New window panes

Buddha Kitty Glass just finished our newest creation. Fused glass window panes. They are two sets of five panels. Each are 5 x 5 inches, held together by copper fused in between the glass. They are five different types of red and yellow glass with dots of each kind of glass on the panels. They just sparkle in the sunlight.

Busy, busy, busy

There has been a flurry of activity in the Buddha Kitty Glass studio lately. I am currently making eight custom dessert plates, ten custom business card holders, hundreds of new glass dots for future projects, new holiday trays with snowflakes and dozens of Christmas tree ornaments. I am also working on a design for plate chargers. There is not even room to turn around in here. Also I was just accepted into a holiday gift bizarre that I want to make several new bowls for. It may be time to get a bigger kiln. Or an assistant!

Tools

Someone asked me recently what was the most useful tool in my studio. My glass studio is filled with useful tools: two kilns, glass cutters, tile saw for cutting glass bricks, levels, reference books, and even a sometimes functioning CD player. However, after giving this some thought I would have to say the most useful tool is the playpen. Without the playpen, I would only be able to work on glass when my 16 month old daughter is asleep or with her father. By having the playpen in the studio I can work on glass anytime. She loves to go in with me and "help" me fuse glass. I call her my "gaffer." While I work we chat about fusing glass, I consult her on color selection and I/we get a lot of work done. The playpen keeps her safely away from the hot kilns or broken glass that always seems to be on the floor no matter how much I sweep and we have a good time together. Maybe every glass artist doesn't need a playpen in their studio, but it is the most useful tool I have in mine!