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Inspired With Glass

As many of you are already aware, I have a business where I create and sell glass work.  I have been calling my business Inspired By Glass for over ten years now.  I decided to create my own website using Roodweb.com and the website tonight template.  I have the basics added to my website and have it up and running.  I needed to purchase a domain name for the website but ..... sadly...... Inspired By Glass was being used by someone else.  Lesson number one:  If you think you want to fall in love with a business name - buy it!  So instead my new business name for my glass work is "Inspired With Glass."

I would love to hear what you all think about my new website and look forward to adding more inventory as well as technique and trade secrets for creating beautiful and unique glass work of all kinds.

Enjoy!

www.inspiredwithglass.com

Working Through the Mistakes

I could have put this post in several of the categories.  I am really being tested!  In so many ways.  I was commissioned to do a glass piece by a friend of mine.  She wanted a serving platter for her sister who she was visiting in July.  She loved roosters.  Any color any design.  So of course found a design I liked and decided to go for it.  Cut the base of the rooster  using my ring saw and cut the accent pieces of bright colored glass.  Then decided on the base of the platter and cut two pieces of equal size and shape.  Used my grinder to perfect the edges for a finished and polished look.  Cleaned it really well and put it in the kiln to fuse it flat.  Waited the excrutiating time to cook and cool at least 24 hrs to be safe in my shop.  It was perfect then I picked it up and it cracked!  So back in the kiln and recooked it to fuse it together again and it was great.  Re fused it again that night to slump it into a shape for the platter...... and it cracked again.  I can barely look into the kiln ......So called the women who commissioned the work and she really wants it and will take it any time it comes out right.  No rush for the trip just do it.   So back to the cutting board and kiln... wish me luck...heres a picture of before the kiln and before slumping.....isnt he cute...

later,

Alana

Artful Blogging

I couldnt remember if I shared with you this wonderful and fun magazine someone shared with me.  It is called Artful Blogging.  It is an amazing collection of excerpts from many different artists blogs.  It has inspired me to look more closely at my glass work.  The artists are individuals who have created their own blogs or online journals to share their artwork with the world.  They include photos, journal entries and sometimes short explanations as to how they have created their work.  This has inspired a large community of artists to come together and share ideas and feelings or emotions that they may never have shared with someone outside of the blogging world.   I love the magazine it chooses several blogs and explains how they came about to design their own site and what art medium they love.  It is a beautiful magazine and I look at it daily just to feel others inspiration and get ideas for my own glass work.  Check it out at www.stampington.com Artful Blogging.  Later Alana :)

Busy Designing !

I have been busy designing new items for my Etsy Shop and for some custom pieces my friends ordered.  How fun.  Worked in the shop all day with a friend in this amazing heat probably around 100 degrees in the shop but had a fan on and a wet bathing suit soooo.  My friend ordered a serving platter with a rooster on it.  So of course Coleen my sister just happened to have a few samples of roosters..... It is really turning out neat i will post a picture when it is done.  Cross your fingers that the kiln is kind to me.  I have also been commissioned to make two stained glass windows for my neighbor with crosses in them so i am excited about that one.  Check out the pictures of my new advertisement....I need to get the wording right but so far I love the picture.  Also some more shots of my jewelry.  You can always see them on my Etsy shop too.   http://www.alana9.etsy.com.

BACK DESIGNING AGAIN!

I am back in the shop again bonding with my kiln.....I forgot how much I enjoyed designing with glass.   Making sure the colors are right and the textures are right and most especially the technical details of the glass and that they are compatible with each other.  My favorite part of all is the opening of the kiln after having fused and cooled down, that moment when you get to see how it all turned out.....sometimes its disappointing and you wished it would have come out a specific color or shape and others it is absolutely amazing and you are in awe of what the kiln can do to glass.  Sometimes the mistakes happen and then you try again with the same piece only to arrive at a masterpiece....all in all it is always different and each piece is one of a kind.  I am hoping soon to share my pieces and put them for sale in my ETSY shop once I figure that out but until then here are some photos of my most recent pieces.....hope you like them and I would love feedback or ideas.  Till later....  Alana