Read more blogs by Karen: "Life as a Glass Artist",

 www.karendeets.blogspot.com.

 

 

 

June 6th, 2012

 

I just completed a really fun project to commemorate a retiring school principal and to be installed at Mettawee Community School, Pawlet, Vermont.  Read the story about working from a child's design on my blog link above!!! 

 

 

 

March 7th, 2012

 

The ski season is winding down. The image at right, "Ski Run Dream", was created for the

 Vermont Adaptive Auction fund raiser this Saturday! It will be presented on a hand made iron frame by Dick Kirby, my 80 year old friend who was a volunteer on the Ski Patrol for several decades.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

January 16th, 2012

 

Well, its ski season again and many of my days are spent on Pico mountain helping people of all ages with disabilities to enjoy the winter and learn to ski!! I can't express enough how great the www.Vermontadaptive.org  program is to both the clients and the volunteers!

 

I will be doing some occasional indoor craft shows. The next is the Woodchuck Festival at West Pawlet on Feb. 4th. See Event Calendar for details.

 

At left is a proposed design for a winter mountain scene.

 

 Did I mention that we are now the proud owners of a flock of 13 laying hens and 1 rooster? They are surprisingly entertaining creatures that make me breakfast daily!

 

 

 

 

November 12th, 2011

 

Summer and fall just came and went! I guess I spend a lot of time on FB and have posted albums showing my glass art on my personal page and now my "Karen Deets Stained Glass" page. I have new work in the Brandon Artists Guild with a winter theme. I am getting ready for my first Vermont show at the Marble Mansion Inn in Fair Haven with a group of excellent local artists known as the Birdseye Artisans. We first organized ourselves as a group to promote ourselves for Vermont Craft Council's statewide Open Studio Weekend last May. My newest work includes fused glass slide pendants and garden art.

 

 

 

 

April 1st, 2011

 

I'm still skiing, and have volunteered at least 30 days at Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sport,  www.vermontadaptive.org, teaching people with disabilities to ski!! It is a tremendous program! I just spent 3 days with 8 year old Max and his Mom from NYC and he was amazing! Killington Mountain will be open till May 1st!

 

Signs of spring here in Vermont are melting snow and the sound of woodpeckers! I am working on spring pieces for the Artful Deposit Gallery in Bordentown, NJ, a clock for the BAG auction in Brandon, and custom work. Studio remodeling is underway in anticipation of Vermont Open Studio Weekend, Memorial Day weekend.

 

 

March 14, 2011

 

"Winter Quietude" received an eloquent response from its new owner: 

 

 

 

 

Jan. 12, 2011

 

I confess that I am a bit of a ski bum. Winter here is glorious. The views from the top of Pico Mountain are an inspiration! They will appear in future glass art. Pictured at left is my daughter Shasta.

 

WORK HARD, PLAY HARD!

 

Nov. 18, 2010

 

I am very proud to announce that I am now a Juried Member of the Brandon Artisis Guild! Brandon, Vermont has been coined "the art and soul of Vermont". I visited the town once before in 1980. I entered the town through a covered bridge and downtown there are 2 waterfalls where mills had once flourished.

 

Known as the BAG, this group of over 50 extremely talented and successful juried artists makes me think of the old mill in Allentown, NJ, in that it was instrumental in reviving a historic town into a destination for art and tourism, and encouraged more galleries, retaurants, and in general helped to make the town thrive. Internationally successful for his commercially produced folk art, artist Warren Kimble is a founding and active member, and continues to restore homes and buildings throughout Brandon. I worked my first day yesterday in the very pleasant atmosphere. I have 7 panels on display as well as my newly designed fused snowflakes. Check them out at www.brandonartistsguild.org.

 

Locally I have stained glass for sale at Simply Antiques, a very classy store with well priced furniture, jewelry, gifts, and home decor. I did a lot of gorgeous little fused ornaments, all brand new desugns. They just moved from Castleton to a spacious shop, at the Hydeville Plaza, Hydeville, VT, on Rt. 4A between Castleton and Lake Bomoseen.

 

I am happy to announce that I am now doing custom work for Vermont residents! Work in progress includes a cabinet panel with a lot of fused and painted butterflies, some created for studies, which will find its home in Poultney, Vermont.

 

Oct. 2, 2010

 

Its Fall in Vermont! Everyday my mountain view becomes more visible as the golden leaves fall to the ground. A giant sugar maple at the north end of the house is transforming like a real life watercolor painting, starting its reddish gold hues at the top and shading into green. Even rainy days reveal spectacular cloud mists that play between the mountain valleys unlike anything I could imagine!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sept. 8, 2010

 

The studio is set up in my Vermont woodland home. I call this location "Glen Lake Studio". I have completed my first "Made in Vermont" piece, an elegant contemporary textured crystal clear panel to be installed in a NJ home. It has been hard getting started again with the distractions of setting up a home, and enjoying the gorgeous acres of pristine Bomoseen State Park and the many lakes for boating and kayaking and swimming, not to mention the farms and mountains eveywhere! This summer was exceptionally warm for this region. I didn't mind a bit. Although the studio is located in the basement, it will facilitate late night working in the winter months without having to wear boots and use extra energy for heat. Bill has been working hard at improvements and Shasta is painting in her spacious studio, getting work for grad school applications.

 

 

 

 

April 20, 2010

 

FAREWELL TO ALLENTOWN!

 

 This is the final piece made in Allentown, NJ. It depicts the village of Allentown from my favorite perspective, the beloved old mill, where I started my business in 1977. It can be seen at the Village Pharmacy on Yardville Allentown Rd. It was nice to have this subject as I make closure with a lovely community where I raised my child and that I have enjoyed as a resident since 1989. 

 

 

 

I installed into the kitchen of my Allentown home 5 tiles depicting a similar scene done in fused glass with painted fired details.

 

The movers started emptying the house today. They will unload into our new Vermont home on Friday. I have ordered a new kayak from LL Bean. Next chickens!

 

MAKE NEW FRIENDS BUT KEEP THE OLD....

 

 

 

February 13, 2010

 

This week we bought a house in Vermont that will be our year round home and studio! This has been a dream of mine for nearly 40 years! Bill is excited to enjoy all the fun of the "toys". The property is located near Lake Bomoseen and state park land.

 

We will be moving in April. In VT that's known as "mud season". After that the 3 glorious seasons will begin. I will now need to focus on cleaning out the carriage house and sentimental revisiting of accumulated stuff. Moving the studio will be a scary task. I am still taking custom orders, but work will be done after the move, so please be patient.

 

NJ customers are welcome to work with me by e-mail. My computer program can create a full color detailed design! If necessary, I can mail glass samples. Deliveries can be scheduled with a trip to NJ for supplies and visits with family and friends if shipping is not practical.

 

 

 

January 13, 2010

 

"Back to Wonderland" (fused detail - click "Nature Themes" in left column for full image) is a statement about my passionate feelings on the destruction of open space. The inspiration is a newly constructed development in Chesterfield on Crosswicks Bordentown Rd. It is a route I take often to Bordentown to church and friends. It was one of the few places that had a 360 degree view of farmland and woods, daffodils, cardinals and deer. Now it is gone. I imagine going back to how it was, like Alice going through the looking glass.

 

Sometimes I think about bulldozing urban decay and farming it. Why not? Several years ago when the old buildings were cleared for the Sovereign Bank Arena in Trenton, I had no idea what was going to happen. It was a field of rubble. I thought, just add some top soil and this could be farmed! Abandoned decaying suburbia should be bulldozed and farmed too. Then I would not get so upset when farmland continues to disappear.

 

PRESERVE OUR EARTH FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS!

 

 

January 5, 2010

 

YAHOO and Happy New Year to all!!

 

 

Yesterday the panels that I call "The Great Botanical Commission" got installed in a private home in Chesterfield. All went smoothly. The sun was so bright that it was difficult to photograph. The next bright snow storm will make the perfect viewing of these panels placed nearly 20 feet high in the cathedral ceilinged wall. This image will have to do for now.

 

THINK BIG!!

 

 

  

December 19, 2009

 

 

                                                                                                                                                    

 

 

 

 

Life is very full! I'm sure you will all agree. I have been taking some time out to clean and declutter my house. As much as I hate taking time to do it, its spiritually uplifting when it is done. 

 

 

Glass projects include the completion of my biggest uninsalled panel to date. It is 21" X 43", and titled "Forest Fantasy", in the style of "Dancing in the Forest". (See images posted March 28th).

 

 

I enjoyed the painting of 55 pieces, requiring 7 kiln loads and firings. I was very happy with the faces and painted leaf textures, rocks, and fern faces. I was grateful to my client in allowing me this creative oppurtunity!

 

I have also been creating some interesting fused pieces including some tiles that I installed in my kitchen. I will post images in A future blog.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

  

November 5, 2009

 

This fall my travels included a Sept. trip to Rhode Island, where I discovered the lovely little Block Island, with many acres of preserved meadows, fresh water ponds, and a feeling of time standing still. I was home only 3 days and then headed south for a family gathering in Williamsburg, VA. The weather was great, we made many great meals, and saw brick and chocolate making.

 

I have been working on lots of custom panels, trying to catch up. I have plans to make some glass tiles for my own kitchen, the finishing touches on our recent improvements. 

I am very excited about my successful "lamp working". Quite literally, I used an oil lamp to bend thin glass rods, and then fused them flat.

 

FIRE IS FUN!

 

 

September 12, 2009

 

 

 

Today I completed the 4 panels shown in the computer sketch below. It has been a wonderful opportunity to make something beautiful, using all my artistic and technical skills. My customer has been extremely patient and a pleasure to work with. Summer trips to Vermont, Emerald Isle NC, and western PA slowed the progress as well as family needs. I will now be able to resume my increasing number of custom jobs and fun little pieces to sell at Down Home Country.

 

 

This week is the last class for my first group of students at Bloomers "N Things To Do. I will post images on my blogspot next week.

 

CHALLENGE YOURSELF!

 

 

August 7, 2009

 

 

At right is the design for my current work in progress. It is comprised of 4 separate large panels. I have fired the wisteria, fused the morning glories, and fused and fired the hummingbird and monarch. 

 

I have made a lot of changes as I started to cut the pattern pieces and glass. This image is just a suggestion of how the finished piece will look.

 

You can read more about it in www.karendeets.blogspot.com.

 

Reminder to those interested in learning stained glass :
Aug. 19th is the first stained glass class I have offered since 1986, before the birth of my artist daughter, Shasta. Check the "Classes" page for details. There is still space for a few more people. Have fun with friends and make new ones!

 

 

 

June 16, 2009

 

To the left is a fun piece made from a melted margarita glass and a lot of fused and painted glass pieces. It  required 5 separate firings to create. Read more about it in my blogspot link above.

 

I completed a pair of sidelights last week and Bill and I installed them. I framed them in 1/2" zinc and we carefully screwed them onto the existing windows. See "Custom" page. 

 

 

 

 

 

May 24, 2009

 

To the right is a piece I made for the newest Deets family member, Lucas Samuel Deets of the Newtown Square neighborhood of Chester Co. PA. Cool initials, huh? His home is adjacent to the Radnor Hunt Club, so his young parents, Doug and Lauren Deets, had a weekend long party starting with the horsey event at the club on Saturday, followed by baby Lucas's Baptism on Sunday.

 

The customized piece incorporates a fused sailboat, "L", and sun. I finished it off with an original etched verse about sailing along in life with love, "2009", and "Lucas".

 

Friday I blew up my cappucino machine and broke a good margarita glass. You can read the developing story on my blogspot - link at top of page.

 

ART CAN BE ACCIDENTAL

 

 

May 7, 2009

 

 

I have been busy with FUSING!! Now this is really EXCITING. I finished 10 pieces that I will have for sale at Bloomers, 24 S. Main St., just in time for Mother's Day!  They incorporate fused elements in stained glass panels.

 

Last week I had to do some personal drudge work - I emptied my entire attic and cleaned up stuff in anticipation of getting our old slate roof replaced. Its only as old as the house, 104 years, so it doesn't owe us anything.

It can be quite the emotional overload with so many memories of my life and family. I hired a shredder company to come and recycle about 40 boxes of OTWCG records. I found a newspaper article with a photo of young Corky Danch standing in the 2nd floor of the Allentown mill in 1976, newly restored, the article that got me interested in leaving teaching and becoming a full time crafts person!

 

 

Last weekend I had the delightful experience to see a student film presentation at Fairfield Universty in Connecticut. Young people, with the right instruction and equipment, are capable of great things. Its too bad life gets in the way of creativity as we exit Academia. Next weekend I will see the Senior BFA Show that my daughter is particpating in at Montclair Universuty. Ah...the joys and struggles of college life.

 

 Today I worked on finalizing details for Beginning Stained Glass classes which I will do at Bloomers hopefully starting May 27th. See the page on "Classes".

 

Although I did not get a solo show at the Monmouth Museum, it was a very good experience in applying. I am waiting for written constructive crtitique from the judges that will be sure to help me with future gallery exhibitions. I am thinking that I will need to construct light boxes, and maybe limit the style to a more cohesive story! Let's see what they say.

 

DON'T BE AFRAID OF FAILURE...

THERE IS ALWAYS SOMETHING TO LEARN IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING

 

 

April 5, 2009

 

I finished a custom piece today to be given as a wedding gift to a couple getting married in Las Vegas. The image at right is a detail depicting the Bellagio Hotel.

I have mixed feelings about personalized wedding gifts based on the national divorce rate and personal experience, so I hope this piece gives the intended good luck and does not get smashed in emotional rage. It was a challenging project for me. See more images and details on the "Custom" page.

 

FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE, FOR RICHER OR POORER...
...AND CHERISH STAINED GLASS GIFTS!

 

 

  

March 28, 2009

 

I finally accomplished my goal of making 10 good pieces to apply for a show at the Monmouth Museum. The ten include my KDSG Logo on my home page, "Brightly Jeweled" on the Contemporary page, "January Attitude" below on the Feb. 23rd entry, and the following:

 

 

  

 

 

 

This is a Picasso inspired piece called "Girl with Mirror - Transformation". It shows a young girl with a young tree and blank space around her. The upper right, with an actual mirror, represents the "transformation" . 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

"Grounded in Nature", with 3 cardinals in a tree, is a fantasy piece. The painted torso / trunk depicts a female tree spirit.. 

Or... it shows me as a skinny strong young girl. The flowers are both painted and etched.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

The border in "Keep Your Focus" has intricately painted patterns inspired by William Morris wallpaper patterns of the 1920's.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

"Fire and Ice Self Portrait" includes a painted face image on a melting drop shown below. 

 

   

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Self Portrait with Duck" was a great lesson in painting and creating photographic detail. The waterfall shows up darker in the actual piece. The soft hazy grass and coot in the corners are painted on the back side.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Space Jewels" is a study in color, shapes and shading techniques.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Dancing in the Forest", my favorite piece to date, contains nearly 80 painted and fired pieces. It measures 24" wide. It's about joy and celebration of nature and life. Almost all of the pieces are painted. 

 

Other tidbits of my life: I drove to the Boston area a couple of weeks ago to help my niece with her newborn and toddler. Henry, age 3, did a little design work on the Glass Eye 2000 program that I now use for my designs. I played with trains, cooked some meals, and cleaned up pee. It was fun. Then I went home. God bless all you mothers of babies!

 

Well, its time to switch gears and get my bookeeping in order to get my stuff to the accountant for tax time. Aaagghh!!! I will once more revisit the life that was Off the Wall - very nostalgic. Then, I'll plant my early spring garden. Ahhh!!!

 

I AM AN ARTIST!

 

 

 

Feb. 23, 2009

 

I have made a commitment to myself to create 10 good artistic pieces. I intend to apply for a juried show for Emerging Artists at the Monmouth Museum. Regardless of being accepted, I am very happy to be making these. This is one of the completed pieces. It incorporates several painted and fired sections depicting the joys of winter. The title is "January Attitude".

 

I have also started teaching private lessons.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Feb. 10, 2009

 

Today I took the nature themed pieces shown at the Chairville School Art Show (pictured under the Jan.24th entry) and hung them at Bloomers 'n Things to Do in Allentown. This is where I will be teaching stained glass classes starting most likely in April. The space is very bright, cheery, and nicely furnished. See the page on "Classes" for more details.

 

GLASS CRAFT ING IS FUUUUUUUUUUUUNNN!!!!! 

 

 

 

Jan. 27, 2009

 

The piece below is the finished product of the design shown Jan. 6th. Notice the fired painted detailing of the lamb, meadow and the sky. Also, extra cuts were made for the branches. 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

Jan. 24, 2008

 

      

 

 

 

Yesterday I completed and delivered 4 new pieces to a community art show in a school in Medford. I was very pleased with the results. The 3 nature themed pieces incorporated painted and fired pieces, and the other was a complex design created on my computer shown in the catagory - "Contemporary " and on my new blogspot page.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

The small piece at left, part of the collection in the show, although only 8" X 10", was a major accomplishment for me in glass painting technique.

 

The body is composed of 5 cut pieces of white glass. All of the owl details have been painted and permanently fired.

 

 

 

HOOOOOOOOO"S HAVING A BLAST PAINTING GLASS!???!!! - ME 

   

Many of you have asked about classes in stained glass. I have made a decision today to conduct classes at Bloomer 'n Things To Do in Allentown. Owner Debbie Personette has recently set up a studio for classes and has graciously offered to share the space. Look for more information on a new page on this web site.

  

 

 

Jan. 6, 2008

 

Its a New Year with new possibilities! Today I finished my 20 lessons in teaching myself a CAD (computer assisted design) program. It will enable me to easily create accurate renderings including glass colors and types as well as showing how it will look in YOUR WINDOW if I have a photo of where it will be hung or installed. 

 

The image at right is a  COMPUTER CREATED DESIGN, NOT AN ACTUAL PIECE!  I will be doing the piece for a client. I will show the finished piece as soon as it is finished as a comparison. It will have some painted, fired detailing.

 

 

 

YOU CAN TEACH AN OLD DOG NEW TRICKS!

 

 

 

 

Dec. 22, 2008

I just did something I have never done in my entire adult life - took a few days off in the middle of December to enjoy a short break from holiday stress!
I joined my sister Patty at her favorite getaway - a luxury suite in Williamsburg, VA.  We listened to music on ancient instruments, singing, theater, and historical presentations amidst the natural Christmas greenery on the  buildings, done in very creative ways by the staff and residents.

 

 

Today I finished a beautiful custom contemporary clear piece.
See the "Contemporary" category page for details.


FIND SOME QUIET TIME IN DECEMBER.

 

Dec 14, 2008

 

 

 

Karen Deets Stained Glass Logo

 

This piece is a glass representation of my new logo as it appears on my business cards. We worked late Sat. night finishing it - with well over 300 pieces! It utilizes my mosaic style free form technique for the tree top and my new fired glass painting techniques for the pine trees, birds, and rays. This was a breakthrough for apprentice Katybeth with her cutting skills, and she did all of the foiling. Katybeth is a senior at Eastern University in Philadelphia and a former Off the Wall Craft Gallery employee. She loves glass, learning and spontaneous laughter. We were very happy with the results.

 

The Karen Deets Stained Glass Logo is not for sale, however variations of the tree motif can be ordered. We already got an order this week before it was even finished!

 

 

 Dec. 11, 2008

 

This is all just too exciting!
I am learning a lost art.

There are no books in print on the subject of glass painting, so I am grateful to my new mentor, Stephen, in England!!. Their studio has done restoration on Westminster Abbey!

See their work on their web site, www.williamsandbyrne.com.

Here are some details of a piece I just finished using fired painted glass detailing. You can see the entire piece on the "Custom Glass" page.

 

 

IT'S GOOD TO GO BEYOND YOUR COMFORT ZONE NOW AND THEN.

 

 

Dec. 3, 2008

 

I did it! I painted on glass and did my first firing! I have found the most wonderful tutors, downloaded their book, and have an e-mail dialog going from their studio in England. David Williams and Stephen Byrne are accomplished artists in glass painting and are very generous with sharing hard to come by information. 

 

TRY SOMETHING NEW!

 

 

Nov. 27, 2008

 

I am thankful for my NEW KILN!! Its a Paragon Fusion 7 with a 14" interior.

I'm busy reading manuals, getting ready for the virgin firing.

Now its time to watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade as I peel my apples and make pies, and then feast with my family in Wenonah, NJ, a sweet little town in South Jersey with a new population of wild turkeys.  My sister Joan and I spotted a flock of 16 on our woodland walk in Oct. Ours will come from the grocery store, though.

 

THE SECRET TO HAPPINESS IS GRATITUDE

 

 

Nov. 12, 2008

 

 

This weekend I went with Bill to visit his family in western PA. His Mom, Irene, just turned 91 and is still full of spirit. On the way home we stopped at a charming little town, Lititz, PA.  Its a favorite of Clara Nurko, and she has found me some great gifts there, pottery and glass, so I just had to check it out. We had a great dinner at the charming General Sutter Inn.

 

 

This Sat., Nov. 15th, I will be having a BARN SALE upstairs in the carriage house to sell off my forest of Christmas trees that provided display for the hundreds of ornaments we sold at OTWCG, as well as garland, bows, crystal ornaments, and lots of other great decorations that were used at the old mill. I will probably do it again on the 22nd.

 

BE GREEN...RECYCLE!

 

 

Nov. 5, 2008

 

Hallelujah!! We have a president elect of COLOR!! You know that I am passionate about color in many ways. I am also extremely happy to have seen in my lifetime such great progress in civil rights and respect for all Americans. I keep thinking about how proud the great Martin Luther King Jr. must be as he looks down from heaven and sees America coming closer to his dream. I have witnessed such progress in attitudes. Minorities have changed. Skin color is more diverse and less important. I believe that as humans we are all equal in God's eyes. Human spirits have no color.

 

HOLD ONTO YOUR DREAMS!

 

 

Oct. 26, 2008

 

You might just think I'm having too much fun, but this week I did complete the tree scene panels shown on the "Custom" page, a large oval panel, and started some contemporary designs for some new work, so I am working.

 

Thursday I went to Longwood Gardens with my sister Joan and was so pleased to see glass pumpkins made by Cohn Stone Studios, some great work by artists I have met in my travels shopping for Off the Wall, and similar to work that I carried. I also saw hundreds of varieties of real pumpkins, gourds and squash, and the most amazing Children's play area in the Conservatory. The numerous fountains are done with fine metal art, a stained glass window, and very creative spaces. Be sure to bring a towel and a change of clothing for your little one!

 

Today Shasta and I had the pleasure of visiting the studios and galleries of Hopewell, NJ. This is a community filled with creativity of all media. It has the feeling of Vermont, with wonderful studios tucked away in the country, recycled chicken coops, pastoral places, and places in town. Last night we attended the Art Auction fund raiser at the Hopewell Train Station for the *D&R Greenway, an organization preserving Open Space, a cause I feel passionate about, so instead of blowing up a bulldozer, I purchased a fine little metal art pedestal table made by Tom & Terrence Johnson Metalworks. They do amazing arts and crafts style architectural work.

The sculpture pictured at right is by  Robert Harvey.

 

*see link page for D&R Greenway, preserving Open Space in Central NJ.

 

PRESERVE NATURE AND OPEN SPACE!

 

 

Oct. 20, 2008

  

 

I just loved that touch of summer weather last week as I spent a few days in a most pituresque place - Williamsburg, VA. Besides the history, the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum sends the message that we are all creative, and anyone can be an artist. She particularly liked and collected the workof talented nonprofessional people in all media, in spite of her husband not sharing in her enthusiasm.

 

One of my favorite places in Colonial Williamsburg is Bassett Hall, the Rockefellers' home. We have them and Dr. Goodwin, the Bruton Parish pastor, to thank for the money and vision of the massive restoration. Several hundred wooded acres are preserved there. 

 

The plant life is also fascinating to me, a northern girl. The great gnarly trunks of the rows of trees near the Governor's Palace as well as the shiny leafed southern magnolias, and the smooth naked bark of the Crape Myrtles are some of my favorites. Shown at right is 18th century botanist, Mark Catesby.

 

Well, its back to work and possibly a visit to Longwood Gardens this week. I need to do some plant studies for some exciting custom glass work that I will be starting soon. 

 

LEARN FROM THE PAST, FOCUS ON THE FUTURE.

 

 

Oct. 1, 2008

 

Grounds for Sculpture is an awesome place that is still somewhat of  a secret. I had the rare treat of going twice this week - on Sunday with my daughter, and on Tues. with some dear friends, including 9 month old baby Ellis. We had a great lunch amid the Japanese maples and saw 2 baby peacocks. 

 

The landscaping and rare trees are as impressive as the many well placed sculptures. No where have I seen outdoor sculpture so perfectly displayed. Words would not be adequate to describe this place. I have been a member of GFS for several years, and delight in every visit. The piece above is metal and glass. It kind of reminds me of peacock plumage. Chihuly had a great show here that had all my artsy friends excited. Check my link page to learn more.

 

CARPE DIEM!

 

 

Sept. 26, 2008

 

The vivid colors of fall are the most exciting colors of glass in my bins. I love this time of the year when I pull them out and bring them to life in my stained glass creations. I delivered 16 pieces to Down Home Country yesterday. It is located on Church St. in Allentown, NJ next to my favorite Italian restaurant, La Piazza. It includes this oval at right, pumpkins in the patch, black cats with wire details, and witches. I will be making some colorful leaves in the next batch. Images are shown in the "Seasonal" category.  

 

Why do I love making witches so much?

I think it appeals to my dark side.

 

 DON'T WE ALL REVEL IN A LITTLE NAUGHTINESS NOW AND THEN?? 

 

 

Sept. 10, 2008:

 

 I am working out of my private studio now catching up on custom orders, promised gifts, and personal and business organization. Its so different to be home with my cat, Ericka, and my Jersey Wooly rabbit, Buttons, amidst my lovely gardens. Sept. is a lovely month with perfect weather. Any day now the hummingbirds will be leaving me till next year.

 

ENJOY THE SPECIAL MOMENTS!