September Senses

The Grand Tetons on a September Day.

       

September is a month for all your senses to wake up and take in the change of the seasons. There is so much to behold in the air, earth and landscape around us. I relish the vibrant colors and wonderful, woodsy and earthy smells. We got to re-charge our spirits, from spending time in our favorite National Park this month of September, enjoying the splendor of the Grand Tetons. I have also been enjoying walks off the beaten path with our dogs. Russ came across an owl in a dead tree while walking the dogs near our property. Amazing what you can see when you pay attention to your surroundings. 

September morning walk with the dogs

Gorgeous waterfall at Grand Teton National Park

An owl said hello...Whoooo is he staring down?

I can't get enough of this natural splendor!

Now that we are re-charged, there have been many projects to attend to this September in the Studio. Lots of little miniatures have been created, like the snowy owl pictured below. And our daughter-in-law received some new pieces to add to the Wall Art we gave them as a house-warming gift last year. The whimsical owls finished it off nicely. 

Miniature Snow Owl

A family of Owls accent this fused glass wall art.

    Russ is working on a commission of various mythical creatures for an author. The green dragon is the first endeavor for this commission. 

And I am packaging up a large order of music-themed ornaments for another customer. Here's a kiln full of treble clefs. 

Blown glass treble clef ornaments

We have lots of requests for scuba diver ornaments year round. Especially now, right before the holidays. The fires will be roaring all the way through to the end of the year

Blown Glass Scuba Divers

Well, that's about all I have time for this month. (These rescue kitties seem to be taking up much of my September days. Good thing they have not been introduced to the Glass Studio yet!) 

  

      

Happy Halloween!

We wanted to take a minute and wish you a happy Halloween.....

Blown Glass Black Cat and Pumpkins

 This month in the Studio we've been creating some fun Fall projects. We took real leaves from our trees and fired them onto Float glass. Then colored in the imprints with enamels, and placed  them on Kao Wool for a unique glass enamel piece.

Enamels before firing in the kiln

 We also created a fused Fall scene piece (pictured right) for a gift given this month, to one of our sons and his family. We love the Fall colors on both pieces.

Enamel and fused Fall Leaves

 Now to wait for the little goblins and monsters to come knocking on our door. (Then back to work we go, to get ready for our first Fall Artisan Show.) Have a spook-tacular Day!

We recently visited our local "Boo at the Zoo." Enjoy the night of Halloween! 

The Colors of October

"Hiding in the Woods"

If you know anything about me, you know that October is my favorite "color". 😊 And some of this month's glass creations just happened to reflect some of those vivid orange, red, and yellow hues of Autumn, currently on full display in many of our forests. The Slumped and Fused piece pictured above is nestled in a Birch branch.

Idaho's Fall Colors

Also residing in the Autumn foliage are a good number of mule deer and some white tail deer. Russ sculpted the mighty Buck pictured below, and placed it on an antler.

The Mighty Buck

I also finished a bunch of bright red blown glass chili ristras for a customer this month.

Glass Chili Ristras

The slumped and fused vase below incorporated just about every color on the spectrum.

Colorful Fused Glass Vase

This next creation wasn't inspired by the beauty of the Fall scenery. However, this month Russ was driven to create the piece below because of what has been going on with the political discourse in our country. His thought process went along the lines that the issues we are facing are not just a matter of "Black and White." Labels continue to tear us apart..... "Right vs. Left," "Wealthy vs. Impoverished,"  "Straight vs. Gay", "Christian vs. Agnostic," etc. etc. If we don't get our collective acts together soon, and figure out how to work together instead of continuing with the current polarization going on, our Democracy could melt into an uncertain future. What if we worked harder at embracing each other's ideas and worked  towards solutions for the common good. After all, "the future is in our hands" to create a colorful, healthy and vibrant America, and remember what it really means to be a great country. Lately it seems we have lost our way, it's time to get back on track. 

(A little back story on the creation below.)

"The Future is in our Hands"

The many layers in the fused piece below were another October creation.

Multi colored fused glass plate

To end a very busy month of October, Russ is taking on a rather large endeavor. There are many layers and contours to fill in with this project. 

A work in progress

There have been multiple firings in the kiln, of this Crested Crane, and Russ is working on the background environment. Still a work in progress.

Many firings in our kiln until it's complete, stay tuned.

Well, that's a wrap for this month. Looking forward to the little ghosts and goblins coming around to  trick or treat. That reminds me, I better get some pumpkins carved. Yikes!

Pumpkins from our garden.

Sentimental September

Anyone who knows me knows my love of September, as it ushers in the most glorious time of the year, Fall. It brings out my sentimental side. Fall has a look, smell and feel to it, like no other season. Breathing in the crisp mountain air sends me back to another place in time, where I didn't have a care in the world. Except to rake up a giant pile of old, crunchy leaves and gleefully jump into that earthy Fall bliss with my siblings, back in the 60's. Still to this day, I eagerly anticipate our Fall drives into the mountains, as they remind me how symbolic the season is. It represents everything cozy and comforting, calm and peaceful, with it's glistening golden hues. It does a body good to break away from all the mundane day-to-day dealings of life, and pause to witness Nature in all it's glorious golds, reds, and yellows. The drive has come to be one of the highlights of my year.

Fall colors on our annual drive

Aspen trees were brilliant gold colors 

 Can't stay in the woods too long because as always, we have been busy working on many new ventures in the Studio. Russ worked on some new slumped and fused pieces and created a "Facehugger" wine glass gift for a customer. He liked the outcome so much, he decided to make a whole set for a friend's birthday gift.

Cutting glass for a slumped and fused project

Facehugger wine glass

Set of 4 unique glasses

Another multi-colored bowl was created this month, with a new shape slumped in the kiln.

Multi-colored slumped and fused bowl

The upcycled bottles below were also created for a customer, with a southwest design. We added glass chili peppers to them as an accent.

Artistic slumped and engraved upcycled bottles

I am also in the process of packaging up a large order and getting it shipped up to Alaska next week.

Many ornaments to pack up and ship

Before the holiday season hits us full-bore in the Studio, I'm hoping we find the time for one more drive into the mountains, as nothing gives me greater solace than this golden age of Fall, and all it's brilliant colors. 

A beautiful Fall drive in the mountains nearby

Autumn Works

Slumped and Fused Artwork titled "The Seasons"

It's that time of year again, as my most favorite of all the seasons has descended on us in what seems like the blink of an eye. I can't believe it is already time for crisp Fall walks! There is nothing that can compare to the sights and smells of an Autumn morning. Not much can tantalize our senses quite like a September morning can. Although, I have noticed this September has been much warmer than usual, and our Morning Glories continue to welcome us at the garden every morning in all their glory. Colors are more vibrant this time of year, and our animals are also more alert on their morning walks. The picture above shows our latest creation celebrating the seasons in a unique way. We slumped and fused glass Aspen scenes to depict the 4 seasons, inserted them in a tree branch, and added blown glass Aspen leaves as accents.

Morning glories are filling in nicely at the garden arbor

Ornamental grass in the backyard

Our lab/retriever dog is a little on the shy side

But we can't take too much time to enjoy the outdoors lately, as there is plenty of work to do in the Studio. It's right back to the torches to fill more orders, among them is a large one for 400 of our sandblasted doves, they need to be shipped out by the end of October. Also, our teardrops have been very popular as of late. Can't seem to keep enough in stock. We compare ourselves to the busy squirrels in Autumn, only with us it is our glass inventory. We have found that we can never have too much of an item on hand. Getting ready for the holiday season can be daunting at times, but so far we seem to pull through when the need for more custom requests come our way.

A variety of ornaments are headed out the door today

So, I am off to package and ship a variety of orders, including the stunning glass floral arrangement pictured below, that was a custom request off the internet. **Here's hoping it all arrives in one piece. After that, it's time to tackle 400 doves before the real push of the holidays begins. Hopefully, we will be able to make sure and take time to smell the roses, or more importantly to me anyway, the smells and sights of Idaho's crisp Fall mornings. 

A customized slumped and fused vase with a variety of blown glass flowers and hummingbirds was made for an upcoming wedding

October's Delights

Snake River Fall Foliage

All year long I anticipate my favorite month of all, October.  My senses love to take in the crisp smells of this month, and I relish the visual masterpieces I get to enjoy in this delightful season. We've made it a tradition to head into the mountains and enjoy the beauty of the Fall colors abounding on the Aspens surrounding our scenic Snake River. Nothing like stumbling onto a path of Fall foliage at it's height of  glory with brightly colored leaves and strong Autumn smells.  

A variety of sizes of  pumpkins from our pumpkin patch make for fun carvings

 I also enjoy carving the pumpkins we grew in the garden each year. Makes me feel like a kid again. We are not a Picasso with the knife, but we try out a new face to carve each year, and always have fun while enjoying each other's company. Not only do we enjoy the carving tradition, but the seeds that we scoop out are transformed into bite sized delights of salted or cinnamon sugar  treats.

 A variety of toasted seeds from the pumpkins

 Since the kids are all grown, we have given the dogs the yearly task of costume humiliation. They put up with our mockeries as they wait to scare some innocent trick or treating youngster passing by.

Halloween Humiliation

 There's something fun about dressing up as a quirky character, even when you're a grown up. This year I'm the "Great Pumpkin". Feels appropriate, after sneaking one too many goodies from the kiddie's treat bowl.

October Colors

Mostly though, it's the colors and smells of October that excite the two of us. Very inspirational for a new project in the studio.  

More beauty along the Snake River

  Russ has started on a fused and slumped piece called "Aspens in Autumn". Just in time for one of our Holiday Shows coming up in November. Happy Halloween! Don't get lost in the woods tonight.

Aspens in Autumn