C. Harper Birds

I was doing some online research today, googling for images of barn swallows, and i came across a picture that i had to really look at to figure out what it was. And then i was all, "Cool!" It was an illustration by Charley Harper. Then of course i had to google him, and i found all these incredible bird prints he did.

He was a country boy in Ohio and was a keen observer of the wildlife around him. Although his illustrations are highly stylized, he manages to capture some key essence of the animal he is depicting, whether a characteristic head movement, or flying style, or the a the merest indication of its habitat. [barn swallows, heath hen, cactus wren]

Mary's Gold

Introducing a new color combo for my lens beads: Mary's Gold! (Available in my shop now.)

Several years ago i made some little cylindrical beads with one end transparent amber, and one end rubino oro, with a narrow band of reduced silver foil where the colors came together. I made them into earrings for my mom and this summer she told me they were a very special color for her. So if she's reading this: Mom, i'm working on some more earrings for you. :o)

Autumn Ornamental Gourds Harvest

I'm harvesting the lovely ornamental gourds today. The leaves on the vines are getting that death spore look to them, all powdery and grey. It's the stage before the leaves dry up and start to disintegrate, making a mess in the process. So i'm getting rid of the vines now while it can just be pulled out, more or less neatly, and piled into the wheel barrow to be taken out back to the compost pile.

When these plants came up last spring, i thought they were my hard shelled gourds, but no. They had yellow flowers rather than white, and the vines grew faster and hardier. But this is a nice autumn display, and i don't do anything with the hardshells anymore, so the ornamentals are good this year.

Personal Ads For Pumpkins

I've been having a great time making little pumpkin guy beads. I've sold about 22 of them so far. I love how expressive their little faces are. And because they are so obviously each individuals, i am compelled to list them with their own unique biographies . Wow. Sometimes the details come readily and sometimes it seems really difficult to come up with something totally unlike what i've written for another bead's bio.

I just listed five new bead bachelors in the shop: Dean dreams of snorkeling in his baby blue Speedos, Ding has a passion for organizing things, Gene is a ham radio operator, Ron hopes to be a tissue donor (to be made into pie), and Timmy is fun guy with a knack for winning staring contests.

Sizzlin' Sunday

We were at a BBQ this evening and we were entertained by a woman who fire dances. You can see her legs at the bottom of the swirling flame in my bad photo. It wasn't hot enough to, say, melt glass :-), but it was mesmerizing to watch.

Four new pumpkin guy beads to photo and list in the shop tomorrow.

Flower Photos Friday

The only good thing about the sun rising later these days, is that it now rises at about the same time i do, and sunrise is one of those magical things that can start your day off on the right note. I can start the coffee pot, give the kids their first proddings to get out of bed, and then have a look at the garden in the first rays of sun. Much of the garden looks pretty spent, but there are a few plants managing to flower on into autumn, bless 'em.

These Dishes Are Delicious

Aside from lampworking, there is another hot glass art form that many people are doing. In glass fusing one works with hot glass in a kiln, instead of in a torch flame. I've only dabbled in it enough to know that it would sure help to have a programmable kiln, and a supply of compatible glasses. But when i see fused glass pieces that i like, i get that hopeful feeling that maybe some time down the road i'll devote some time to learning how to do it properly.

And i find these glass dishes by etsy seller Light Work Glass very inspiring! I've only picked two to show you here, but there are several others in her shop that i would also snap up for xmas gifts if i had the means. And her prices seem fair, even low, so maybe you can do the snapping. :-)

Love your work! And happy birthday!