What did Weetie do today?

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

How was work today?

Work was fun today!

I got started on a couple of more owls. I was so happy with the way the first one turned out I just had to make a couple more.

This guy was supposed to be my snowy owl...Haha! he might be some kind of schmoo instead, I really won't know until I get him done. He does look a bit like a penguin if I tweek it a bit...hmmm. I guess I know what I'll be doing next.

The glass for the wings and the top of the head is so dark here. Its a streaky gold/dark brown glass.

I like the markings in this glass. Its a combination of medium amber with some white swirled into it. Its a very warm glass with some sun behind it, it'll be a golden owl.

I hope to have them done in the next few days.

Stained Glass Give Away Number 2

Sharing the beauty of stained glass one give away at a time.

This week's give away item is a small round stained glass suncatcher. The center is a 2" clear glass bevel surrounded by light aqua blue Waterglass. Bevels are very prismatic and the Waterglass has an interesting texture. This piece measures 4 1/4" diameter, nearly 11cm. The entire piece has been wrapped with lead with a loop attached for hanging.

Give away number 2 is open to U.S. and Canadian residents and ends Tuesday, March 3 at 6 a.m. CST when I will randomly pick a winning name out of a hat.

Simply leave a comment and contact information. Good luck!!

Cobalt Blue Window Panel with Bevels~~on sale now!

I need to make room for some new items!

On sale now is this cobalt blue stained glass window panel with bevels. It measures nearly 13" tall by 13" wide, actually 12 7/8" (33cm). Regularly priced at $85.00, I've dropped it down to $60.00

The center is a clear glass bevel surrounded by beautiful cobalt blue glue chip glass and two shades of blue Waterglass. The background is a pale textured blue surrounded by a 1 1/2" border using 4" and 1 1/2" clear glass bevels. Bevels are very prismatic and they add a shimmering touch to this panel.

This panel has loops soldered to the frame and chain included for hanging. Check out my Etsy store for more information on this eye catching stained glass panel.

I've got a new balloon!!

Yea! I got my balloon done today and even got it listed on my Etsy site. This really is a fun piece to make. I love using bold bright colors in my work.

Today was a very cloudy day but this piece really warmed up the room. It measures 10 3/4" tall by 7 3/4" wide. The type of glass I used for the balloon is called Waterglass manufactured by Spectrum Glass. Its one of my favorite types of stained glass to use since the colors are clear and the texture is lively.

the way the water flows in tennessee

There doesn't seem to be a shortage in the different ways that water flows in Tennessee. Here are just a few examples.

The top picture is from my last property. The sound of the water trickling was so soothing. In the summer it would stay cool in this ravine and I would come and spend hours here poking around this spring looking at different plants, searching for creatures in the water, looking for birds and hoping little forest creatures might come out to visit.

The two other pictures are from waterfalls located off of the Natchez Trace Parkway, a scenic federal highway that runs from Nashville to Mississippi. The middle picture is of a cavern with a waterfall. During normal times it flows pretty slow. This picute was taken during a period of heavy rain. It was awesome. So loud and misty.

Brand new design in my shop

~~Stained Glass Eastern Screech Owl Ornament~~

I am super excited about this new design I just added to my shop. I think I was waiting for pictures to upload to my Etsy site when I started doodling and owl. On paper it looked like it would be a really cool piece using the same techniques and stylized design as I use in my stained glass cat face ornaments.

So, the next morning I drew up my working pattern, choose the glass I wanted to use and got started. Saturday I cut all of the glass and Sunday I foiled all of the pieces. My original plan for Monday was to solder this owl along with another hot air balloon and then to finish the owl on Tuesday. Once I got started on the owl I knew I just had to get it done. That meant a late afternoon cup of coffee so now I'm all wound up!!

I've used four different shades, types and textures of amber stained glass along with amber glass glob eyes. I hand paint the pupils. When the sun comes through the eyes they just glow.

This piece measures 6 1/2" tall by 4 3/8" wide. Check out my Etsy site for more info.

Cat face give away winner and other stuff

We have a winner....gibb photo has won the cat face!!

Thanks to all who participated. Great suggestions and comments! Another give away item will be posted soon and all who participated here are welcome to sign up again.

Here is an update on my owl ornament. I've got all of the pieces cut and I hope to have it assembled in the next few days.

Its time to get this day going!

What's new?

What's been goin' on in the shop this week? More cats, of course! I'm working on 3 custom kitty faces along with a new kitty I listed on Etsy.

I think I'm going to try making an owl using the same idea as the cat faces using stained glass and glass glob eyes. I've already picked out the glass for it and I'll start working on it tomorrow. It looks really cute on paper, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it turns out well. Sometimes things are a gamble.



Also, I'm working on another rainbow hot air balloon. This is really a fun piece to make. I use glass called Waterglass for the balloon. Waterglass is bold and bright in color and has a light texture to it that's like water rippling gently on the surface of a lake. I position the pieces of the glass in the balloon to make it look like the balloon is full of hot air! The basket is attached to the balloon with links of chain so it can swing freely.


I'm really happy with the participation I've received so far on my give away!! Lots of good ideas and comments. I can't wait to pick a winner. I'm not quite sure what the next give away item will be but I'll come up with something...

~Giveaway~~Cat Face Ornament~

The cats have been taking over the shop!!

I've been busy lately making more cat face ornaments. If you need a for a gift for a catlover, please check out my Etsy shop. Custom orders are also welcome.

I made an Ooops kitty and I've decided to give it away. His eyes are a little bit off but he's still super cute and needs a loving home.

Here is how to get in on the giveaway of this red/orange and white stained glass ornament. Due to the cost of shipping this offer is open to recipients in the U.S. and Canada only. Simply go to my online store on Etsy and take a look. Come back here and let me know what you like and don't like about my shop, if there's anything that you think should be in my shop and if you would ever consider buying from me.

This offer is open until 6 a.m. central time Sunday February 22nd or whenever I wake up that day. All names will be put into a hat and I will randomly pick a winner. Good luck and thanks for participating!!

Yummy comfort food~Cheesy Garlic Mashed Potatoes

I love potatoes! The've always been a comfort food and they are so versatile. This is my favorite way of making potatoes:

I always use red skin potatoes, they are a nice potato for boiling. Yukon Gold is a good potato, too. I'm not into peeling any potato so I just cut them into chunks. But, I do scrub them first. I'll cut enough potatoes to fill a medium sized sauce pan about 3/4 full. Add water to just cover the potatoes. To this I'll add 3 large cloves of garlic cut into small pieces and boil them together until the potatoes are soft.

Once they are drained I add black pepper, some butter and milk and beat with a hand mixer. I like Smart Balance for cooking and table use. Then the cheese goes in. I've tried a few different kinds and plain old American cheese seems to work pretty good in this. So, I add about 4-5 slices and whip it together well. Yum, yum.

Its just way too early for this!

The daffodils in my yard are starting to pop like crazy. Its only February! We're bound to have some more freezing temps, but they're pretty tough and they will probably make it through. I'm glad I caught these cheerful guys in bloom.

Across the street and 3 doors down

Ooops, these pics are in the wrong order. You really should start at the bottom and work your way up. Hey, I'm still new at this.

You really should see the view out back

A little bit of paint might do wonders for this place

There's probably some sugar in the cupboard

How 'bout a cup of coffee?

The bathroom's right over here

Its a bit warm today, isn't it?

There's plenty of room in the kitchen

Well, don't just stand there, c'mon in!

START HERE: Let's go see our neighbor

First Bloomer

 

This love little daffodil opened this morning. Since then a few more have joined in. A bright cheerful spot in the yard. Come on spring!!

The cat that inspired me to create

Colder then normal temperatures have kept me from doing much in my shop this week, its difficult to warm the room up to a comfortable level with a little space heater. I'm still working on some new cat face ornaments and since today may be a bit warmer than the last few days I should be able to get a few of them soldered.


I got inspired to start creating these little stained glass cat faces by a stray cat in my neighborhood. A neighbor had 4 cats that I would feed outside on his back porch while he was away at the hospital. Along with the 4 cats another kitty started hanging around to get a free meal. He's beautiful Siamese mix cat with stunning blue eyes.

About this same time while I was poking around in my back yard I came across a bunch of different colored glass globs. From the debris trail it appeared that someone had a jar full of these globs that for some reason they became disgusted with. Maybe it was a drug crazed guy that used to think that there were monkeys in trees out to get him. He's now gone along with the trash he left behind. It doesn't matter, I found a gold mine of supplies delivered to my back yard!

The neighbor moved and took his four kitties with him. I would continue to go over and feed the Siamese stray cat. One day while looking at this beautiful cat and his stunning blue eyes it hit me to go back home and create a cat face using the glass globs that I had found. The first stained glass cat face ornament was born!

Since that first kitty last year I've changed the pattern a few times and have used different colors of glass to create different color kitties. The Siamese stray still hangs out and I still feed him. Attempts to capture him to get him to the vet have failed. He's a tough old kitty that doesn't want to be messed with!

The cats are coming back!

I've designated the week of February 1 as the week of cats in my studio. Stained glass cat ornaments, that is.

These little guys are a lot of fun to make and they are so darn cute when they are done. The eyes are glass globs with hand painted pupils that really shine when light comes through them.

Look for new kitties coming to my Etsy shop soon.

Spring is in the air-new item to celebrate nature

Its happening! Spring is in the air! Its always my favorite time of the year-flowers begin to bloom, birds start singing and nature starts another life giving cycle.

To celebrate spring and its glory I've recently completed this stained glass suncatcher of three yellow and orange daffodils. I love using bright bold colors! This piece measures 13 1/2" diameter (34.5cm). The type of glass that I used for the blooms and foliage has a light ripply texture and the colors are strong enough to brighten even the grayest of days.

You can find this item in my Etsy shop. Mention that you saw this item on my blog and take $25.00 off the cost of the item. Simply key in 'blog' on the message to seller line and I will send a revised invoice with the corrected price. Or, if you have already checked out I will send a refund for the overage.