Saturday, July 23, 2011

Drape Vases!

I do believe that this is my favorite color combination!  PEACOCK colors!  


This is a fused glass drape vase that I allowed to drape freeform.  As a glass artist, sometimes I have to let the glass be the boss most of the time.  When your medium is liquid, like glass, that's the rule.


I'm rarely disappointed, however.  I couldn't have created something this lovely intentionally.  Glass is magic.


Annnnnddddddddd.......off to the gallery for this baby, too!

Poppies! A Fused Glass Drop Vase

Truly, after all these years, you would think I would stop acting like an 8 year old girl when I open my kiln but...this just turned out so lovely.


This is a fused glass drape vase.  A square of glass is cut and designed, then laid over a mold and very carefully fused.  I could not have asked any more of this glass.  It performed perfectly, and now, off it goes to the gallery!  



OOOH, glass....how I love thee...

Aaaaand...she's off! 


Back surgery is NO FUN!  BUT.  Recovery, and the gratitude that accompanies, is tremendous.  


I returned a phone call today from one of my longtime wholesale customers, a gallery that I've worked with for YEARS...and guess what...she ordered ONE HUNDRED of my Tree of Life Pendants!  


I'm SO excited!  


These types of orders give me affirmation as an artist!  YAY!

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Back TO THE STUDIO! FINALLY!

*whew*


After an agonizing 3 months in bed with a completely jacked up back, and then ANOTHER 3 months of recovery, I've finally regained my mojo!  


As I write, I have a gorgeous piece of glass in my kiln, slumping into a vase, so SO excited.  Creativity is such a strange thing.  After 6 months away, I'm finding my designs taking on a whole new look...also VERY exciting!  


Stay tuned...it's going to be fab.


:)

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Memories.

Look at this picture, and tell me what you see.  Do you see weird hair, funny glasses, strange clothing?  I bet you do.  This picture is 25 years old, taken in the 80's, when fashion was at it's most unfortunate phase.

Look closer.

If you know me, (and yes, that IS me), then you can see the joy and adoration in my face.  The calm, happy and content place that I am.  In his face also.  This was from a time when there were many, many carefree, fun, nights, filled with laughter, love, butterflies in the tummy, and sheer happiness.

Twenty-plus years later, I gaze into those two sets of eyes...but others?  They see the clothes. The hair. I wish with all of my hear that others could see what I see.

Look again....these people had no idea what would be in store for them.  Soon, their worlds would crash around them, creating so much chaos, hurt feelings, betrayal, pain, screams, accusations, and gut-wrenching, crying-until-you pass out, sheer agony, one cannot describe.  No words.

And when the dust settled, one thing, one precious, priceless, beautiful, gifted little person was the result of this.  It was all worth it in the end.  Every.single.bit of it.

Sometimes, I return to this place, this innocent and wide-eyed naive girl, so madly in love with this person, and I wonder where she went, because, soon, very soon after this picture was taken, she would be gone forever.

I miss her so much sometimes.  Not true.  I miss her all the time.

An Update.

We have removed our son from school.  He will be home with us until we, and our son, feel comfortable that the school has made the changes which are necessary to afford him a free and appropriate public education.

In the meantime, he will be receiving services at home, as required by law. 

The bullys? Oh, they're still at school.  But that's ok.  Our son is home, safe, warm, and adored.

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

I Rise, by Maya Angelou

You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I'll rise.

Does my sassiness upset you?
Why are you beset with gloom?
'Cause I walk like I've got oil wells
Pumping in my living room.

Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I'll rise.

Did you want to see me broken?
Bowed head and lowered eyes?
Shoulders falling down like teardrops.
Weakened by my soulful cries.

Does my haughtiness offend you?
Don't you take it awful hard
'Cause I laugh like I've got gold mines
Diggin' in my own back yard.

You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I'll rise.

Does my sexiness upset you?
Does it come as a surprise
That I dance like I've got diamonds
At the meeting of my thighs?

Out of the huts of history's shame

I rise

Up from a past that's rooted in pain

I rise

I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide,

Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.

Leaving behind nights of terror and fear

I rise

Into a daybreak that's wondrously clear

I rise

Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,

I am the dream and the hope of the slave.

I rise

I rise

I rise.



Maya Angelou