Two new trays

I have not been very diligent about posting lately. We have had a busy show schedule and then Nancy had ankle surgery. I did my first solo shows and I have to tell you I was nervous but they went well. When we set up we each have tasks that we always do and I take for granted that I don't need to be concerned about anything else. Well,I do miss Nancy's touch when it comes to setting up our displays but thanks to cell phones I can (and do) call for emergency advice.

So far this week I have two new plates (which come with spreaders) and cooling in the kiln are two candle trays. I have a tray of goodies waiting to go in the kiln but that's a secret for now!

Kitties for next Halloween

Now I just have to decide if they are going to be pins or pendants. For now they are keeping me company on my work table.

Under the Sea Wind Chime, Forecast Snow!

It has been a while since I posted, so I'll show you a couple of pictures. Nancy made this windchime - it was comissioned by one of our friends who will be giving it as a gift. Isn't it pretty? I wish the picture did a better job of showing the sand at the bottom of the sea.
Here is a picture of the show at St. James a couple of weeks ago. The spot was short so I tried a new arrangement with the tables. It worked and people came into the space. Snow!!! This is not a very good picture and I have not yet put on bails and/or pinbacks.

Boy was I wrong - that Southwest trip inspired a tray in turquoise, maze and hints of those purple sunrises out there.

Today Nancy and I had a successful show here at the officers club on Fort Belvoir. Our next show is on Saturday, with set up Friday night, at Lake Braddock HS. It is a juried show in its' 24th year. With all the beautiful weather up here we have been told to expect large crowds.

Back in the Studio

September just flew by and I'm finally back in the studio. Nevada and the California desert was so very inspiring. I expect red glass will be going in the kiln after all those red rocks.

Monday I went to my favorite glass shop and came home with a carload of new glass.

I'll be in doing a show here in Midlothian the first Saturday in November. I'll be at Clover Hill High School for their Annual Craft Show. This will be my first show alone - Nancy is having foot surgery the day before and will be out of commission for a while.

Show Schedule Update

I've updated our show schedule. I'm excited to do the Selma railroad days show. Selma is a really neat little town full of lots of antique and boutique shops.

Black Cat, Bending Glass & Jelly Fish

Halloween decorations are in all the craft stores so I needed a little something since it is one of my favorite holidays. This little kitty got adopted the first time he left the house by my good friend at our show last weekend.
Can you bend glass - absolutely!! Nancy made this windchime - the chimes are blue and I haven't got a picture of it with the chimes attached yet. This is from the girl who refused to cut glass when we started out so she would not get cut - now look at the intricate things she does.

Pretty new earrings - I know the background (my old piano stool) is not so pretty but I really love the play of light. My little studio has two walls of windows, one side is open and the other has a short wall (just over a metre) with a door to the garage.

We Have A Winner!

Nancy is in Orlando so I called to let her know that her Apple-A-Day windchime (see previous post) placed third in the artglass group challenge - I can't wait to find out what is in her prize box, all I know is it is glass supplies. Each month there is a different theme - and July was "red". The August challenge is trees but I don't know if she will be entering because we are now "harvesting" trees for more Christmas tree pins, since we have sold every last one. When she gets home tonight she will find, tucked in her doorway, a first cutting waiting for her special tree trimming touch! The ones below were from last years crop.

Four Corners Sushi & Apple-a-Day Windchime

Here is a picture of Nancy's newest piece. I got to see it yesterday when we met for lunch and I can tell you that this picture does not do it justice!

Here is her completed Apple-d-Day windchime.

Sushi in the Sunshine

Sushi in the Sunshine" is Nancy's newest creation! We are expanding our line to include sushi dishes.

She entered this in the June project challenge in two of the glass group that we are members of - it looks like a winner to me.
Coming soon - a windchime with jellyfish. I have only seen a picture of it in progress and can't wait until it is finished and she sends photos for me to post.

Coming soon - apple windchime

Nancy is back in the glass studio! She sent me pictures of the windchime she is working on. Did you notice the caterpillar waiting to take a bit of that beautiful red apple? I can't wait to see it fired and assembled. She will be coming here for the weekend but I don't know that it will be finished because today she is having a root canal...ouch!


I've have a new plate that just came out of its final firing. I played with my program so that my design would not all melt into the glass but remain 3-dimensional. The roses are from my garden.

While Nancy was in Finland I played with glass and here are a few of the pieces I made. I have to take more pictures later.

Horizontal stripes that work for me - as we all know not everyone can wear horizontal stripes but these work for me. I love to play with blue, green and purple dicrohic glass. The first piece is made from e differnt blues and a green.


These earrings are blue with a touch of purple - they were hard to get a good picture of.

I like this piece it is shades of green, the larger piece has a bit of blue tone to it and the little piece on the upper left is green with a bit blue diagnolly through it. As the light changes through the day the colors look so different.

I've been playing around with ways to photograph my pieces - have not yet decided what I like the best. The little dish was from a milk glass set that belonged to my mother. I did these earrings and pendant in soft summer colors. There are a two mor pendants that are similar in color but not yet photographed. I made this shawl pin then decided it need a coordinating "stick" so I got out my torch and collection of glass rods. I did find that those silver picks transmit heat a lot faster than the mandrels I use for bead work!

Time to haul out my coat already??? I am packing for a trip to Helsinki, Finland and have been told to bring a winter coat! My husband has a week-long business trip and I have an unused passport. In spite of a 15 hour flight, sprained ankle, torn knee meniscus and dental surgery, I’m not about to miss this opportunity. Finland is known for a combination of Old World style and modern design. Hopefully I will come home inspired and it will translate into new glass designs. I’ve been searching for a phrase book but can’t find one anywhere. Anyone out there know Finnish?
~Nancy

Tropical colors

This set reminds me of the colors I saw in Bermuda! These dots will probably get attached to hairpins.

Spring and summer jewelry

If you are interested in adding any of these to your spring and summer wardrobe, please e-mail us. We take checks and credit cards.

Life in the Blue

Here is the finished piece I spoke about earlier. Like most “cooked” fish, it didn’t keep long. Someone’s mom will be giving it a good home on May 10th (Mother’s Day). Looks like I have to go fishing again!
~Nancy

Pretty Pendant & Windchimes

Just wanted to show off one of my favorite pendants. It is hard not to keep this one for myself.
~Christina

One of our favorite memories comes from the 60’s. Summer evenings were filled with the tinkling sounds of oriental glass wind chimes. Christina and I put a modern twist on the old idea, making chimes that reflect our personal styles. The strength of the glass is amazing and the sounds are only surpassed by their radiance when the light shines through. Sis and I made windchimes for ourselves - mine is the vibrant reds and I call it "scattered glass", Christina's reflects some her favorite colors blue and green.

~Nancy

Spectrum 96

I have been wanting to experiment with Spectrum 96 glass and I really like the resulting tray. I really do like their transparents - nice vibrant clears. The only drawback is I have to keep store it in a totally different area that I do the my COE 90's but I think I may do just that. I need to work with the firing schedule for small pieces(the edges were not as crips but more rounded than I like) but I think I nailed it on the large piece - not bad for a first try.
~Christina

Nancy checks in

After a series of gray, rainy days I am excited about seeing the sun today. It seems so bright and yellow that I am inspired to do some summer designs. Today I’ll be “cooking” fish in the kiln. I have an underwater design in mind complete with shimmery water. Look for a picture in the next few days – unless it is the one that gets away!

~Nancy

Fiesta

I'm calling this one Fiesta!

~Christina

Cheese trays

In preparation for our next show in a couple of weeks - we will be at St. Catherine's in Richmond for Daisy Days - I have been making more cheese trays. We had just a few left and inventory is low and due to two large (cheese tray) commissions that we just finished.

I love stripes (with polka dots a close second) so after playing in my fabric chest I was inspired to make these.

~Christina

Spring Flowers

We finally decided to take the plunge and venture out of our studios into cyberspace to share with you our glass designs. Let us know what you think!


My sister, who loves flowers, does not garden. She planted these pretties in her kiln - aren't they pretty?