February Forging Ahead

Even though winter is far from over in our high desert climate, we have managed to keep the home fires burning and are still plenty warm in the Studio, thankfully. February tends to keep us focused on Valentines. The first half of the month was plenty busy, between rose orders and giving glass rosebud lessons.

Creating blown glass roses and rosebuds are a common practice in our Studio for the month of February. 

 Heart shaped glass pendants were also created for some customers this month.

Sculpted glass heart pendants

 We have quite a bit of inventory building up in the Studio, which is a good thing. Some of our pieces have been selected to head out the door for upcoming Art Shows.

Completed Art Works in the Studio

 It's nice when things slow down just a bit after Valentine's Day. It gives us time to think ahead about various projects and also do a little creating, like the slumped and fused piece below.

One of our latest creations, a slumped and fused glass vase.

Now we can take some time and enjoy a little respite before we delve into new projects. We are hoping to hear good news from some stores in Yellowstone. The buyers may be interested in carrying our blown glass wildlife in their gift shops. We are waiting to hear back from them. If we get the green light, I'm sure the torch fires will be burning night and day. Until then, we will enjoy the calm before the next "storm". 

Glass Wildlife figurines akin to the real ones you would see in Yellowstone Park.

Love, Not Some 1/2 Baked Idea

February is just about ready to exit stage right, so I thought I'd write a quick entry about the month of affection. We didn't allow any "down time" after the Holidays, as we prepared our many unique and delicate heart felt gifts, rosebuds, and bouquets of glass flowers. We worked on these projects throughout the months of January and February. Below are samples of the variety of Valentine gifts we offered our customers. We are always happy when a customer likes to think outside the traditional route of fresh flowers. Every now and then it's good to go with a non traditional gift for your Valentine, keeps things fresh and new in any relationship. And unlike the fresh flowers, glass gifts also last longer than a week.

Cupid's arrow through a glass heart

A simple, yet elegant heart shape

Red hearts swirling

Sculpted Glass Yellow Rosebud

Sand Blasted and Pink Luster  Glass Rosebud

Etched White Rosebud

Amber Glass Rosebud

Pink Luster Glass Rosebud

Deep Red Glass Rosebud

 Not only did we have a variety of rosebuds and floral bouquets, but we also brought back "Hot Date Night", where couples could sign up to learn to make a rosebud together with instructions from our head glassblower, while they were at the torch. It was a lot of fun to see couples young and old alike, create their own rosebud from "scratch". We enjoyed packaging up their finished project which they were able to take home at the end of the session.

A Snowfire Rose a midst red roses

A lovely vase of sandblasted and pink luster roses

The highlight of February came from an unusual source, as we were commissioned to create a realistic heart shaped pizza for Papa Murphy's Corporate Offices. They are very sentimental as a company, when it comes to the season of love, as every Valentine's holiday they offer their customers delicious heart shaped pizzas. We were honored they commissioned the piece below to symbolize their expertise in this field. Yes, I'd say love is not some 1/2 baked idea. But you have to constantly strive to create news ways to show that emotion to those dear to your heart. Find the right ingredients, slowly bake up your idea, and cook up  your love to a golden perfection. Show love in ways that are unique to those closest to you, and the love will be reciprocated.

Corporate Gift Art Work

A New View

The January view from our glass studio signals a time of new and promising beginnings. (No photoshop here, just the real deal of one of many spectacular Idaho sunsets.) January has turned out to be quite a roller coaster of  new projects and events happening in our professional and personal lives. As we come to the end of the first month of 2014, we are ready to face the challenges. Priority will be given to a new web presence. Stay tuned next month as we display the latest  artistic glass pieces on our  updated website. Currently it's unavailable as it's under construction. Bear with us, we're working on it.

In the meantime, take a look at some of the projects we have either already created, or are in the process of making. The first slumped and fused piece was created as a birthday gift for a VIP person in our family. It represents a moment in time that we treasured, on a weekend getaway with family members last summer. For us, the piece takes on a whole new meaning,  as our sons continue to leave the Rocky Mountains and head for greener pastures. It is a mixture of emotions as we are happy yet sad saying farewell to them. Happy for their job promotions and new beginnings. Sad to see them move to a far away State. Needless to say it has been a whirlwind start to the year, with news of another move once again. This time it's our youngest son. This mother of four is learning to embrace the change, and looks forward to seeing many new parts of the country, while visiting my grown children and their families. Trying to stay positive and look on the bright side of things.

Slumped and fused glass gift titled "Swan Valley Pond"

The other pieces below are either commissions or requests for non profit organizations and local businesses and customers, all to be completed in the first month of  this year. Looking ahead, don't forget that Valentine's day is coming up. Keep in mind that our glass rosebuds are a nice alternative to fresh flowers, and you still have time to place an order by phone even though our website is under construction.

We're creating 500 teardrops for a Non-profit Organization

Glass rocks sculpted for a company called "Etched in Stone"

Colorful Glass Chili Peppers created for a customer

Finished Blown glass Chili Ristra

Commissioned Slumped and fused glass vase

Don't forget to sweep your Valentine off their feet this February with some of our Hand sculpted glass roses.

Blown glass Rosebuds in a variety of vivid colors