January Tune Up

 
 Most of this month found us both down for the count. Bronchial crud is not easy to get rid of. We had to go to the Doc. to give us both a tune-up. In between the coughing spells we got to work on various projects, and also managed to give the Studio a tune-up of sorts. We added a wall so I could have my own space for packing up orders. I have really needed this area, especially when the orders start piling up. And of course there is a need to start fresh in the new year, so we organized the room and repainted it too. It feels much better to enter our work space since making some much needed improvements.  Now to work on the front display area before the Valentine lessons start in a few weeks.  (You wouldn't believe how quickly dust settles on the glass.) 

Not many new projects to report, other than the tennis ball snowmen ornaments we worked on. They took up a good chunk of the first part of the month. It was reported they were well received by the tennis club members. Makes all the labor worth it to have happy customers. 

Working on a commission of  tennis ball snowmen.

We worked on a few miscellaneous orders too, like the pouncing fox and cobalt blue dolphin, pictured below. Also a variety of roses and tulips. (Customers seem to buy lots of Spring flowers from us in January, they must want to kick the January blahs with some pops of color.)

Pouncing Fox

Cobalt Blue Dolphin Ornament

Our glass roses and tulips come in a variety of colors.

We haven't had as many deer this year, but it was nice to step outside the Studio and see a couple of bucks in the backyard recently. There have been some poaching incidents reported around our area, so it gives me solace to see two bucks surviving both winter and bad humans. We've also seen many birds of prey, but they are harder to get a snapshot of. And owls hoot away at night, perched in our tree tops in our backyard, waiting to snag one of the many rabbits around the property. Have I mentioned how much I love witnessing the plethora of wildlife and the nature around here? 💓

Two bucks in our backyard.

The first full moon in January was a sight to behold in the early morning hours. It made me long for a zoom lens so I could get a better shot of the man in the moon. 😊 As you can tell by the picture below, we are experiencing a good Idaho winter this year. As I get older and wiser, I realize how important the snow pack is for our summer months. So, while it may be cold and dreary this January day, I accept it as a good thing. A good snow pack means a good storage of water for those hot summer months coming down the road. Well, time to stop daydreaming of Summer and get ready for our "Hot Date Night" Valentine lessons. See you next month.

The first full moon of the year, setting over our sleepy little town.

Butterfly Memories

Mom's Butterfly

Today is a day of reflection....it would have been our Mother's (in-law's) 82nd birthday. We said goodbye to this beautiful soul not quite 2 years ago. At the time of loss, Russ was moved to create a special blown glass butterfly especially to remember her by, pictured above. This month he just happened to be creating more butterflies for others in the Studio....coincidence? Or was she there helping him create? Whatever the case, butterflies will always remind us of our dear Mom and her graceful ways. Russ inherited his love of creating from his Mom, and it shows in so many of his works. 

Some other ideas and creations were also completed this month. We were able to hang the Chickadee Art work in the Studio, along with a new piece of kiln work, depicting a school of fish swimming in the Ocean current. Russ really enjoys creating new works in between working on the orders that need to be filled for clients. One of our customers requested glass bobbins for bobbin lace making, an interesting commission that was created, and pictured below. 

Glass Bobbins

One more fused piece was just completed last week. Multiple colors were cut, then fused in the kiln. The final step was to slump on a mold, and smooth down the edges of the bowl. Blown balls compliment the finished fused glass bowl. I really am fond of the earth tones. That is the latest coming out of the Studio for the month of April. We hope the coming month of May allows you to spend a day or two with your own Mom, or reflect on happy memories of her.

Finished Fused Glass Bowl

Saying Goodbye to the Holiday Season

 Another whirlwind-of-a-year is coming to a close. We are winding down in the Studio, taking a short break from the busy holiday season. It has been nice to be with family and enjoy our grandchildren, instead of our usual countless hours spent filling requests for glass orders. Our glassblowing and slumping and fusing projects were going out the door as fast as we could make them. So this last week has been extra nice, not having to meet any deadlines. Some of the projects we did in December are in the photos pictured below. Take a look at some of the glass works created in this last month of the year. The first picture was a special commission created especially for a local author. The elephants are re-creations of the main character in one of her children's books. Projects like these are enjoyable because of the creative leeway given. Glass enamels highlighted the fused pieces.

Fused glass elephants highlighted with glass enamels

A Kiln full of annealed candy canes

Fused and Glass Enameled Holiday Display

Blown Glass Snowboarder Ornament

Many Ornaments were sold at our Holiday Open House the first week in December

Blown Glass Cheetah Ornament with gold highlights

Whimsical Blown Glass Frog Ornaments

Our Jackson Hole Buyer needed more of the glass wildlife in her store, so we created many pieces for her in December. They are sold in her retail store up in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Pictured below are just a few of the pieces that were made for her.

Frosted Glass Swans in Flight

A whitewater rafters ornament

New techniques and colors were used on this glass trout

Glass Moose with Cattails

A Frosted Mountain Goat with Gold Horns

Now we are on the cusp of a New Year.....thinking ahead, once again, to the many possibilities we can create in the Studio. We're sure that the view out our window will help inspire us to get back to work. The new year will see us going full steam ahead, staying warm by the torches in the coming cold winter months. We'd like to wish you a very Happy New Year from A Touch of Glass Studio. Thanks again, for your support!

The view from our Studio on a wintry evening.

September Mornings

                

                    September is a great time for reflecting down the paths of memory lane.

September in Idaho reminds me of a warm, cozy blanket. I find myself wrapped up in the warm glow of the lights reflecting just right off  the high mountain peaks. This is where the two of us feel most at home, along with the companionship of our dog pack. Whether it's a long-forgotten path to walk, or peace and serenity at a high mountain lake, we enjoy it all. The nights are crisp and Fall is in the air. At the beginning of the month we treat ourselves to one last camping trip, as we know the holiday rush will keep us hopping soon enough, from one project to another in the Studio.

Our favorite getaway for September was this high mountain lake.

Our pups patiently waiting for us to catch the lake trout for dinner.

 The high mountain lake always provides us with plenty of small lake trout, and a sense of wonder at the beauty of it all. 

 We are also busy harvesting the garden during the month of September, canning much of the fruits and vegetables we have grown over the summer. Also, we love to take Fall walks  down familiar trails while enjoying the Autumn air.

Our apple trees are loaded this year.

September harvesting takes a good amount of time.

Having had a chance to enjoy the great outdoors,  Russ' creativity has increased this month. (Funny how that works.) Pictured below are some of the new projects he has completed in the Studio. The first piece has LED lights added for a nice glow, and would look great on a fireplace mantel. The wolf was screen printed, which is a new element we are adding to some of the glass works this year. There are also new designs to try out on fused glass bowls and plates, pictured below.

Screen Print of a Wolf in the Glass Mountain Peak.

Slumped and Fused Piece- "Fallen"

Slumped and fused aqua beads

Fused glass with dichroic accents

I say it every year, but Fall is the favorite season by far. We aren't so busy that we can't enjoy the beauty of the Fall mornings with many outdoor walks. The inspiration from what we perceive outside, carries on to creations in the Studio. Much like the Aspen scene below, combining Slumped and Fused with blown glass leaves. So out we go into the woods again, to gather inspiration for the next glass art work. Until next time, I hope you can take some time to enjoy all the sights and smells of  glorious Fall.

Fused Art with Blown glass accents

A Quick Tour

 

What's up with A Touch of Glass these days, you may ask? Well, this month I'm keeping the blog short and sweet, as we are preparing for a great adventure. (I'll explain more in July.)  We continue to stay busy with various custom projects requested by some local customers. Meanwhile, I've posted  a video of the latest works in our Studio. We hope this summer you have time to make some lasting memories. Until next time, enjoy!

May Musings

 The month of May has given us a chance to get creative with new glass projects around our property, as this time of the year Internet orders tend to slow down, giving us time to hatch new ideas. And of course, when one has time to collect one's thoughts, there is much creative musing that goes on in an Artist's brain. So in May those musings were turned into the latest creations. The first few visuals show the beginning process of fusing glass in the kiln, and then a couple videos of the final projects place around the yard. I like to think Russ might have channeled a bit of the great glass artist "Chihuly" with these florals that now adorn our pondscape. But of course, he is an artist in his own right, just not quite as famous. 

Colorful scraps of glass were fused into flowers and leaves for a new garden sculpture.

Russ plucked a rhubarb leaf out of the garden and fused float glass over the top of it. 

The following videos are short clips of  the finished pieces adorning our pond area, and a small waterfall in our front porch area. (Russ blew and sculpted a whimsical glass frog and added it to the fused leaf project.)

The backyard bar area needed a face lift, so here is a sneek peak of the new "Cheers" insert. It was sandblasted on float glass, which was cut to fit the space. We still have some fine tuning to do on this one, but thought I would share the work in progress.

Sandblasted glass for patio bar area.

 We managed to break away from all the Spring clean-up work and projects in the yard, to enjoy Russ' new kayaks he got for his birthday. We enjoyed a weekend in the mountains with family and got good use out of the fun kayaks. So that about wraps it up for the month of May's activities. Until next time, work hard, play hard. A good motto to live by. 

Russ kayaking with our Grandson.

"Yours truly" enjoying the Kayak at a pond in the nearby mountains.