Summer Report

Such a busy summer!  This year’s Artists of the Limberlost Open Studio Weekend has come and gone, and was a tremendous success.   The rain did not hold back the crowds (it was a perfect weekend to NOT be on the dock…) and even Sunday, usually a quieter day, was busy.  Hundreds of people enjoyed the amazing art we had to see, and sales were strong.  I still have many great pieces, so please feel free to contact me if you would like to arrange a visit to the studio.  Here is a sample of recent work, still available...

ICE STUDY I  (Framed wall mounted piece.)

 

Magical Winter  8" wide, free-standing in iron frame

Moonrise  8"wide, free-standing in iron frame

Next on my show agenda is the Apsley Autumn Studio Tour, September 17 & 18.  This is my 10 season as a guest artist with abstract painter Molly Moldovan, and I always look forward to our weekend together.  Her colourful paintings work in so many settings, and I am fortunate to own a few myself!
I round up the year at Made in Muskoka Christmas, a beautiful “boutique” fine craft show in Huntsville perfectly timed for Christmas giving, December 9-11.  But more on that later!

Seasonal Offerings

The Made in Muskoka Christmas Show and Sale is fast approaching, and my management partner Miranda and I have been busy with organizing and promoting this event, held annually at Huntsville’s historic Sutherland Hall.  Check out our facebook page as well as our website with photos featuring incredible products you’ll find at the show, as well as a gift guide and info on all of our exhibitors.

I’ve also been finishing up my own newest work for the show.  Celestial events seem to be the theme this year for me, with Northern Lights, sunsets, and more of my “cosmic bowls”.  Every piece is different, and each of my customers will go home with a truly “one of a kind” work of glass art.  For those who like their art more “down to earth”, I have some floral free-standing art pieces featuring seasonal Muskoka wildflowers,  a limited supply of Christmas ornaments and pins, and my ever-popular colourful spoon rests!  See me at Made in Muskoka Christmas, Huntsville, December 11-13. 

Here’s a kiln load ready for slumping.  You may wonder why the pink background.  The “kiln wash” I use to keep the glass from sticking to the surface it’s fired on, has a dye in it, which burns out upon firing.  This way I can tell which molds and kiln shelves need to be re-coated.  There are many jobs that go into craft besides the creative work of design. Coating kiln shelves and molds is one of the more mundane tasks in my studio.

New work for Made in Muskoka Christmas

My island silhouette series is always popular. Here is a load in my smaller kiln, ready to slump. That means they are sitting on molds, and when heated, will soften and "slump" into the mold, transforming flat glass into bowls and small plates! Visit madeinmuskokachristmas.com to see work by all the artists participating in this fine craft show in Huntsville, Dec. 12-14.

Made in Muskoka Christmas is coming!

The latest snow here in Muskoka feels like it's going to stay... in one month the much anticipated fine craft and art show, MADE IN MUSKOKA CHRISTMAS will be held at lovely Sutherland Hall in downtown Huntsville.  A truly outstanding line-up of artists is participating, and we hope you'll join us!  Come to our opening reception and enjoy appetizers catered by The Farmer's Daughter, Dec.12 from 6-8 pm, or enjoy a hot cider anytime during the show, while you wander and discover all there is to see.
The women of All Saints will have the coffee and tea available downstairs, as well as soup, sandwiches and sweet treats.  Pick up some home baking to take home while you're there!

New Work - Fresh from the Kiln!

Moonrise (detail)

The development work I did for the Huntsville Festival of the Arts art piece got me intrigued with creating evocative sky effects with glass frit.  Frit is crushed or ground glass available in a variety of grit sizes, and created from the tested compatible glass I use in my work.  I’ve used frit for decades, but never explored its potential in this way before.

Here are some of the pieces I’ve made in the past few months.  I love being able to shade and blend my colours in a painterly way, and the “misty moon” effect is especially rewarding.  I enjoy the challenge of working in layers of frit; I sift it, spoon it, pat it and move it around with my fingers.  I bury colours that will only be revealed again when the piece is fired.  Memory, experience, skill and a sense of discovery are all engaged to create this work.  To see more photos, check out my gallery on one of my studio tour web pages, Artists of the Limberlost or Muskoka Autumn Studio Tour.

  I hope you’ll be able to see my work in person at one of these upcoming events:

 Artists of the Limberlost, August 16 & 17 (my studio near Huntsville Muskoka) 

Apsley Autumn Studio Tour, September 20 & 21 (guest artist studio N, north of Peterborough) 

Muskoka Autumn Studio Tour, September 27 & 28 and October 4 & 5 (my studio near HuntsvilleMade in Muskoka Christmas, December 12-14 (Sutherland Hall in the Town of Huntsville.

I also see clients by appointment at my studio, and ship mail orders.  Email me if you have a request!

Planet Earth - 5" bowl

Happy Summer, Everyone!

Northern Light