New Year, New Creations

Here we are at the tail end of January in our new year, already reflecting on some special moments we've had, both in the Studio and also with some very special people in our extended family. So this month we have kept as busy as ever in the Studio. Below are some of the latest creations we've already made for the new year. We were excited to get to work on a special project that benefits a local fundraiser titled "Lighting the way to Literacy". Our Lampshade was created out of float glass, blown glass, and acrylics, and is titled "Edge of the Pond". It is displayed along with many other creative lampshades at the Willard Arts Center in Idaho Falls.

This creative lamp shade with glass accents imitates the edge of a pond.

Finished lit lampshade displayed for our Arts Council's fundraiser.

Next, we completed a unique dish setting in our kiln with sandblasted dragonfly accents. It was created for a nephew of ours who has supplied us with lots of float glass to "upcycle". We were really pleased to present him and his family with the unique setting made just for him. We have many more ideas that we will create with this type of glass in the kiln. 

I wanted to re post a picture of our son's glass dishes and cheese trays that we made for his wedding last August. They were made to go with his animated themes that he had come up with for their special day. We look forward to finishing a few more pieces to complete the picture, which will include a glass picture of their honeymoon.

Glass cheese trays, won ton bowls, dipping sauce bowls all have an animated look.

It was about the middle of January when a customer requested that a unicorn and dragon be custom made and shipped out. These blown glass pieces are accented in gold and halo platinum.

Mythical creatures made for a customer

And lastly, this month has ended on the right note, as we just returned from celebrating our parent's 60th wedding anniversary in sunny Arizona. They stand in a league of their own, and we wanted to come up with something that showed them how special they are. The anniversary cake top below was made with great care from float glass and engraved by hand. The glass diamonds at the base were blown and sculpted to compliment their diamond anniversary.

Our parent's 60th wedding anniversary cake top

We also cut the desert scene below out of float glass and finished it off in the kiln. It made a nice addition to their back patio in their home in Arizona. 

Coyote howling at the moon in the desert.

We know we are so lucky to have witnessed this rare milestone of 60 years of marriage. We've had such supportive parents (and in-laws) all these years. What a special way to end the first month of the year celebrating their love. They have supported us all throughout our lives, and we'd like to thank them for their part in inspiring us to follow our dreams and keep creating, growing, and learning, remembering of course, to stay young at heart. 

60th Wedding Anniversary Cake

Black Friday

The bombardment of commercialism is here once again as Black Friday has arrived. And while we are also in the business of selling our art work to the Public, we choose to go about this "black" day differently. We settle in the Studio and light up the torches and kilns, while avoiding the crowds and madness that ensues with this hyped up event at the big box stores. You know, it just doesn't do it for us, fighting the crowds to save a buck or two. Never understood the hype, and never want to. Instead, we prefer intimate settings for the holidays. Such as the annual tradition we have of opening our Studio to the Public the first weekend in December. Customers can come and browse around, while watching us at work behind the torches, and enjoy some holiday treats and hot cider and cocoa. It just seems to go with the flow and the Spirit of the Season, and we like to keep it that way.

We wanted to give an update of our latest pieces we've created, and continue to create, as sort of a preview of what you'll find in our Studio next weekend. Below are some samples for your viewing pleasure.

This glass floral wall art has a lot of movement to it

We came up with the above piece for our third son's home, as a show of appreciation for helping us with our website and graphic design work. The matching decorative plate below was fused and slumped to match this unique glass wall art.

A matching fused decorative plate to match the wall art

Below are a couple of new colorful slumped and fused plates we've been working on. We're excited about these new colors. 

A colorful gradient slumped and fused creation

A flowing plate has lots of layers to it

And we still have a lot to get done in time for the Open House next weekend, but we enjoy the thought of thinking of our studio as kind of a Santa's workshop. Busy little elves are working hard at this moment, to make sure someone on your Christmas list has a unique gift or piece of art work that will make their holiday all the more special. Come by and see us next weekend if you have the time.

Working on another piece of original wall art

Blown glass preparations or our Open House

Fused, engraved and sandblasted bottles need some finishing touches before our Open House

Boo-tiful Creations

Halloween Decorations on the front porch

It's almost time for the ghouls and goblins to come knocking at our door. We'll manage to take a breather from the Studio for just a bit to treat the little masked monsters. After that, the fires will be burning round the clock, and I'm not talking the kind of candles you would use to light your little Jack-o-lanterns either. Oh no, they will burn much hotter than that! There's lots to get done before our art show next week, so I'll keep this blog spookishly short. Mwaa-ha-ha-ha!

Denver Bronco Football Custom Glass Gift

We recently completed 2 unique glass gifts for a customer. They have a football theme and incorporate blown and sculpted glass with slumped and fused glass. Another challenging "outside the box" project, but we're happy with the outcome.

Custom Order  for a Miami Dolphins Football Theme

With this project behind us, we can get on to carving our pumpkins and tricking the little ghosts and goblins that come our way. We hope you get to do something spooky with your friends and family. Happy Halloween!

Have a howling good time with your friends this Halloween!

May Flowers

Flower pots for the backyard patio

A floral arrangement by the pond

 I've been outside quite a bit this month, planting all the May flowers around the yard. The punches of color were just what the yard needed to come alive again, after a long windy Spring. Gardening has become a passion of ours since moving here, and we really enjoy digging in the dirt every Spring. This year we are taking extra special care to plant, as the final Lewis wedding will take place in our own back yard in August. We hope the added colors will give a nice touch to this special occasion.

Hanging  Blown Glass Hummingbird and flower

We like to create a variety of glass flowers in the Studio too, along with hummingbirds, butterflies, and dragonflies. I took a few quick snapshots of some of the items already on display in the shop. Maybe they will spark some interest in a unique piece of your very own. We have made a wide variety of glass floral arrangements, and would be happy to create something that fits your own individual taste. Keep us in mind for a special gift of  glass floral art. They work great for any occasion. Now I'd better get back to gardening, there is still much to be planted. Until next time...

Slumped vase with blown glass flowers and dragonflies wall art

Fused Vase, Blown Glass Calla lilies, Hummingbirds Wall Art

Recycled bottles cut into glasses, engraved floral pattern added

Thankful Giving

Thanksgiving Feast

  I'm really pretty old fashioned when it comes to the Holiday season. Some traditions are hard to let go of. Especially the one that my Grandpa instilled in me many years ago, when I was a young child. The world seemed far less complicated than today's fast paced and hectic way of life, with the latest techno. gadgets pushed every which way, upon every consumer.  Anyway, every Thanksgiving our family would take turns vocalizing what we were thankful for before we partook of the delightful Thanksgiving spread. When you're young, you don't put much thought into these kind of traditions. You just do it to appease the Elders so you can get on with the over-indulgence of that beautiful carved turkey and all the trimmings that go with it. But with age, comes reason and clarity about those traditions you seemed to be oblivious about as a child.

As an adult I have realized that I'm pretty idealistic by nature, and find myself wishing everyone would pull their resources together to solve issues of world hunger and poverty. Of course, the logic kicks in and tells me it is such a vast and complex issue, that it couldn't possibly play out the way I envision it . However, that doesn't stop me from knowing that as an individual I CAN help make a dent to ease the suffering of those much less fortunate than me. I have learned that when you are in a state of being thankful, you want to give of yourself so that others may experience the same state of gratitude. And that, my friends is thankful giving.

No gesture of the heart is too small. Someone, somewhere will carry a little less of a burden when you give of yourself. Whether it is helping out at the local food drive, putting a few coins in the red kettle, donating a turkey, or inviting the less fortunate to sit down at the table and break bread with you, all these things add up and make the world a better place. Good thoughts, good deeds, it's really that simple.

Although many of our family members will not be at our table to enjoy the bounties this Thanksgiving, I am thankful they are starting their own traditions of giving thanks with their significant others and loved ones. And I hope I passed on this realization to my sons: That the simple act of being thankful ripples out to their family, their community, and yes, eventually the world. There's my idealism peeking through again. 

Our family

Now it is time to get back to work creating and giving, both in the kitchen and the studio. The latest glass creation of  fused and feathered fowl are grateful they are "beauty to the eye of the beholder", and not part of the Thanksgiving feast.  Creating art that is uplifting to others and appreciated, is also an act of giving, both to the artist and the recipient of the artwork.  I am thankful to have the clarity that it is better to give than to receive. Happy Thanksgiving, and I hope you learn to live simply and enjoy what you have, while giving when you can. Life is better when you realize this, I know it is for the two of us.

Happy and thankful Rooster and Hen