Fusion---As In Glass, Not Food

Happy New Year everyone.  I couldn't tell you where time has gone this past year, much less what I've been doing as it passed, but now it is time to post an update.  At some point during my career years ago, I decided to get back in touch with my artsy side and enrolled in a series of classes on warm glass, better known as fused glass.  I had a wonderfully talented teacher who was very influential in sparking the fire inside me because after the first class, I was hooked.  I made a pact with myself to "get into it" as soon as it would be practical (it is a slightly expensive hobby).  Well, 15+ years later and after retiring from the workforce, it is my time.

I took those classes during a year which was particularly stressful with hopes of finding a little relief and escape from the normal grating grind of life.  Funny thing, after each class session I would  emerge from the lab so elated I could hardly stand myself.  For the longest time I couldn't figure out what that feeling of euphoria was when I left class, but at some point the light bulb went off and "voila", I realized it was the effect of the vibrant colors of glass salving my fretfulness.  Reds, blues, and greens were colors I kept migrating to, but my imagination would not cooperate and all I came up with were abstract designs made from odd glass scraps that our teacher so generously shared with us.  Now in my own studio, I fully understand "scraps"--mine defined as mistakes; happy ones at that!  My imagination runs wild with weird designs that are far beyond my capabilities--given the tools and equipment on hand, but I continue to get around that fact--hence the scraps.  Hmmm.....more equipment, bigger equipment!

Pictured are some fun wine bottle coasters and sushi sets made during Christmas season this year. I am toying with the idea of joining other entrepreneurial hopefuls with my own cyberspace studio some time soon.  I'll keep you posted.  LIFE IS GOOD!

Wine Bottle Coasters

Sushi Sets