Water Ballet No. 2

Earlier today, I was reunited with my focal "Water Ballet No.2".  The photograph by David Orr, captures the graceful beauty of the lovely focal. 

Stepping Stone

Mermaid Lore

Mermaid Lore No.1

Mermaid Lore No.2

The design "Rising from the Deep" didn't seem to pop like my original sketch.  After a bit of rethinking, I settled on black stringer work to create the mermaid scene.  Enjoy!

Baby Hedgehog

"Baby Hedgehog"

 2.4 x 2.1 x 2.2 cm

Fresh from the kiln and ready for the woodland.  The design sketch was pretty straight forward, however the color palette had me second guessing choices of glass from the start.  Truth be told, I changed the colors at the last minute.  The soft-bristle coat features grays, browns, black, gold, and ivory in a complex cane.  I bounced back and forth on the main body color until settling on a limited run from CiM.  The cheeks, well they are adorable...  all said, I'm thrilled with how the little guy turned out.

Lucid

I have to apologize for the photography... it was unable to capture the beauty and depth of the Double Helix original Terra.  The luster of Gaia is also beyond lovely!

Shell Design

A hollow form is usually perfect for creating a sea shell, however what if a lampworker is hollow-challenged?  The design came about to help students create a shell without the frustration of perfecting hollows. 

Splash

When listing project ideas for the "Day at the Beach" workshop, a mermaid's tail seemed fitting.  What better way to capture the shimmer than with a magenta/blue dichroic glass. 

The World is your Oyster

I have been working on sketches of sea life for an upcoming workshop titled "Day at the Beach".  I kicked around some thoughts on sea shells and taking them to another level of fun.  Our last trip to San Diego, while chasing miniature crabs, the kids found a slew of oyster shells in the sand.  The two seemed like a fun combination. 

After 6 sketches, ranging from silly to life like, I settled on something in between.  The exterior is a silvered ivory so to shimmer in the light, yet dark enough to cast a gray hue.  The oyster's open half is filled with one of my Double Helix favorites, Kronos.  The crab was formed from 1mm, bright red stringers.  Small doesn't begin to accurately describe the little guy.  Leg to leg, he measures 14mm x 15mm.  Total time to torch: 1.5 hours. 
The finished focal would look fabulous paired with a strand of shimmery pearls.  I could imagine him on display, surrounded by sand, beach glass and shells.  Or how cute would it be to incorporate the focal on the handle of an oyster knife!?  No idea where he will end up, but I love the thought of someone flipping over the shell to find the silly little guy!

pOrtrait - ISGB Exhibit

"Looking Glass"

In February, the ISGB posted a call for portrait beads:  

 "A portrait is a painting, photograph, sculpture, or other artistic representation of a person, in which the face and its expression is predominant. The intent is to display the likeness, personality, and even the mood of the person. How does that translate into glass?  With or without the face and the expression, the artistic impression of what one sees in the mirror looking back, as a personal portrait whose story unfolds in the molten glass. That which depicts the deepest part of one’s own personality in how it is shaped, its color, the extent of its embellishment. In a single bead, the ‘face and expression’ of the artist as if to say "This is who I am. This is what I want you to see in me." Portrait is a personal artistic journey of the artist’s self. The artist’s self-portrait in glass. This exhibition will open in conjunction with the Gathering in Houston, Texas."  -ISGB Website

Busy with life, I didn't hear about the call for entries until mid-April.  Talk about a slow start!  With the due date to enter looming (May 8th), my mind began to swim with ideas.  "Looking Glass" soon emerged from the kiln, and I couldn't be more happy with the portrait focal.  The bead was accepted for the exhibit and goes on display during The Gathering in Houston, TX. 

Windswept No. 2

Smaller than the original focal, this smooth bi-cone measures approx. 50mm x 15mm.  Same glass as before, however one can see the difference in reactions.  The copper mesh took on a magenta hue, while the Double Helix Kronos is a jeweled sapphire with slight transitioning to a milky blue.