Koi Pond Shade

I completed this shade just before Christmas and decided to wait to post it---so as not to wreck a surprise! It measures 16" square and is on a heavy mission style table base.

Projects

Between trips to the vet with Helga, I managed to get my work on this bird panel done. It measures 18" and it is going to be hung in the center of a 36" round window. The last week has been so disjointed with trying to get projects done. Poor Helga is still battling a blood condition that has defied diagnosis. We are walking zombies because we are up several times a night with her.

My etching projects have been driving me insane. This example has several blowouts on the stencil so it will have to be redone. My ultraviolet light exposure unit has developed a short in it -- the timer isn't working consistently so my stencils are either under exposed or over exposed.

The best thing of this weekend has been that--SO FAR--we haven't had the freezing rain that the Twin Cities had. Keeping the fingers crossed that the coming week can be better than the last one!

Hidden Benefits of a Heat Wave

When it's too hot out to do anything else there are two things I like to do.

1. Sit in the basement with the spiders and play computer solitaire.

2. Work in the shop. 

Working in the shop has been almost as cool as the basement. There are probably half the amount of spiders and it proves to be a lot more productive. My list of projects is long.... maybe longer than the heat wave. 

A Tribute to the Army

I had the honor to construct three military themed lamp shades for our retired Army friend, Bob, who lives in Georgia.

Bob was married to my dear departed friend Betty. She started as my best friend's mom in the 60's and then ended up being an integral part of the Studio Works family. We worked, laughed, cried and played together for twelve years and beyond the studio years until she died in 2005.

So, long story short, Bob called me to arrange to have these shades made. Two shades are the same. One for him and one for his crew chief and the last one was designed to be donated to his military reunion auction next year.

This project has been on the drawing board for several months as I dreamed about how to replicate the military badges and service patches in miniature and in the right colors. The result was achieved by first making black and white art work of each element. The design was then transfered to a sandblast stencil and deeply etched onto the glass panels. After the panels were washed I filled in the depressions with black first and then painted in the individual colors. The panels were then baked in the oven to set the paint into a permanent state and the rest of the regular stained glass soldering took place.

It was an interesting project as I learned to use new techniques and tools.

Trinity For Grace

The finished product for Grace Lutheran at West Sweden. This is the last of eight windows that I have worked on over the years. Their vision was to have the large white windows in the sanctuary decorated with large hanging stained glass windows. This window measures 20"x 36".

Sandy Lundquist was instrumental in the initial overall design and took on the coordination of these projects. We are also friends who went to Frederic High School together, rode horses, performed in musical groups and, while I don't get to see her often, our friendship even carried us through business matters. Thanks, Sandy!

A Transformation

    My most recent project involved adding stained glass to the top portion of six kitchen cabinet panels. The formerly solid panel doors were altered to allow for the installation and the owners did a great job of creating the opening. I'm hoping to get a photo of the kitchen after the doors are rehung.

Patterned After Greatness

Here is a pattern for a patriotic lampshade I have been contemplating for awhile now. Several projects are in the works right now, so I'm not sure when I'll start cutting glass for it, but, like so many projects--it will get its day eventually. I usually don't make 3D mock ups, but this one needed a closer look to make sure the pattern would fit right on the corner seams.

I have been having lots of shop time these days. Winter is a good time to focus on creativity while there are fewer distractions like gardening and horses.

I sent in my application to participate in the spring version of the Fresh Art Tour. It will be held May 14, 15, 16 -- the weekend after Mothers Day. By then the days will be warming up and I'll be thinking about getting the garden planted.

Hmmmmm......?

Just noodling around making new things for spring. Can you guess what these are?

WOA Reception

The Wings Over Alma artists reception went well yesterday. A beautiful 40 degrees, lots of sun, and many visitors to the center. The ice has almost all melted below the dam so the eagles were moved out to the edges. There was one tiny island of ice that provided a perch for one-at-a-time hunting. 

Ben Golden's oil paintings (in photo) were next to my table and they got lots of attention. Carol Knabe's eagle photography was awesome! She has a terrific eye for catching action shots. Show co-organizer, Gail Pommerening, had pastels and prints of song birds in all four seasons, in addition to note cards. Jeff Byrns (table top display) uses various media, and subjects. His bulldog portrait was a favorite of mine. 

Our guests sipped wine, sampled the tasty hors d'oeuvres, and generally seemed to enjoy the event. Some of them even brought some of the show home with them! Thank you, patrons.

I was surprised Don's doctor from Eau Claire came to the show and later joined us for dinner at Catfish Corner!

Thank you so much Dr. Olson--we hope to get you back here again soon.

Wings Over Alma and other Studio News

The artists reception will be next Sat., Feb. 7th from 4-6pm at the Wings Over Alma. The five of us have the option of having a table of wares for sale. In my case I hope to use part of the window and I'll bring along some smaller non-eagle-related stained glass items.

I had a really satisfying week which was the result of the past month's work cleaning and organizing the studio, and finding I had LOTS of salable pieces ready to go. I was very fortunate to have placed work at two -- YES, TWO-- shops! 

The first one, the lovely Shepherd's Nook in Wabasha now has a collection of crosses, and related bevel glass in the big front windows! Thanks, Jacki! 

Longtime customer, Beth's Cafe, was one of the first shops I ever sold to and when we closed the shop in Luck, I quit making items for her. Beth is Don's cousin, and we had her for dinner over Christmas when the subject of suncatchers came up. She missed having them, and once I got all my parts and pieces organized I realized that I had more than enough to get her started again. So I brought her two boxes of stained glass items for her front windows in the restaurant. She was tickled and so was I. I guess this means I'm in business again!

Eagles Exhibit

I've been shy on posts while I have been preparing to participate in an art exhibit at the "Wings Over Alma" in Alma, WI. They are having a winter show of eagle related art and I was invited to display some pieces. I am choosing to show stained glass which involved a big repair on a piece (pictured) that was damaged the last time it was on exhibit (frown) and creating a couple new bevel glass eagles. Thankfully the install date has been changed from today (too cold) to next Tuesday.

It's been a kick in the seat to get myself organized to do this exhibit. The studio was in a mess from the last project so my first job was to start a big dig. (I know I have enough glass to last 17 lifetimes.) Much of the glass and stuff I brought with me from Luck five years ago has been virtually untouched. So a purge has begun and I have piles of stuff that I posted on Freecycle, recycled the old computer components and other paper recyclables, made a pile for ebay. This is fun! I have almost filled our dumpster and I have more to do, but I needed to get going on the glass projects for the exhibit. 

The past few days of soldering have left me stiff and achy (just like the old days!) but feeling motivated and purposeful. Cerra likes peeking in the studio window and watching "Hay! What's for dinner?" It's just like Mr. Ed!