A Great New Paperweight

This is the latest in our new line of paperweights. You can see in the larger pictures how the way BJ does the texturing of the color cradles little bubbles around the edges. It's a really cool effect. This one in particular really shows it off because of the pale colors. There are also three larger bubbles included in the top of the swirl, making all kinds of new and wonderful reflections. But I just can't get over the ripples and bubbles all lined up. That is just so cool!!

We were asked to make marbles for a friend of ours months ago. I really didn't want to do it. Most of our work is large in scale, and I like it that way. When I make little things, I just can't help but see them in a larger collection rather than just on their own.

This project has given me the chance to make the smaller pieces and just let them be art on their own. It's a real refresher to me to be able to let go. The larger collections I do often seem to get too overworked -- too much stuff in them. Letting these little gems BE just as they are is quite exciting. They ARE beautiful, just as they are, and in finally being able to see and accept that, it has opened up a lot of other avenues for my art where I was forcing too much onto the plates.

And so I thank my good friend, Jon Ramer, for forcing me into this.

Yes, this one is for sale on ebay - Ebay #250333904723

Peace,
Joy

First Alien Brain

This is a fantastic paperweight. It's 2 7/16", with swirls of light blue and cranberry. The patterned colors resemble ripples and waves.

BJ is the main artist on these bigger pieces. He developed a very fun technique of making a stalk for the piece to sit up on. With the stalk and the swirls of ripples, they look like Alien Brains. We'll be posting this one to ebay with more photos.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250331710290

Peace,
Joy

New Paperweight

Isn't she a beauty? 2 5/8" paperweight. Swirls of brilliant colors wrap up to a flower like point encasing a bubble. You can see layers of color with ripples of intensity going through the ball with wisps of the clouds wrapping around the outside.

I'll get the photo of it on the lightstand soon, and then post that too. It's just doggone GORGEOUS on a lightstand, and pretty enough on it's own in the sunlight.

We recently got a commission to make a set of marbles and in doing so, BJ went wild and started making these much larger paperweights. We had a very great time creating these, and most of them turned out magnificent. Of course, some of them got a little mutant shaped -- there's just no fighting hot glass when it wants to go a different way!

We'll be posting them on a new website soon for sale, and also offering them on ebay. This one will be $175. Mention you saw it here and get a discount.

Now that it's dark, I'm going back to the photography and get the lightstand version of this! WooHooOOooo!!!

Peace,
Joy

The USGIF Lifetime Achievement Award

This is the Lifetime Achievement Award that was awarded to Evan Hineman at the latest GeoSpatial Intelligence Conference in Nashville last week.

It stands about 16 inches tall. The Earth and the base are both molded glass that has a graceful curve to it. The base glass also has the USGIF logo and the award title and recipient's name etched into it. The spire is a blown glass piece of clear crystal that is then cut and polished to fit both the Earth chord and into the base. It's a very delicate piece that emulates the USGIF logo of orbit lines looking down onto the Earth.

Very pretty.

Unfortunately, they tell me that AFTER the conference, the hotel repacked the piece to ship to Mr. Hineman and didn't do such a good job... sigh...

Peace,
Joy

More USGIF awards

BJ says that the straight on shot doesn't show enough of the detail, so I've added these two as well. You can see the cloud patterns on the earths better, and also the shape of the cradle itself.

Aren't they beautiful? I just love 'em.

Peace,
Joy

USGIF Glass Achievement Awards

Aren't these so cute?? These are the Achievement awards being given out at this year's GeoSpatial Intelligence Symposium in Nashville. We make five of these beauties for them each year. They represent a type of cradle or hand holding an Earth that floats above the piece.

Each Earth is about 2.5 inches wide, complete with cloud patterns and north and south poles, blown glass. The cradles are blown and fused glass about the size of your hand. Not my hand, 'cause I have tiny hands, but about 7 inches long by about 4-5 inches wide. They are curved to hold the Earth and are formed so that they stand by themselves. Once the Earth gets attached, the center of gravity from the heavy Earth sticking out in front is enough to make sure the pieces stand.

We also make the Lifetime Achievement Award for the conference, but that's for another post.

Peace,
Joy