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

New Dawn, New Day

A new dawn today, 2013. Another year has come and gone. Of course that puts me in a reflective mood, looking back on the past while looking forward to the future. I took the dogs out for a quick stroll first thing this morning. I had a strong desire to put my goal of staying healthy as a top priority the first day of the new year, so I bundled up in the single digit temperature morning, and began my brisk walk, noticing fresh deer and bunny tracks all over our property. The pups were happy to get started out on the right foot too. They frolicked among a bed of white fluff old Jack Frost left behind the night before.  I marveled as I looked to the bright sunlit sky and witnessed sparkling flakes falling from the sky all while the winter sun shone brightly above. I don't know how Mother Nature does that trick, but it is a beautiful sight to behold, ice crystals falling from a cloudless sky.

Maybe it's my current line of work, but anything that sparkles and shines seems to catch my attention these days. I think one of my main goals for this new year is to KEEP that attention focused on the task at hand. There is something about the start of a new year, it represents shedding the old skin and starting out with a fresh new outlook. (Oh, how I wish I could shed some of MY old skin! Sorry, time will stop for no-one. So I might as well embrace the wisdom that comes with these wrinkles.)  I'd have to say in our personal and business lives, 2012 was exceptionally good to the two of us. So we can only build on that momentum.

The good year was due to a lot of creativity and hard work behind the flames. Our last project of 2012 was a great endeavor to end the year with. We created 650 custom glass rocks for a local company, "Etched in Stone". They proceeded to etch out the word "Transparency" onto the rocks. It was part of a larger scale project they were working on for a pharmaceutical company back East. The rest of the project was done with their mainstay, which was carefully selected river rocks. They proceeded to etch inspirational quotes engraved on various polished rocks. When the word "transparency" came up, the folks in charge decided they wanted a transparent rock. That's where we came in. Joni at Etched in Stone was such a joy to work with. She felt like a kindred spirit and we were happy our paths accidentally crossed. We enjoyed collaborating with her on this end of year project. 

Boro-silicate glass rocks

It seemed that all through 2012 one thing led to another that led to another, almost as if pre-destined to work in our favor. So, I guess we need to keep the ball rolling. It's not broke, so why fix it? We just want to keep adding layers and layers to our creative thinking process. A new day, new year, new dawn of possibilities. We're hoping the same is true for many of you with the entrepreneurial spirit. Here's to a year of looking at the glass half full! Until next time, our best wishes for a year of possibilities.