Something Different - Learning to Wire Wrap

This weekend I got to try something different.  I took a glass pendant wire wrapping class at my local glass shop, Alpine Stained Glass.  Last year the instructor - Jeanne - offered a fusing glass where I really learned a lot and I had a feeling that I would soon be hooked on this as well.  We started out with some copper wire for practice but we quickly got the hang of it and selected our own cabochons to work with for a finished product.  The pattern she taught us was fairly basic and a great one for beginners.  And boy, there's a real 'wow' factor to doing this!  After laying the ground work for the wrap, you place the cabochon into the wire and suddenly you're working on something beautiful!  I'm thrilled with the piece that I made and have already ordered supplies to do my own at home.  Now, I'll just have to keep myself busy with glass until it gets here!

What do you think of my first attempt?  I'm excited to keep working and learning how to avoid tool marks and trying different patterns.  Keep your eyes on my Etsy shop because I'm hoping some of these will make an appearance in the coming weeks!

At Work in My Studio

Today I'm working in my studio and I thought it would be nice to share these photos with you so you can see where I work.  We've converted a spare bedroom into an office which I share with my husband and I've put a large work table by the window so I can use it to cut glass. It's actually a pretty nice place to work since I can bounce back and forth between the work table and the computer as needed.  

My kiln however, lives in the kitchen on a rolling cart next to the sliding glass door.  For some reason, I wasn't too keen about putting the kiln in a room with carpet and the sliding door provides good ventilation should I need it.

Isn't it cute?  It's just a table top version and it runs on a regular household outlet, but it's perfect for me.  I can run a couple of firings in a day if needed and it never takes long for me to make enough things to fill it up!  Not too big, and not too small - yet.  They say kilns are addictive but I really like the versatility of this one.  I guess only time will tell.

For the Love of Martinis - Cocktail Jewelry

I'm excited to have listed the first piece in a new line of jewelry in my Etsy shop.  For quite a while I've been making pieces that look like olives and have been thinking I could start making a whole line of cocktail inspired pieces.  Then I realized I have been doing it for a while and didn't even realize it.  In the coming days you'll see more pieces of Cocktail Jewelry appearing in my shop. Most of the pieces are inspired by my favorite cocktail - the Dirty Martini.  But you'll see others make an appearance as well.  What's your favorite cocktail?  Maybe you'll inspire me to make something new!

Look Out Folks - I'm On a Roll!

That's right, I listed TWO more items in my shop today - you'll have to go over there to check them out.  I'm particularly happy with the dragonfly pendant shown here.  It's the perfect gift for someone who loves dragonflies and it's even more stunning in real life!

Another reason I'm on a roll is we finally got a new desk for the office last night.  I had robbed us of our main work table a few weeks ago to use it in my art show booth and we decided to try and find something that better suits our needs rather than put it back.  Sooo, off to Office Depot we went last night and we got a great L-shaped desk with lots of work space.  It took us until 2 AM to get everything set up, but this morning I was able to go through everything that had been accumulating since we took the other table out and boy do I feel better!  Isn't it amazing what clearing a little clutter can do for your state of mind?  

Finally Some New Items!

After several weeks of preparing for my first two outdoor shows ever I finally got some photos done today and listed some new items in my Etsy shop!  The pieces I've listed are great summertime pendants with a real tropical feel to them.  Hmmm, maybe I'm thinking a vacation would be nice?  ;)

I'd love to know what you think about these new listings.  Also, more pieces will be listed in the coming days so be sure to keep your eye on my shop!

Booth Setup Redux - Art in the Arbor

As promised, I'm sharing another booth setup photo today.  This one is from my second outdoor show which was two weekends ago at Art in the Arbor in Louisville, KY.  I decided the walls needed a little jazzing up so I had a couple of photos of my pieces blown up and put them in poster frames on two sides of my booth.  I think the photos added a nice touch which made it easier for people to understand what I was selling without actually stepping into the booth.   I also decided to bring a few different accessories to mix it up a little bit.  In particular, I brought my 'wire lady' to hang one of my necklaces on.  She is such a good display that some people have even tried to buy her from me!   

All in all it was a good show and I was happy with the function of my booth setup but there are still a few things I'd like to tinker with.  I'll probably look to have a professional banner made with my shop name and some images of my work to hang across the back of the booth.  And I'm planning on cleaning up my artist's statement and framing it alongside some photos of my studio so that people can understand me and my process a little bit better.   What are some things that you've seen or done at art shows that you thought were particularly successful?  I'd love to hear about them in the comments section here!

My First Outdoor Booth - Artwalk 2009

So I had my first outdoor art show a couple of weekends ago at the Artwalk at the Promenade Bolingbrook and these are the photos of my first set-up.  For my first time out, I think I did pretty well.  I would like to have had some more levels to the display and want to 'loosen' it up a bit, but I did get lots of compliments and that was nice.  The above photos shows the overall set-up with my pendants all displayed on the two tables on the left.  I put the  tables up on bed risers so that the pendants are higher and easier to see.  On the right I set up a little checkout area on a card table so that people making purchases could select a necklace to go with their pendant, check out and I could wrap their packages.

I used a mixture of jewelry trays and wood and ceramic trays with risotto and black beans to display the pendants.  I think a lot of the pendants show up better in the rice and beans and people always comment about what a neat way that is to display them.

They say that when you do something for the first time you learn exponentially and I couldn't agree more.  Just last weekend I had my second show and already instituted a few improvements.  Setting up the booth itself was a snap because I knew exactly what I needed to do to attach the side walls.  Another handy tip I learned by watching more seasoned show attendees was to roll up my sidewalls before detaching them.  Then you don't have to fight them and the wind to fold them up and store them.

I'll post the photos from last weekend soon so you can see the changes I've already made.  But in the meantime, if you have any suggestions or tips, I'd love to hear them!  

With a Little Help From My Friends

One of the best parts about being a seller on Etsy is the opportunity to meet other wonderful people who also make wonderful things.  As a member of the Creative Glass Guild of Etsy I've met some of these people and one of them, Yvonne, has been nice enough to feature me on her blog!  A big thanks to this Etsy friend!  Be sure to check out her blog and her Etsy shop!

Upcoming Event: Art in the Arbor

This upcoming Mother's Day weekend Art's Desire is happy to be participating in the 42nd Annual Art in the Arbor in Louisville, KY.  With over 100 artists' booths, great local musicians, good food and beautiful wooded grounds this makes the perfect Mother's Day or post-Derby weekend outing!  As many as 8,000 visitors are expected and free shuttle service will be available every 10-15 minutes with pickup points at the Browenton Building and Ballard High School.  Drop off will be at the festival entrance in Crossgate.  The church and it's grounds are located at 4936 Brownsboro Rd. and the hours of the festival are Saturday the 9th from 10-6 and Sunday the 10th from 10-5. So come out and join us for what promises to be a beautiful weekend of art, music and fun!

Upcoming Event: Artwalk at the Promenade Bolingbrook

I'm happy to announce that Art's Desire will be participating in the 1st Annual Artwalk at the Promenade Bolingbrook on May 2nd & 3rd!  Held the weekend before Mother's Day this is the perfect chance to get out and find a special handmade gift for your Mother or simply find something unique for yourself!  The festival is being held at one of the area's premier open air shopping centers which is conveniently located at the Boughton Rd. exit off of I-355 in Bolingbrook, IL.  With live music, fine dining and tons of great artwork - what's not to love!  If you're in the area be sure to come out and see me!

For more info on the show, visit Virgo Rising Presents or check out the pre-show exhibit on display in one of the storefronts at the Promenade Bolingbrook.  The promoters have done a beautiful job with this exhibit and I'd like to thank them for including my work!

B L O C K S - a new line from Art's Desire!

So, it's been a while since I posted and I'm ashamed to say that I don't have any good reason.  I just got busy sending in applications to spring and summer shows, working on a new line of pendants and trying to get a handle on life in general.  The good news is that I've gotten into several of the shows that I applied to and am waiting to hear back on others, I've come out with a new line that I'm really proud of and I've managed to gain control of some other household things that has made my life happier and easier.

I'll be posting some stories on my upcoming shows soon, but more than anything I wanted to share the new things I've been working on!  Back in February I posted about the work of Piet Mondrian and some things started to percolate.  By the end of the month, I began to experiment with these ideas and tried them out on a few friends and at a couple of local craft shows.  I got some great feedback and I've decided to start producing these pieces as my first formal line - B L O C K S!

B L O C K S is - quite obviously - directly inspired by the work of Piet Mondrian only these pieces are made entirely out of fused glass and presented as pendants.  Each pendant is unique in it's execution and because of the organic qualities of the glass, they cannot be exactly reproduced.  To see more B L O C K S visit my Etsy shop where I'll be posting new pieces as they are made.

Art's Desire at Andrew HS Spring Art & Craft Show

Next weekend, Art's Desire will be at the 22nd Annual Spring Art & Craft Show at VJ Andrew High School in Tinley Park, IL.  Admission is $2 for anyone 14 and over and it goes to support the school's Music booster club.  Parking is free, concessions will be available and there will be over 100 crafters!  The doors will be open on Saturday and Sunday from 9 to 4 and I'll be at booth number 173 in the gym.  Hope to see you there!

Art's Desire Now Available at White Street Gallery

I'm happy to announce that White Street Gallery & Framing in Frankfort, IL will now be carrying some of my pieces!  If you're in the area, please stop in and support this wonderful local business which has been operating in the Frankfort area for 17+ years!

Monday Motivation - Dale Chihuly - Glass Artist

You might say that this week's Monday Motivation is long overdue.  Dale Chihuly is, after all, probably the most recognized glass artist in the world today.  His work is varied; there is something for everyone.  As a founder of the Pilchuck Glass School, glass artists all over the world have learned about their craft because of him.  Furthermore, he has been the leading force in revolutionizing the modern Studio Glass movement.  He has exploded the boundaries of the medium and established a collaborative technique that is unparalleled.

Take a look at some of Chihuly's work.  Which pieces do you like the best?  The Seaforms?  The Macchia?  What about the Installations or Chandeliers?  They are all so different, yet his fascination with color, light and transparency are evident in all of them.  As you go about your week, challenge yourself to break new ground and try something you've never tried before.  Chihuly's work shows us the wonderful things that can happen when you do.  (Above: Dale Chihuly, Squero di San Trovaso, 1996, 10'x4', Chihuly Over Venice)

Monday Motivation - William Morris - Glass Artist

Today's Monday Motivation features William "Billy" Morris. His work reminds us that things are not always what they seem. Yes people, what you're looking at here is glass. William Morris is a uniquely talented glassblower who can transform a delicate, fragile medium into something that it isn't: rough, solid and full of texture.  His pieces resemble artifacts from an ancient past, beckoning us to learn more about where they came from.  I encourage you to take a closer look at some of Billy's work and as you go about your week challenge yourself to look beneath the surface and see the true beauty of the things around you. (Above: William Morris, Situla, 2000, 22"x24"x18", blown glass, steel stand, photo: Rob Vinnedge)

Monday Motivation - Lino Tagliapietra - Glass Artist

It's time for our Monday Motivation again and today I'm writing about the man, the maestro: Lino Tagliapietra. He's considered by many to be the best glass artist ever and I'm one of those people.

Born on the island of Murano in 1934, Lino apprenticed under Archimede Seguso and became a maestro at the age of 21.  Over the span of his career, his work has evolved to combine traditional Venetian technique with a contemporary artistic concept.  

In last week's post I talked about Centre College and it's wonderful glass program run by Stephen Rolfe Powell.  Since 2000, Lino has visited the program four times and generously shared his expertise and talent.  Like Steve, he's not only a fabulous artist, but a mentor and teacher as well.  So take a look at some of Lino's work and get your Monday Motivation!

Love Is In the Air

That's right, Valentine's Day is right around the corner and I'm jumping in head first with some pretty fused glass hearts in my Etsy shop.  This is one of my favorite holidays.  All of the red and white and pink hearts provide a welcome break from the bleak gray of winter.  I hope these pieces will do the same for someone you love!

Monday Motivation - Stephen Rolfe Powell - Glass Artist

Each Monday I'll publish a post about an artist. Some of the artists will be well-known, highly recognized figures, others will be friends and colleagues; all of them will be people who inspire me both in work and life and thus provide me with my Monday Motivation.

I guess I should start where it all began for me.  I was always an artsy kid.  I loved going to art fairs and museums, I was into dance and music instead of sports, I even took private art lessons when I was still in grade school!  It just seemed to follow naturally that when I went to college, I majored in Studio Art.  I started out focusing on my strengths - painting and drawing.  But there was something special about my college, something no other college nearby could offer.  A fantastic glass program with a world-class instructor.

Stephen Rolfe Powell is that instructor and since 1983 he's been sharing his talent and love of glass with the students of Centre College.  A former Centre student himself, Steve has built an incredible program that is turning out many of today's emerging glass artists.  He is an expert with color and texture and his pieces have received international recognition.  I highly encourage you to check out his website and his recently published book.  If you are in Chicago, stop by Marx-Saunders Gallery to see some of his work in real life.  In addition to being an amazing artist, Steve is also a great mentor.  He genuinely loves what he does and is happy to share his knowledge with anyone that's interested.  Now that's what I call inspiring!