As I come across these treasures by glass artists, I have to post their delightful works for all to feast their eyes on. She's such a charmer!

 

I Love this Window. I have no idea who created it but I think it's gorgeous!

SOLD

The hot lazy days of summer don't inspire me to move too much. In doing stained glass I like to grind the glass outside in order to avoid the mess from the splashing water. It's lovely in the garden in cooler weather but my Etsy store is running a little low; that's a good thing, so I ventured out and made 3 origami peace cranes.

Our family is soon to be blessed with the arrival of two more children. New life is always so exciting. I wanted to welcome the new additions with something handcrafted and unique so I made each a small quilt. I love quilting, it's very much like doing stained glass the lazy man's way!

                        I am adding dichroic jewelry pieces to my Etsy store!

Snow Globe

This is fun.... click on link and put your address in the snow globe to see your house in the snow, while donating to the homeless!

I love this painting.....

This is such a unique and beautiful use of stained glass! I love the colors and reflections.

 Refurbishing Old Furniture

Refurbishing old furniture with mosaics can be fun and rewarding. Certainly a project to keep you busy an entire season...

I imagine St. Elmo as an artist community, with small boutiques filled with fine arts and crafts, having some of the flavor of Frazer Avenue. It's a walk around community, with a lovely village square where people gather for coffee and where music plays on weekends in the summer by the Incline Railroad. It would be so nice to mosaic under the railroad overpass as a community project, giving life and color to our community.

It is a great joy to me that I was granted permission, by the gracious and talented artist Kiki Suarez, to replicate in glass her painting "Many Strong and Beautiful Women". In these times of the War on Women and being a strong advocate for women's rights, civil rights and equal rights, I appreciate the opportunity, challenge and Kiki's generosity. To see more of her wonderful artwork www.kikitheartist.com

By chance I discovered this wonderful blog:

http://lamaisonbisoux.wordpress.com/2012/09/18/las-mujeres-gorditas-de-julia-ustinova/

Her fibre art is just wonderful and original!

Mermaid

I recently completed this mermaid, with an iridescent body and face, beaded hair and crystal shell. She's for sale in my Etsy shop.

Found this wonderful mosaic door frame on line. I wish I had the time and materials for such projects!

Often I take a break from stained glass and quilt. It's very similar to stained glass in many ways but more relaxing.....

I often wish I could do more for the less fortunate but recently I was made aware of a fun and easy project that benefits children all over the world and it only cost me my time, as I quilt and have scraps of material left over. It was a wonderful use for remnants that pile up and was an outlet for being creative also, while benefiting others. I don't sew very well but these little pillowcase dresses for children living in poverty were easy enough for a novice like me to tackle. My friend's church made them as a community women's project and the turn out was incredible! She told me they hung the little dresses from the balcony in church on Sunday morning. These little dresses are sometimes the only new thing the child ever has, so sad. Their website Pillowcase Dresses for Children in Africa gives a pattern and directions where to send them, children here in Appalachia benefit also. For real ease you can make the dresses from bandanas also and avoid having to bind the seams! 

Today I worked all day on Stained Glass Origami Cranes and I got them posted in my Etsy Store.

These stained glass origami cranes of original design measure seven inches high and twelve inches across. Blue usually signifies peace, white long life and good health and red is usually used for wedding decoration, because of their association with fidelity, prosperity and longevity.

This origami stained glass crane, of original design and hand crafted in my home studio in Chattanooga, Tennessee, is also known as Sadako’s Peace Crane or “tsuru” in Japanese, symbolize peace and long life. The origami crane is often given as a gift to wish ill people a quick recovery, and as a wedding gift or decoration as cranes mate for life and are devoted in all seasons, sharing equally in nest building and caring for their young. Throughout Asia the crane is a symbol of peace, happiness and eternal youth. It is said a thousand folded paper cranes makes a wish come true.

The origami crane has become an international peace symbol in recent years as a result of its connection to a young girl, Sadako Sasaki, who was two when the atom bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. She collapsed when she was ten during a sports event and was diagnosed with Leukemia, the “Atom Bomb Disease”. Her friends told her the legend that anyone who folded a thousand cranes would be granted a wish. Sadako hoped for a recovery, in her courageous battle with Leukemia and began folding them, she died before completing her task. Her faith and courage inspired her friends and classmates to complete her task and to build a memorial to the innocent children, who were victims of the atomic bomb. Each year children and adults from all over the world fold a thousand cranes which are placed at the foot of the monument where the inscription reads:

This is our cry, this is our prayer, Peace in the world.”

. A gift tag will be provided with each crane if you email me to let me know which you’d like :1.) This is our cry, This is our prayer, Peace in the world. 2.) Wishing you a quick recovery and a long and happy life. 3.) Wishing you a long and happy marriage and much prosperity. A pattern for folding a paper crane and a piece of origami paper, will be included with each purchase, perhaps you’d like to try to build one.


The crane is possibly the oldest bird on earth. Today seven of the fifteen species are threatened with extinction. For more information about captive breeding methods, how you can help write to:
The International Crane Foundation
E-11376 Shady Lane Road
Baraboo, Wisconsin 53913

Ask about their Adopt A Crane Program. Their web address is http://www.savingcranes.org/

I was wondering if anyone does Pinterest? It's so much fun and inspiring. It also helps me to stay organized. Whenever I see something interesting I post it there so that I can find it again later. It's funny too, I learned I love red, purple and orange, everything I collect are those colors! I had no idea until I saw all my postings together on the boards. You can check out my boards for more stained glass and mosaic ideas, as I post a lot there. You might even find you want to set up your own boards. http://pinterest.com/suncatcherglass/Just look at the colors in these flowers!

I've always wanted a messy, overgrown garden with a riot of color.