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Although this could very well be a picture of me finding a new treasure at a favorite nursery, it's actually an illustration by David Catrow for a children's book called Plantzilla.
Showing posts with label Mandarin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mandarin. Show all posts

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Busy Weekend - Glass Flowers

I've worked seven days a week for the last few so for the next couple of posts, I'm taking you to work with me. First, on Saturday, we're off to Mandarin Stained Glass where I teach some evening and weekend classes.  Today though, I'm just keeping the retail shop open while the owner, Florence, is in Italy.  Yes, it's true, Florence is in Italy in more ways than one!

I love glass.  The material itself is beautiful.  For instance these full antique (hand blown) pieces by Fremont Glass in Seattle.



Or these from Kokomo




So much beautiful glass, so little time.  
The trick is to cut beautiful pieces like this utilizing the movement and character of the glass to create something equally beautiful.

Florence's "Nature's Promise" is an excellent example of using the grain, texture, and movement of glass. There is no paint used in this piece. (Sorry for the bad photographs, left my camera at home.) All of the details like the stamens of the crocus were streaks in the glass which was cut in such a way as to create them.  

This magnolia panel with it's dark background is stunning.  the trees in the top are from outside of the store.  The flowers are acotully pinker in life than they appear here.


 Holy hibiscus, that's cool.


Nice example of an older English panel incorporating some painting.  Pigments, silver nitrate, etc. are applied to individual glass pieces and fired to about 1400 degrees F. and become a permanent part of the pieces of glass which are then leaded into the panel.





Fragment created as a sample of  proposed materials for larger sidelights. 

American Victorian panel.  Jewels, bevels, the kitchen sink - the Americans at the time were willing to put just about anything into a glass panel.

Older piece.

Masterfully done grape panel by Dale Howard. 

Hope you enjoyed coming to work with me and seeing a handful of the wonders there.  On Sunday, after my morning job I worked at Jungle Fever Exotics Nursery which always has cool plants!


Tuesday, December 10, 2013

How Tacomans Know it's December

A few years ago, something caused the S in Tacoma Self Storage's neon sign to stop glowing in December.  The owners have decided to make it a tradition and now this lighted sign that can be seen from the freeway coming into or out of town changes to Tacoma Elf Storage during December.   Interesting as one would think this would be the busy season for elves, not a time to store them away but what do I know?
 


Here's a much better picture than mine and a humorous take on Tacoma Elf Storage. http://www.theviewfromrighthere.com/blog/?p=5642


You can also tell it's close to Christmas when glass fusers are busy making gorgeous glass snowflakes like these by Sandy Rose, a wonderful glass crafter.

Sandy took a fused snowflake class at Mandarin Stained Glass and came up with these fabulous color combinations that look wonderful on Lani Neil's designs!