Friday, September 09, 2016

Stained Glass Fibonacci

Fibonacci Spiral
This stained glass panel measures 8.50 X 13.00 inches. A pattern or cartoon is made, the glass is hand cut by me, ground for precision and wrapped and burnished in copper foil. It is then lead soldered, a zinc frame with chain is attached for hanging. In this case, please let me know which way you would like it to hang in convo as you check out. The panel is cleaned, and waxed. 



Fibonacci Star/ Pentagram

This stained glass piece measures 21 inches and has approximately 165 pieces that were hand cut by me, ground for precision, wrapped and burnished with copper foil, framed in zinc and lead soldered. It was cleaned, black patina was applied and it was framed in zinc with a chain for hanging. The glass is an iridescent plum ( as in 5th photo) with more iridescence showing in low light and the plum and clear showing in strong sun light.

The pentagram has been used as a religious symbol throughout the world from the beginning of recorded history. The most basic pentagram is simply a five-point star drawn with one continuous line broken into five line segments and with one point of the star facing up. In Christian symbolism, the basic pentagram (without a circle) was originally used to represent the five wounds of Jesus Christ.

In Wicca and various forms of “white magic,” the encircled, upright pentagram is considered a symbol that provides protection of some kind. Pagan and neo-pagan groups use the pentagram in all manner of rituals and ornamentation because it symbolizes infinity, the binding of the five elements, and protection of the self.


If a regular pentagon is drawn and diagonals are added, a five-sided star or pentagram is formed. Where the sides of the pentagon are one unit in length, the ratio between the diagonals and the sides is Phi, or the Golden Ratio. This five-point symmetry with Golden proportions is found in starfish and this stained glass piece.

The Fibonacci numbers are Nature's numbering system. They appear everywhere in Nature.

Humans exhibit Fibonacci characteristics, too. The Golden Ratio is seen in the proportions in the sections of a finger, space between the eyes, size of teeth, and proportion of a smile.
Fibonacci Sequence
There is a special relationship between the Golden Ratio and the Fibonacci Sequence:
0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, ...
(The next number is found by adding up the two numbers before it.)
. Each segment of the five-pointed star is in a Golden Ratio to the next smaller segment.


Joining the points of a pentagram (to make a pentagon) illustrates Fibonacci relationships between the lines. Also note that both these shapes are constructed around nature’s most natural shape – a circle.
: A five-sided star contains lines that are related by Fibonacci numbers 5, 8 and 13.

And here is a surprise: when we take any two successive (one after the other) Fibonacci Numbers, their ratio is very close to the Golden Ratio.
Another interesting aspect of phi and five is in relation to the design of the human body, which in addition to being based on phi relationships in its proportions, has:
• 5 appendages from the torso, in the two arms, two legs and a head,
• 5 appendages on each of legs and arms in the five fingers and five toes,
• 5 openings on the face, and
• 5 senses in sight, sound, touch, taste and smell.
5 deserves a “high 5” for its role in phi, don’t you think!


Without Mathematics There Is No Art! Pacioli




The Evil Eye



This stained glass panel measures 31.50 X 8.50. The glass in this piece is exquisite. The amber has a mixture of orange, hot pink and purple, the most costly colors along with red. It’s only produced once a year and rather hard to come by. No two pieces are the same as it is hand blown. A lovely splash of color at the top of a window that sends dancing light around the room.
There are approximately 150 pieces of glass in this panel. Each piece of glass is hand cut, ground for precision and to accept the copper foil, which is hand wrapped and burnished. When all pieces are assembled correctly, it is then lead soldered, framed with zinc, cleaned, patina in black or copper is applied and finally the window is waxed and chain applied for hanging.






The Evil Eye
The concept of the evil eye is widespread in Mediterranean countries, with its roots planted in ancient Greece. It is mentioned or discussed in many ancient texts including the Old Testament, Talmudic literature and the Koran. The idea is that the gaze of someone who harbors feelings of envy or jealousy can bring misfortune upon the one who is seen -- the one who "gets the evil eye."

The depiction of an eye is used as protection by those who believe in the evil eye, to fight fire with fire, so to speak. Those who display an eye as a talisman 
hope that its power will counteract or ward off the evil eye, whenever it should fall on them.

Saturday, May 14, 2016

Stained Glass Origami Necklace - Fused Dichroic Glass Crane - Asian Art




Wednesday, May 11, 2016

How to Help a Lost Cat Get Home

I don't normally write about things like this but the incident was traumatizing for all concerned, perhaps it will be helpful to someone in the same circumstances.


My very special Bugsy Malone was lost on April 30th while on the way into the door to get his vaccinations. He took off across the street in into a huge 2 X 2 mile cemetery with rolling hills and woods all around going up to an undeveloped mountain ridge. Around the perimeter of the cemetery are houses on two sides with a shopping district on the third side. Naturally we alerted all the local shelters, the postmen, we registered with the micro-chip company, put classifieds in both local papers and posted Reward posters with pertinent information at intersections, shopping ares etc. We drove at dusk and dawn calling Bugsy and after there were no sightings just false alarms we decided we had to come up with something to get him out of the woods on the mountain ridge where coyotes, fox and rattle snakes live. We followed the following procedure for days 8 and 9 and Bugsy came sauntering in the early morning of the tenth day. We have no idea if what we did worked, if Bugsy has the powers to sense his way home or if God interceded but he's home, thin and tired but fine. So I am posting our formula for finding a cat here.

OUR FORMULA
I have no idea if what I’m writing has any validity but I lost my cat outside the vet’s office about 2 miles from my house. He was gone for 10 days before he came strolling in , starved and exhausted but well.
We decided to give him a scent trail to follow home. Unfortunately our dog is not totally housebroken so we wiped up his urine with an old towel. We tied a 4 foot length of rope around it, put it in a plastic bag and poured enough water on it to drench it. If you don’t have a poorly trained dog, you could probably pour your cat’s messy litter box into a plastic bag with a towel and water. We hung the towel from the trunk of our car and drove the perimeter of where we thought he might be dragging the towel home. We did each side street leading onto the main drag. Where there was grass we scattered very small amounts of used kitty litter, calling out for him the whole time. We went 2 times a day at dusk and dawn.

I have no idea if our method helped, along with posters, shelters, classifieds, knocking on doors but he did manage to find his way home on his own. It might be worth a try.




Wednesday, March 09, 2016

I'll be listing small butterfly plant stakes in various colors and positions. Most are iridescent with a copper patina stain on the lead. The butterfly itself measures between 2-3 inches, this one is 2X4 on a six inch brass rod.

Sunday, January 17, 2016

Still More Valentine's Day Hearts

   "Two souls but with a single thought, two hearts that beat as one"... John Keats





Saturday, January 16, 2016

Unique Valentine Gift

Found on Etsy
    The heart, a symbol of love, is made from clear beveled glass. It measures approximately 6 X 6 inches. The origami crane is iridescent blue/green glass. The crane represents fidelity, long life, prosperity and peace. All things we wish those we love. A perfect gift for Valentine’s Day, engagement or wdding and all year long as it casts beautiful reflections around the room, reminding your loved one of you. An original gift designed by me.



Love is in the air. This Valentine’s Day, take inspiration from the oldest bird (6 million years) on earth. Talk about a mating dance, whooping cranes—which are monogamous and mate for life—bow their heads, flap their wings, leap and bounce off stiffened legs all in the effort to secure a partner. They usually have two eggs and share in raising the young. 
The crane is now considered an endangered species.