Back to glass

Dichroic glass beautiful, magical, unpredictable and a little addictive. While taking a break from weaving I thought that I would go back to my stained glass beginnings and make some fused glass jewelry for the gallery. Should be a good time of the year for some jewelry sales. And since I actually sold a couple of pieces before they made it to the gallery; I think that I am encouraged.

Two to three layers of glass waiting to be put through the kiln for the first time.

This is the info that I include with the jewelry and buttons: Fused glass is the process of taking multiple layers of glass and fusing them together. The glass is melted, in a kiln, at temperatures up to 1550 degrees. It usually takes several firings to achieve the desired effect. Dichroic glass contains multiple micro-layers of metal oxides. Layers of different metals (gold, silver), metal oxides and silica are vaporized by an electron beam in a vacuum chamber. (Whoa, way Buzz Lightyear). The vapor then condenses on the surface of the glass. The finished glass can have as many as 30 to 50 layers of these materials yet the thickness of the total coating is approximately 30 to 35 millionths of an inch. The coating that is created is very similar to a gemstone . The main characteristic of Dichroic Glass is that it has a transmitted color and a completely different reflective color. Furthermore, these two colors shift depending on angle of view. With the play of light together with its vibrant color, Dichroic Glass is absolutely amazing.

Rainy day color

Nothing like a little color on a rainy November day.

Magic mitten box

This week Barb hosted our 2nd Monday gathering of weavers, and as you can see some very talented knitters. Jean joined us, bringing a box filled with her beautifully knitted mittens and the pattern books they were knit from. As she lifted the lid , with her mittens tantalizingly displayed; you would have thought she had opened a box of the most delectable chocolates. Ohhs and ahhs, followed by us gathering around, as moths to a flame to touch and try them on. Oh to be on her gift list. Or perhaps to make some of my own. Yes!

Thanks Barb for modeling my shawl. I am never sure I like it until I see it on someone. Barb finished the fabric for her unique chair and Susan showed us a new scarf with a felted pin attached. Fun and funky. The rag rug above is twined on a wooden frame, a technique we should get Barb to demonstrate.

We had lots of show and tell this week and Joanne brought some of the purses and aprons that she is getting together for an upcoming art fair. This purse had a finger woven strap and rya flowers that I thought was particularly lovely.

And what would a gathering be without some treats to keep us going. Barb's soups were well complimented by Joannes bread and of course desert. Thanks Barb for a festive day, I always go home re energized to get weaving and in this case, mitten knitting.

Wisconsin fall

favorite fall pic, originally uploaded by kindred threads.

I thought that I would share with you what has always been one of my favorite pictures. It makes me want to sit by the side of the road and fill a canvas with color. Not that I have painted anything but set scenery for many a year. Our area of southwestern Wisconsin is one hidden valley after another of breathtaking beauty, waiting for my camera or one of the areas many talented painters.

Maybe next spring I will take the time to reconnect with my long, latent drawing skills. I saw on someones ?? blog, about a resolution to do some sketching for 10 minutes everyday. I'm thinking that would be a worthy goal, and more likely to be acted on than the soon forgotten, 60 situps, a day resolution.

VIVA Gallery

Carole Austin; fellow weaver and I are guest artists along with Nick Smolen, a blacksmith, this month at VIVA Gallery. Our opening reception was this past Thursday; what has become their monthly first Thursday gathering of VIVA members and local art patrons. The food and wine was a lovely addition to what to turned out to be a larger than I expected, crowd. I can hardly believe that I forgot my camera. The gallery looked great and I feel honored to be a part of such a group of incredibly talented artists. Go to VIVA's blog to see more info on this great gallery.

Deflected doubleweave

From Kindred Threads

From Kindred Threads

From Kindred Threads

Not too sure about this project at first. I mostly just wanted to play with the weave structure. Something about doubleweave fascinates me. But the whole felting process has not usually been some of my brighter fiber moments. Of course if I had done some sampling I would of had a better idea of what would felt and what wouldn't. I knew I was probably going to be creating an "arty" piece when I read one of the yarn labels as being shrink resistant. Of course after I had warped up the loom. As it turned out the black alpaca/silk that I was sure would felt, didn't even pretend to try to felt. I have been kind of warming up to its uniqueness gradually and after seeing it worn by a lady at the VIVA artists reception, I think that I actually like it.

From Kindred Threads

The yellow stitches join the long edges of the shawl while it is felting so that it felts evenly.

From Kindred Threads

Looks a bit like my calico cat if she had been put through the washing machine.

From Kindred Threads

playing...not producing

From Kindred Threads

From Kindred Threads

From Kindred Threads

Instead of just finishing off the tail end of my linen purse warp in a timely fashion; I decided to use my stashed; handspun in Nepal nettle yarn, to make a loopy scrubby cloth. This was calling to me after reading about a "spa cloth " on one of my favorite emagazines called weavezine.
After an hour plus...plus? of loopy madness I decided I loved the effect, but this will not be an item that I would be willing to sell. There is just not enough time in m world for that.

So that was fun, but in the end I am just procrastinating from getting inventory built up for an upcoming featured artist spot at VIVA Gallery for the month of November. Carole Austin, another weaver (hopefully more productive than I);and Nick Smolten; a damascus metal worker, will be sharing the featured artist spot with an opening celebration from 5-7 on November 5th. Come and join us, I think I will get some pictures printed and have more of a virtual show, if I don't get busy soon.