice, however my measurement was a little off once everything was put together.  I have faith my friends husband will be able to create the wooden frame to accommodate my mistake, if not, its back to the drawing board!

  

Contemporary glass art

These past few weeks I've been busy creating small glass items for the space I rent at Homestead Handcrafts, but what I also have been working on is a commission piece for a friends home.  We decided that I could design a contemporary leaded stained glass piece, using water glass that measures 10" x 27".

I designed the piece and cut the glass over a few weekends. The water glass has a very nice texture to it, which obviously can't be seen by the picture.

This weekend I went out and bought the rest of the supplies I needed to finish it..... It's been 10 years since I did a leaded glass piece and I didn't remember it being that difficult or time consuming :). I thought I could whip it together and be done this afternoon.  Not so,  I am almost half way piecing this puzzle together. I can't wait till I finish it so I can look at it with the sun shining through it!!!