"May" Be a Disaster, "May" Be Not

As with most professions, there are good days and bad days. And no matter how much preparation and thought are put into our glass works, things cannot possibly run smoothly all of the time. We have experienced highs and lows in the Studio, it's just the nature of the beast when working with glass. Well, this week has had it's share of low spots for us. It's pretty frustrating, but all we can do is pick up the pieces "literally", and chalk it up as another learning curve. Nothing like getting woke up at 4:30 am (on a Monday morning, no less) to the sound of one of your favorite pieces (a glass wall clock) crashing down to the floor with a deafening noise. Not only did the clock meet it's demise, but it took out a large amount of our inventory with it. Glass shards were everywhere, and it took quite a bit of effort to clean up every last piece.

We also had our share of breakage when it came to shipping glass roses this month. Beautiful hand crafted and blown flowers were flawless before the shipment. Beforehand, we meticulously and carefully wrapped and double boxed the flowers as we always do, only to hear they arrived across country broken due to rough shipping and handling. It's not often this happens, but when it does, it's disappointing to both us and the customers. And we have no choice but to start from scratch all over again.

Mother's Day glass floral gifts

Rose broken during shipping

That's one of the reasons for this artistic statement below, it's currently hanging on one of the walls in the Studio. It's a hard glass (borosilicate) hammer smashing a soft glass (Float) window. We titled it "Stressed". For us, it portrays how many times we have been frustrated when projects don't end up the way we'd like, or beautiful pieces end up in shatters. It's devastating, especially after meticulously working for hours to create them.

"Stressed"

However, for every disaster, there are many more successes to counter-balance the losses. I suppose that's why we don't stay stressed too long, as the rewards are outweighing the benefits. We have to take the losses with the profits and realize every day will not "come up roses". Learning from and dealing with mistakes and accidents never ends when one is a glass artist. Of course, learning from successes is what we would much rather focus on in the Studio. Below are some of the successes created this month of May.

Glass Dragonfly with Lilies

Glass Fairy on Glass Lilypad

Blown Glass Lizard on Manzanita Wood

A beautiful slumped and fused glass collection

If we can focus on the overall results of our labor, the disappointments won't be so hard to deal with. And this week, we are focusing extra hard. Patience is indeed a virtue, that much we have learned for sure.

April Creations

Blown, Sculpted Hummingbird and Floral Glass

End of April already, and all the tree blossoms are giving off a subtle scent of fresh floral aromas. Brisk morning walks in the slowly greening high desert hills help us to focus on new ideas we are formulating. Once we're back in the Studio we get to work trying to bring the ideas to fruition. We've had some successes and some near misses working with some new styles of glass in the kilns. All in all, it feels good to push the envelope of what we are capable of  learning about this ever changing art and craft on a daily basis. The pieces below are some of our latest projects.

Slumped and Fused Abstract Plate

A new idea to fuse and swirl colors

The next 3 pieces were done for our son and his wife to complete their memories of a very good year, including their wedding, honeymoon, and reaching the 30 year milestone of  their lives.

Fused cheese tray with an animated theme

Fused art reflecting a special Jamaican beach Honeymoon memory

Slumped and Fused Decorative Vase

Mother's Day is right around the corner, and our blown glass hummingbirds are always a great choice for the many special Moms out there.

A great Mother's Day gift idea

An unusual abstract piece incorporating hard and soft glass

Fun Engraved and Sandblasted Upcycled Drinking Glasses

Another new plate, perfect for home decor

We have plenty of glass gifts in our Studio

  Feel free to give us a call if something catches your eye for a future gift.

May Day Home Interiors

Thanks for taking a look at our May blog. We are emphasizing Home Interiors Glass Art Decor and Mother's Day gift ideas in this edition. Let us know if we can help you with a design for your living space, or a special gift. Read on for inspiration:

On this first day of May, Mother Nature surprised us yet again with another blanket of snow. Having lived quite some time in this region of the Rocky Mountains, nothing really surprises me anymore weather-wise. I know by this afternoon it will all melt away and the Spring flowers will pick up where they dropped off in April and burst out of the ground in an array of  vibrant colors. I just have to be patient and know the Spring flowers will come. Remember the old adage "April Showers Bring May Flowers"?  It especially rings true for our high desert/mountain climate. 

Slumped glass scene adorns this table in my front sitting room

Another special day in May that hopefully involves more flowers than snow, is right around the corner. Mother's Day, May 12th is the day that mothers from all walks of life are honored for their role in raising and bringing up the children of our future. That really is an overwhelming responsibility when you stop and think about it, shaping children into the leaders of tomorrow. Teaching them integrity and ethics, instilling in them a love and compassion for others, involvement in their educations, dealing with special needs children, and the list goes on and on for those who have taken on the responsibility of Motherhood.

So I suppose that is why a very wise person long ago created this one day a year honoring all Mothers, for their endless hours of  selfless works on behalf of their families. Children of all ages bring sentimental gifts as tokens of appreciation for their mothers.  And whether it be a bouquet of fresh cut dandelions from a three year old, a homemade card made with crayons from an eight-year old, or a teenager offering to do her chores for a week, every mother treasures the one day her many hours and labors of love are noticed by those closest to her.

 For those yearning to give a gift out of the ordinary to their mother or wife, we may have a solution for you.  Our glass business  provides a variety of gifts that would have a sentimental value to a Mother. After all, most mother's love a "handmade" gift made with them in mind. And all of our glass is hand-crafted.

So in this blog I decided to showcase some of our glass art that graces my own home's walls. They may also serve to spark your own unique idea for a Mother's Day glass gift.  When a home is filled with beautiful works of art, a Mother has found her Zen.  And as the saying goes, "When Mama's happy, everyone's happy". At least that is true for this particular Mother of four.

The following pictures show how I have incorporated our glass into various rooms in our home. Maybe you will see something that will spark your interest for a future gift for your dear Mother.  Or maybe you will think of a new piece of wall art for your own home's interiors.  Whatever you can imagine, we would love to help it become reality.

Slumped glass grape clusters in entryway were created for a Tuscan look

A slumped and fused vase displays nicely on my sitting room shelf

Lit basket of blown balls are a fun addition to the front sitting room

Blue and violet blown balls enhance our book shelf

Fruit chimes hang in the corner of my kitchen

Glass coasters on my kitchen shelf with a grape design

Slumped, engraved wine bottle on my kitchen wall

Slumped glass "Bon Appetit" tray on my kitchen counter

A unique slumped float glass sculpture with a candle on my bedroom dresser

Woodland glass flowers entwined around vinyl lettering in bedroom

Closeup shot of bedroom glass wall art

Pink Blown glass floral art adorns my master bath

Unique slumped and fused glass candle holders

Close up shot of glass candle holder

 

    Blown glass red rose arrangement in master bath