The Lost Leaf

The Lost Leaf is a restaurant/bar in the downtown Phoenix area tucked in between historic homes, art galleries and studios.

Link here.

I was asked to create a stained glass panel to be inserted into the opening of the door for all patrons to view upon entry.

These two photographs are the final copies before the panel gets inserted into the door.

More photos to follow upon completion.

Magical Fairy

Ahhh. The world where I want to live is the world that welcomes the Magical Fairy.

This pretty feminine creature is dancing with her woodland friends while the mortal boy plays his flute.

Surrounding the pair are bunnies, flowers, trees and mushrooms.

This panel is made from a focal glass piece made under the license of Glassmasters.

Glassmasters was in business for 40 years, producing stained glass panels of the highest order. They applied translucent colors one at a time, drying them, as many as 16 times, then kiln-firing to 1100 degrees to permanently fuse them to the glass. They produced works for many museums and foundations: Tiffany, Frank Lloyd Wright, Disney, etc. Unfortunately, Glassmasters went out of business in 2005.

Therefore, the pieces created are becoming increasingly more difficult to find.

Available for sale here.

The Lost Leaf

The panel is coming together nicely. All the red, green and clear glass is fitting together nicely.

The wording has been the challenge. I couldn't get them to flow with the rest of the panel. No matter how many times I cut the letters from glass - it just didn't look right.

So I used the decal option. Printing the words through the printer using carbon-based ink -- the wording will fire nicely into place.

This panel should be complete by the coming weekend.

The Lost Leaf Restaurant/Bar

The Lost Leaf is a restaurant/bar in the downtown Phoenix area that has commissioned me to create a stained glass panel for the entrance door to the site.

This is the second pattern and roughly cut glass which will soon be completed. The name of the establishment will be set into the center of the panel when complete.

Blue Star for a Military Family

I really enjoy creating stained glass panels for military families.

This panel is on it's way back to Ft. Campbell, Kentucky.

A woman who is stationed there contacted me a few days back and requested a 'Blue Star' stained glass panel.

When a family has a loved one serving in the military -- it is customary to display a blue star in the window to show your pride for them. Friends and neighbors will then know that you have a family member serving their country.

When my own brother served in Iraq I proudly displayed my own version of this tradition creating the blue star out of stained glass.

Similar panels available for sale here.

Pretty Quail

In addition to working with glass -- I enjoy also enjoy photography.

Looking through the lens to see things differently is an art form in itself.

So a few days ago I was working on a glass order (see previous post) and had to take a quick break.

As I sat on the back patio I could hear what I thought was a Quail summoning the family for the 'all clear' to join him.

So I sneaked into the house, picked up my camera and went out to wait some more.

Sure enough, the little guy was up on the top of my fence. I snapped a few photos from a distance knowing that if I moved any closer he would take off.

My back yard kitty -- Bernie -- decided that no animal, furred or feathered, enters her back yard without permission.

She quickly scared the little guy away.

Al least I got a few snapshots of the pretty guy.

Screaming Eagles Stained Glass Panel

A few additional process shots of the Screaming Eagle stained glass panels being made for the base in Kentucky.

Although it looks like a pile of broken glass -- these pieces will soon form some pretty panels to be hung in windows.

Watch to the days ahead to see the completed panels.

Sliced Rock

Thank you planetjanet.

My friend Janet sent me some very pretty slices of rock. They've been sitting on my studio counter for a few months now not knowing what I wanted to do with them.

Well -- a group of glass artists I belong to has a monthly challenge using glass and glass objects.

This pretty slice of stone will be the base of my entry into the challenge. The theme for the challenge of May is 'nature'

Stay tuned for photos of the completed piece.

Hummingbirds for Mara's Mom

When I was in my early years in grade school -- my best friend in the whole wide world was Mara.

During childhood we spent every day walking to and from school. Weekends were fun, joyful and filled with laughter.

We drifted apart after high school. She moved forward with her life and her family. I moved forward with mine. I thought about her often with fond memories and hoped that one day we would be reconnected.

Chance brought us back together again and the past three decades have melted away.

When she was looking for the perfect Mother's Day gift for her mom -- she need look no further than to me.

I created this hummingbird stained glass panel with Mara's mom on my mind. She loves these cranky, noisy little creatures so now she'll have one for her kitchen window.

Happy Mother's Day to all women who have a positive influence on children everywhere.

Happy Mother's Day to my other really good friend (BDP) who is also a really good mom.

Fort Campbell

Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

I'm sure that is a beautiful base to be station at.

The drawn image above is the pattern of a stained glass panel which I've been making for the families of Service Members stationed at Fort Campbell.

Five panels are currently being created for the newest residents of the base.

Good luck to you all.

Inspiration from BDP

I received a nice note via USPS a day or two ago from my friend, BDP. On the outside of the envelope was a pretty little colored doodle obviously drawn by B.

I took the envelope and sketched out a pattern to be transferred into a stained glass pattern.

Fortunately for me, I had just gone to the glass supply warehouse where I saw a very nice sheet of blue/green streaky glass that I simply had to buy. I didn't realize that by the time I got home, the need for that glass was sitting in my mailbox.

In the first photograph you can see the doodle done by BDP.

The second photograph shows the pattern drawn and glass cut ready to be ground.

The final photograph shows the completed piece all colored with black patina for a nice vintage or antique look.

The finished size of this panel is approximately 8" by 10".

Stained Glass Tulip

This is a little stained glass sun catcher hand-crafted into the shape of a pretty tulip. The wires used in this piece add a bit of whimsy to the flower.

The sunlight which comes through the window in the late afternoon is perfect for photographing the glass. The long shadows and tinted light gives a wonderful effect to the glass.

Pretty Butterflies

Pretty butterflies are floating everywhere. Inspired by the flowers which cover my yard during the early months of the year, I love to make these butterflies using orange and yellow glass.

Available for sale here.

Phoenix Bird - Rises from the Ashes

April EGA Monthly Challenge Complete!

The monthly challenge for the month of April 2008 is rebirth.

I took this opportunity to create a Phoenix Bird using various shades of flame-colored glass combined with ashen-colored glass for the bird itself.

Many other EGA artists have their glass pieces posted on flickr. Take a peek:

http://flickr.com/photos/organize/

Panel Three - In A Series

Continuing the three lines and a circle series -- this is the third panel in a series of ten.

This panel was made using aquamarine blue, emerald green, frosted clear, sapphire blue and antique clear glass.

Finished with a dark finish for that antique or vintage look.

Available for sale here.

Three Lines and a Circle Panel Two

To continue the three lines and a circle series -- I've posted the second panel in a series of ten pieces.

Using similar glass but different lines - this pieces captures the texture, design and colors of architectural glass.

Some of the glass appears to have rain drops falling through the glass while other textures looks like medallions have been stamped into warm glass.

Available for sale here.

Three Lines and a Circle

I am currently working on a series of stained glass panels using only three lines and a circle as inspiration.

The piece pictured above is the first in the series which has three lines overlapping to create pockets of yellow color tucked between the orange and whispy white glass.

The second photo is the reflection of the glass as the warm Arizona sun shines through the colors.

Look to the days and weeks ahead for additional colors, textures and designs of stained glass panels using only three lines and a circle.

Fused Glass Plate

This little glass plate was interesting to create.

I was looking for complimentary colors which could come together in the kiln to form a pretty glass plate.

The glass was chosen, cut into shape then fused together in the kiln.

Upon cooling I took the flat plate and placed it over two clear glass rods in the kiln.

The glass was then heated to a tack fuse range and allowed to cool down again overnight.

The result is a pretty glass plate which has gentle curves on the side to hold a necklace, hair ties, clips or anything else you can imagine.

Amber Heart

Although this piece looks like an amber heart surrounded by pretty red glass -- it is more than that.

I was looking for the horizontal and vertical lines to be symmetrical throughout the piece while allowing the curves of the heart to detract from the rigidness of the lines.

The red glass was placed so the natural waves are running horizontal which match the lines of the solder.

Then I laid the amber glass so the natural lines in the glass were running vertical which also are parallel with the lines in the solder.

Although hearts are usually red in color -- I chose to surround the heart-shaped glass in red to offer a bit more contrast against the surrounding pieces.

And -- I absolutely love the reflections of the deep colored glass as the sun shines through it.

Amber Moons

Inspired by the planet Jupiter - this panel was made to resemble two of the amber moons that rotate around the largest planet in our universe.

Available for sale here.