Shedding Light on Our Progress

Busy, busy, busy around here. We should be in the house very soon. they are laying floors today, and we will be heading down there with our butcher block countertops this afternoon.

I finally got the first of my 4 kitchen light fixtures to come out just like I wanted. This one goes over the sink. The other 3 will go over the island and are ready to have the hole drilled for the electrical works. That's the scary part! Here is the first completely completed shade!

Waterfall Wire Wrapped Pendant

I just listed this wire-wrapped pendant in my Etsy shop, Quotentials fused glass jewelry and accessories. I love the way the wire swirls complete the feeling that the swirls of green and yellow glass make in the transparent blue.

Sanding and Priming and Painting...Oh, My!

Things are getting pretty busy around here! Yesterday was spent putting varnish on the tub and painting 2 wicker and one wooden chest of drawers, and a small night stand. I sanded and primed, and my wonderful husband spent most of the day outside spraying. At over 100°, that's saying a lot about his devotion to me and this beach house project! He is at least as excited as I am to get back into our own house in Crystal Beach. And so many choices to make! Now that we are getting to the interior, it is time to make all of those little flooring, cabinet, paint, faucet, etc. decisions. (Check back often...I may need help in making some of those decisions! ;-) )

Our wonderful friends have given us an open invitation to spend as much time at their house down there as we can stand while the rebuilding progresses. (Let's not even THINK about how much THEY may be able to stand!) Their house sustained quite a bit of damage, but has remained livable, and we love going down there to help them with their numerous repairs and projects. In fact, we look forward to going again this afternoon to spend time with the Village and to check on their bathroom renovation.

Since the outside of the house is close to being completed, we don't expect to see much change when we go back to the peninsula today...just the new concrete slab underneath. But, even that will be exciting! Here is what we left last week.

Big Ike...or...Pass the Bubbles!

He's just about completed! The cast iron claw foot tub I rescued after Hurricane Ike has been professionally refinished on the inside, and I have completed the decorative painting on the outside. Now, all he needs is a good coat or 2 of polyacrylic varnish. Mmmm....As quickly as our builders are completing the house, Big Ike will be calling my name soon...


Doesn't it look inviting? Now imagine it full of bubble bath...decadent!

Gorgeous Beachy Colors

My Beach Blanket pendant is featured in a treasury on Etsy along with several other talented Etsy artisans from the Houston area:

Beach Blanket Bingo...Houston

Check it out!

Tub Rescue

After the hurricane, I discovered an abandoned clawfoot tub among all of the debris.

It was in pretty sad shape, but definitely salvageable.






One we get it in the master bathroom with the pedestal sink, and crisp white beadboard, it is going to be (nearly) the best seat in the new beach house!

Progress!

We just got back from the beach...What progress those guys are making on the house! We lucked out with the crew we got. They are like whirling dervishes. We could stand on our friend's deck and watch them build. In the few days since they began, they've managed to set pilings, lay stringers (I'm learning a whole new lingo!), frame outside AND inside walls, and deck the roof! The only thing missing so far is the stairs. We had to climb a 15 foot ladder to get in it each evening to explore it. That's a scary thing to do, but they
made it look so natural.




It's going to be a great place, and so far, the view is amazing.........

Kiln-zilla is Here!

And I am cooking again! I just put my first full fuse piece into the kiln. It will cook all night. Tomorrow morning will be like Christmas again...finally! This sucker is HUGE! I admit I am not very spatially aware. When I read 35" square, it didn't sound so big to me. And, to think, I had wanted a bigger one! My husband spent the better part of the last 2 days setting it up and assembling a pulley system so I can open it. He is the best! This kiln will surely suit my needs for years to come. I can't wait to see what comes out tomorrow morning...

Following the Trends

I'm not always one to follow the trends...at least until the trend I choose to follow is on its last legs! But, I am detecting a trend at our building site. The last hurrah of our old beach house:


The welcoming woo-hoo of the new one:


See the similarities?????

Seeing Red

Finally! Now that our house is underway, I can begin to paint and refinish off of the furniture I have bought the past 8 months. My good friend, Jane, and I painted these dining room chairs last week. They are now waiting for their cushions to be reupholstered. Aren't they bright and cheery?! Just like my attitude towards rebuilding. :-)

Life is Good!

We are finally on our way to rebuilding our beach house. It has been quite a journey since last September when Hurricane Ike saw fit to wash our cottage away. At the time, it seemed impossible that another house could ever replace it. So many fond memories were made in Crystal Beach...family get-togethers, 13th birthdays, slumber parties, fishing with friends... Even though the photos of those special times were washed into the bay or buried under several inches of sand and debris, I still remember them as if I had just thumbed through the picture album. There was the picture of Mommy Dot helping Jason blow out his birthday candles, Jay and Jon stretching out under the tacky fishnet on the wall of our first cabin, Dad leaning back for a nap on the futon, David and Jason finishing the room downstairs, David covered in white paint when we bought the new house...I hope I never forget those and many others that crop up from time to time. But, now it is time to move forward and build new memories.

We started doing just that this weekend. The fishing was only so-so, and some of the lots in our subdivision still look like a war zone, but our little plot is coming along finally. And, it's going to be a TALL sucker! Look at David, who is at least 6 feet tall, leaning against one of the pilings!

Mom has already questioned whether there will be a landing halfway up the steps for her take a rest. And, I can't imagine how her 40 pound dachshund, Nick, will ever make it. He may get up there once, and never go down again. ;-) It won't matter...We'll soon be spending relaxing evenings on the beach with friends and family.

In fact, we've already started. How comfortable do Cheri and David look watching Bill play in the surf with the dogs????

Welcome to 1000 Markets

I just received notification that my new shop has been approved!

Quotentials at 1000 Markets

1000 Markets has set high standards for their shops and it has the potential to become a thriving marketplace for artists and artisans. Here is what they say about themselves:

"We are a community of marketplaces, large and small, connecting artisan merchants with the people who love their products.

Our merchants are more than just collections of products; they are full of people and stories. They have voices and personalities.

Our merchants are small, independent, artisan businesses built by people who love their craft. They make and sell unique products, based on their own vision, personality, and story. Working together, these artisans create marketplace communities--gathering places where merchants can exchange ideas, and customers can browse and talk.

Our markets are large and small, broad and narrow. Some have themes, like food, crafts, or art. Others cultivate a sense of place around a region. An some exist simply because the people in them share a friendship or common values. Each market fosters its own one-of-a-kind community, always unique and interesting.

Here is one of my first items listed there:

Rite of Spring

I will continue to list items in my Etsy store (Quotentials at Etsy), but it is exciting to be in on the ground floor of a brand new online shopping network. You just never know where opportunity will knock! So, come over and take a look around. I'm sure you'll find something interesting.

Guilty or Not Guilty?

Well, actually, that isn't the question! I was just invited to participate in a juried art show in the fall, without having to go through the jury process. The letter stated that since the promoter had seen my work, it was not necessary for me to jump through their hoops. In fact, she bought one of my Cookies for Santa platters last year after seeing my photos, even though the scheduling was such that I could not participate in her show.


I've never sent any of my pieces to be juried, but I live in fear of the rejection, so this is great! Not only was my work deemed acceptable to the jury, maybe it means I won't be set up next to an importer who sells Made in China quality glass or other trinkets. I appreciate a show promoter who understand the importance of producing a quality show. So, since I was automatically accepted, is that guilty or not guilty?

Amber in the Coral Sea

I finished another of my coral bowls. This one positively glows! I wish there was a way to ship these. I'm sure I would have many customers wanting one.

Hi-Ho!

I took the Which Muppet Are You Quiz online. I guess I have too much time on my hands? Or, maybe it's that I don't want to do the things that need to be done around here, like take pictures?! Whatever...I took it! And, I'm not too disappointed with the results:

You Are Kermit

Lovable and friendly, you get along well with everyone you know. You're a big thinker...and sometimes you overthink life's problems. Don't worry--Everyone knows it's not easy being green. Just remember, time's fun when you're having flies!

So, which Muppet Are You? If you've got too much time on your hands, or just want to avoid work like me, you can take the quiz at: Blogspot

How Sweet It Is!

The Imperial Sugar Company Charhouse in Sugar Land, Texas
(Note the tiny red square within the sign at the top.)

As a child growing up in Sugar Land, returning home from an out of town trip was not complete without a commonly played game. The object of the game was to scan the landscape, searching for the big red "PURE CANE" sign at the top of the Imperial Sugar Company's red brick building, the closest thing we ever had to a skyscraper. The first person in the car to exclaim, "I see Sugar Land!" was the winner. Over the years, I came to know exactly where on highway 90A, Hwy6, or FM 1960 (the common routes back into town) the tiny red square within the blue Imperial Sugar lettering could be seen. All of the kids in town knew the game and loved to claim the bragging rights of being the first to spot the landmark. Most of my friends had a real race on their hands, since they had siblings who were every bit as eager to win as they were. As an only child, I had it pretty easy. (There's not a lot of competition when you are racing a dad who would do whatever it took to make sure his only daughter won, but the victory is sweet all the same!)

Thanks to some very good friends, Bruce and Jane, who are quite active in the city of Sugar Land, I recently was given a rare and exciting opportunity. My husband, David, and I were allowed to accompany them to the top of the Imperial Sugar Company charhouse to take up-to-date photographs of the surrounding area. Bruce has collected hundreds of historical photographs of Sugar Land from longtime residents of the city. Our job was to frame the new photographs to match the ones from the early to mid 20th century. (Actually it was my husband's job...My job was to carry the notebook. And I did it quite well, I might add!)

Seeing the little red square has meant a lot to me over the years, reminding me of a wonderful childhood spent with loving parents in a caring community . Atop that historic building, for the first time I actually could see Sugar Land. And, oh my, how it has changed over the years, but it is still the place I love to call my hometown.

On the roof with the back of that "tiny" Pure Cane sign behind me.
Isn't it amazing how big things really are when you are up close and personal???

Surprise! Surprise! Glass WILL Break!

I can't tell you how many times I have dropped some of my jewelry pieces on the cement floor of the garage. My heart always stops as I hear it bounce across the hard surface. Then I am always totally shocked that it is not only still in one piece, it doesn't have a chip or scratch on it. It has happened so often that I frequently assure my customers that their new pendant is not nearly as delicate as it looks. My mom dropped one of my favorite new pieces in her sink the other day. Oh, well...I guess I will need to change my "schpiel." Here's what it used to look like:

Hot Out of the Kiln

I've been in such a "beachy" mood (That's a good thing!) since we committed to rebuilding our beach house...I still haven't mastered the light shades that I want to make, but in the meantime I have come up with other unique pieces. Here is a bowl I completed recently. I wish I could say it was my original idea, but I must give credit where it is due. Becki on the Stained Glass Source bulletin board provided the inspiration for this one. Hers are absolutely gorgeous!

Sea Dancer

This bowl is only about 5 inches across. I have another, larger one in the kiln finishing its first fusing. Made of amber transparent, it has the potential to look like spun sugar...luscious!

Feed Me, Seymore...

I so want to make a set of pendant light fixtures for my new beach house. Unfortunately, until now my efforts have been failures. Here is something similar to what I want to make:


These are pricey, but as a glass artist, I thought I could do it. I've made candle holders using the same basic design:

Admittedly, this is a smaller version, but, I mean...How hard can it be???? Well, let me tell you, it's not nearly as easy as I thought it would be. Now I see how the artist who made these can charge so much. There's lots of expertise involved! She deserves every penny she gets.

As I mentioned earlier, my first efforts have been less than successful. I've tried 2 layers, one layer, fast drape, slow drape...so far, no luck. Here is one I have lovingly dubbed "Audrey" after the gigantic plant in Little Shop of Horrors.

The front view...not so bad, right?

Now take a look at the view from the front...

Can you see the resemblance?????

Ready, Set, Go!

We are firmly committed to our beach house rebuilding. We have tweaked the plans, met with the builders, and signed the papers. Now, all that is left before they can start is getting the building permit. Here is a basic look at what we want to do to the inside:

It's less than 1000 square feet, but it will easily fill our needs. There's still a bit of tweaking to do before they frame the inside, but the outside is planned perfectly. It will be set at least 19 feet above sea level. (That's a whopping 13 foot hike to the front door!) We are adding a landing about a third of the way up the steps for a place to rest and a nice sized sun deck. The draftsman even added a long window to the front where the dining table will be. Since we are situating the house sideways on the lot to face the beach, we will have a great grassy view from the dining room. (It appears that it will be a while before too many houses are rebuilt between ours and the beach.)


While I am waiting, I have decided to begin working on pieces for the inside. I have already begun collecting trash to treasure pieces, but right now they are still trash. One of my first projects will be to install a lighted glass panel in a mirror I picked up for a song! Here is a prototype of what I'd like to do. Fortunately, I ran across some of these nifty stands at the Goodwill store the other day.

LIFE IS GOOD!!!!!

And They're Off!

I completed the 36 Swish pendants for the new bride. They turned out beautifully, except for the one that threw itself off the kiln shelf in the final firing! (I don't know what kind of party they were having in there, but I'm picturing a mosh pit.) Fortunately, the little buggers didn't know that I had made a couple of extras, and that I would still have enough to cover the order. ;-) I got them in the mail this morning, and they are on their way to their new owners. I sure hope the bride and her guests like them. It's exciting to think that I will have so many people wearing my art...

Swish! Am I an artist now???

I certainly HOPE I am! And a manufacturer, too! I just made my biggest sale ever. A customer who is getting married in April has asked me to make 36 pendants as gifts for her wedding guests. The name I had selected for it when I listed it on Etsy is "Swish" because of its cute little swoop it has at its base. It looks like a flag flying in the breeze...


Besides the tremendous sale, the good news is that she is also an artist! She appreciates the fact that no two of my pieces are ever exactly alike. Plus, there will be 36 people running around the countryside wearing one of my original pieces. SWEET! Now, comes the hard part...Gotta go cut glass! I definitely want to make this customer happy!

An Exciting New Day

"Commit yourself to lifelong learning. The most valuable asset you'll ever have is your mind and what you put into it."
--Brian Tracy

Today I will learn something new, and I'm excited! This past Christmas I gave my lifelong friend a gift certificate for a wire-wrapping class. What better way to get myself a gift, as well?! We are going together to take the class today. I look forward to having tons of new designs to add to my jewelry pieces. I'll be sure to post pictures...The beginnings will probably be the bad and the ugly, but I hope it won't be long before I can post the good!


Update: I just got back from the wire-wrapping class. I enjoyed it, but it was not exactly what my friend nor I was looking for. The teacher was very nice and helpful, but apparently I will need to take the next class to get into the wire work that I had hoped to learn...

Rebuilding Bolivar

“Look at life through the windshield, not the rear-view mirror.”
- Byrd Baggett

All last fall, I looked at life through the rear-view mirror, missing what I had had. The loss of my little cabin at the beach was more than the loss of a building. It was the loss of all of the good times we had shared with new and old friends, the special times spent with family, the closeness David and I had nurtured there, my own little sanctuary where I could get away from everything... But now it is time to move forward. We have been meeting with builders in Crystal Beach who can help us start over. We looked at several different builders, but I feel very strongly about keeping the work close to home and hiring Crystal Beach people to build our next cabin. Fortunately for us, we learned of a pair of builders who will fit the bill, Casa Mare Builders. One of them lives in a nearby community on the mainland, but has a very nice home on a canal across the highway from our neighborhood. His partner grew up coming to Crystal Beach in the summers as a child. The house he spent so much time in, his grandmother's house, was also a casualty of Ike's. We recently had a chance to tour a home they had built right before Hurricane Ike. It withstood the storm just fine. We have met with them several times, and had numerous phone visits. We just feel good about them. And, they are just nice people.

Here is a picture of the house we saw:
If you look closely, you can see a broken window on the front of the house. A man who had been stranded on the peninsula because of the rapidly rising water swam to their deck, and tried to break the window. The window held, and he had to ride the storm out on the deck...That is some strong window. I'm sure he was highly motivated! They are still awaiting its replacement. I feel really secure in their product!

So now, it is time to look through the windshield and let the rear-view mirror start recording new memories!

Bringing the Sun

"In our lives there is bound to come some pain, surely as there are storms and falling rain; just believe that the one who holds the storms will bring the sun"

I ran across this quote recently while looking for inspiration for some new glass projects. I haven't been able to attribute it to a named source, but it rang so true with what has happened in my life the past 6 months, or so. After suffering the affects of Hurricane Ike and a busy fall preparing and attending art shows, I am finally able to get back to my art. I am just now realizing how much the loss of our precious beach cabin has affected me. But, now we are happily on our way to rebuilding, and I hope to document the whole process here on my blog. In the meantime, I am back at work in my glass studio. Here is a picture of the origami slumped plate that resulted from the inspiration of that quote, a tribute to the knowledge that things are improving after the pain and storms of the fall. The orange, yellow, and red rays of the sun appear to beam across a rain-dripped black sky. He is now bringing back the sun. Now, I can look ahead and see only bright, cheery projects...

True Love

Having been AWOL for another long time, I think I owe some explanation! Over the past several months, David and I have been working on a waltz routine to Elton John's True Love. Here is a picture of the results of early morning mall practices, Sunday afternoon lessons, extensive wardrobe searches, and 3 pairs of dance shoes...We have now performed at 3 venues, with a couple more on the schedule in February and March. I wish I knew how to transfer a video tape to a disc so I could put it on UTube, but that's yet another thing to learn to do. It's been a blast, but we are ready to move on to another project. Flo Cook, our dance instructor, has suggested a rumba routine. Since we have loved the rumba since she taught us our first basic steps, we jumped at the suggestion. So now, we begin again.