Great " Finds" at the Gem Show

Wow, what a great day I had at the San Mateo Gem and Jewelry Show! It has been about 2 years since I attended. I went the day after Thanksgiving, because I needed more sterling silver necklaces and figured most people would be at the department stores. I was right, it was busy but not the mad house it can be.

Before I even made it to the wholesale section I found 2 booths I wanted to explore in depth. I had another goal in mind. Find sterling silver ring blanks and any other flat designed jewelry that I could use with my dichroic glass cabochons. I have not been satisfied with the selection offered by my current suppliers. When I mentioned what I was looking for, the sellers showed me more designs to choose from than I ever expected. There was nothing like this a few years back.

I now have rings sized 6 to 8 1/2 in different designs, solid sterling silver bracelets, many pendants, earrings, and a nice variety of findings to add interest with my fused glass jewels.

I kept finding what I needed in so many booths. I had a wealth of treasures to take back to the studio. What a day, full of surprises both the shopping kind and the people kind. I ran into a designer I know while we were searching for findings. Laura makes lovely beaded jewelry. And as I was working my way out of the show I met Shannon as she was leaving. Not only was she leaving the show, but she is leaving the area and moving to Orange County for a new job in a few weeks. I will miss our all too infrequent visits. After five hours at the show I was on my way home with all my new shiny silver.

This week I start working on new jewelry designs and a new line of hand painted Hamsa. More information about this new line later.

Easier viewing of my Ornaments

It has come to me attention that my information where to see my Ornaments was not clear or as easy as I thought. Sorry, I am still learning my way around.
So here is the direct link http://www.thesungallery.blogspot.com/

Sun Gallery Show Update

Today was the first day I volunteered at the holiday show. There are even more artist participating than I saw when I set up a few weeks ago. The range and variety of work presented is fantastic. You can buy a hand crafted wood bottle stopper for $20 or one of my glass ornaments for $15 or a lovely stained glass table for $199. And if you have a sweet tooth there is a table with delicious chocolates.

You can see a sample of my ornaments on the Sun Gallery blog. Christine added it today. I was so surprised and pleased. She took a very nice photo with her cell phone.

There are many styles of decorative Christmas ornaments hand made lace covered clear globes, painted gourds, ribbon and fabric holiday tree decorations and my painted fused glass ornaments.

Come and browse, have a cookie while you decide what you can't pass up. All of these treasures are waiting for you to take home or to give this holiday season.

Just For Fun

Sometimes we are so rushed and or busy with work, we just in need of a little diversion. We all get emails from friends with beautiful landscape nature photos that inspire us, warm words to encourage , and jokes to tickle our funny bone. All of these stop time for a few minutes giving us a break in our routines.

Today I am including in my blog one of the diversions sent to me. It has great pictures and it is interactive. Choose the pictures as asked and in the end you will know a bit more about yourself. Or you may be surprised to recognise that it really is "You ".

Take a few minutes and go to http://dna.imagini.net/friends

my dna is found at http://youniverse.com/us/art-glass

New Christmas Ornaments

For the Sun Gallery Holiday event I am starting a new fused glass Christmas series. I am making Christmas tree decorations. They are 4" rounds in a variety of colors. So far I have 3 styles. The first ones are called "Crazy Wavies" and "All Cracked Up". Then I have designed a third style incorporating metallic colors which is still unnamed. The rounds are either flat or slightly curved and all come ready to hang. One or two of these hand painted decorations will look terrific on your Christmas tree this year.

If you have an off beat suggestion for a name for my metallic series let me know. If I use the name I will send you one of the tree ornaments in your choice of metallic, silver, gold, or bronze.

The studio is a bit cold this morning. Hard to believe a room with a kiln can get cold, but I found out a good kiln does not lose much heat. So my little space heater does the job as needed.

In a few more minutes my nimble fingers can work in warm comfort as I add embellishments and hangers to my new creations.

I will include some photos soon.

Showcase Cancelled

I got some disappointing news last week. The Los Altos Showcase was cancelled due to a lack of vendors. As with any event there are optimum numbers you need and they did not have enough artist sign up.

New uses for Catering Supplies

Today, I was organizing and pricing my catering supplies for a garage sale. I have wanted to make more space for my fusing supplies in the garage cabinets. No big surprises, been planning to do this for months. As I am prodding along I came across some school style lunch trays, orange, enough said. I got a bright idea. I can use them in the studio to stack glass projects awaiting firings or the finishing touches. Then I started on the steam tray pan inserts. Good quality stainless steel. Maybe I can get 10 bucks. Wow, what a great mold for a large bowl. A stainless steel mold runs in the $80 plus range. So, today, I saved myself a bunch of bucks. Bad news is they are still in my place, but at least they will be used instead of collecting dust in the garage. Later, I came across 3 new boxes of a butter sprayer. Worked great for large cooking jobs. I decide to see if they would work to spray on kiln wash. It even has a brush attachment. Off to the studio, pour in kiln wash, spray on a shelf or my molds. It worked! Now I have a nifty unorthodox spray bottle. Who would figure that my last career would transfer to my new one.

Los Altos Artist Showcase 2008

Wow, I am so happy to be a part of this showcase of area artist. I have attended and bought gifts here over the years and never did I think I could participate. I always thought it was only for artist living in Los Altos. I was wrong. I also found out I can apply to become a member. I am going to do just that.

The Los Altos Artist Showcase runs for three days on November 14, 15, and 16, 2008 at the Los Altos Community Center. I am busy firing up many more gorgeous fused glass serving platters in addition to my line of Dichroic jewelry for your holiday gift giving. Remember to treat yourself when shopping for friends and family whether it is for Hanukkah or Christmas.

Returing to Sun Gallery's Holiday Boutique

Sun Gallery in Hayward, CA is having their fund raising Holiday Show. The show this year runs from November 5 to December 13. Please check their website for the hours of operation .

Last year there were ceramic pieces of all sizes and styles, textiles and wall pieces, two talented photographers, beaded and glass jewelry, fused glass of all colors, and many styles of paintings. There were a variety of wonderful gift items with a full range of prices to fit any budget. Come see this years offerings when you are in the area and or want to support their children's art program come on by.

Over the years they have added many more children's art classes, for the home schooled, regular after school programs, and summer art camp. Money raised during the Holiday Show helps fund these art activities. My connection to this gallery dates back to when we lived in Hayward 32 years ago. My daughters and I went to see many exhibits and often made a happy stop in their gift shop. Sara still has some jewelry she bought with her own money.

Glass Exhibit of Kaus Moje

Here I am in the heart of the Oregon Glass World, Portland. Sunday 8/31/08 I visited the Portland Art Museum especially to see the fantastic exhibit of kiln formed and wheel-carved glass by artist Klaus Moje. He started with blown glass more than 50 years ago and evolved and pushed the glass boundaries over the last 30 years. This 68 piece retrospective of the work of this world renowned artist from Australia illustrated his latest style of fused glass. His current show focus is on pattern design, so precise and vivid many looked like a mass of colorful bar codes. His work reminds me of the abstract designs by the renown Israeli artist Agam. Using the Bullseye Glass Factory in Portland, Kraus Moje created a massive four panel work "The Portland Panels" which were debuted from May 31 to September 7, 2008.

In fact, they are the reason I knew about this exhibit. Here is the description that Bullseye sent out. I knew I had to find a time to go to Portland to see his work.

"NEW Klaus Moje 2-Book Bundle With the recent publication of Klaus Moje by Portland Art Museum, there now exist two volumes devoted exclusively to the life and career of this innovative artist, teacher, and father of the contemporary kiln-glass movement. Bullseye is proud to offer both books, bundled together in an attractive slipcase, at a special bargain price. Klaus Moje documents the thirty-year Moje retrospective that was mounted by and is currently on exhibition at Portland Art Museum. The 68 pieces in the retrospective trace the progression of the master's work and his unparalleled contributions to expression and technique. The book features essays by Dan Klein and Bruce Guenther and a technical perspective on the Portland Panels by Ted Sawyer."

Of course, I bought one of the books at the museum. I needed to save some money for shopping at Bullseye. I went on Tuesday to see what's new and exciting that I could not live without. Yea, I found a few exciting packages of cut up patterned glass rods to use as accents in my work. On the plus side I did buy some basic supplies I really did need.

Surpising Art Glass Finds

I traveled to Oregon with my daughter Sara at the end of August. One of our stops was at the Newport Aquarium. The Oddwater was their current exhibit. We went to see fish and this time they took back seat to the beautiful blown glass. Yes glass!! The fish were exhibited in tanks that also displayed beautiful glass sea vegetation. There was coral, seaweed, barnacles, shells and tubes for fish to swim through. I even saw real swimming seahorses. The glass pieces still took center stage. The blown glass was provided by a local studio, "The Edge Art Gallery" you can see their work on the website.

Before we left I went to the gift shop and found that their fused glass was too expensive for me. One 5" glass coaster was more than $20. I sell a set for $25. Maybe I need to raise my prices. This stop turned into a terrific surprise.

While in Portland I planned to stroll through "Art in The Pearl" over Labor Day weekend. We had a beautiful day for the event. Lots of interesting and different art. The styles presented are very different from what I see down here. It 's more organic, quirkier, and less commercial. I found some interesting techniques that I would like to try. Without directions I will wing it and see what happens. Maybe I will have something for my holiday shows in November and December. My studio awaits.

Fine Arts at the Fair Update

Had a good summer. The high point was the San Mateo Fine Arts exhibit. I did not win anything and there were very few other fused glass pieces. I found out that to get a separate category for glass compitition at least 15 people need to submit. So now all the glass, wood, and mixed media are competing against each other. I will take part again next year.

I sold the "Icy Threads" after the fair. The buyer saw it at my Open Studio in May while I was working on it and wanted to buy it. That was very nice.

Lake Tahoe

The multi colors of North Lake Tahoe were my inspiration. This beautiful round art piece is designed with hand made marble styled bars. These bars are sliced and arranged with the original solid colors used to make the bars.
This one is NFS, but I will take orders in your choice of colors for $225.00

Oregon Irises

This 10" painting is composed with fine glass powder, small grains of frit, and glass liquid. This technique produces texture and highlights after 3 kiln firings.
Including a square black metal stand, it is available for $155.00 .

Whatever

This multi-layered 10 inch square sculptor piece can be set in the black metal frame in any direction. Thereby creating 4 different looks to reflect your mood. It is available for $180

Icy Threads

This fused piece traps copper threads between 2 layers of crystal clear glass and then formed in a hand made mold. - Sold
Yes, this one sold, but, if you are interested in this style I can design a new art piece with your specifications.

Photos and Fair website are here

I added the San Mateo Fair website for you. Look in the links section. The 4 pieces submitted in the Fine Arts competition with description and prices are shown here for your enjoyment and because I am so happy to have a record of this accomplishment.

Catch Up Time

WOW !
A lot has happened while I was away from my blog. First of all I forgot how to get back on to write about my musings. I should not have said that, but that is better than being too lazy to bother.

Recap: I had good feed back on my work at the May Silicon Valley Open Studio. Then I started this blog and set up an Etsy account. During that time I waited the delivery of my small table top Paragon Glass Kiln. Got it!! Have not used it yet, because the shelf used for firing my glass was not shipped. Waiting for it now.

Did not waste time while waiting. Applied to the San Mateo County Fair's Fine Arts Division to exhibit 4 new art pieces. I was accepted. It will be the first time my work will be officially judged and perhaps be recognized with some sort of award. I have had my glass judged for participation in street festivals to see the quality and type of work I do.

Last Friday the 25th I stood in line and dropped off my works. Everyone around me had framed paintings and photographs. The art work is sent for judging and then it is set up by fair staffers. By the time the fair opens on August 8th all will be displayed with any awards attached. It will be exciting to go and find my art pieces. I do not know how or where in the Fine Arts Building they will be. The fair is open until the 16th.

I will post pictures sent to the fair today if I figure it out. And do it correctly.
There are 2 designs for sale and if they are not purchased at the fair they will be for sale directly from me.

I will try and add the photographs of the submitted art pieces and a link to the fair.

YEA !! I added my pictures today.

My daughter came by to help with the last weekend of 2008 Silicon Valley Open Studio. Check out my link to their site and view my write up and more photos of my Fused Glass. Look for me by name, Joanna Westerfeld, or by my site, number 53. My information stays on their website for about 10 months. I can change my info and photos during that time.

It was hot and slow today. Therefore I did not really need her help. But she needed her dad's. They went out to the garden and he showed her how to back up information and files on her computer. Then after the show ended at 5 we checked out this space and I learned how to add picture and general hints to make this a better blog.

I will be back tomerrow with the final musings about Open Studio.

Silicon Valley Open Studio

Today, May 11, was the end of weekend 2 for Open Studio. The traffic this weekend was slow but steady. So far of the three artist at my site one had very good sales, another sold 2 or 3 small painting, a I had sold a little bit of everything. A plate, a picture frame, some jewelery, a few wine bottle trays. The big plus was the interest in individual classes and arranging privite time with me for some small projects. Next weekend is the last one for me. I expect the sales to be mixed again, so I am glad I presented my full range of styles.



I still have not figured out how to add pictures or personalize my blog. Soon my daughter will lend a hand and guide me through this process. I realy am looking forward to writing about my glass fusing and adding photos of the finished art pieces.

I think this blog will be an easy way for my friends to see what I am doing. Beyond that I will let this experience evolve on it's own and I will enjoy myself along the way.