Christina, Queen of UFOs

Trees, Holly Berry plates, Booth

2011-12-05T16:22:00.001-05:00

Nancy made these pretty trees!

Blues to fushias

Golds

Greens and Aquas

Ribbon and Berries

Small dishes - great for nuts, votives, soap

Large dish, 8.5 curved square

Saturday Show at Redeemer

Did you notice that red ribbon? We placed second in glass category at the Waynesboro Art Show!

Nov 11 -13 Dulles Expo Center Christmas Market

2011-11-08T14:12:00.001-05:00

We will be in booth 454.5-455.5 this weekend for the Northern VA. Christmas Market. Looking forward to seeing you there! Here is a preview of some new pieces.

More pieces from the kiln

2011-10-03T22:46:00.001-04:00

First I wanted to share a picture one of my customer's sent. She put the keyboard I made on her piano.

A few more things that have come out of the kiln recently

Bet you can't guess one of my favorite colors! I can't show any of the neat pieces that Nancy made because they are all packed up for this weekend's show in her car.

It's Gerald making those VT trays that fly off the shelf at each show. He is now officially part of our team.

Black bowl !

2011-09-13T08:15:00.001-04:00

My bowl is done! It is the deepest mold I've ever used AND I had to open the kiln while it was running (at 1225 degrees) and look in to see if the glass had dropped to the bottom. Even with the special green glasses (not a true fashion look) and heavy leather glove, that handle gets hot) it was a scary thing to do.

September 7

2011-09-07T10:34:00.000-04:00

I'm finally going to use my deep bowl mold. First I'm fusing a two layer disk, then I will slump it in the mold. This is a tricky one (bullseye glass, the manufacturer of it said so) I have to put on special green glasses and look in the kiln to stop the slump when the center hits bottom. That will be tomorrow when the disk comes out of the kiln.

The pictures were taken this morning with poor light, it is pouring rain here, and the camera needs to be recharged.

Bottom layer - sliced to let air escape.

Top Layer

THE Mold

UVA colors made by a HOKIE!

Halloween is coming!

A little geometry!

Summer and Sun Hats

2011-07-22T10:00:00.001-04:00

I love summer and sunhats! Here in humid Virginia "fuzzy" hair days happen a lot but pop on a sun bonnet and the most wonderful transformation occurs - right to movie star glamorous! The only problem is by dusk hat head happens and it does look odd when I keep that wide brimmed chapeau on at dinner in a restaurant!

2011-06-03T10:02:00.000-04:00

Yeah, finally made it to TNK - Tuesday knit night after way too many weeks. Had a very relaxing time and got several rows done on my feather and fan.

In March my sister and I did a weekend show in Virginia Beach and on Mother's Day weekend Gerald and I did the Gosport Arts Festival in Portsmouth.....pictures below. I really love my new kiln because we can make larger pieces.

Gerald and I have also been taking a lampwork bead class from Brad Pearson who is the most amazing lampwork artist and a great teacher. I'm now saving up to go from my Hothead torch to a minor burner (it uses both oxygen and propane). The good thing about Gerald taking the class is he no longer warns me not to burn down the house! I'll get some pictures of our beads on another post.

Virginia Beach Spring Market

Great show people were lined up around the convention center before the show opened. Packup was so easy - only brought home 7 pieces!

Gosport Art Festival - Old Towne Portsmouth:

Mother's Day weekend, the weather was perfect Saturday. Sunday early showers but cleared shortly after the show opened. The sponsors put on a amazing dinner for the artists, they treated us like royalty......then we had to return to reality on Monday.

See us at Gosport Art Festival in Portsmouth this weekend Booth H-121

2011-05-06T11:26:00.000-04:00

Heading out with a carload of plates. Hope to see you there!
http://www.gosportartsfestival.com/

Here are a few of the new pieces. The one below is 8.25 x 8.25 - love that bigger kiln!

From the new kiln

2011-04-13T20:34:00.002-04:00

The day my new kiln arrived I was up at 6am waiting for the UPS man

I put it to work right away

and here it is hard at work late into the night

...and out came this

Next stop at the torch to twist glass rods to decorate this plate

blue and green followed

and red and black

then a stepping stone path

I call this one Morning Fog

...and all of these

Waiting .....

2011-03-07T23:42:00.000-05:00

....to go in a kiln. Hope those stepping stones still look good after firing.

New kiln!!!!!!!!

2011-03-07T20:49:00.002-05:00

My new kiln arrived this morning. I was so excited I was up extra early and gave a cheer when the UPS man arrived.Here it is just out of the box. The inside diameter is 15", weighs in at 25 pounds, and is fast.

My old kiln did this last week:

Feather and Fan

2011-02-21T11:30:00.000-05:00

I did not think it possible that I would ever knit lace but, with the help of my knitting friends at TNK, I ventured there and am making progress. Everyone told me this was a simple/basic pattern that would be easy to learn - I had my doubts but it is coming along and I've memorized the pattern.

Handmaiden silk yarn

2010-12-27T15:41:00.000-05:00

Gerald gave me this beautiful yarn for Christmas. It is Handmaiden silk.

Snow Day

2010-12-13T19:15:00.000-05:00

Woke up to snow! I thought it was not due until Thursday.

Saturday I finished my last show of the season at Gar-field HS put on by the Orchestra Boosters. Sold all but one of my Holly Berry plates that are great for pillar candles. I have very little jewelry left so I will need to get busy making glass for 2011...but that can wait until after Christmas.

I must have caught something there - I have a scratchy throat and sound like a frog, feel stuffy, have a low grade fever and little energy.

2010-12-06T23:39:00.000-05:00

Gerald made a nice fire the Sunday after Thanksgiving. American Heritage in Williamsburg is our favorite campground.

Happy Thanksgiving

2010-11-24T13:59:00.000-05:00

When we arrived yesterday afternoon it was warm but that cold front came in overnight - glad I packed my hat!

This afternoon is warmer so I'm taking a cup of coffee, a book and some matches, to light a campfire, right after I finish lunch.

Tickle those ivory keys!

2010-10-31T08:12:00.000-04:00

I've been experimenting with different fusing schedules and really wanted these keys to look and feel like the "real thing". If I went too hot or too long I knew I would have a big white stretch with black streaks so I have anxiously been waiting to open the kiln lid. Good kiln day!

Back in town with Halloween glass pictures.

2010-10-20T14:06:00.000-04:00

I got back from Nancy's late last night. After our show on Saturday I stayed on. Had to take Nancy to Bethesda to see the opthomologist she woke up seeing flashing lights, we were concerned that it was a detached retina but it was some of the gel breaking off as it liquified and must have hit the optic nerve.

Nancy will be coming in tomorrow so we can set up tomorrow night at St. Christopher's for their bazaar. There is a preview night on Friday the open to the public on Saturday. If you can come by and say hi to us I know Nancy would love to see all you.

When she was small Nancy was going to a farmer - that didn't work out but she grew some glass pumpkins. What do you think?

My cats are waiting their turn to go into the kiln.

Heading for Dulles Expo in November

2010-09-15T15:51:00.000-04:00

Exciting news -we will be taking our plates, trays, dessert sets, sun catchers, windchimes to the Northern Virginia Christmas Market at the Dulles Expo Center mid November.

Just out of the kiln - VA TECH logo plate

2010-08-20T09:27:00.000-04:00

The logo is kiln carved into the glass - really cool!

Getting ready for Saturday's Market Faire.

2010-08-11T22:50:00.000-04:00

I'm spending a lot of time in my studio getting ready for upcoming shows.

This Saturday I'll be at the River City Knitters Market Faire at Imperial Plaza (1717 Bellevue, 23227), along with about 14 other vendors. The show is open to everyone so grab a friend and shop! You will find goodies to indulge yourself and get a start on holiday or birthday shopping.

I have some new shawl/scarf pins - they are also good to close up sweaters with. Here are a few of the new pendants and one pair of earrings. You'll have to come to the Faire on Saturday to see more!

August 28 & 29 Nancy and I will be in Portsmouth VA for the Sewall Art Show. You will find us in Booth #79. It is always fun when we go out of town - I'm just hoping Nancy's new knee is up to a two day outdoor show.

Here is a link to our business blog Art In Glass by TG Designs

I will keep updating the show list as I get final dates in.

Bo will begin cancer treatment

2010-06-06T21:04:00.000-04:00

Bo just called with an update on his treatment. He will report to the hospital on Tuesday and begin Interleukin-2(IL2) treatment. He will be in the hospital for a week and receive treatment every 8 hrs - home for a week to regain strength and back to the hospital for another week of treatment. The doctor said there is 10% chance of recovery and 30% chance of remission.

We surely are praying for that 10%.

Get your Mothers Day gifts Saturday at the Strawberry Street Festival

2010-05-04T11:23:00.003-04:00

Come by my booth( #38) this Saturday, May 8th on Hanover Avenue in the Fan and pick up something great for Mother's Day.

The Sarah Collection - bright

transparent square studs.

"Fire in Ice" (in the right column) flash different colors depending on what you are wearing. You must see them.

Brides and their attendants love them.

Clip earrings:

Two festivals for May!

2010-04-27T22:46:00.001-04:00

We just got back from Staunton where we participated in the Hot Glass Festival. It was so exciting to be with glass artists from all over the country.
We have to get that kiln fired up tomorrow because we shows the next two weekends. This Saturday (May 1) we will be at St. Michael's Episcopal School for Magic Dragon Day - that sounds like fun. Then, while Nancy is flying off to England, I will be in the Fan for the Strawberry Street Festival. I love strawberries so I'm hoping one of my friends comes by so I can run out and by some berries and those goodies made with them that I have read about.

I'll post pictures as things come out of the kiln!

Daisy Day's festival tomorrow!

2010-04-23T21:08:00.000-04:00

Give your Mom a one of a kind gift for Mothers Day. I'll be at St. Catherine's Daisy Days(6001 Grove Avenue, Richmond Va) tomorrow. I'm inside, look for my banner TG Designs, LLC Handmade Glass.

Finished!

2010-04-17T22:12:00.001-04:00

After 3 fusing "turquoise swirls" is finished!

Blue waves just came out of the kiln, a few minutes ago.

This is what is looked like after the first fuse prior to being slumped.

Busy little kiln

2010-04-14T21:43:00.002-04:00

The center of this one was made from torchwork that Nancy did - I put on the border and cooked it. It's not done yet!

Waiting to go into the kiln for its first fuse- wonder which way the torchwork will fall.

Just out of the kiln

Petunias and sunset

2010-04-07T11:57:00.001-04:00

Feels like summer! I love the scent of petunias in the evening.

Look what my sister made!

2010-03-22T17:07:00.000-04:00

My sister made this pretty dish to match the decor of a new bakery, Occassionally Cake, which they use it to display their absolutely delicious cake truffles.

Tennis & golf elbow..Who me?

2010-03-03T21:35:00.000-05:00

Today the physical therapist told me it us unusual for someone to have tennis and golf elbow at the same time....with bursitis thrown in. Now anyone who knows me is aware that those are definately not my games. Once summer I took tennis lessons and about 6 weeks into it the instructor told me I was wasting my money - but I can lob that ball over the fence and across the street! Years ago my sister and I took golf lessons - the instructor told my Dad that we couldn't come back...but that is really Nancy's fault not mine. Everything I did was her idea - really!

Back to now, since I am all of 5' tall I have to use a step stool to reach - well that darn thing broke at a corner join and sent me flying through the air like a bona fide paratrooper except instead of a 3 point landing I made a one point landing on my elbow. Three weeks later it hurt more and you could smell my Extra Strength BenGay long before you could see me.I squashed my bursa while compensating for the pain messed up the tendons on both sides of the elbow.

I have exercises, must do ice rubs, go to PT twice a week, and "take it easy" on the right arm. Well that will stop a lot of web surfing since I am not supposed to do it more than an hour a day and have to intersperse it throughout the day.

Gotta run - the cornbread is ready to come out of the oven - I stirred with my left hand.

Virginia Hot Glass Festival in Staunton

2010-02-09T17:34:00.001-05:00

I'm really excited, Nancy and I have been accepted to sell and demonstrate how we make glass at the Virginia Hot Glass Festival in Staunton April 24th and 25th

January 31

2010-01-31T20:43:00.000-05:00

Gerald took a reading at 8" and it continued to snow through the night. He had already cleaned the car off once. Today was very pretty with the sun sparkling off the snow.

Reading, talking and watching movies. Last night I made cornbread, to go with dinner. This morning I made Gerald a "Greek" breakfast of loukaniko and eggs scrambled with tomatos. He usually just has a quick bowl of oatmeal. I wish he could stay home another day.

2010-01-29T02:08:00.000-05:00

It has been a while since I posted - can't believe January is almost over. For the most part this has been a dreary month but this week I have enjoyed the warm sunny days and not having to wear a heavy coat. After being out with just a sweater today hard to believe that between tomorrow night and Saturday we are supposed to get 5" - 8" of snow, at least it is supposed to be a dry snow so hopefully it will go away quickly. I still love snow days and keep waking to peek out the window during the night to see when it starts but I just want it not to hang around to long. I remember once I had a student move here that had never seen snow and she was so excited when there was a forecast for it. When we got back to school I asked how she liked it and I'll never forget how she admonished me with "Mrs. King you never told me that snow was cold".

A couple of weeks ago my sister and I went on our annual knitting retreat to Clarksville with my knitting group - they are the best group of women anyone could want to spend time with and I am so lucky that I met them when I retired from teaching. Linda and Issy did a great job of organizing the weekend - we knitted, laughed a lot and shared the most relaxing weekend. Our hotel, there are only two in town, is right on Kerr Lake and it was neat because near shore the lake was frozen. It rained early Sunday morning and a fog engulfed the bridge - what a neat sight.

I have two FO's -I finished my Daria purse that I started at last years retreat and the prayer shawl for my church. I am currently working on a KAL dishcloth.

I've been going to physical therapy 2 and 3 times a week for a pulled hip flexor and who knows what is wrong with my knee. I wish I had listened to my mother when I was younger and been gentler with my joints. The hip is improving but not the knee so I will see my orthopedist in February.

Snow Day

2009-12-19T14:52:00.003-05:00

Thanksgiving camping, pink sunset

2009-11-27T22:12:00.000-05:00

Thanksgiving camping - what fun. I made pie and turkey breast at home and fixed the trimmings here at the American Heritage campground in Norge. The campground is full, so many interesting people here. One family lives in Alaska and is doing a trip down the east. My "neighbor" lives in New England but during the winter follows the coastline down to warmer temperatures.

This is my campsite, spot 31. It has been more than a year since we have been here and all the sites now have nice level concrete pads. Especially when you get in after dark and have to set up. Ger and I have got our routine down and within 10 minutes of getting the rig level we have everything hooked up.

It is so nice and sunny - believe it or not I took this shot right after a light snow flurry today.

This vibrant tree is across from the park office.

.......Pretty pink sunset

Busy week and DAR invitation

2009-11-18T13:57:00.006-05:00

Last weekend I did my first two day and one night show flying solo at St. Aidens in Alexandria. Lucky for me Bo helped me set up and take down and he did all the lugging in the rain so I could stay dry. Both last year and this year the weather has been rainy for this show but it did not stop people from coming out. Gina Lee, the organizer, did a great job and had wine and cheese for shoppers and vendors on Friday nite. Lucky for me Bo was able to help me set up and take down the booth. I stayed so busy I never got to take a picture of the booth but here is a picture of the show at St. James - it was the last one Nancy and I did together, a few days before her surgery.

Nancy has had her stitches out and can move around on crutches - but only for 5 minues each hour - she has to have her foot elevated at waist height the other 55minutes.

We had an exciting invitation, from the DAR in Alexandria, to participate in their Christmas Bazaar. It seems their Regent saw us at one of our previous shows and liked our work. So the first week of December will be a busy one with two shows in 5 days and my dentist appointment in the middle.

So far this week I have two trays out of the kiln and cooling right now are two candle plates. I have a load of "jewels" waiting their turn to go in.

Earrings - circles, squares and triangles.

2009-11-10T12:15:00.004-05:00

A friend, who bought one of the red pendants I made, wanted a matching pair of earring that don't match. Well she wanted different shapes. I finished them and am waiting to hear if she likes them so I can mail them.

I got inspired and made a second pair - I have not decided how to orient the little square so the findings are not yet attached.

Black cats and Glass shopping

2009-11-02T14:45:00.006-05:00

I know it's late but after selling out of all our black cat pendants and pins I got a jump start on next year, with this new litter. I have to put pin backs and necklace bails on them.

On Friday I had the most exciting day. Gerald and I went to Vitrum Studio for their annual Bullseye glass sale. At first I was so overwhelmed there was so much. We left about four hours later with my car loaded up with beautiful glass. It was neat to see original works of glass art by their on staff designers, who were more than willing to share "secrets" of how they created such wonderful pieces. What a great bunch of people.

Tuna Does Vegas , Ocean Windchime

2009-11-02T14:01:00.006-05:00

Yesterday we met Nancy and Bo at the WarnerTheatre for the Sunday matinee of "Tuna Does Vegas". It was wonderful and we laughed so much.

This is the last week Nancy will be mobile, or at least on her feet, for a good while. On Friday she has surgery - they will start with her on her stomach to release her Achilles tendon, from just behind her knee, then they will turn her over for three more procedures (among them to remove that floating piece of bone the is causing her so much pain). The surgeon anticipates a four hour surgery after which for several weeks she has to keep her foot elevated and can lower it no more than 10 minutes - she will be issued a wheel chair. When all of this is healed she will finally get the knee replacement on her other leg.

I also picked up a windchime she finished that one of our friends commissioned as a gift for someone. Isn't it pretty? Of course the colors are so much prettier in person. I will string up the chimes later this afternoon.

Fishy tray, Crozet festival and the Blue Ridge

2009-10-16T00:37:00.010-04:00

I came back in town last night and will be leaving again tomorrow since we get to set up for Saturdays show at Lake Braddock HS tomorrow evening.

Nancy made this neat Fish tile as a commission for a friend. She has the patience to bend stringer in a flame for the tenacles.

I took this shot while Nancy she was setting up our "booth" at Fort Belvoir - she doesn't know I took it! The Potomac is outside that window behind us.

Sunday Gerald and I went to an early church service then went to the Crozet arts festival where a vendor offered to take our picture. We had a great time. When we finished there we went to Carter's Apple Orchard and picked apples. We also ran into some friends, the Parker's, that we had not seen in a while - we had a great visit.

Blue Ridge from Carter's Orchard.

2009-10-13T20:21:00.006-04:00

Turquoise! I loved those red rocks and thought that I would be making red glass but it was the turquoise that grabbed me and inspired my newest tray in turquoise, maze and hints of those purple sunrises out there. Picture coming soon.

Nancy and I had a successful show here at the officers club on Fort Belvoir. It is such a pretty setting - the back wall is a window overlooking the Potomac, where eagles are often seen soaring . I'll be heading home tomorrow morning and returning Friday morning to set up for our Saturday show at Lake Braddock HS. It is a juried show in its' 24th year. If anyone is up this way come see us - we've added a new component to our display.

Where did September go, solo show, Nancy's surgery

2009-10-08T10:20:00.006-04:00

September flew by and took with it my favorite season...Summer. I really like those hot summer days, especially the ones in the desert with no more than a miniscule percent of humidity.

October has brought my second favorite - I really love fall and the smell of early morning air but just wish for 90's in the afternoon. Last weekend worked the Selma Railroad Days show - we had a great spot just down from the main bandstand.

I booked my first show solo show. On Novemeber 7 I will be in town at Clover Hill High School for their annual fall craft festival. Gerald will set me up early and send James to pack me out. Nancy is having her first surgery on November 6 for a bone chip that is floating around loose and damage to two tendons - there will be 3 incisions -ouch! She has to get that fixed before she can get her new knee.

I am thinking of going camping this weekend - just turned the 'fridge on in my Winnebago.

Petrogliphs

2009-09-21T01:24:00.003-04:00

This morning we packed our cooler with provisions for lunch and went off to our adventure at Valley of Fire State Park - we actually did not even see it all (but spent hours there along the trails and climbing rocks) and it is not that big. There were petrified logs, yes entire logs. Rocks of every hue - reds, yellows, and all sorts of shades between. There were amazing panoramas everywhere and sunset was indescribably beautiful. Some looked like beehives (from centuries of wind, sand and water), an elephant and 7 sisters. Then there was Mouse's Tank that you got to by walking down Petroglyph canyon trail - oh my it was amazing to actually see up close and be able to touch such vivid petroglyphs. I do have a lot of pictures to bring back. This trail was loose, rather than packed sand and my feet and blue socks are now a lovely pinkish terracotta color. We saw jackrabbits, desert squirrels, little lizards. The ranger said the burros and mountain goats were out but we did not see them.

Hope you have time to check out those links. Going to attempt to get all that red sand off me so I can start off clean for tomorrows trip to Red Rock Canyon (I wonder how challenging those rocks will be to climb) and if we have time we are going to try to go to the Brothel Museum in Crystal.

Vegas, Death Valley and Date Milkshakes!

2009-09-20T02:23:00.001-04:00

The furniture market was good -always fun to see the outrages things that are made. Haziza makes some really wild furniture and accessories using acrylic - take a look. I really wanted something for me but it is so expensive that you need a trunk full of spending money to get.We stayed at Treasure Island and they gave me a bottle of champagne for my birthday. When they found out Ger's was around the corner they brought up another.We left on the 18th and drove to Pahrump a really small town a little over an hour away. Their one and only yarn store is....Walmart. It is a friendly little place and a great base to see a lot of things, Death Valley being my favorite. Today, since it is Gerald's birthday he got to decide what he would like to do. We went to China Date Ranch and had a date milk shake then travelled a back road that we had never taken through Death Valley - really pretty vistas. I don't think we will ever see the entire park..but will certainly keep trying. We saw a baby coyote and some rabbits. At sunset we were almost at Badwater so we decided to stop and eat dinner at Furnace Creek Ranch (they have one of the borax 20 mule team wagons out front - a real one not a replica and it is so much bigger in real life than I expected them to be)... we shared a "Cowboy gyro"! It was a great day but now I need a shower and shuteye since we are up early again tomorrow for more adventures

Views From Hawaii

2009-09-01T23:29:00.009-04:00

These shots are from Nancy and Bo's room! If it weren't for luggage weight limits I would have stowed away in a suitcase.

Playing with Matches!

2009-08-28T14:46:00.008-04:00

Playing with matches used to get me in trouble when I was a little girl - you should have seen my mom when I lit up an entire book at once to see what would happen. Look what happened now that I am all grown up! Oh - I still burned my finger a little.

Nancy will be arriving in Hawaii in a couple of hours - I do hope she has good weather. I am so happy that she is getting to spend her 30th anniversary there. Bo planned it all - way to go!

Halloween is only a couple of months away and I already have two witches out in the living room! It is the only holiday that I decorate early for. Halloween glass was a bit more of a challenge but here is the black cat that my friend Barbara adopted the very first time it left the house - that's ok since I'm allergic to cats!

Weekend Craft Fair

2009-08-24T08:37:00.003-04:00

It was a great weekend - first of all my sister Nancy was here which always guarantees fun.

My knitting guild, the River City Knitters , had a Craft and Art Fair for this months meeting. It's always great to see people enthusiastic about what we do and since these customers are our friends we'll have the opporutnity of seeing them wear our creations.

We really appreciate all the hard work our friend Cathy did of putting this show together - she did an amazing job.

My sister is a winner!

2009-08-07T15:54:00.007-04:00

Nancy's apple windchime placed third in the artglass group challenge this month(read more about that here). The challenge was to use RED as the focus of the object. Way to go little sister!

Everythings All White!

2009-08-07T12:51:00.007-04:00

Well, quite a bit is anyway. Here is a pictoral update on some of what is done - still have a lot to paint. First my "studio" which has wonderful light most of the day and the reason I work downstairs instead of using the spare room upstairs where my mess would be hidden.

I took the next two looking at an angle that captured a bit of the kitchen and hall. The bifold doors hide the laundry room - Gerald suggested we make glass knobs for the doors. You can see how much brighter the white is than the old Navajo White still in the living room awaiting my paintbrush.

One pillar and front door still needs paint. Wish you could have seen the surprised look when Gerald came home to the blue pantry!

Bo grows the absolute best tomatos - I picked them last night. I went up to one of my favorite glass shops to get more glass for Christmas tree pins, and drop off a "crop of trees" for Nancy to decorate when she gets home from Orlando. While I was there I saw these ripe tomatos so helped myself!

Past SHOWS

2009-08-07T12:27:00.012-04:00

2009

April
Daisy Days
St. Catherine's School
Grove Avene
Richmond VA

August 22
River City Knitters

September 8
BWOC
Fort Belvoir, VA

October 3
Selma Railroad Days
Selma NC

October 13
BWOC Luncheon
Fort Belvoir, VA

October 17
24th Annual Arts & Crafts Showcase
Lake Braddock Secondary School
Juried Show
9200 Burke Lake Road
Burke, VA

October 24
St. James Episcopal Church
Alexandria, VA
http://www.stjamesmv.org/

November 7th 9am - 3pm
Clover Hill HS Annual Craft Fair
9am - 3pm
13900 Hull Street
Midlothian, VA 23112

November 12 & 13
St. Aidens Episcopal Day School
Alexandria, VA
Nov 12: 9am - 1pm
Nov 13: 9am - 1pm and 7pm - 9pm
www.staidansepiscopal.com/

November 20 & 21
St. Mary's Catholic School
Holiday Bazaar
400 Green Street
Old Town Alexandria
Preveiw, Nov 20: 7pm - 9pm
Nov 21: 10am - 4pm

December 1
DAR Christmas Bazaar
Mt. Vernon Country Club
Alexandria, VA
9:30 - 1:30

December 5
Episcopal Church of the Redeemer
2341 Winterfield Rd
Midlothian, VA
9am - 3pm
episcopalchurchredeemer.com/

New Things!

2009-08-01T13:06:00.005-04:00

We have a new design for our business card....tell me what you think.
I have been a slacker lately, as far as posting goes, but I have been painting walls. It started with just the dining room and then I was only going to do the studio/sewing room but since that portion of ceiling is continuous through the kitchen and hall I had to keep going. Hard to believe it but I really love the pure white (I did leave the bit of turquoise in the kitchen). Next week I will work on the living room but probably at a bit of a slower pace so I can play with glass too.

While I have been painting Nancy has made some pretty things. Her apple windchime is finished - Gerald made jumprings and I wired it all together. Here it is in my backyard.

She also made this pretty sushi dish which I named Four Corners. It is really prettier in person corners, which are transparent, are lighter and the center is a solid turquoise/aqua.

I worked some on my bobbin lace making rosegrounds (this is an 8 step process to complete one little pattern) and think I have the hang of it without having to refer to the instructions quite as much.

I also changed the look, a bit less fussy, of our official TG Designs blog -give it a look. I am not quite satisfied with it but not sure what else I want to do.

Honest Scrap Award

2009-07-15T10:21:00.020-04:00

I was surprised a few days ago when Cathy, bestowed upon me the Honest Scrap Award. I pondered participating but after thinking a long time decided it would be fun.

The honorees of this award are supposed to:

A) first list 10 honest things about yourself - and make it interesting, even if you have to dig deep!

B) pass the award on to 7 bloggers that you feel embody the spirit of the Honest Scrap

Well here goes:

1. Barbie - I still have my original Barbie in her box with the $3.00 price tag. I did not play with Barbie she was my first sewing dress form. I made all kinds of wonderful outfits from patterns I created myself but oft inspired by Jacqueline Kennedy.

2. I love everything about the desert - wide open spaces, cactus, buttes, climbing rock formations and best of all the smell of it at night.

3. I don't like to cook but I like to bake.

4. My father taught me to twirl a lasso. I have not done it for a while so don't ask for a demonstration.

5. My favorite foods are watermelon and birthday cake.

6. I love summer and can rarely be found inside when the sun is shining and the temperature is on up there. I do not care if I never see winter again.

7. I got lasik so that I could learn to snorkel.

8. I like to read light hearted mysteries like those by Janet Evanovich, that make me laugh out loud.

9. ...that I became a teacher since I was the queen of playing hooky from school.My Dad once caught me on the way home from a day riding my little red Honda 90 on the surfing beach in San Diego.

10. I love beach music and beach movies, especially old Annette and Frankie Avalon ones.

I've sent this on to a few people and hope that they will do this too...Emmy, Mary, Ali, Pam, Timmie . Anyone else please join in.

Myrtle Beach - 3 days away

2009-06-29T10:49:00.003-04:00

We will be heading to Myrtle Beach on Thursday to visit my father-in-law and we're taking our Winnebago and staying at the Myrtle Beach RV park. It is right on the ocean and under a mile from a campground we used to camp at when we were kids, which has the longest fishing pier on the East Coast - more about that later.

Last weekend Gerald washed and waxed her and she is all pretty and shiny. Yesterday afternoon we packed linens, made the bed and cleaned out and rearranged the outside compartments- we had a lot of things we never used and everything is now more efficient.

This will be our first trip since our new floor was put in, now the only carpet is under the slide and in the drivers part of the cabin.

I plan to knit on the way down. I would like to finish my Daria purse, http://www.ravelry.com/projects/christinak/daria-purse, on this trip - I already packed it up. I know I won't knit a lot while I am there or at least until after the sun sets because if the sun is out and it is warm or hot I will be outside.

I packed my fishing poles, too. I like to fish more than Gerald does but he keeps me company, takes the fish off the hook, cleans and cooks them - what more can a girl ask for?

Viking knitting, band aids, and roses.

2009-06-11T10:46:00.008-04:00

Monday was good - went to Williamsburg for my lace group meeting. We did Viking Knitting, we had all taken the same class (although we did not know each other at the time) three years ago but none of us had done it since then. It is done on a dowel or hex wrench. The tape at the end just holds the wire on. When finished you pull it through a hole in a dowel in everything evens out. Once you get the first couple of rows done it is easy. Check out page 2 of this link and see the end results http://www.fineartbyrocio.com/vikingknitdirections.html
Late afternoon I went to Glitz and Tommy gave me a great haircut - 3" off feels so good.

Tuesday - this is where the week started to go downhill - if I picked it up I dropped, spilled it or broke it. Not exactly the day I was looking forward to getting blood work done.... but I went to Labcorp (read that as vampire center) on Midlothian signed in and started reading a Janet Evanovitch. About 70 pages later (and trying not to laugh out loud) I looked around and everyone was still there. 2:30pm, an hour later and no one had left the waiting room - there was only one technician. Now I have really tiny veins so I decided by the time it was my turn that would be one grumpy technician so I checked out. I went across town to pick up a piece of glass I ordered and decided to try the the location on Forest Avenue. I only waited only a few minutes and and everyone was pleasant - the technician had "the hand" because I did not even feel the pinch of the needle going in. If you need blood drawn go there. I started to get a migraine on the way home as the barometer was dropping for the evening thunderstorm. I decided to make something to go in the kiln but wound up with 3 band aids from glass cuts. I did not make it to TNK.

Yesterday got better after playing in the garden and cutting roses to bring in I put the designs elements on a plate I had fused and experimented with a new firing schedule so that it would remain 3 dimensional - took it out this morning - success! Here it is - I need to take a better picture but I want to get started priming the hall wall. Wish you could smell the roses.

Nancy sent me a picture of a windchime she is working on - there is a caterpillar on the leaf but I can't see it in the picture. Today she is having a root canal but is here on Friday for a weekend of "fusing fun."

2009-06-06T01:40:00.000-04:00

Busy weekend,shawl almost done & scary glass

2009-06-03T15:33:00.002-04:00

I am almost finished with the Prayer Shawl - I got all the rows finished on our trip Sunday (more about that below) and last night Patsy showed me the magic to create the fringe. I'm almost done.

We started off the weekend early by going to the Greek Festival on Thursday evening - good food and we always see people we haven't seen in a while. Friday afternoon I drove to Chapel Hill where I met up with 3 of my bobbin lacing friends with whom I went to the NCRL Spring Lace Day on Saturday. We stayed at a hotel in Graham, NC and ate dinner on the patio of a local restaurant in the tiny downtown. Saturday we drove into Chapel Hill for lace day - it was fun. I bought bobbins from my favorite vendors, a wooden one from Richard Worthen and from Susan Wenzel (aka Lacy Susan) a lovely carved bone and a glass one, which I will need to spangle with beads. Aren't they pretty?

On Sunday Gerald and I went to the Chrysler Musuem to view more of the art of glass exhibit, we got there late and they gave us a discount so we plan to return on Friday. There is an entire room of the works by an artist from Italy, Lino Tagliapetra who at 74 is still creating incredible works of art. http://http//www.linotagliapietra.com/ but pictures do not even begin to do his work justice.

Some of the glass I made during the week - I have more but have not taken pictures.

Blues and greens: I really like dichroic glass and my favorite combinations are blues, greens and purples followed my the red, orange and golds. It was the first that I played with last week. Dicro is difficult to photograph because it reflects ligth every which way, but that is why it is so nice to wear.

It is only one pair of earrings but I took pics at diffrent camera angles. The center is blues and purples.

After making the shawl pin for Cathy I got on a pink binge and made a few pendants then since I put blue stringer in one of the pendants I was going to make earrings to match but that blue and green thing I have took over. I have been trying different ways to make the jewelry look good in phots and used a milk glass dish that belonged to my mother but I think I need to arrange the beans better if I want to use it. I like black beans because they do not create more of a reflection..and they make great soup too.

What was I thinking! I really really want to like frit - it is so pretty in jars and bags but just does not work when I use it. I could see them as buttons on some voodoo doll.

8 More Rows, Beads and Raindrops on Roses

2009-05-27T11:58:00.000-04:00

Every time I stop I know there are only 8 more rows to go but some imp must come and undo my work at night. I have been knitting this never ending shawl for my church group and hope to have it done soon. After a long winter I dug out my torch to make some glass beads -after not doing it for so long I was out of practice (see the good, bad and really bad below) but finally got back in the swing of it. I decided to put a topper on the end of a rather short silver shawl pin - now I normally use a rather long mandrel to lay the glass on and discovered that short piece of silver gets hot rather quickly.

I made this shawl pin for my good friend, Cathy, with these sticks. I hope she will let me know how they work out - especially the one with a lot of glass on it. If it is too heavy it can always be stuck in a potted plant or the garden!

Here are the pictures of the good, bad and really bad

When I waved my DH off to work I noticed the raindrops on my very best favorite rose that is just outside my dining room window. Mirandy is the most fragrant flower that faithfully blooms in a spot where no rose should be expected to even survive - it is in the shade most of the time. One flower will scent the entire room.

Bobbin Lace and Flowers

2009-05-20T11:25:00.000-04:00

Although I only like sunny days I do appreciate what the rain does for my garden. I truly believe the drops that are heaven sent do so much more than anything out of a garden hose. The first two picturs are iris' that came from my father's garden. The last iris and the rose garden (well one section of the rose garden) is compliments of my husband, Gerald who has put in many many hours making this my special area and I really do appreciate it.

I have not done much bobbin lacing for quite a while and on Monday I went to Williamsbug to join a goup that meets monthly. I reconnected with two ladies - that I had not seen in quite some time. Carolyn(at whose home we met) and I used to take classes with LacySusan aka Susan Wenzel who makes beautiful lace so fast that her hands are a blur of bobbins and thread. The other lady looked so familiar when I met her on Monday - turns out were in my first lampworking bead class that we took at a bobbin lace convention in Pennsylvania several years ago. I had a wonderful time and half finished a very simple bookmark. Here are pictures of my pillow before and after class. .....I only took up bobbin lace to collect pretty bobbins. The ones on this pillow are mostly carved bone and blown glass.

Art of Glass 2 Exhibit - a must see!

2009-05-17T17:34:00.000-04:00

On Friday we went to the Suffolk Cultural Arts Center to one of the Artof glass 2 exhibits, http://www.artofglass2.com/, which is now in several locations across the tidewater area. On display are works of art by well known glass artists. Neil Duman, who is an internationally recognized artist living and working here in Richmond, was outside demonstrating with his portable furnace. He was so down to earth and when he handed me the punty rod with a gather of molten glass, to hold for a few minutes I was hooked and am now anxious to take some classes in yet another form of glass art. The best news - Gerald is even more exicted than I am about it. Here are a few of the pictures. Oh, that blob turned into an incredible vase.

Row Counters

2009-05-06T17:10:00.000-04:00

My sister and I made some neat row counters that can be clipped onto anything. Nancy likes to clip them to the welt on her sofa cushions, I clip them on my sweater or knitting bag. Here are some of the picture. Send me an e-mail if you are interested in adding some of these to your gadget collection. They are made with very nice glass beads, with the exception of the Ultra-Lites at the bottom of the page. For more pictures and details visit my flickr at http://www.flickr.com/photos/20434219@N07/

Ultra-Lite collection:

Knitting, painting, new glass success!

2009-04-18T11:03:00.001-04:00

I did not make it to knit night due to a migrane(I really miss spending time with my TNK friends) but did get to knit with my prayer shawl group at church later in the week. I am almost done with the shawl and hope to get in done in the next two weeks, after the sale at Daisy Days, because I am ready for closure on this project. I will then finish another so nearly done piece - my Daria purse - I think I only have 2o inches of 6 stitch rows to complete the strap and then just need to sew it together.

I have been wanting to experiment with Spectrum 96 glass because they make such lovely vibrant tranparents. It fuses differently than COE90 that I use and is not compatible with the 90 so has to be stored separately. I had success with the larger piece but would like a crisper edge to the smaller ones. I will have to work on the firing schedule for pendant sizes but believe I nailed the large size on the first try! Here they are.

Today I am going to prime my dining room to repaint it. It is in need of fresh paint since it has been the old neutral, Navajo for about 13 years. We want to liven it up but having a hard time picking the color - the room faces the north and unlike the rest of the house gets only sun in the morning and the neutral looks so drab in the afternoon that I try to avoid coming in here. Ger has his vote in for yellow - good golly there are a zillion versions of yellow but as long as it does not scream at me and goes with the adjoining open kitchen which is turquoise (my favorite) I will glady go with it. I wonder what samples he will bring me tonight.

Orange toaster, cheese trays, pendants

2009-04-10T10:30:00.001-04:00

Those who know me know I love everything southwest - cactus, dry heat, sunshine and the colors. After we bought this house, while my husband was at High Point, I painted the kitchen turquoise - he was ...surprised! Well my toaster finally bit the dust and I found the best Tangerine Kitchen Aid one. The wall looks blue but is actually a lovely turquoise.

This morning I took out another cheese tray, my 4th this week, and put in a tray of pendants- I took a picture just before I closed the kiln on them and will take another when they come out. I always hope for a pleasant surprise. I did a little knitting while watching Hell's Kitchen last night. It seems that prayer shawl is doing the "fish and loaves" thing and is never going to get done.

Spring is finally here

2009-04-09T22:53:00.000-04:00

Flowers, warmer weather (most of the time) and longer days with bright sunshine - yep it's spring. The best part is the summer is on the way. I love for summer!

I did not realize how long it has been since I last posted - time slips by too quickly. I've had some health issues and been busy making glass for our shows and slooowly knitting my prayer shawl for my church group. My sister also taught me to needlepoint - now that is one slow project but relaxing when we work together since I have a mental block on which way to put m needle in.

My sister who is not a gardener but loves flowers made cheese tray with spring flowers blooming. Isn't it pretty? We are gearing up for the end of the month when we will be showing at St. Catherines' Daisy Days.

Snowmen

2009-02-03T10:29:00.000-05:00

Look what Gerald (my husband) brought in with the morning paper! Even though I retired from teaching in 2005 I still gets excited when the forecast is for snow. I have not retired from "snow check" and continually peek out the window during the night which drives Gerald crazy - he does not appreciate it when I open the bedroom window in the wee hours of the morning to feel for falling snow flakes. I grabbed my camera this morning to get some shots before it melts away. And here is my loyal front porch snowman.

Gosh, the snow is so pretty I am pondering doing the snow dance again tonight, but not until after we all get home from knit night and Ger gets home from work.

I was so excited about the snow I did not even open my kiln until after we put the snowman back outside. Here is a look at the tray when I put it in the kiln then the next is the finished product

COOKING with GLASS !

2009-01-31T12:11:00.000-05:00

I have have been away from my knitting needles this week but do have some FO's to show off. These are the pendants that I attached bails to yesterday.

This morning when I opened my little kiln this is what I saw. I hope you can see the little "fingers" on the snowman.

I also made some buttons. The bottom green one was an experiment using clear stringer. I wondered why on earth they put clear stringer in that package but decided to try it anyway. I was happy to see that it did not just fade away into the background. I like the results.

Next are some blue buttons. They are all from cut from the same sheet of glass. I think they would be pretty on a sweater. I bought the glass because it was the same color as my favorite car - it was a 1988 Nissan 300ZX. Oh my, I cannot tell you how many speeding tickets I got in it!

This last one did not turn out as I expected but I do love the tropical colors.

My week started off slow and I did not even make it to my Tuesday night knit group ( I always look forward to time spent with this group of friends)because I was a bit under the weather. Once the barometer went up and the sun came out my energy returned and I have spent time in my "studio", which is really the breakfast area that I turned into my sewing room. It is now my sewing room/glass studio. I love this little area with its five windows where I am drenched in sunshine and can at least pretend it is warm outside.....have I mentioned that I prefer 365 days of summer?

Daria Purse

2009-01-23T13:31:00.000-05:00

I have only a few rows to go to finish the second side of the purse and will only have the strap that also joins the three sides. I plan to put in a lining. I am going to surprise, no shock, my knitting group with the progress I have made. I really do love working with this yarn (Noro daria) - thought it would be rough on my hands but it is not.

Today I have been to the Y for my deep water class, to Sam's club and dusted furniture. I probably will not knit until tonight or tomorrow at the River City Knitters meeting because I need to make some glass to get in my kiln, for the show we have in two weeks and the commission that we need to finish.

Hello

2009-01-22T17:41:00.001-05:00

My good friend Cathy is helping me set up a blog. Although I read blogs I have never tried one because I really am not much of a writer. My husband tells me that when I am out of town the letters I send start with a capital letter and end with a single solitary period five pages later.

I am the queen of UFO's because I have a stash of yarn, a cache of knitting needles, patterns and several projects on needles but have only a pile of dishcloths and a few scarves to show for it. Of course I have to admit that I also have two cedar chests full of fabric that spans several decades and I have not cut into it yet. I really am on the way to completing a new knitting project that I started this past weekend at our knitting retreat in Clarksville - it is the Daria Purse and I am about half way there. Hope to get it done in a few days and post pictures - well as soon as Cathy guides me through that process.

I AM BORN

2009-01-22T16:31:00.000-05:00

I am helping HRH (aka her royalhighness, the Queen) set up her new blog - let's wish her well!