Shardsandlight’s Weblog

4 Monarchs

  Just finished polishing, and wrapping these for a customer, they are Christmas gifts for her family.

  Dieter is having his shop open on weekends now thru Christmas.  He does some pretty amazing things with metal!  Dragonflies, butterflies, all sizes of flowers on metal rods for your garden, or yard decor.  Dieter also does custom metalwork, he is quite artistic and collaborates ideas with his Mom, together they have come up with some pretty amazing and unique items.  Dieters Mom makes dried flower wreaths, swags, and has mittens right now for sale.  She also custom makes teddy bears from old fur coats, she does beautiful work!  My glass pieces are also at Dieters shop, some Christmas items, lightcatchers to hang in a window, small panels, some pieces with bevelled glass, fan lamps, and more!
  Have a cup of coffee, hot cider, and a cookie while you browse the shop!
  Christmas is only a few weeks away now!!

  Happy Thanksgiving to Everyone!

  Her name is Tiny, BUT she isn’t really so tiny, she’s getting a bit old now, and has that mid-rif buldge if you know what I mean.  LOL  She is quite the ‘Princess’ in our house, and she knows it.  When you get up from a chair she’ll immediately zoom into your spot, so don’t think you’re going to have your same chair back should you return!  She will have something to say to you if you think you are!  She is very lovable, and loves to cuddle, so she knows that and uses it to her advantage.

Side View

Front View

  Here’s my newest piece I finished.  I drew up the basic design on Sunday morning, cut and fit the pieces of glass, copper foiled them, and started the soldering.  I wasn’t planning on getting this done, and the squiggly wires with the decorative pieces soldered onto them were one of those things….make it up as I went along.  I thought they added a bit of interest.  So end product isn’t just a simple everyday candle holder, it has some character.  I think that’s what they’d call it in the “artsy world”.  Anyway you can be assured, it’s ’one of a kind’.   Let me know how you like it?  Add comments………..nice ones, LOL      

  Just back from taking some time away.  Went to Christmas Mountain Resort in Wisconsin Dells, what a great place it is!  Peaceful, pine trees, a golf course…..of course   ,  they’ve expanded now and have 3 restaurants on the grounds, one of which is for the skiing season, and is located just near the bottom of their ski hills.
  We stayed in one of the villas, it has 2-bedrooms, a fireplace in the living room, full kitchen facilities, full bathroom, dining table, screened porch w/Jenn-air fryer and patio table and chairs on the porch area.  The master bedroom has a fireplace as well, along with a jacuzzi, which was great on a daily basis!    Also a full-sized washer and dryer, and full bathroom.  Ahhhhhh yes this was living!  At this time of year it is so quiet there, just the whisper of wind in the pines, not alot of people.  
  One of the days we drove down to Madison where I had to visit another stained glass shop called The Vinery  http://www.vineryglass.com/ .   Picked up a few bits and pieces, needed for my glass work.   Always have time to visit a stained glass shop!   :-)  
  Tuesday we stayed in, read books, watched movies, made a fire in the fireplace, there was freezing rain coming down that day, so glad we stayed in.
  Ate at the Pizza Pub too, which has a huge salad bar, along with pizza buffet for lunch. 
  Lake Delton in the Dells is not much more than a mud pit right now, some water flowing, but not much.  And certainly doesn’t look anything like it should.  Hopefully they will be able to resolve that and get the lake back for the upcoming 2009 summer season.   
  Again it was great to get away, but it always feels good to get home again too.          

  Just found a place with some fantastic and unique glass pieces!  When we walked in I felt like a kid in a candy store, being turned loose……    I must have spent 2-3 hours in there, digging in bins, and searching thru all the shelves.  Things were dusty from sitting, but I could see the potential, after being washed they would all sparkle and come to life.  I knew I would be doing some serious damage to my account…….eeks.  But sooooooooo many great pieces and so hard to resist.  There were racks and racks, and shelves stuffed full.  We carried a couple boxes of my new glass finds to the car.  These will be great pieces when incorporated into candleholders, stained glass panels etc.
  I was anxious to get home, unpack everything, and get them in some hot soapy water, to see their real beauty.  As each piece emurged from it’s bubble bath, I was ooooooo-ing and ahhhhhh-ing, they were great!  I had the kitchen counter full of everything laid out on towels.
  Over the winter months I will be making some new and unique pieces for the 2009 season.  Wish I could quit my other job! 
  I guess ’simple things amuse simple minds’…….LOL        (:D)