Maine boatyards are full of interesting things

There is always something that catches the eye of my camera. Boatyards are wondeful for interesting things. There was just something that made me want to take a picture of rusty chains around tarps. The colors are so vibrant.

This actually came about as I was looking through old photos I had taken for an show I'm in this fall. A friend and I are doing an exhibit at Bowdoin College. We each have to supply 5 photos we've taken and swap them. Each of us will interpret the 10 photos in our repsective mediums. It's going to be a challenge!

The Lost Ladies

I can't bear to throw anything away when it comes to glass. "Never refuse to re-fuse" I've heard say many times. These funky ladies have emerged from the depths of my bucket of 'seconds'. I've put magnets on some and pin backs on others. They kind of reminded me of the Lost Boys in Peter Pan. These girls are fun and full of attitude.

You never know what's coming next...and to me, that's the fun of it all!

Bling is Good!

Lately I've been cranking out jewelry. Tiny glass pieces cut and layered with delicate precision. It brings me inward as I intensely work closer-up with small pieces of glass. There seems to be a rhythym to how I work...a pattern emerges. There seems to be a dance between the tiny intimate work and the larger more spacial sculptural pieces. I like the dance, the balance keeps me fresh and constantly evovling. It happens all the time.

The fused jewelry always brings a smile to my face as it comes to life. I love trying on each piece to make sure that it passes inspection. I think this particular bracelet was born on a trip to the Bahamas...the frothy white of the pearls and that aqua blue warm ocean glass...mmmm, I can feel the heat of the sun on my skin. We've had 22 days of rain and counting this month...so this bit of bling is a much needed warmth!

Starry Starry Night

Glass can take on many forms depending on the technique that one uses. In my work I start with an idea, thought or image in my head and then work the characteristics of the glass to try and create the throught. Sometimes it works the way I planned, sometimes not, and sometimes (my favorite) the surprises and successes are just too wonderful to figure!

This piece is one of those surprises! To see it in person, it is on display at Summer Island Gallery at the Tontine Mall in Brunswick, Maine. Open 7 days a week from 10am-5pm.

Painting With Glass

Here are a few suncatchers that I've been working on lately. Using transluscent glass lends so many possibilities!

Cathedral Ledge

Spent a couple days in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. How's this for inspiring? This was high atop Cathedral Ledge looking North. The blue sky was a welcome sight after a week of rain. There's something about the air in the mountains, so clean and crisp. It's an amazing thing, nature. It changes but somehow always stays the same. Thinking about doing some fused glass tiles with various mountain scenes. It would be a good chance to experiment with more frit.

Garden Surprises

This was a surprise to find amongst the yellow daylilies. I don't even remember planting it but welcome it's beauty. Wondering how best to capture this in some glass frit. Being absorbed by the garden is bittersweet...less glass gets done but the connection to earth energy renews all kinds of things...