Birds And Linguini Are Somewhat Related

Truly, I know that my lampwork glass bird beads have no resemblance to real life. Yet, I am always influenced by the abundant birds in my yard. I love them. One of my neighbors came over to visit one afternoon and she looked out my window and said it reminded her of Cinderella's garden with all the little birds and animals. (Most of you know about my too abundant squirrels) and there are chipmunks and other critters like possums, and racoons at night. I have two types of woodpeckers, some cardinal families, chickadees, bluebirds, mourning doves and lots of other types too.

Here's a shot of an assertive little ruby throated hummingbird who likes to chase away the other hummingbirds that come to my feeder. The feeder is attached directly onto my window, so I get to see them very clearly and at a very close range.

Next to the hummingbird is one of my whimsical birds. This one's name is Linguini and she's related to Stromboli and another Italian bird relative who live in a far away country. (Deb, we're not sure where Stromboli ever landed anyhow, are we?) This particular strain of bird doesn't quite have their directions figured out, but they're working on it.

For you beadmakers who are reading this, Linguini was made with coral #420 on a 1/16th mandrel. You can see stacked dots making up her "faux hawk" Stacked dots in a larger size and cooled and then slighted reheated to be pulled and shaped, are how I made his beak too. I like the unexpected necklace that she's wearing. (It's made out of Italian glass, of course!)
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And on a slightly different note, I'm working out a new format for this blog. I'd like to include a weekly tips and tricks, perhaps a tutorial every so often and more how-to's and info relating to the glass world. I'm not sure that telling you about yesterday's peach cobbler baking, (which was yummy) and my life, is as interesting as learning a little bit more about our glass world. I haven't decided where exactly I'm going to go with it, but maybe bring in a few more glass beadmakers and some of their thoughts and tips might be fun too. If you have ideas of what you'd like to see, please let me know.

Until then... take care and enjoy the rest of your weekend.
Marcy

Meet Skamp

I wanted you to meet Skamp, who was a recent custom ordered bead through my etsy shop.

I am currently working on four fur friends for a customer in Hawaii and have one other pup to photograph too.

Custom pet glass portraits are a lot of fun. I ask for good photos front and side at least of your pet, and any size requirements, special markings, etc. Then I go to work and make these small interpretations, which can be worn as jewelry pendants, used as holiday ornaments, or little sculptures to hang out where ever you want.

Besides pets, I've also done children, grandchildren and some pretty funny requests- from penguins wearing blue viking helmets, to cats wearing a pirate patch...I love them all.
Visit my etsy shop to see more of my work, http://www.StudioMarcy.etsy.com

New Wonderful Website for Glass Fusers and Us Too!

A few years ago, I found http://www.glassfacts.info, which is a website dedicated to "a daily dose of glass art knowledge". I love it and still go back to read and learn more about glass.

Now, the founder of that site, Paul Tarlow, of Helios Kiln Glass Studio has started another website which looks to be equally interesting and noteworthy, http://www.fusedglass.org.

I've added a shot of his online glass tools, because these pot drops have always interested me. It seems like a great way to use up some of our shorties and stubbies of leftover rods. (if anyone does this already, please post and tell us about it1)

He also has a forum, glossary, reviews, art glass news and lots of other areas for information. I love some of the definitions and use similar ones when explaining during classes .

For the final kicker, if you join his site and post, you get your name in a hat for a drawing for 10 lbs of free Bullseye Frit. (Feel free to send it to me, if you don't use it- I'll trade you out for some glass and/or beads.) Hope you get a chance to check it out. The drawing entries end late Sunday night, so do it soon. www.fusedglass.org

Sure Happy It's Thursday

Tonight I'm joining some other artists and crafters at a local gallery for an evening show.  This is my first time there and of course there's always a bit of apprehension.  It's geared toward a young, hip crowd and for those of you who know me, I'm neither.   Yet, they selected me from the applicants, so perhaps my art is part of the right mix.

The Atlanta gallery is on a cool block of old brick shops with uneven wood floors filled with vintage clothes and home decorations, and even a bakery with cowboy cupcakes in the window.  Yep, they are frosted with cowboys on top.  Of course they'd be great inspiration.  I'll check them out again  and ask first if they mind me doing that.  

So if you see cupcakes with funky western decorations on top in my etsy store, you know the behind the scenes story.  This is in line with some I've already done like an octopus draped over a cupcake.

But meanwhile, I'd better go heat up my kiln and get going.  I have custom orders for 4 darling dogs and perhaps an order of sushi.  Days aren't dull around here.

Bringing Home the Bacon

What are some of your favorite foods?

I've been translating food into glass beads for awhile now and in a very unscientific survey, I've noticed that bacon, well... brings home the bacon.

It's one of my best sellers in that category. I know that pies and cupcakes and even fried eggs do well too. Some veggies seem to be popular as well as snack foods. And just for the record, no one has requested a custom order for stew. Go figure.

What are your favorite foods that you feel should be interpreted in glass and why? Do you have childhood memories of it, or perhaps it's something that reminds you of one of your kids?
Maybe it's just a food that you think would look cute on a necklace. Let me know.

Beam Me Up Scottie

There's something about Scottie dogs that just make me smile.  I think it's their energy and cute appearances.  Meet Angus, who currently resides in my etsy shop.  He's based on a friend's previous "Sherlock", who used to love kicking a soccer ball around in their back yard.  It always amazed me how those short little legs could move that quickly.

The title of this post also relates to Dragon-Con being in Atlanta this past weekend.  We were lucky enough to see some of the costumed attendees walking around yesterday.  I love when people just get crazy with imagination.

Here's wishing you a happy September and new memories to make you smile.

Marcy

Ode to American Gothic

Are there some famous paintings that make you smile? American Gothic by Grant Wood is one of those for me. It touches me as it shows the seriousness of survival and yet at the same time makes me smile and wonder if I ever could have survived in the era.

One of the joys of being a glass artist, is following one's whims at times. This is one of them. I thought it would be a blast to interpret this dour couple's portrait in my whimsical style and as bobbleheads. The incongruity of the subject matter and the bobblehead style totally amuses me.

So keep watching for more odes to famous art pieces or people. I just love melting glass and forming it into pieces to make both you and me grin.

Marcy
ps You can see the listing here... http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=14682790