Wild Ride
January and February were full of market adventures for me! I had the chance to participate in over 22 markets, including my very first invitational juried market. What did I learn? So much! I discovered that Craft Fairs and Fine Art Fairs are quite different. While Fine Art Fairs come with a higher booth price tag, the return is definitely worth it. I also learned the importance of developing a thick skin and handling less-than-positive comments with grace. But perhaps the most important lesson was realizing that I simply can’t keep up with the pace of doing markets every weekend (and sometimes on weekdays too). I love putting time and care into each piece, and I can only manage to make 8-10 new pieces a week. When weekend sales surpass that, it’s a bit overwhelming! But the best part? Meeting so many amazing people, including those who stopped by to tell me they follow me on Instagram or saw me on Facebook—it truly made my day. To everyone I had the pleasure of meeting, thank you so much for your support!
Upcoming Markets
I have several markets coming up in March:
Saturday March 8th Manta Market – Lemon Bay High School
Saturday March 22nd – Elks Club Fair- Indiana Avenue, Englewood
Sunday March 29th – Bradenton Civic Center, Bradenton
I may be adding a day or two so stay tuned!
Tip of the Month
Each month, I want to share useful tools, products, or skills that can help fellow glass artists elevate their craft. This month, let’s talk about Copper Restrip. It’s a very thin strip of copper, available in various lengths and sizes, and I typically buy the 5/32” width, which runs around $12 for 20 feet. So, what is Copper Restrip? It’s a flexible copper ribbon designed to reinforce weak areas in a stained glass piece. You can place it between two pieces of glass for extra strength or even use it to bridge a solder joint. Personally, I’ve used it to attach a wing that would otherwise only have one joint. By placing the restrip between the wing and adjoining glass, I can run it up and into the next seam for a stronger hold. It can be easily soldered and hidden within the joints, giving a nice smooth bead.
But Copper Restrip is more versatile than just that! It’s easy to cut with scissors and can be tinned with solder. It holds its shape, making it great for creating a beak or filling gaps. One of my favorite uses is to form a neat, flat loop for chain and hanging. By soldering the wide part of the restrip into a joint on one side, bending it, and then soldering it into the joint on the other side, you can create a seamless hanging hook. It’s an affordable, fun, and highly practical item that belongs in every glass artist’s toolbox. Happy experimenting!
Art Created
Markets have kept me on my toes, restocking and replenishing my inventory, but I’ve still managed to squeeze in some exciting new creations! One of my favorites is a stunning desert landscape made with new glass from Armstrong Glass Company, which they released in January—such rich colors! I’ve also conquered my dragonfly challenge: after struggling to keep those wings in place for years, I’ve designed a dragonfly suncatcher that’s not only stable but super fun to make! And of course, I couldn’t resist creating a new Community Project—this time, I used cone pieces from Fremont Glass, flattened in the kiln, to craft a vibrant yellow sunflower against a bold blue background. But the real fun came when I dove into experimenting with glass decals. The result? A whimsical honeycomb with tiny bees that’s full of charm and personality. So many exciting things to come—stay tuned!
New on the Horizon
One of my New Year’s resolutions was to get creative with frames—glass frames, wood frames, 3D frames, you name it! I’m making great progress and currently have my first piece nearly ready to go. It's a poppy trio inside a glass frame border I designed a couple of months ago. I’ve got a few more flower panels lined up next, so things are moving along nicely! Once my schedule calms down a bit, I’m excited to start working on the repurposed wooden window frames I picked up in Kentucky last summer. I’ve got some fun window projects in mind, and I’m giving myself the space to enjoy the process at my own pace.
My Personal Side
The start of the year was a bit of a hiccup for the family, as we all caught Covid and had to press pause on everything for a couple of weeks. But on a brighter note, I celebrated a milestone birthday on March 1st! I won’t spill the beans on the number (let's just say it’s really up there), but when my mom was this age, I remember thinking, “Wow, she’s getting old.” Now here I am, trying to embrace it, but... let's be real, it’s a work in progress. My brain still thinks I'm 25, but my body suggests a few more naps. A big focus lately has been on my son’s new job at Walmart. It’s been a bit of a bumpy ride, but we’re all in it together, supporting his desire to be independent and live life to the fullest. In the meantime, I’m still chasing adventure in Search and Recovery with my trusty sidekicks—Cahto, my 7-year-old German Shepherd and Studio Manager, and Caliber, my 11-year-old German Shepherd and Office Manager. We recently had the honor of helping the Airforce search for the remains of turpentine workers from the 1920s. There’s never a dull moment around here!