Laugh a Lot Pottery Jackies Art Jewelry Fused Glass

I finally spent 2-1/2 days in my pottery studio...working on my own stuff! Hooray! I made covered butter dishes with a variety of knobs: butter churns, cats and flowers and two with "I am the Bread of Life" stamped on the side and a loaf of bread for the knob. I also made bowls and a large plate with "laugh a lot" stamped in the center...I really like how they turned out. I also made ice cream bowls, business card holders and pencil holders. Now I grant you they are not out of the bisque kiln! It is fun to have pottery in progress.

We had a week with our grandkids who live in Minnesota. We were so busy having fun - tea parties, ice skating, making art, playing the Wizard of Oz. Little Jacob, one year old, was Toto the dog...but he didn't know it! I was sad to see them leave!

My art students have started some stone carving projects. They are really just using rasps and files, but we are studying Michelangelo so I wanted them to have some sort of stone experience. I have lots of stone scraps from my own projects.

Take care...spring is on the way (I think!)

Fused Glass Art Kiln Pressed Glass How to Remove Kiln Wash

Just wondering if anyone knows how to remove kiln wash from fused glass - other than sandblasting. We don't have sandblasting equipment. We do have a grinder, lap wheel, and a dremel with attachnments. I don't know how I can hang on to the piece to hold it on the lap wheel as it is only about 4" in diameter, and flat (1/8" thick). Any ideas appreciated!

I will attend the Glass Craft and Bead Expo in Las Vegas the beginning of March - looking to learn new techniques and excited to see all the new supplies and glass.

I hosted a tie dye birthday party in my studio yesterday. The kids made tie dyed pillow cases, balloon animals and origami book marks. It was great - the kids were all well mannered and fun!

We are looking forward to babysitting our grandkids while their parents have winter vacations in Jamaica and Peru...glad they didn't make plans to go see the Giza Pyramids in Cairo!

I tried making a small piece of kiln pressed glass this weekend. The technique worked well so I was pleased with that...but now to get the excess kiln wash off. If I can figure that out, I will post a photo.

Stay warm...windchill is minus 31 here today. Brrr!

To Italy and back home again...an awesome journey to a place where art is plentiful, often majestic and totally inspiring! What a blessing to have had this experience.

The Holiday Glow Art Sale & Show was a wonderful success. We are looking forward to next year's event the second weekend in November 2011. I was able to raise over $1200 for the Northlands Rescue Mission; other artists donated to their favorite causes, too.

Hoping your pre-holiday season is relaxed and fun. Merry Christmas!

Holiday Glow November Art Sale & Charity Benefit

Fused and stained glass, handcarved wooden Santas, Scandinavian decorative art, gourds, textile and fabric art, handmade soap, metal art, natural jewelry, mixed media...these types of art and many more coming soon to Grand Forks. November 12, 5-9pm and Nov. 13, 10am - 5pm.

All artists will be home to invite you in for holiday treats and to view the art in cozy, informal surroundings. A percentage of sales will be donated to the following charities: Kim Wilson (Mountain Brooke PsychoSocial Center), Marian Gates and Terry Kuntz (Community Violence Intervention Center), Sheila Dalgliesh, Karla Nelson, Sandy Johnson and Dianne Paulsen (ArtWise), Paula Kallinen (Fraternal Order of Police), Tom Johnson and Jean Westman (Salvation Army), Carolyn Meisel (Humane Society Circle of Friends), Tom Perdue and Pieper Bloomquist (American Cancer Society) and Jackie Uthus (Northlands Rescue Mission).

Go to: www.jackiesart.com for more information.

Holiday Glow Art Sale & Show Visual Art Grand Forks

Oh, my gosh, I can't believe the whole summer has happened! We had a wonderful time with family and friends celebrating our daughter's wedding in June, a grand daughter's baptism in July and lots of other fun but more normal summer time events: water fights, time at the lake, garage sales, etc. Monday I start with my weekly art kids!

I've created a whole series of 44 nostalgic paintings called "Whimsical Snapshots of Life on the Prairie". Included: a windmill, oil rig, small town bank, bar, jail, clothesline, horse, cow, chicken and coop, '57 Chevy, Model T, vintage farm truck, sunflower, wheat stalk, grain elevator, grain bin, dilapidated house, barn, night sky, milk truck, one room school house, school bus and many more. I'm listing them on etsy a few at a time...

I have the artists in place for the second annual Holiday Glow Art Sale & Show. The sale will be Nov. 12, 5-9pm and Nov. 13, 1-5pm. Fourteen artists will have 10 open houses to show their art in cozy and informal settings. Refreshments will be served and no admission charged. It will be a wonderful time to shop for special Holiday gifts!

How to use glass paint markers, Jackies Art, fused glass

Life since December has been a busy blur: Holiday Glow Art Sale & Show in December, grandson Jacob born February 3 in Morris, MN, a trip with my parents the end of that month, granddaughter Brooke born in Wichita in March with some post-birth complications that necessitated me staying to help for almost a month, a family meeting in Bismarck, Jacob's baptism, our middle daughter's wedding in MN in June, Brooke's baptism in Wichita last weekend...I'm still trying to catch up!

I've managed to make a few new art pieces, though. I had fun making pottery frames for felted whimsical houses, that I then embellished with beads and sequins. And I've given away many fused glass houses that I've personalized with names and dates. For example, Johnson House, Est. 2010. This week I'm designing fused glass guardian angels. I really like the little kiln we bought this summer!

A class I offered for kids this summer was painting on glass. At our daughter's wedding we didn't have a traditional guest book. Instead we had a large white platter that everyone signed. We used Vitrea 160 glass paints. After drying for 24 hours I baked it in our conventional oven for 40 minutes at 325. Now the new couple can actually use their guest book. It is even dishwasher safe, although I'd recommend washing it by hand.

For my kids' glass class we used the same paints and markers. Be sure to wash and dry the dish ware first, and clean with a cotton ball soaked in denatured alcohol if it is still greasy at all. Don't skip the 24 hour drying period - longer is better if the paint is applied thickly. Don't use a baking pan, just set the finished art on the oven racks. Turn the oven on, when the preheat light goes off, turn on your timer for 40 minutes. After 40 minutes, turn off the oven, open the door. Remove the dishes when they are cool enough to touch. Viola! Lovely art to use, or to hang on the wall.

I'm taking a fused glass class in Winnipeg in Sept. taught by Patty Gray...hope to learn lots and get inspired for creating new art for the 2010 Holiday Glow Art Sale & Show Nov. 12 & 13.

1000Markets.com Pottery Art Sculpture

http://www.1000markets.com/users/jackiesart

I've listed abstract, simplified ceramic sculptures on my new shop with 1000Markets. Check it out! I also listed two other fun and funky pottery pieces - a 'flower bed' - it holds a little terra cotta pot that is perfect for a mini-cactus or a bedding plant. And I listed a frog plant stand - it, too, holds a little terra cotta pot. It is one of my 'Perfect NM (No Maintenance) Pottery Pets'. Froggy comes complete with a removable tag that promise good behavior!

I've also updated my website: www.jackiesart.com and my etsy shop: www.jackiesart.etsy.com. Cool, unusual and unique items that you won't find any where else. Happy shopping!