Dabbler's Demo

We are very fortunate that a new, independent store is opening in West Concord - Dabblers.  They have asked me to demonstrate the stained glass craft December 11th!  My glass buddy, Susan, and I will be cutting, grinding, foiling and soldering in front of  - who knows?  But it will be fun to hang out with her and see the new store.  I am making a few Christmas boxes for the occasion.

Turkmen rugs

 

Gozelsha brought to us a gift of a small Turkmen rug that her Mother made.  I think it is so cool.  I am now working on a glass panel that I hope will evoke the spirit of the Turkmen rugs.  I am playing around with painting glass in order to have the texture and color I want. 

Here are pictures of Gozelsha admiring antique Turkmen rugs that my in-laws have in D.C.

National Cathedral

We took our exchange student on a quick visit to Washington, D.C.  One of my favorite places there is the National Cathedral.  I love the way they made it with the same methods as the medival cathedrals in Europe.  Of course, some of the themes are more modern.  This window depicts the lunar landings.  In the center of the large red moon is an actual moon rock brought back to Earth.

Something Different

I have put the ocean theme aside for now. We have an exchange student from Turkmenistan this semester, so projects have been influenced by her visit.  Before Gozelsha came, I became convinced I needed a new mirror in our guest bathroom.  The original mirror bothers (only me) because the silver started to come off the back soon after it was hung - and that is just wrong.  Well, I cannot ever seem to do something simply, so I bought a mirror and frame at a second hand store.  Renovated the wood and made a stained glass over-lay.  And, of course, finished it 2 months after she came - but it is finished :). 

Speaking of recovery - just helping a child finish 11th grade is exhausting, and she did all the work!  Now to enjoy the summer. 
I do not get to a beach as often as I would like, so reminders are nice.  Here is one approach I just tried.  I am just learning how to 'cut' wine bottles (lucky breaks is more literal). 
So, speaking of lucky, I now need to drink more wine and go to the beach, maybe in the other order....

Recovery project

After undertaking such a big project, I really needed goals I could accomplish quickly to sooth me. I couldn't seem to leave the water though. I am a compulsive collector on beaches and love the idea of putting some of that 'junk' into art.

This is based on a salmon pattern in the book Fabulous Fish
by Jan Schrader. It is two pieces of glass sandwiched with shells and beach flotsom inside. I managed to remember how to macrame from summer camp days, which is how I made the string. My husband received it for his b-day as well as the gift of being "allowed" to hang it where ever he wanted.

I also made an alewife for one of my sisters. We used to go to Camp Miniwanca along Lake Michigan in the 70's. We had to clean the beaches of dead alewives before we could use it. Now I live in Massachusetts where alewives are respected and places are even named after them.

I am responding to lots of encouragement and starting this blog. At left is a window that I designed and made and recently finished. I am rather proud of it, enough so, that I am letting people visit it even though it is mounted in my bathroom and I am a horrible housekeeper.

I call the window "Blue Crab at Home".