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?????