fire and glass

I have a crazy affinity for teapots. I began a collection some time ago but never took it too seriously. Truthfully, I don’t have room to take any collection too seriously. My sister on the other hand...really, some day I’m going to devote blog entries for an entire month to my sisters varied and growing collections. But back to teapots. I was prowling the pages of Etsy trying to decide what to get my Mom for Christmas and I came across this fabulous hand thrown teapot: Long since sold..as well it should be. But I keep haunting this potters site to see what I can see and there is usually something new and wonderful to behold. The shop is 'MudStuffing' and the artist is Keith Phillips who it turns out not only throws wicked tea pots but could , if he wanted to, sew up the tea cosy as well. He agreed to be a feature here on 'Fire and Glass' ..Thanks Keith! When and how did you first become interested in being a potter? I started helping a friend in their ceramic studio.

If you know about Etsy then you know that there is a plethora of talented artisans who work hard at what they do. I'm really floored by some of the outstanding talent and meticulous work that I see in this fairly young venue and Ive decided that I'm going to start featuring other artisans here on the first of every month..so I'm on the hunt for someone to feature this coming week. There's something for you all to wait with bated breath for! ;) If you're an artist who makes your living with your hands (and it needn't just be jewelry related) be it metalwork, lampwork, pmc, polymer clay, ceramic beads, handspun wool..woodwork, soap! and you're interested in a feature with pics and links please do contact me (debatsweetwaterdesignsdotca) I love a good project!

Cabochons ...kab-uh-shon..I just like saying the word. They're designed without a hole and with a flat back so design possiblities can be very creative. Pendants, yes.. wired or bezel set . Interesting on fabric as well. Think of a unique button closure for a funky bag. They'd make great earrings or cufflinks as well. Men need to wear those more, don't you think? What else would you do with these...

~Robert Genn 'The Atmosphere at ChatterBox Falls' I did watercolor in a past life. Someday I'll dig them out again but right now I'm entangled and enraptured with glass rods and the torch. One of my favorite painters is Robert Genn . His works are full of light and color and he just happens to come from my old stomping grounds of Victoria, BC. ( He's an islander, he's got to be one of the good guys . ) His work is impressionistic if you feel a need to slot something, and I hate doing that...but it's a style I've always admired. It's almost as though seen through severely myopic eyes, as I'm sure many of those old masters were. All you have are shape and light and color poured into and beside each other, but somehow those simple elements magically merge to become a satisfying image. If you stand close you become too aware of the process..you have to back up and feel it as well as see it. A little like life that way. He writes a weekly newsletter..

I was never very good at waiting. I guess I’m impatient by nature, although I went fishing once with my younger brother auspiciously to learn to cast, but the fact was that I wanted to tan my Irish white legs. Is there any paler skin than that of the Irish? I remember as a child going to the beach with my family and being so completely devasted by my fathers white body in comparison to his face and arms that I would have died right there in the sand if any of my friends had shown up. But I was talking about patience, not the color of my skin which I no longer mind. My brother deemed me a very patient person on the afternoon that he taught me to cast a fishing line. Still..I don’t like waiting. What I've been waiting on lately is for the domain for my website to be transferred from one host to another and we’re now going into the second week. Is this normal? Who knows. I’ve emailed them and of course they've assured me that this is well within the realms of reason. What else wou

More artisan bracelets can be found on my Etsy shop ...

I know. I am impassioned with the stuff and my name is Glass Nerd, I freely admit it. I'm enthralled with the silver laden glasses that have stormed the lampwork industry lately. Double Helix's Psyche , Terra, Gaia ...and Ron Jr's Chagall, Monet..and oh so many many more! Those aren't the only companies that are producing the beauteous stuff and those aren't even the very latest to come out; they're just the ones I've tried. Moocho Moola is needed so I've been reticent in buying. I was very graciously gifted with much of what I do have and was so joyous the day that package came in the mail that I embarrassed even myself...ask my family. At some point they discreetly left the room while I tried to compose myself. These are some of the latest focal beads from my studio and are up on Ebay and Etsy at the moment.