Northern Light

Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year!

2011-12-21T07:59:00.000-06:00

I will be leaving soon to join my family in Iowa for a Christmas celebration, so I'll leave you with a few Christmas images to enjoy. May your Holidays be spent with friends and family, making our space a better place, and may peace prevail.

SOME ArtStart GALLERY PIECES

2011-11-18T08:28:00.001-06:00

Wine Stoppers

Cheese Knives

Bracelet with Bronze chain, Lampwork Glass beads, Kyanite,Lapis,and Sterling Hilltribe Flower beads.

Fine silver focal with lampwork etched disk and concave Fine Silver disk suspended on a long gathering of different bronze chains, freshwater pearls, silk an various other goodies.

Two strands of beautiful Bronze Freshwater Pearls with 2 Lampwork Glass beads adorned with a special glass frit, and a Sterling Hilltribe flower. and toggle clasp that rests in front.

Lampwork glass bead focal in a silver glass done in a twist style suspended from a sterling drop ona rubber cord. As always click on the photo for a closer look. Enjoy!

ArtStart!

2011-11-16T10:12:00.001-06:00

Rhinelander has arrived! We have a group of dedicated people that are working on an Arts & Cultural Center for the town. So far there is a building, the old Federal Building with its red brick and white fat columns, that makes it stately already. It's located in the heart of Down Town Rhinelander and is about to have it's first Gift Gallery Opening. I will be in attendance as well as some of my artist friends and we will all have work in the new gallery space. The group hopes to accomplish bringing some major exhibitors to the area and is working on ideas to help bring this about. You can see more on ArtStart on their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/#!/ArtStartRhinelander I'll be posting some of the pieces that will be in the gift shop on my next post. You can always check out my Facebook page for work as well. Here's your chance to SHOP LOCAL and help support your communtiy and local artists too.

Some Art Detour Frames....

2011-10-27T14:08:00.000-05:00

These are some photo frames I had made for Art Detour. and they all sold so I guess they fit the bill for several people.

This one has a semi precious gem stone called Sugelite,in the middle crevice as well as a hollow glass bead with a paper thin glass shard.

These two also have hollow glass beads and yes the dog photo is my Micky.

ART DETOUR

2011-10-01T17:15:00.000-05:00

Even though I will not be able to be at Art Detour next weekend, my friends there have kindly taken my Jewelry and Stained Glass and will have it on hand when they open for business on Friday Oct. 2. So I thought I might as well put up some of the photos I had taken of the work I managed to complete, before my mother's illness. I will be back with more photos of some of the other items I have as well. I'm sure this will be a great show and I will miss the camaraderie of artist friends, as well as crossing off a few things on my Christmas List! Check out the ART DETOUR site on Facebook for more information on the other artists, as well as times, location, and yes S'MORES! https://www.facebook.com/#!/ArtDetourWisconsin

2011-09-22T09:17:00.001-05:00

My deepest apologies, but due to a medical emergency, I will not be able to be at the Art in the Yard Show this Saturday. My mother is ill in Iowa and I need to be with her. I will keep you posted about the next upcoming show Art Detour on Oct. 7-9. Thank you for your understanding

ART in the YARD

2011-09-19T20:31:00.000-05:00

On Saturday Sept. 24 I will be at ART in the YARD to celebrate the FALL EQUINOX and sell a few wares. It's a wonderful Fall show featuring the Art Gypsies, a gathering of artists with many talents. The Fir Tree Cottage in Land 'O Lakes is the site for the event. There will be a campfire where you can write down your wishes on a tagged twig bundles and throw it into the fire. There will be music, home baked goodies, and hopefully a nice sunny fall day to enjoy. The leaves are just starting to turn here, as you can see, on this photo of a pair of Fine Silver earrings with freshwater pearls.

Another pair of Fine Silver earrings with fused circles.

This choker pendant has 4 clear hollow glass beads with glass shards over fine silver mesh, Sterling beads and freshwater pearls.

A double strand of silvery olive colored freshwater pearls helps display this new piece. The base is Fine Silver with a spiral design softly patina'd, next is a lampwork disk bead of Silver Plum glass and a copper domed disk, all held together with a hand made Fine Silver headpin. One of my new favorites.

There's a whole big basket of earrings ready to go and I'll have more photos later this week. Remember to view a larger image just click on it.

The Rehearsal

2011-08-24T17:10:00.000-05:00

My son Ben's wedding to Lauren McGraw went off without a hitch last Saturday. I am now a proud Mother-in-law. Unfortunately, these are some of the only pictures I took , but I'm hoping to have some wedding photos soon.

Pile O Pearls

2011-08-13T16:55:00.001-05:00

Pile O Pearls for Wedding Central, coming up in a week!

More to see at The Northwoods Art Tour...

2011-07-27T10:42:00.000-05:00

Starting this Friday it's Northwoods Art Tour weekend. I'll be in Lake Tomahawk at The Rodd Umlauf Gallery on Friday and Saturday and here's a few things you might see there. This Fine Silver pendant with a silver glass bead encased in clear suspended on a rubber cord.

Tear drop faceted Labradorite with handmade Fine Silver piece and Labradorite dangle.

Softly etched clear disks with a steel green rim and Fine silver disk center on handmade sterling wires.

Fine Silver twistie bail with a cobalt tabular bead with glass shards and a Murrini on a fine silver headpin.

NORTHWOODS ART TOUR coming up....

2011-07-22T18:53:00.000-05:00

The annual Northwoods Art Tour will be starting on Friday, July 29th of this week and will run through Sunday July 31st. As usual , I'll be up in Lake Tomahawk at the Rodd Umlauf Gallery on Friday and Saturday helping Rodd out. Here are a couple of stained glass windows that are currently there and I'll be posting more things all this week. You can click on the link on the right to get more info on the tour as well as a map to plan all your stops.

This free hanging window has 2 Brazilian Agates and a Lampwork glass bead. The other window has a Kokomo Glass Roundel that was hand blown and which I picked out right at the factory. All their glass is made right on the premises, where they have a 12 pot furnace and make both sheet glass as well as Blown Glass . This has been going on for the last 122 years.

http://www.kog.com/the-factory.html

I had the pleasure of touring the factory a couple years ago so was able to pick up a few choice pieces. One of which is the glass Roundel in the second window. It 's clear with glass frit in light teal and amber colors, this makes the spiral design. The roundels are often blown and then spun swiftly to flatten them. Most are very beautiful and I found I couldn't live without this one below. There's also a Lampwork bead in amber with Fine silver dots and a ring of silver plum glass.

A little something new this year is the Stained Glass frame. I thought I would try this idea out and see where it took me. I added a large Lampwork Flower bead suspended from heavy gauge copper wire. The frame fits a standard 4x6 photo.

A few offerings at the Rodd Umlauf Gallery...

2011-07-09T20:08:00.000-05:00

After closing for the winter this year, the Rodd Umlauf Gallery reopened on Memorial Day weekend. These pieces are just a few that are available in the Gallery. The piece above has a Fine Silver block with images of oak leaves and acorns with a suspended Lampwork bead with Fine Silver dots and a Green Murrini.Bronze chain and peacock Freshwater pearls pull it all together.

Fine Silver earrings with handmade ear wires and Garnet dangles.

Etched champagne lentils with Silvered Ivory stringer are suspended from Sterling wires.

A cobalt heart with Silvered Ivory glass shards and "wings" hangs from a Fused Fine Silver three ring bail on a Sterling ball chain.

Church Window you say.......

2011-06-28T08:00:00.000-05:00

Yes! This is in fact a window that was a custom order as a memorial. It's located in a Catholic church in the Green Bay area. The church had been rebuilt and wanted to stick with a more contemporary nature and so required that there were no images. It was so much fun to work on. There are actually 2 windows that are about 5' x 18" and are mirror images of each other. There are some amber squares made by Chicago Art Glass called turtle backs and some glass nuggets as well as some wonderfully textured glasses in greens, ambers and clears. Remember you can click on the close up views for a larger image. Enjoy!

A Well Spent Afternoon.....

2011-06-13T10:20:00.000-05:00

When we recall the times in our lives that have made us smile, we usually think of special birthdays, weddings or once in a lifetime vacations, but last Saturday I had the pleasure of remembering old times with my high school Art teacher Mr. Ron Hahlen. He was the featured artist for this particular Saturday at Outside The Lines Gallery in Dubuque, Iowa, my home town. The smile I had when we greeted stayed with me all day. Remembering all those times, made me realize once again, how my creative side of life has been shaped by this teacher. How different my life might have been had I took typing in summer school with all my friends rather than taking the Art class that I was much more interested in. After that as much time as was possible, including study halls, was spent in the Art Department, soaking up possibilities. It wasn't until later that I realized how well equipped the Art Dept. at Dubuque Senior High was, not only with pottery wheels, kilns, wood lathes, etc. but with a teacher who would help expand our minds in just about every area from metalsmithing to pottery, to drawing, woodcuts, and photo silkscreens. It only left me wanting more. And now it remains a large part of my life. Thank you Mr. Hahlen.

Here, for my potter friends, he uses a torch(something we now apparently have in common) to quick dry thrown parts to connect with slab built parts. I wish I could have had a photo of the finished piece. You can find more info on Ron Hahlen at http://www.otlag.com/ You can also find out more about this wonderful Gallery there as well. Below is a small glimpse inside the Gallery, a well appointed space with lots of great art.

Artistree Gallery Delights

2011-06-08T21:00:00.000-05:00

I guess I'm a bit behind in my posting as I took these items up to the Artistree Gallery in Land 'O Lakes with the intention of posting their availability. But they sold before I could get the job done. I guess I better get busy with the other photos I have now. The pair above is made from Muschio Verde glass with Silver Plum dots and Fine Silver spirals. The ear wires are handmade of Sterling Silver.

Fine Silver textured rectangles with spiral disks and Champagne Freshwater Pearls

Silver glass twist bead encased in clear with one "wing" perched on a Sterling holder and suspended on a rubber cord.

Wine Stoppers for Brigadoon.....

2011-06-02T08:28:00.001-05:00

Just yesterday I delivered a small batch of Wine Stoppers to my friends, Linda and David, owners of Brigadoon Winery. http://www.brigadoonwinery.com/index.php They're salt ot the earth people and I always enjoy visiting with them . They own a small winery in Tripoli, which sells some household favorites of ours like Highland Red and their delicious Merlot. So beautifully labeled bottles always need a little something special to go on top. I hope these can fit the bill. This one is made with 2 Hollow lampwork beads with clear and white stringer and bubble dots.

This pieice uses a twist design which is encaseed in clear and has clear "wings"added with a single bubble dot.

Silver leaf and glass frit in deep purples and greens, cover this tab shaped bead.

Transparent Ink Blue covers a white base, with strands of silver dots. White flowers , side mounted clear bubble dots, and a single clear wing make the finish.And last is a bead made with several colors on it's base. Several different blues and silver leaf wrap around the body with a single Murrini at the base. It sits on a glass disk of silver based glass. Enjoy.

Something New at Turn of the Century Shop ........

2011-05-24T10:26:00.000-05:00

My friend Kari recently placed a custom order for some dainty little earrings for her retail shop at Holiday Acres. These are just a sampling of the order, there are more with patina's of varying shades of gold. Some are suspended on Sterling French ear wires, some on Sterling hoops. Several also have tiny gem stones, such as Serpentine, Tourmaline, Lapis and Freshwater pearls. If you're looking for some very wearable, artist made, delights stop in at The Turn of the Century Shop. Better yet make an evening of it (you'll want to make sure you have plenty of time for browsing all the wonderful and unique items Kari has in the shop) and sample some of Chef Tom's delectable eats!

Some Northern Lights....

2011-05-11T19:42:00.000-05:00

I recently received a photo from all the way up in Alaska of a stained glass window they made modeled after the photo at the top of my blog. It seems they were searching for a pattern of the Northern Lights in stained glass and my blog came up in the search. So I thought I should post some large sidelights that I did awhile ago that also had the Northern Lights in them. Please excuse the photos as they were taken about 2 cameras ago. The sidelights are on both sides of a center clear glass door in an entry way of a house here in town. The glass in the background is called Baroque and had to be cut from one large piece of glass. All the swirls had to match up, so they flowed together in the 9 individual panels that make up the piece. Needless to say if a piece didn't cut correctly , I would have had to start over from the beginning with a new piece of glass. Luckily the glass gods were with me and both pieces were completed without any disasters. Enjoy.

Salad Sets

2011-05-04T21:28:00.000-05:00

I had a few more things to take up to Chocolates & More today. A couple of Salad Sets that make nice gifts, perhaps you have a wedding shower to go to this summer?? I also know a potter who can make a salad bowl to match. Enjoy.

Something New at Chocolates & More....

2011-04-30T15:30:00.000-05:00

I have a little something new this season to go with the coffee they sell at Chocolates & More, in Minocqua. Here are two of the glass beaded coffee spoons, that are now at the store. Shouldn't your special coffee have a special vehicle to make it to your coffee maker?

An a matching canape' set to boot. The colors are ivory and a nice warm brick red with silver purple decoration and raku glass frit.

Another canape' set in cobalt, beige, and green also with silver plum decoartion and silver leaf.

A new batch of cheese knives, as well, decorated with raised stringer, murrini, and glass shards.

ETCHED METALS CLASS

2011-04-24T11:39:00.000-05:00

Recently I took a class in Etching Metals from the very talented Artist and Teacher, Kay Rashka. She lives in the Madison area and taught this particular course at the annual Art Glass and Bead Show. Here she demonstrates smoothing the edges of a copper rectangle in preparation for the design. She's using a pistol grip dremel tool that I admit I had a bit of tool lust for.

There were several ways to lay a design on the metal , but here she is using a hot plate and iron to heat up a special kind of paper to make a more intricate design. (Yes, I know the least I could have done was to get a shot without her magnifiers. My bad)

This photo shows the results and it is ready to be etched.

Here are the pieces that I did in class, the two smaller ones are done free hand and the larger is from a stamp. I'm excited about putting them into some of my jewelry pieces.

The earrings pictured were a Mother's Day gift to me and are done by Kay. To see more of her work check out her website

http://www.kayrashka.com/ and Facebook site https://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Kay-Rashka-Jewelry/136063103077849

I'm Back....

2011-04-21T12:17:00.000-05:00

My apologies if you were anxiously awaiting chapter 2 of the glass tutorial, but I guess my goals were bigger than my stomach ...or something like that. I just thought I could get more done before I left on vacation than I actually did. I should probably reassess more realistic goals in the future. It's always something! There will be a chapter 2, but I might have a few posts in between. I did attend a class in Madison that I want to post a few photos of, so I'll probably throw that in first. In the meantime I'm back, we had 2 snowstorms and I can hardly believe I was in Spring less than a week ago. I think the ice may go out today though as the sun is shinning and the temperature is rising. At last! I was taking a lot of photos lately so I thought I'd post this one. It's a necklace made with multiple hollow glass beads as well as disks, with a Fine Silver handmade round bead in the center. It also has 3 strands of peacock Freshwater Pearls, and 2 shades of Serpentine. The best part of this necklace is that it also turns into a bracelet. Until next time, which I promise will be sooner than last.

Anatomy of a Stained Glass Window....Chapter 1

2011-03-19T20:43:00.000-05:00

So lately I've been working on what I like to refer to as Flat Glass. Instead of hunching over the torch making mostly round three dimensional beads, I've been looking over my inventory of sheet glass, to make some small free-hanging glass windows. I thought it might be a good time to take some photographs and let you see how it comes together.The photos are not the best as the Fluorescent light is great for me to see, but not so much for taking pictures. A couple things happen first.....I get out my supply of stones, glass cabs, roundels, sun/moon faces, glass nuggets, and basically anything that can lay flat and be wrapped with copper foiling tape. Then it's off to the Drawing Table, where I take a good look at all my treasures and decide which one or combination of items will go into this design. For this window, I chose two Agates which had some beautiful designs within them. (You'll get to see better views with light coming through, later on in the project.)Sketching out a design also needs some thought as to what kind of glass you will use. I've chosen some streaky versions where more than one color and clear are used in one piece of glass, as well as some mottled Chicago Art glass in some beautiful tones of amber, and some clear and smokey Baroque glass. The Baroques have a wonderful wavy texture in them, and I enjoy using them frequently. So once the pattern is complete I need to make 3 copies with carbon paper. One is used as a master drawing with the glass choice written on each piece. Another is used to as the guide for placing the glass pieces, and the third is used to actually cut the pattern pieces apart. Once cut, I attach the pattern piece to the glass with spray adhesive. Stay tuned, next up cutting and grinding.

My Heart Belongs to........

2011-02-07T19:11:00.000-06:00

Valentines Day is right around the corner, and to celebrate I made a few glass hearts as well as some Fine Silver heart charms. Clockwise to the right, an ivory and silver glass heart with a leaf spray, the silver glass has a metallic mirror finish. Center, a clear pink spiral stripe heart with wings and golden dots. Right, a different Silver Glass enrobed in clear with center swirl.

This red heart has silver glass scrollwork in creamy blues and greens.The Fine Silver charm has a raised smooth heart on a spiral background. And yet another kind of Silver glass, which has tones of red and blues with silver dots.

On the right is a clear glass heart with a silver glass twistie design. Another raised heart,on a swirled leafy background of Fine Silver. The last heart is a deep wine color with silver glass scrollwork in those creamy blues and greens.

Here are two Fine Silver hearts with a stamped design and my personal favorite, a silver glass heart, with fine silver mesh and wings. This is my favorite silver glass, it just behaves so well.

The last group has a clear heart with violet fire glass frit and silver leaf. The stamped heart silver charm also has 2 genuine ruby beads. The bottom heart in cobalt has silver leaf and glass shards with a green spiral Murrini. And the last heart has a base of clear with matte finish white glass shards and copper ruby glass frit. All the hearts and charms were made so you can add your own cord, chain or ribbon. They are all currently residing at Bassett Jewelers in Minocqua. Stop in and take a closer look . And by all means have a Happy Valentines Day!

Remember you can click on any photo for a larger image.

Clean Studio cont......

2011-02-03T17:53:00.000-06:00

Get a load of all that nice space for drawing up designs for flat glass work on my my antique drawing table.

And yes there is a Birch tree in my studio.This is actually the client friendly room where I can discuss possible commissions.

At this worktable, I work on flat glass....putting all the pieces together, using either copper foil or lead came. Right now there are a couple picture frames that I'm working on. If I like them , you'll probably see more later on.

And this is where the glass grinding takes place. All the pieces of the "puzzle" must have their edges fit together perfectly. A diamond wheel grinder helps makes that happen. Now .....to work!

Nothing Better than a Nice Clean Studio...

2011-02-02T16:16:00.000-06:00

Do you have the Moon and Stars and Trees in your studio? I guess I'm lucky to have a little piece of each to surround and inspire me while I'm working. But the best thing right now is just having a clean place to work in and I'm glad to say that the annual studio cleaning is now officially over and new work has begun.

My glass rods are all sorted and back in their holders ready to be plucked out for a new series of beads.

I can now see the top of my bead table where all the constructing with finshed beads and silver parts takes place. (which would mean that before you couldn't) My torch and kiln area is ready to go with everything back in it's proper space.

This table gets a workout as many things happen here. Some days I'm cutting stained glass for windows, other days I'm working on Fine Silver projects. In the back I have a small torch for silver fusing, and in the foreground is the tumbler to put a shine on those silver projects. To the right is where freshly dipped mandrels dry before going over to the torching station. The next edition I'll show you the tree that holds up the ceiling in the middle of the room.

Beyond Books last meeting....

2011-02-02T15:10:00.000-06:00

This photo is mainly for my mother since she is the one who taught me the joy of setting a pretty table. Our group read "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett, an excellent read if you are looking for something you can really curl up with. The discussion, and food that went along with the story flowed freely. Since the book was set in the south during the early sixties, fried chicken, sweet potato casserole, and chocolate pecan pie were on the menu. Needless to say I think a good time was had by all.

Rich Red and White....

2010-12-14T11:35:00.000-06:00

I'm using this image for my Holiday package tabs. I love the rich red going on here with the bright white and Mickey is pretty cute too!

A Fun Day at the Annual Holiday Sale at the Umlauf Gallery

2010-12-06T10:15:00.001-06:00

A good time was had by all on Saturday, as I'm sure you can tell by the photos. Rudolph was there to greet customers, there were lots of treats, and wine and hot apple cider. Faithful customer Amy Higgason stopped by and had her photo taken with Rudolph, aka Hans Delius the resident woodworker. His ice cream scoops are the best and there are still a few left if you need one for christmas.

Rodd's used paint pallettes which are really rectangles of glass seem like paintings all on their own. And have you ever seen so many varieties of the color green ? And that's not counting all the colors that can be mixed to provide just the right shade he might need for one of his paintings.

Hans wife Linda brought a couple friends in and I do believe they had quite the good time!

Rodd gets to hold the bowl for the drawing , but Rudolph gets to pick of course!

Looking over the many Ring Bowls and trying to decide just which one, can take awhile. Good thing there was wine to help make the decision!

Holiday Sale at the Umlauf Gallery....

2010-12-01T12:39:00.000-06:00

This Saturday is the annual Holiday Sale at the Rodd Umlauf Gallery in Lake Tomahawk. The sale runs from 11:00 am to 5 pm. It's a great way for us artist buddies to get together and ring in the Christmas season, not to mention, offering our wares for sale. There will be refreshments, music, and conversation with artists. This season, gallery owner Rodd Umlauf will have paintings, cards, and maybe some talk on his new book which is finally at the publishers. Hans Delius has beautifully turned wooden bowls from woods I never even knew existed. He might even be persuaded to tell you what Christmas in Germany is like. And I'll be there with a few new things that might hopefully dazzle you. Like this pair of earrings in a glass called Cirrus. It has a milky sort of soft opalescent appearance. They are suspended in medium length Sterling wires with an olive band around the center.

This double strand of olive Freshwater Pearls has a simple dangle of a Lamp Work silver plum disk bead with a Fine Silver center disk that has been patina'd to a light gold. The three ring bail is hand made as well from fused Fine Silver rings to match. The clasp is a gold-plated sterling toggle. There are also single drop pearls with wires to match the clasp for earrings.

There is a selection of wine stoppers, one of which you see here, in Lime green with creamy blue silvered glass shards, and a Murrini on each side. The black one has already sold at a previous show. (Thank you Renee').

Here is the perfect chance to support the community in which you live, buy local, and be proud to say "I support my local artists!"

Rhinelander Downtown Open House

2010-11-21T20:23:00.000-06:00

Buyers browse our festive table and Jackie stands at the ready to answer any and all questions. And that's me behind the lens. Thanks to all who stopped by and bought local!

Downtown Rhinelander Open House....

2010-11-17T09:11:00.001-06:00

This coming Friday Nov. 19, is Downtown Rhinelander's Open House. Many businesses will have their doors open with special events, treats, and some with special Artists. I'll be at Frasier's Showplace Interiors along with my fellow artist Jackie Pavlow for an evening of fun, fabulous jewelry, and friendship. I will have my Lampwork Bead and Fine Silver jewelry, and Jackie will have her famous bracelet cuffs with wool felting and sewn ribbon. The fun starts at 4:00 and goes till 7:00. We even have a little something for a drawing , but I'm not going to tell you , you'll just have to come in and see. The photos are of a few things that I will have there. A pair of Lampwork bead earrings with Sterling Silver triangle beads.

And something new......wait for it....a fancy way to stir your drinks that no bar should be without, Swizzle Sticks!

A pendant with glass bead , silver stringer, and blue murrini, and Fine Silver charm on a rubber cord. Come see us for some Fun , Friendship, and oh YES Fabulous jewelry! To see more photos click on the Facebook link at the top right of the page.

A Few Photos for some Clients....

2010-11-15T16:44:00.000-06:00

And you'll know who you are! Remember you can click on the photo to enlarge it.

Custom Earrings for Anna...

2010-10-25T15:17:00.000-05:00

A couple pair of earrings I made up to match a special bracelet and necklace for a customer. The large white freshwater pearls match a bracelet I posted awhile back. The beads below are actually made from a dark topaz and then fully engulfed in silver leaf. The next layer is a glass frit which is then encased in clear, which makes the frit spread to the edges, resulting in the bead below. This pair also has a clear Austrian crystal. Remember to click on the image to enlarge it.

More Bayfield photos I couldn't fit in the first time...

2010-09-27T18:34:00.000-05:00

I asked a friend, Marianne, who is married to a Frenchman and lives in Spain, for the correct translation here, thinking it would simply be Dog House, but wanting to make sure I had my French terms correct. Technically it should be Maison du Chien. It needed the correct article. The way it is here (Maison) implies something that is homemade or cooked.......in other words "Homecooked Dog"! I had a bit of a laugh at that as I don't think the Orchard owners would ever want to roast their sweet doggie. Below is the resident "Chein", namely Daisy Mae, the perfect greeter dog for an Apple Orchard.

There was also this spectacular restored truck in what else, but probably candy apple red. The light was so bright and the truck so red that it was nearly impossible to get a good photo, but then I thought this actually shows you how almost neon it was.

A Walk Through........

2010-09-26T18:46:00.001-05:00

If you hadn't guessed by the photo, I spent a weekend in one of my favorite places, Bayfield, WI. It was such a beautiful day I couldn't resist taking a long walk with my camera, through town.

Right next to where we were staying was the best thing about the Rhum Line Bar....I guess I can"t actually say the best as they boast numerous varieties of Rum , which I haven't tried yet. But for now I think it's best feature is it's cupola and weather vane.

The Ferry takes residents and visitors to the nearby and inhabited Madeline Island, one of the many Apostle Islands group. It's a little like going back in time, as they rely on the Ferry for most things. The Museum there is a must see for more information on Madeline's history.

Waiting patiently outside A Stone's Throw, was Teddy the dog, one of the more likable canines I have encountered on a walk. I would have taken him home in a minute, but I doubt his new owners would ever let him go. A Stones Throw is a wonderful little gift store featuring the pottery of the owner, along with many other things to delight you for an ample amount of time.

Further down the street, and resting in the waters of Lake Superior, are the fishing boats that go out daily and come back with fresh Lake Superior Whitefish or Lake Trout. You can pick up some for your cooler, or sit down to a gourmet meal at the The Wild Rice restaurant. We sometimes do both as they are an equal treat.

The other thing that Bayfield seems to have is "pride of place". Everywhere in the down town area comes to life with an abundance of color. Things grow well here, I don't know how to say it any better. I struggle at home battling deer, bunnies, etc.but the gardens here overflow with multiple varieties of all shapes, sizes, and well planned designs.

Bayfield is probably best known for it's Orchards and Berry Farms.One of my personal favorites and a Bayfield Regency Conservancy member, is Blue Vista Farm. The wonderful old barn is about as beautiful as they come and you can see the view is aptly named. What impresses me most is the towns desire to keep things as they are for many generations to come, to preserve the land as sustainable farms, to limit the "big box" phenomenon to the big city.

EARRINGS BOUND FOR LAND O'LAKES

2010-09-24T18:26:00.000-05:00

Enjoy a few photos of some recently made earrings that will be bound for the Artistree Gallery in Land O'Lakes on Saturday. A friend and I will be going to Art in the Yard at the Fir Tree Cottage and we're hoping that it will be a nice Fall Color ride up there. After all the rain we just got I'm hoping there will still be leaves on the trees!

The New & Improved ARTISTREE GALLERY....

2010-09-09T20:10:00.001-05:00

What a delightful day I had on Wednesday, taking my mother to visit the new digs of The ARTISTREE GALLERY in Land O' Lakes. I can't tell you how surprised I was to walk in the door...speaking of which, in my amazement, I forgot to take a picture of this beautiful arched entry, with an artfully carved wooden door. The hard work of the 20 some artists who make up this group has certainly paid off. Their new home invites you in to languish in all of it's spaciousness, while you take in all the quality artwork at your leisure. You can even sit a spell and peruse various Art books. The large front windows provide an abundance of natural light, enhancing my stain glass windows, much to my delight. It inspires me to race back to my studio and let those creative juices flow. There is a variety of work being offered here which ranges from Watercolors, Jewelry, Ceramics, Baskets, Quilting, Painting,Weaving, Photography, Hooked Designs and Stained Glass with many variations of all of the above. And no doubt some others I have forgotten. This particular day, weaver and spinner Mary Jackl was working, and you can see her spinning at the bottom of the page. If you get the chance, take a drive to Land O'Lakes and take in this wonderful new space, I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Remember to click on any of the photos to enlarge.

Some Heart Shaped Earrings just for Gail...

2010-08-31T17:14:00.000-05:00

These photos aren't the greatest, but at least you can get an idea of how they look. The irridescent shard is sometimes difficult to photograph and hard to nail the exact color.

CREATIVE ARTS WALK

2010-07-27T20:16:00.000-05:00

The Creative Arts Walk is coming to Rhinelander on Thursday of this week from 5-8 pm. It's an event sponsored by the DownTown Rhinelander Group to further the Arts. They have some ambitious goals but need your support to make them happen. This years event has some added features beside the regular fanfare of Artists. Local restaurants will be offering tastings of their favorite dishes and there'll be some fun things for kids as well. For more info check the their FaceBook page Downtown Rhinelander, Inc I have a few new pendants that will be available for the Arts Walk . Pictured here is one with a Fine Silver tiwisted wire bail and Cobalt Lampwork Glass bead with Glass shards and Murrini.

This pendant is suspended on a long rubber cord with a wire work stirrup to hold the Lampwork Glass bead. This bead also has Murrini and Fine Silver mesh and is paired with Freshwater Pearls Sterling beads and Dutch Dogans.And last is a Fine Silver creation with multiple textures and spheres dropped from a Rubber cord. Maybe tomorrow I might have some Earring photos. Check back and see!

A Day at the Northwoods Art Tour...

2010-07-24T21:01:00.000-05:00

Here's Gallery owner Rodd Umlauf smiling next to his infamous YEP (meaning Yep we're Open) Sign.One of Amy Higgason's bowls for which I made a Salad Set in the same glass colors as her glazes.Amy and her guest artist Kaitlyn Koester, also a potter, pose in front of the murals that visitors helped to create.

And a special visitor to the Umlauf Studio...beautiful Bella! I hope you come back and see us again Bella.

And oh yes, here's me pointing out the pink Holly hocks that got rave reviews from customers.

NORTHWOODS ART TOUR

2010-07-22T17:01:00.000-05:00

I have been very busy this week getting ready for the upcoming Northwoods Art Tour and just wanted to show you a couple more things that will be available at Umlauf Art Studio. The first is a Fine Silver pendant with a pink Tourmaline and Aqua Aura and a pair of Fine Silver earrings lightly oxidized. I'll be bringing my torch for some demos on Saturday so you can see just how those glass beads are really made. Luckily we have a fine location right in downtown Lake Tomahawk, and there are some excellent stops nearby like Pigeon Road Pottery. I'll have some utensils there to match some of Amy's beautiful pottery. Things like a cheese knife, canape set and a Salad Set. I'll have to get some better photos tomorrow, so you can see how they look together. Ok back to work ....hope to see some of your faces.

Upcoming Events

2010-07-18T09:51:00.000-05:00

Yes this week will be a very busy week , as was last week, and probably the week after that. Why? well this weekend is the start of the Northwoods Art Tour on July 23 -25 Friday -Sunday. Many local Artists will team up with other artists and open their studio doors for visitors. There should be many demonstrations, opportunities to learn, and the chance to talk with artists themselves. I'll be at The Rodd Umlauf Gallery and will bring my portable torch for some demos on lamp work glass beadmaking. For more info on the Tour just click on the link on the right and you'll find all the information you need to navigate the Northwoods and visit as many places as you like. In the meantime enjoy this piece with it's twisted Sterling wire bail with flamed ends, and Lampwork bead with Fine Silver mesh and Murrini.

Some Recently Sold Items....

2010-07-07T09:02:00.000-05:00

Two strands of warm olive green freshwater Pearls with a Lampwork glass bead hollow made with fine silver mesh and metallic glass shards, and a Fine Silver leaf charm.

A Salad Serving set with beaded handles that match the colors of the glazes on the bowl at the bottom, by local potter and friend Amy Higgason. Hmmm......I already have a bowl, I probably should have a set too!

The SHOP HOP Event....

2010-06-16T16:32:00.000-05:00

If you're in Minocqua on Thursday night, the 17th of June be sure to stop by Bassett Jewelers for the After Hours Island SHOP HOP Event by participating stores. You can see these 2 pieces there along with myself and the other local artists who have their work for sale there. You can get more info if you click on Bassett Jewelers on the right of this entry. There are 4 other establishments taking part as well.

The pendant is an oxidized Fine Silver piece on a rubber cord. The earrings are gold hoops, with a pewter colored disk bead and oxidized Fine Silver disks.

In Memoriam.....

2010-06-05T11:57:00.002-05:00

Briary Nan Furda, fondly known as "The Nannercakes" left us on Thursday June 3, 2010 just before her 15th birthday. She will be greatly missed by all her loved ones and her best buddy Mick. We'll be thinking of you often.

So What's New This Season..........

2010-06-02T08:57:00.000-05:00

Well, I do live in Wisconsin and what do you think we eat a lot of here? Yes it's cheese! We have access to some of the best cheeses around. If you haven't tried some award winning Artisanal Cheeses from places like Carr Valley, Sartori and many of the smaller cheese makers in our state, you really need to. One of my favorites is from the Uplands Region in Southwest ,WI called Pleasant Ridge Reserve from the Uplands Cheese CO. http://www.uplandscheese.com/ It has a wonderful creamy taste and it's made from the milk of their own cows who have grazed only grass. So production only takes place when there's grass to be eaten, obviously. Hook's Paradise Blue Cheese is another favorite and is located in the Mineral Point area. Salads have never tasted so good! So I think...... special cheeses need special knives. Both of these have one of my Lampworked Glass beads on the end, one is done in a Silver glass, the other with lots of Silver Leaf, Fine Silver mesh and colorful Murrini. You can find one at Chocolates & More in Mincoqua, The Rodd Umlauf Gallery in Lake Tomahawk, and Center for the Visual Arts in Wausau, WI.

New At Bassett's......

2010-05-31T19:34:00.000-05:00

I recently took some new work up to Bassett Jeweler's in Minocqua, WI. Check to the right for their website. Here's a pair of earrings with some silver glass round Lampwork beads. What makes these special? The glass has a high silver content which allows it to change colors when exposed to high heat. The rod for this pair started out as a Transparent grass green rod and changed to some wonderful metallic colors in blue and pinky purples. They are a bit difficult to photogaph, but I think you can get the picture. The caps are made from Fine Silver and they're suspended on a hammered heavy wire.

There's a New Home for these....

2010-05-27T18:05:00.000-05:00

These little gems found a new home last week in Mercer, WI. Small Sterling hoops with Handmade Fine Silver textured disks that have been oxidized. May you wear well!

Artistree Gallery's First Stained Glass...

2010-05-25T08:36:00.000-05:00

Also at the Artistree Gallery in Land 'O Lakes is a few pieces of my stained glass. This piece is a small window with one of my Lampwork beads, a Moss Agate, beveled leaf shape and some lucious deep grass green mottled glass. If you look closely at the bottom view you can see what inspired me for this piece.

Yes that wonderful little Moss Agate seems to have a landscape all its own.

Land 'O Lakes, here I come....

2010-05-14T19:02:00.001-05:00

Recently I was accepted into a new Gallery called Artistree. It's located in Land " O Lakes right on the Wisconsin and Michigan border. The entire Gallery is composed of and run by all sorts of Artists ranging from Fiber Arts, Jewelry, Oils, Watercolors, Pottery and now Stained Glass. I had the opportunity to meet some of the artists at the Bi-annual meeting on Wednesday night and thoroughly enjoyed myself. They are a very ambitious group and have a delightful space right on the main street. I was hoping to have some photos , but I ended up a little too rushed , so my next trip up there I'll be bringing my camera. I had to laugh because the meeting was held at the Chamber there and not more than a half block away was the "Welcome to Michigan" sign. When I say this town is on the border....well I really mean it. This is one of the pieces I took with me.....it has a rubber cord with a handmade Fine Silver twisted bail and Lampwork bead. The bead has silver leaf, glass shards and Murrini with clear "wings".

A Pair of Windows....

2010-04-26T15:04:00.002-05:00

I haven't had any Stained Glass here for awhile so I thought I needed something a little different. This pair of windows I did for my sister and brother-in-law for their front window. The purpose was to have 2 windows that celebrated their oneness and accentuated their uniqueness. They each chose something they liked, as you can see the center stones are different, but the colors and choices of glass are similar. When hung side by side they also flow one into the next. The colors are soft ambers and smokey greys with lots of texture. Enjoy.

2010-03-31T14:47:00.000-05:00

A couple night views and a shot of the luxurious fireplace that worked beautifully and gave off some nice heat, for cool Nov. evenings. Hope you enjoyed the tour and you can visit the site at http://www.sethpeterson.org/

More Seth Peterson Cottage

2010-03-31T14:38:00.000-05:00

The bedroom, pictured here, again has built in storage and sandstone walls. Note the corner window where the glass comes together and the corner disappears. Even the biffy is spiffy, with a stainles steel shower with the head pointing backwards, and the drain right in the flagstone floor. The photograph is an original signed Pedro Guerrero. He was the photographer to Wright, as well as to Alexander Calder ( famous for his mobiles) and a few other famous people. It was exciting to see an original print.More Nov. foliage.

2010-03-29T18:43:00.000-05:00

Inside the cottage, the dining area overlooks the patio and view. The furniture is a Wright design, typical for the use of plywood and straight lines. The living space utilizes built in seating and also has a fold out bed for extra guests. The floor is flagstone and is the same throughout the entire space. The walls are sandstone and are original to the structure.

A bit of Fall Foliage in the yard.

2010-03-17T09:31:00.000-05:00

The view from the patio to this lovely setting, looks out over Mirror Lake. It sits high up on a bluff. To the right of the building. is the bedroom area. You can notice the windows coming together at the corners. A very typical Wright style , even though materials at the time were not always such that you have a good join. During the restoration, they were able to make that happen without much problem.

The Seth Peterson Cottage

2010-03-10T10:54:00.002-06:00

Back in Nov. we had the opportunty to stay in a Frank Lloyd Wright designed cottage, called the Seth Peterson Cottage. It's located in a remote spot of Mirror Lake State Park near the Wisconsin Dells. It's one of a few places designed by FLW at which you can spend an overnight or two. Being such a wonderful place I thought I would share some of it with you. The cottage was designed for it's owner Seth Peterson, but sadly he never spent a night there. It was purchased, lived in and then sold, as land was being bought up for the purpose of a state park. The park system, not knowing exactly what to do with the property, left it fall into disrepair for about 30 years. Discovered by a local, she led a group to bring the cottage back to it's origianl state.

Next time a view of the grounds and the inside. And as always, just click on the photo to enlarge.

Two Pendants

2010-02-23T15:29:00.003-06:00

It's been a long time since I've posted, just busy with things like my annual studio cleaning. But things are much more organized and put away and I'm back at it making beads and thinking about new creations. Here are 2 pendants that are out there somewhere. I believe the one on the bottom should be in some one's jewelry box and the other is at the Umlauf Art Gallery. They both have Fine Silver handmade charms, my Lampwork beads, and similar
decoration. Enjoy and let me know if it's Spring where you are yet. We have a ways to go !

A Walk on the Lake...

2010-01-19T07:35:00.002-06:00

Since the weather was so beautiful on the weekend, a walk on the lake was definitely in order, much to Mick's satisfaction. We requested permission to walk through the property at the end of our road, connect with the snowmobile trail, and exit on the lake towards home, for a nice long walk. You might notice the mirror and soap plate on the wall of the structure for outdoor shaving I presume.

Last minute Gifts???

2009-12-14T08:05:00.002-06:00

Here's a little something new, at least the fasteners differ a little from the zipper pulls, for your purse, jacket, or even to hook on the belt loop of your jeans. They are easy off ....easy on. They also have a few bigger and more numerous beads. I guess we all need a little bling right?? They're available for that last minute purchase at Umlauf Art Studio in down town Lake Tomahawk.

Umlauf Art Studio Holiday Sale

2009-12-04T17:52:00.002-06:00

Just one more thing to add before tomorrow and then I think I can sit back and relax a little this evening. I finished this up today and am pleased with how it turned out. I'd like to explore the areas of combining chains with beads, and stones and Fine Silver pieces, so this has gotten me started. It has one hollow Lampwork bead nestled amongst some very nice large white Freshwater Pearls. A double sterling chain completes the other side, also making it adjustable. And dangling off the chain are 2 Fine Silver heart charms. This will be at the Gallery tomorrow. Now off to relax and gather my thoughts before the big day.

Big Turnout at Bassett's

2009-12-03T17:13:00.003-06:00

I think last night can be counted as a big success for the "Just for the Ladies" night at Bassett Jewelers in Minocqua. There was quite a crowd and everyone had a chance to fill out a wish list for the benefit of their special someone. A very nice way to make it easy! So now there's one more Holiday Sale before Christmas, and that will be at the Rodd Umlauf Gallery in Lake Tomahawk this coming Saturday, Dec. 5th. from 10:00-4:00. All the artists will be on hand, Rodd, resident painter, Hans our wood worker, Kathy our potter and myself. There will be Wine and Treats and lots of festive Holiday Spirit.

Pictured are a couple new things that will be at the gallery on Sat. Something new for the person who has.... almost everything, a beaded bottle opener in vivid hues of cobalt, with striped cane, murrini, and glass shards. The earrings in blue are Kyanite disks with handmade Fine Silver spirals, on short handmade sterling ear wires. The "swirly Q's" lasted all of about 10 minutes at the event last night, but I was working on another pair today and should have them for Sat. This pair has Fine Silver spirals with tiny Freshwater Pearls in shades of mocha.

To entice you further Amy Higgason of Pigeon Road Pottery (check on the right for her Blog, you can see photos of her work) will be holding a Holiday Sale as well. Wendy Powalisz will be a guest artist for the day. Amy is located on Pigeon Road just before Lake Tomahawk. Also River Run will be holding a Holiday Sale as well. I believe all will be open at 10:00. So if you have some Christmas Shopping to do or would like to pick out something for yourself, take a drive up Highway 47 and support your Local Artists.

Pieces at Bassett's

2009-11-30T20:03:00.002-06:00

Bassett Jewelers in Minocqua will be having a "Just for the Ladies" night on Wed. Dec. 2, 2009. If you click on their website to the right,and go to events, you can see a personal invitation with all the details. I'll be there to help out and answer questions and maybe imbibe in a little wine from The Vine or some chocolate from Bosacki's Chocolates and More.

The following 2 pieces are currently at Bassett's for your viewing pleasure. The first is a pair of Fine Silver earrings with dangles of Iolite, Lapis, and pearls.

The second is another handmade Fine Silver Wire bail with a Lampwork Glass bead in clears and steel green. It has embedded bubbles and white coiling. It rests on a Fine Silver handmade headpin and topped with a sterling "string" bead. Stop up if you need a break and enjoy a little "ME" time.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!

2009-11-24T11:39:00.002-06:00

A big happy birthday to my 81 year young mom! May you have contunued good health and may I have those genes!

And very Happy Thanksgiving to all, may you all have lots to be thankful for.

Open House at Frasier's...

2009-11-22T19:51:00.002-06:00

Just a few pics of the Open House at Frasier's Kitchens the other night. It was really nice as I haven't done a show in Rhinelander for awhile and it was like old home week. Good to see so many familier faces. And many thanks to all those who went home with a little something!

2009-11-22T19:35:00.002-06:00

Some of Jackie's cuff bracelets and a couple of my pendants.

Jackie Pavlow and I shared a table and a display. We both brought a few props and within a short time had come up with something very pretty. It was fun Jack!

Available Tonight....

2009-11-20T13:33:00.002-06:00

Here's a pair of Fine Silver earrings that will be available tonight at the Open House at Frasier's. Come check it out, I here there will be treats also :)

Hunter Widows Open House.....

2009-11-18T19:13:00.003-06:00

This Friday starts the annual Hunter Widows weekend filled with various activities for those of us who prefer to stay out of the woods. I'll be at Frasiers Showplace Interiors with a selection of jewelry items. My friend Jackie Pavlow will be there also with her purses and some new cuff bracelets that she's been working on. And I can tell you first hand that they're pretty unique and very beautiful. We'll also have the purses that we collaborated on, for display.

I may be wearing this piece in the picture as it's one of my favorites. It's a pendant that turns into 3 bracelets or a choker and a bracelet. If you look closely you can see there are 3 toggles that will unhook.

Here is the piece as 3 bracelets. I love the hollow beads that are graced with fine silver mesh and then draped in a silver glass shard that turns metallic colors when heated. There are also freshwater pearls in white and peacock, along with some of my fine silver handmade beads.

This piece will be available for sale and is one of the new items with this Fine Silver twisted wire bail with flamed ends. The base color on the bead is a khaki which is covered in silver leaf and glass shards with an added murrini. The clear "wings" have gold stone dots. Remember for a closer view just lick on the picture. Hope to see you this Friday at Frasier's from 4 to 7 I believe.

Nicolet Artist Collaboration Show

2009-10-26T09:07:00.002-05:00

So now that you know who the Spa Girls are, let me tell you about the latest project fellow artist, Jackie Pavlow and I have completed. The project will be on display at Nicolet College in the Art Gallery starting Oct. 31. It is a show for one or more artists to work together and display their results.

FRIENDSHIP x 3 HANDBAGS

The Handbag project began as an idea for gifts for 3 longtime friends who gather together yearly for a weekend reunion. Jackie's expertise

as a fiber and graphic design artist

using recycled fabrics, and Kathy's

expertise in Lampwork bead design

and production, and Fine Silver creations are combined in this beautiful collaboration to celebrate the enduring friendship among three women. Inspirations for the graphics include photos of meaningful places and words, and the three friends, as well as themes portraying friends as individuals.The use of similar fabrics with different colors, and the theme of the repition of 3 in the beadwork, stitching, and chains signifies an enduring friendship between 3 women

Remember you can click on any photo to enlarge it for a closer view.

Points for my Son Ben....

2009-10-26T07:54:00.002-05:00

Lots and lots of points go to my son Ben!! He presented me with these lovely roses while I was in Madison for our Annual Holland House Spa Girls weekend. What a good kid! They're still looking pretty good too. He and his girlfriend Lauren graced us with their presence at dinner and a tour of their place. It was a fun night.

The Holland House gathering is 2 of my long time friends, Jean and Cheryl, from Jr. High. who get together at least once a year at some place fun to ....of course, have a good time! Where does the name come from you say? Well one year , when we were having a particularly good time, I had brought a couple Home Spa Recipe books as gifts, and we tried a few of the recipes for Facials. All made with natural ingredients,(strawberries, oatmeal, honey, etc.) some were just too drippy to be without a basin under ones chin. So they did supply a lot of laughter. Jean has a house in Galena, where we met, with a Historical plaque called the Holland House, and after Champagne...... or was it Margaritas..... or maybe Chocolate Martini's, we became the Holland House Spa Girls!
H2SG

The H2SG even made it on the Michael Feldman radio show Whad Ya Know? that Sat. To catch us on the air go to
www.notmuch.com/Show/Archive.pl?s_id573

and scroll down to Part D we're on right after the French girl.

Oct. 17, 2009

So I was going to post some Fall Photos....

2009-10-13T17:17:00.002-05:00

but then I thought maybe I should post these first since this was what the day looked like yesterday. Thankfully most if it melted today and hopefully we'll go back to it being Fall.

Still Available at Umlauf Art Gallery

2009-10-09T16:19:00.002-05:00

Well the Art Tours are over for the year, and I think we had quite a few people come through the doors. Now on to planning for next year. In the mean time, here are two pieces that are still available at the Gallery. The first has one of the new Fine Silver wire bails with flamed ends. Dropped from the bail, is a flat tabular bead with lots of silver leaf and glass shards and a lone murrini floating on the bottom.

This pair of earrings starts out as a dark amber round bead. Silver leaf is added and then topped with Sea Pearl glass frit. The whole works are then encased in clear glass and this is the result. I love the pattern that forms from top to bottom on these particular beads.

Northwoods Fall Art Tour

2009-10-01T22:52:00.002-05:00

Here's a few things that will be available at the Rodd Umlauf Gallery in Lake Tomahawk, for The Northwoods Fall Art Tour. This piece is another new handmade Fine Silver bail, with a cobalt lampworked bead, with silver leaf, glass shards, and murrini. It also has some clear "wings" with blue adventurine dots. It's perched on an 18" rubber cord.

Here's a pair of Fine Silver rectangles with a spiral design texture. Separate spirals create movement by hanging freely on the sterling hoops. Copper colored Freshwater Pearls dangle from the bottom.

And last, is a Handmade Fine Silver piece, with multiple textures. A smooth tear drop Labradorite is fastened with wraps and wraps of sterling wire. It"s dropped from a 16" rubber cord.

The Art Tour runs this Friday, Saturday and Sunday and I"ll be at the Gallery on Friday afternoon and most of the day on Saturday. Get out and see some Fall colors and as well as some beautiful Art!

Silver Links

2009-09-29T22:19:00.002-05:00

I haven't posted in awhile....been busy, getting some new things ready for the Fall Art Tour and having a couple nice weekend trips. So just a quick post ...this piece has Fine Silver textured circles with fused links. They're attached to a strand of small bicone Lapus Lazuli. Dropped from the middle link is a cobalt bead with glass shards, murrini, and silver leaf. I'll be back a little later...in the meantime enjoy!

Smooth Labradorite tear drops...

2009-09-10T08:39:00.002-05:00

One of my favorites, out of this last batch of work, were these earrings. Concave squares of Fine Silver with a touch of texture, hold smooth tear drop Labradorites. They are entwined with sterling wire and all the silver has been gently oxidised.

Make Mine Asymetrical please......

2009-08-31T15:53:00.002-05:00

Yes.... it's supposed to be that way. I know there will be some people who will want to point out to me that one side of this necklace is not the same as the other. But hey, I've never been too much of a symmetrical person, I like things not always the same, not always predictable. For this piece, on one side I have some Dyed Silver Freshwater Pearls. They travel partially up the other side where they're met with a fused Fine Silver ring. On the other side of the ring are two different sized gun metal chains. Dropped from from the center of the necklace is a handmade Fine Silver square with two different textures separated by pounded spheres. And from the square hangs a Lampworked Glass bead with murrini, Fine Silver mesh, and glass shards to give it a bit of a Cosmic effect. It's capped in Dark Silver Plum with a leaf on each side.

A New Debut

2009-08-28T19:02:00.002-05:00

This is one of the new pieces I debuted at the Bassett Silver & Bold Show. The Fine Silver spiral bail is handmade and travels up one side of the rubber cord. Suspended from the bail is a Lampworked glass bead with glass shards, Fine Silver mesh, murrini, and silvered ivory stringer on a steel green base. The headpin is also Fine Silver and handmade. I made a few others as well and will post them soon. Enjoy.

Just a Little Teaser...

2009-08-21T09:04:00.002-05:00

Now that most of the work is done, I thought I would give you a little preview to tomorrow's Silver & Bold Show. This piece has a Fine Silver handmade charm with the words "Till we Meet Again". Suspended from the charm is a Lampworked bead with Silvered ivory glass shards and a Raku Murrini. The head pin is also handmade from Fine Silver. Sterling rings, copper beads dipped in silver, and Dutch Dogan rings complete the piece, which hangs on a 24" rubber cord.

These earrings are hanging from a small white creamer pitcher, from my collection. They have handmade Fine Silver wires from which a Fine silver spiral hangs. The gems in luscious colors of greens and pinks, reminding you of watermelon, are Tourmalines.

Stop by Bassett's in Minocqua, on Saturday, to see what other "little gems" will be there.

Silver & Bold Show .....Coming Soon!

2009-08-09T12:53:00.003-05:00

Bassett Jewelers Welcomes Back “silver & bold” artists to their Showroom

Bassett Jewelers is hosting it’s second round of jewelry trunk shows featuring local designers on August 15, 22 & 29 from 10am to 4 pm. “Silver and Bold: A Northwoods Jewelry Designers Showcase” will feature artists Betty J. Christian of Lake Tomahawk, Kathy Furda of Rhinelander and Wendy Powalisz of Land O’ Lakes on three separate saturdays in the store’s showroom. Each artist will be on hand to talk to customers directly about their pieces.

The event was conceived last fall by owner Susan Bassett and marketing manager, Amy Higgason as a direct response to customer inquiries. “There have been many customer requests for locally made items. We hand selected these three ladies because their craftsmanship is first-rate. They each have their own signature styles and unique approaches to their materials”notes Susan Bassett. “The first event went over so well that we created a ‘Northwoods Boutique’ within the store to showcase these artists year-round. The reaction has been extremely positive!” adds Bassett.

“Late summer is the perfect time to bring the artists back to the showroom for another round of Silver & Bold trunk shows. It’s an opportunity for Betty, Kathy & Wendy to meet our seasonal customers that missed the shows last November & December” Higgason explains.

Artist Betty J. Christian is first up on Sat., Aug. 15. Christian began creating wire wrapped jewelry in the late 90’s. Her intricate pieces are formed one at a time using only hand tools and jigs. She works primarily with sterling silver, but also uses 14K gold-filled wire and copper wire in some designs. Most pieces incorporate gemstones or other bead materials, including pearls, glass, wood, bone, clay, and seeds. “When I work with wire it seems to take on a fluid-like quality as it willingly flows into form. Each piece is a fun journey of creation” claims Christian.

The store welcomes Kathy Furda on Sat., Aug. 22. Furda designs jewelry incorporating glass lampworked beads and fine silver pieces. She makes her beads over a torch. It involves melting glass rods over a metal rod and then reworking the glass into art forms. Furda fuses fine silver wire to some of her glass beads. She also uses fine silver clay to create silver beads that are then fired in her kiln. “I like the combination of smooth glass beads and textured silver. The range of color, style, glass and precious metals that can be utilized is unlimited. It’s a very exciting creative medium.” states Furda.

Shoppers can meet Wendy Powalisz at Bassett’s showroom on Sat., Aug 29. Powalisz lists playing with her grandma’s necklaces and big jars of buttons as an “early delight.” Her fascination grew as she learned how antique beads traveled across the globe as currency. “Imagine the stories they could tell” she remarks. Powalisz began collecting vintage glass beads from Europe, African trade beads and semi-precious stones from around the world. She combines them with fairly traded silver from Thailand. “I still play with beads and buttons, but today they end up as one-of-a-kind jewelry creations.”

"We are excited to share this fine work with our customers. It's a talented group and as a small local merchant, it's our privilege to promote these area entrepreneurs." Bassett ads. Each artist will be at the store on their day from 10 am to 4 pm. Jewelry by these artists is available year-round at Bassett Jewelers, located at the stoplights in downtown Minocqua. Please call 715-356-7272 for more information.

Creative Arts Walk ...Art in Bloom

2009-07-28T15:08:00.002-05:00

Sandy Buss sent me this photo she took of one of my Flat Glass windows that she used for an inspiration piece for an Art in Bloom work. I was thrilled to provide her with inspiration. The photo below is a close up of her handy work. Very Beautiful Sandy! This was on display at Brown Street Studio during the Creative Arts Walk. And there's another place you should check out if you're down town . Becky Carpenter is the owner/photographer and she has a very unique eye. Her pieces are a delight. Take a look at her site here: www.brownstreetstudios.com

What a Weekend...

2009-07-28T14:33:00.003-05:00

Well needless to say ....I was worn out by the end of the weekend! It was a busy week leading up to the Northwoods Art Tour and Creative Arts Walk and an equally busy weekend. Unfortunately I didn't get any photos of the Art Tour, things just got to busy and I didn't get the chance. I did more Demos this year than in the past, lost of interested people. We had lots of visitors who asked lots of questions and seemed to enjoy their experience at the Gallery.
The photos I have are of the Creative Art Walk in Down Town Rhinelander.
Here I am posing with all the items I
brought with me.

This is my friend, Jackie Pavlow, she is one creative person. She was demonstrating her hand felted handbags. You can see some of the beautiful handbags she has made hanging on the coat stands. Remember for a larger image, just click on the picture.

A close up of some jewelry and flat glass that I brought. There is a piece of stained glass in the background that I purposely brought to show how beautiful a single multi-colored piece can be. This was the first time I did the event . I demonstrated how to make a small flat glass window. I had a lot of interested people, who asked very good questions.

2009-07-28T13:26:00.002-05:00

Both Jackie and I had set up at Frasier's Showplace Interiors. Here is Jackie showing Nancy Frasier just how it's done. Nancy was a very good promoter for the both of as well.

Here are two friends Rene' Carlson and her daughter Katie. They look good now , but you should have seen them after they got caught in the rain. I was glad we were inside but felt bad for those who were outside in tents, when the wind and rain came up suddenly.

It's an Art weekend...

2009-07-23T22:44:00.002-05:00

If you want to see some of the great artwork being produced up here in the Northwoods, this is the weekend to see it! Friday, July 24th is the kickoff day for the Northwoods Art Tour. The tour runs from 10 to 5 Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Check the Links to the right and click for more information. Also on Friday is the Creative Arts Walk in Down Town Rhinelander. It starts at 4 and runs till 8. I will be at both events, starting out at the Rodd Umlauf Gallery #15 on the map. I'll have my torch set up and will be making some glass beads. Click on the link at right to check out the other artists displaying their work there.
Later on that afternoon, I'll head down to Rhinelander and will demonstrate how a small glass window is made at Frasier's Showplace Interiors. I'll have a few items for sale there as well. Here's your chance to see some beautiful art and support the arts as well. Hope to see you there.

New at The Open Armoire

2009-07-19T21:12:00.002-05:00

In the rush of getting things ready for the upcoming Northwoods Art Tour this weekend, I almost forgot about some of the new things I took up to the Open Armoire located in Three Lakes. This is a set but can be sold separately and most certainly stands well on it's own. The pendant has a lampwork glass disk bead in champagne and white Filigrana rod. A Fine Silver spiral disk tops the glass bead as well as a Freshwater Pearl. The drop is suspended from a Sterling and Fine Silver handmade bail. Another champagne glass bead with Fine silver dots rests on a rubber cord, along with Dutch Dogans and Sterling spacers. The earrings have Lampwork glass disk beads along with Fine Silver spirals and rest on handmade Sterling wires. The Lampwork beads are also softly etched to give a velvety feel. Again both of these pieces are at The Open Armoire in Three Lakes, just off the main street. Take a look as there are many interesting items there.

This Friday I'll be spending time up at the Rodd Umlauf Gallery in Lake Tomahawk for The Northwoods Art Tour. I'll be there to do some Bead Demos on the torch. This is your chance to see just how it's done. You can get all your questions answered, well hopefully, all of them. At 4:00 I'll be back in Rhinelander, for the Creative Arts Walk Down Town. This is the second year for this event. The Down Town Organization is trying to raise funds for a possible Art Center and they will be having a raffle to help raise funds. I believe most of the Artists will have donated items to be raffled. I'll have more info later in the week.

Recently Sold at Bassett's....

2009-07-18T21:37:00.002-05:00

This pair of earrings sold recently at Bassett Jewelers in Minocqua. Softly etched lentil shaped lampworked beads, with fine silver leaf and wire rest comfortably on handmade Sterling wires. And now they rest on my best friend's ears. Thanks Jean! Hope you enjoyed seeing all the local artist works as well as the fine jewelry at this special store.

Wine Stoppers

2009-07-14T08:13:00.002-05:00

Here are a few more Wine Stoppers They are done in base colors of Black, Cobalt and Transparent Steel Gray. Glass shards, Silver Leaf, Silvered Ivory, and clear "wings" have been added to each one. They reside at Bosacki's Chocolates, for your wine and chocolate needs!

Canape Set

2009-07-09T14:45:00.002-05:00

If you're up in Minocqua and you get a hankerin' for some really good chocolate..... stop in at Bosacki's Chocolates on the Boardwalk. They have something that will be sure to scratch that itch. And while you're there you can check out this canape set with clear hollow beads dusted with some copper ruby frit, and deep red beads with raku frit, dots and bubbles.

Another Salad Set

2009-07-02T11:01:00.002-05:00

I recently finished another Salad Set in some different colors that I wanted to try. They're opaques in olive, steel blue, ivory , and stone ground. The decoration is in my favorite silver plum. There's a closer view so you can see the detail. This set is currently residing at Bosacki's, in their new location on the Boardwalk, in Minocqua.

One More at Bassett's...

2009-06-30T07:31:00.003-05:00

Someone just commented recently that I needed to update more frequently. I was so glad to hear that there was someone out there looking. Sometimes you do feel like you might just be talking out loud, so please leave me some comments, I would love to hear your thoughts. And I will do my part to accommodate more frequent updating. This piece is a just right size pendant for most anything. It has a Fine Silver square of concentric circles and dropped from there is one of my Cobalt Lampwork beads. This particular one has silver leaf, glass shards, a bit of fine silver mesh, and handmade Murrini, and is topped with dark silver plum. (the part that looks almost metal-like) The 2 dangles are freshwater pearls and an Iolite roundel. Enjoy.

This one is also at Bassett's Jewelers in Minocqua.

Back Again....

2009-06-23T16:41:00.002-05:00

It's been busy around here lately, and this is the first chance I've had to do some posting. But today, I have this piece to offer up. It's a long pendant of graduated coin shaped Baltic Amber. Dropped from the end is a Lampwork glass bead cobalt heart with wings. It has swirls of silver leaf and glass shards. It's suspended from a handmade Fine Silver bail that has 2 pieces of chunky lapis and 2 Freshwater Pearls. it's currently hanging out at Bassett Jewelers in Minocqua.

And to Match the Salad Set, we have the Bottle Opener

2009-05-31T12:11:00.003-05:00

Yes, there's one more new thing this season, a fancy Bottle Opener. It matches the Salad Set, in that the beads are the same wonderful Cobalt hues. So just when you thought you had everything, or maybe that Dad had everything.......there's still something to make a nice gift for Father's Day. Presently this particular bottle opener is residing at Bosacki's Chocolates in Minocqua.

SOMETHING NEW...

2009-05-26T09:19:00.003-05:00

My plan today, was to post something entirely new and let you know where it was currently available. On Friday, I took this piece and several others up to Bosacki's Chocolates in Minocqua for the beginning of the season. Colleen then put together a display there and the new piece sold on Sunday. Now this always goes 2 ways with me...I mean after all the piece was only in the shop for probably one day! That makes me feel good! On the other hand, just when I thought I was right on my timeline and keeping up orders I'm once again behind. But ...it still makes me feel good. So the new piece...it's a Salad Server Set in Stainless Steel measuring 11 inches. The ends are adorned with beads, made by me, in my favorite Cobalt with silver leaf, special glass shards, and handmade murrini. I've provided another view so you can see close up. I guess I'll be ordering more today so I can get busy again, not that there ever seems to be a lull. Enjoy!

Circles and Pearls...

2009-05-22T08:06:00.002-05:00

This pair of earrings has 2 handmade Fine Silver circles with a slight texture that has been oxidized. Dangling from those circles are slices of Watermelon Tourmaline, Freshwater Pearls, and Karen Hilltribe Fair Trade charms from Thailand. It all rests on Handmade Fine Silver ear wires. Next week I should be posting some new things that will be going to Bosacki's Chocolates at their new location.

Hollowmania...

2009-05-17T18:29:00.002-05:00

This piece is a choker style with 4 champagne hollow beads that are decorated with Silver glass stringer. In between, there are blue Quartz disks and a Fine Silver handmade bead in the center. It was fun to make and I'm sure will be fun to wear! currently at Bassett Jewelers in Minocqua.

Mixed Metals

2009-05-14T09:51:00.001-05:00

I like the look, lately, of mixed metals, so I put together a pair of earrings using 3 different combinations of metal finishes. The disks on this pair are made from Fine Silver, but one has a highly polished finish and the other has been oxidised and then polished so the valleys in the piece remain dark and the peaks are shinier. I then chose to use a gold hoop to make the combination complete. Bassett Jewelers is their home.

Fine Silver focal piece...

2009-05-07T17:08:00.002-05:00

This pendant has a Fine Silver focal piece, from
which I have suspended one of my Lampwork
beads,complete with murrini, silver leaf, and
some special colored stringer. There is a double
strand of both Silver chain and peacock dyed
freshwater pearls. Two cobalt beads with silver
leaf and glass frit complete the piece. Again this
piece is available at Bassett Jewelers.

Freshly Patina'd Fine Silver

2009-05-06T15:00:00.002-05:00

This pair of earrings is made entirely of Fine Silver (.999) It's a step above Sterling as there are no other metals added. They have been immersed in Liver of Sulphur for just the right amount of time to create that slightly golden color. Currently residing at Bassett Jewelers, they are awaiting your perusal.

Back From Vacation and Ready to Go....

2009-05-03T16:57:00.002-05:00

Freshly renewed from vacation, I was back in the

studio today, photographing the pieces I made

before I left. While in Madison not long ago, to take

a class in Riveting with Jeff Barber , I discovered

some hand colored silk ribbons. The colors were beautiful and I'm so glad they photographed well. Also in this piece is a large Fine Silver circle suspending a glass bead to match some of the colors in the ribbon. The headpin on which the bead sits is also handmade of Fine Silver. This piece is available at Bassett Jewelers in Minocqua. I will be posting more pieces destined for Bassett's the rest of this week.

Micky's on You Tube!!

2009-03-22T16:11:00.005-05:00

My good buddy Micky has made his debut on You Tube! Sharon Larsen who works in Dog Training and Grooming recently had a Tricks Class for fun during the heart of winter. So Micky and I thought it would be great fun to attend. And so it was. Sharon took some video of the dogs there, strutting their stuff and sent it to all of us, so I decided it would be fun to post it here. We've been practicing since then and have nailed a few more tricks. Mick is looking forward to warmer weather so we can get the Hula Hoop back out and jump to our hearts content. That turned out to be his favorite and mine too. Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOPHUJ3jqcs

More Bassett pieces...

2009-03-21T11:50:00.002-05:00

Here's a couple more pieces that are currently available at Bassett Jewelers in downtown Minocqua, WI. The first one is a double strand of bronze Freshwater Pearls that meets with a front toggle clasp closure. Perched on the clasp are 2 of my Lampworked beads, one Hollow and one flat tab bead decorated with a multi -colored glass frit. There's also a Raku ceramic bead and a Karen Hilltribe sterling flower charm that is a Fair Trade bead.

This pair of earrings has handmade Fine Silver squares with coin shaped Iolite and white Freshwater Pearls hung on Sterling Silver ear wires.