Silicon Valley Open Studio

It is official I am participating in this year's Open Studio.  Visitors will be coming by the first 2 weekends in May.  This will be my 4th time.  My work has changes so much.  In the beginning I offered collage work and decoupage boxes including Judaic theme Shabbat candle boxes.  Next time I painted and decorated metal chair planters along with Mah Jongg tile jewelry and Menorahs.  During this time I was taking classes learning the fundamentals of fused glass art.  The medium is such a complex and fascinating art form.

I finally offered for sale my fused glass at the 2008 Open Studio.  I waited until I felt my work was good enough and my studio was available  for viewing. We are asked to let visitors in our work space and be available to demonstrate what we do.  Having people around glass was problematic for me. I needed to find something to show without having a lot of cut glass around.  I decided to demonstrate the cold work needed to finish off a fused piece before the final fire polish firing. I turned out some people even asked to use the grinder to see what it was like to smooth out the piece.  I will probably to it again this year.

I focus on one or two major shows a year.  Last year was the To Life Jewish Festival and The Sun Gallery Boutique. I find the spacing is enough to produce enough fused glass without too much pressure. Also, I need space to store the completed pieces until the next show. This Open Studio will probably  be the last one at this house.  The next place I set up a glass studio will be planned to allow for work space and storage.  More to follow. See you in May.

Just Having Fun "smashing glass"

This is the time of year I just kick back and have fun in the studio.  The 2010 shows are over, the unsold merchandise is repacked and waiting for the new season to start. 

Since participating in the Sun Gallery Holiday Boutique, I joined ArtFire to sell online.  Ran into problems and have yet to set up my page.  I am better working with glass than I am with web sites.  I went to Half Moon Bay a while ago with friends and bought blown glass rocks by the pound.  I have used this type of glass used for glass blowing in the past to make unusual jewelry pieces.  The excess glass is junked on the hot glass floor and discarded.  It is often multi colored and when smashed with a hammer I clean and fire the smaller pieces. Some don't look good and I throw them away, but there are enough surprisingly lovely results to make it worth while. My  friends spent time in my studio and chose the glass they wanted to work with.  After a few hesitant blows with the hammer they smashed and then gathered the smaller pieces.  Using mini molds for specific shapes and firing without molds many cabochons were made. After firing , shaping and fire polishing my friends came back ready to make pins, earrings, and pendants.  If you ever have a chance try doing this. It is lots of fun.  I forgot to get photos before they took their art work home. Sorry.  Maybe I will post some of mine when I am finished.  Of course, I am the last one to work on this project.

Kiln shut down

Terrible timing last month, I had a private session scheduled on 10/31 that went well. After she left and the glue dried it was time to start firing and I found out the controller went kaput.  Crapped out, failed and with the most awful noise.  Called my  kiln distributor and the end result, best guess, is that the relay died.  Waited for the replacement and it did not work.  Back to square one waiting for more new parts, throw in a vacation before Thanksgiving and end result no work done since the beginning of October.

The new parts came today and it still does not sound right.  Will try a trial firing this weekend.  If it does not work properly, it will be time to call in a repairman.  I never expected a big problem so soon.  Of course it happened within 6 months of the warranty period. I do not use it every day and not with high firings, so it is a bit unusual.  Need to continue to prepare for my next holiday show in December with something else.

Festival Update

OK, here it is.  I have put it off long enough.  "The Too Life Festival" was not to successful for most of us this time around.  I covered my fee and a bit more, that is very disappointing after the last time I attended when I made very good sales. Everyone blamed the economy and that the event was in October instead of September as usual. And many people were busy with sports or weddings on 10/10/10, because attendance was lower than normal too.

After taking my time to repack and restock my shelves with my fused glass so that I can find what I need for later sales, I took some time off.  Since I worked all summer we postponed a short vacation.  Just got back from Pacific Grove.  Needed to recharge and the ocean really does that for me.  In fact water in general does that for me.  Must be because I grew up living 50 feet from a river.

I am back and all set to work. One of the people stopping at my booth asked about any classes I offered.  After following up with her she came this weekend and completed a plate. Sunday I was ready to fire her project and my kiln kept on making alarm sounds. Just great I thought.  In addition to her firing I needed to make a few more items for a holiday boutique.  My kiln is only 3 years old.  Called my distributor and after hearing the sound using my cell phone he figured out that it is a broken relay not a broken alarm. New part on the way. 

To Life Festival is on Sunday

This week I am counting down the few days remaining for the "To Life Festival". The photo today is of my new holder designs. The curved holders have a slot between the glass and can hold photos, cards of all type, recipes, family messages, even bills. So the next time you get a new photo, display it this way, because you know another photograph is going to come your way again and you can just switch it out or keep adding more.

I am happy to report that my flame vase was the photo included in the Northern California "j" insert about the annual festival here in Palo Alto. Nice size and name spelled right. The banner I ordered with the same photo arrived last week so the tie in is great and hopefully attendees will recognize the vase when they stroll by the artist booths. There are a few last minute firings, of course I had an inspiration when I saw one of my molds would work well with a piece of glass I was holding.

I am including the To Life Festival web site http://pajcc.org/ to find maps and general info along with a listing of all the artist. I am in booth 120.

News Alert

Yes, I have a news alert due to the most unexpected e-mail. Last week I was contacted by the photo editor of the " j " www.jweekly.com the Jewish news weekly of Northern California. I was asked to submit two photos of my fused glass for the edition containing information about the "To Life Festival." I was floored, where to start. What to send, which pictures would look good in a newspaper, and what to name them. Yes, I was asked to put a name to each item sent. One of the photographs I sent by email was fuzzy so I started again and sent a different view of the photo she liked best along with a different vase for a back up photo . The vase I hope gets used is the one on my new banner. If "j" readers see my vase and then see the banner it will be a terrific recognition opportunity for me. I could not have asked for more or better advertising of my art work.

I know, you are asking how did she know about me or the type of art I do. I wondered too. Then remembered I'm included in the festival's web site along with all the other artist.

It will be the first time my fused glass work will be viewed in a newspaper. I have had my name and category of art mentioned before and news articles unrelated to my art work. Now I wait to to see the finished article. Just like waiting for the kiln to cool down before I can open it and see the finished design. I am good at waiting.

October Festival Information

I forgot to include the web information for the street festival where I will be participating in Palo Alto. When I get my booth space information I will post here and on Facebook. So here is the site to go to for more information with directions and times. I hope you come to see me.

http://www.paloaltojcc.org/tolife

New Photos

Well, it is good to be at this point in production as I prepare for the "To Life Festival" in October. It took a while to get a rhythm going to make 3 to 4 fused glass pieces a week. I have taken a few photos of the latest variety of vases. I am also making trays to hold menorahs and Sabbath candles for the buyers wanting Judaic items . There will be general designs featuring metallic finishes in many of my art pieces. I think the buying public will like the new look. I have not seen it at the local fairs, so, I think it will be an attention grabber. Another item in the works are photo, card and or note holders the first ones are so nice I started to use a few myself.

I have been working on my booth set up and will be using two tables with the cubes I used last year to display individual pieces. I decided I needed a good quality banner to hang in the booth and ordered one last week. Now all I need is a nice sunny day to show off the glass details and bring in the people.

Back to the studio I go after I post my photos for you.

Busy In The Studio

What a nice change, I am having a busy creative summer. I applied to the "To Life Festival" being held on October 10, 2010 here in Palo Alto. I had to send along sample photos of my recent art work along with my application. Thrilled to be accepted. I participated in this street festival about 4 years ago.

I have continued with a variety of draped styles. And for this event I will add touches of Jewish content in my fused glass designs. I am, also, adding a line of textured accents with my plates, platters and bowls. I am looking at a fast approaching end date. Never knowing how many pieces will be needed for a one day show that attracts thousands of people is daunting. Better too much than too little. Whatever does not sell will be used as a base for the holiday shows latter in the year.

Fireworks Tonight

What a colorful evening seeing fireworks. The splash and twinkle of bursting multicolored light against a blue black sky was breathtaking again. It always seems to get better and better every year. I have never made glass works for this holiday. I think I should plan to make something for myself at least. Maybe a serving plate or a centerpiece for candles for our holiday BBQ next year. It's funny, I am like the cobbler's family with shoes in need of repair, I don't often make any fused glass serving dishes or vases for myself. I should, because I could use some of the things I make to sell. I used to use some of the ones that I made to be sure they held up and would be easy to use and care for. Another project to add to my list after my summer projects for the fall and winter sale venues.