Back in the Studio | Hello September...

Hello September...

I'm back after a summer vacation from the glass studio feeling re-energized and ready to create loads of fresh fused glass goodness. I've never taken two months off from the glass studio and it was pleasantly refreshing. Even though I was at the Market Square Farmers' Market in July and August, I didn't create any new pieces. And I missed the creating. A lot.

My husband, Allan, and I took a two-week trip to Colorado at the end of July into the beginning of August to visit family and do a lot of mountain biking. It was a refreshing break from the usual routine and we had a blast riding the Monarch Crest Trail as well as doing some downhill at Steamboat Springs and Trestle/Winter Park. And we enjoyed a week in Eagle with my brother, sister-in-law and two adorable nieces. So much fun to spend time with them and there are fabulous mountain bike trails in the area that we could access from the neighborhood. We can't wait to go back.

Me on the trails in Eagle, CO

Me on the trails in Eagle, CO

Me at Steamboat Springs

Our bicycles at the start of the Monarch Crest Trail on the Continental Divide Trail

But as awesome as that time away was, the good mood was broken when my mother passed away 10 days ago. My wonderful mom lived with us for the last few years and was a part of our everyday life. Her presence is felt throughout our home. Everyone handles their grief differently and I decided that I need to get back into the glass studio, to creating and making art that others can enjoy through a process I enjoy. My mom would expect nothing less. She always told me, "you do good work", no matter whether I was working in the garden, mowing the lawn, taking photos or creating fused glass art. I'm going to make her happy and continue to do good work.

Expect to see some new pieces at the Market Square Farmers' Market on Saturday, September 19th and in the Etsy shop too. I've shared some of the new Fusography designs I've been working on for Fall 2015. I'm also taking custom orders for the holidays starting today. Don't forget that Fusography orders (images fused on glass) need a minimum of three weeks lead time and most other pieces need at least two weeks.

Happy Fall Y'all design for Fall 2015

Hello Gorgeous! design for Fall 2015

Bottoms Up! design for Fall 2015

Pump up the jam! design for Fall 2015

Red rain boots design for Fall 2015

Fall Trees design for Fall 2015

Drop by and see Sassy Glass Studio at the Market Square Farmers' Market on the 15th or email me to place a custom order or inquire about my work. I love to teach others how to create their own fused glass goodness in my Beginner and Intermediate Fused Glass Classes too!

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Give the Best Gift Ever! Fusography!

Does finding the perfect gift drive you a little crazy?

How many times have you wandered a store, physically or virtually, looking for the perfect gift for someone special? Doesn't it bum you out when you can't seem to find that "one special thing" that is not only unique, but that you know they will love, and is within your gift-giving budget. I pretty sure we've all been there. Nobody wants to feel crappy because they can't find the perfect gift. Not everyone is gifted, pardon the pun, in their ability to find that "one special thing". But there is good news for you, I have the solution and it will kick the butt of all the other gift givers!

Problem / Solved

Several years ago I was trying to figure out a way to incorporate my fused glass art with my photography so I could offer my ALM Photo clients unique ways to display and gift the images I had taken. For months, I searched the Interwebz looking for a company that offered custom made, fusible decals of my photos and about the time I was ready to give up, I found one. Some of you may already be familiar with the story of how Fusography came about, but for those of you just finding out about Sassy Glass Studio and the awesomeness of Fusography it was one of the happiest days of my life. I am pretty sure I did a little dance! Now, not only could I create one-of-a-kind fused glass art as I had been for several years, but I could add a photo or other graphic (illustrations and any other artwork that can be turned into a digital format) to make pieces that were one-of-a-kind on a whole new level.

Being able to create these unique pieces got me thinking about all the possibilities! Need an awesome gift for that hard to shop for relative- I've got you covered; want to wow the newlyweds with a piece that perfectly matches their style- I've got you covered; want to give matching gifts to bridesmaids, girlfriends, sorority sisters, family members- I've got you covered. The possibilities are truly endless!

So, if you are looking to give a gift or create a piece of art that will share a special moment, match a decor or tell a story, I'd love to talk with you and work to create some one-of-a-kind Fusography fused glass goodness. I can create items from jewelry to wall hangings and trays, so there is pretty much something for everyone.

My Etsy shop has a Fusography section which mostly showcases pendants, rings and coasters as those are very popular pieces that appeal to my customers but, as I mentioned above there are lots of differents designs I can create. Any image that you have copyright permission to print can be turned into a Fusography piece of art.

Click these links to find out more about:

The process of creating Fusography

The Etsy shop Fusography section

Fusography plates (6 inches square) created for a customer

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Want to learn how to create your own fused glass goodness?

Take a Beginner Fused Glass Class!

Market Square Farmers' Market

Sassy Glass Studio will be back at the Market Square Farmers' Market on Saturday, July 11th from 9am to 2pm.

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Sky Blue | Featured in the Etsy Shop

The rain has been falling in nearly every day for a week in East Tennessee but every so often, when I glance up from my work, I see some blue sky peeping out from the grey clouds. When I was checking in on my Etsy shop earlier today, I noticed quite  of my fused glass items were the color of a bright blue sky and I thought I would share some here to brighten your day and mine too!

Most of these pieces are available, so if you see something you like and it's not in the Etsy shop let me know. Some of this fused glass goodness hasn't made it to the shop yet!

Celebrate the Fourth of July safely and enjoy some time with friends and family! I'll be out and about, hopefully on my mountain bike at some point. All this rain has made for sloppy trails that need time to drain and dry.

Sky Blue

Want to learn how to create your own fused glass goodness?

Take a Beginner Fused Glass Class!

Market Square Farmers' Market

Sassy Glass Studio will be back at the Market Square Farmers' Market on Saturday, July 11th from 9am to 2pm.

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It's Market Time in Knoxville!

Can you believe it's already time for the first Market Square Farmers' Market of the 2015 season?! I can't and I have been waiting for it since the last Holiday Market in December 2014. Time flies when you are having fun doing what you love to do all day, every day!

Good News // Bad News

First, the bad news...

This season I will only be at the Saturday Market Square Farmers' Market seven dates out of the whole season. On the right, you will find the calendar with a listing of the dates I will be there.

And now the good news...

I am doing this so I will have more Saturday's available to teach fused glass classes! For the last few years, I have been coordinating schedules with my students to find mutually convenient times for us to meet for classes, and it's been really difficult. Lots of folks have not been able to take a class because they work during the day and can't take the class in the evening. It seems weekends, Saturday in particular, are a good day for most people to take a four-hour class. So, I modified my Farmers' Market schedule accordingly. I will be posting some dates that will be left open exclusively for glass classes, but the classes must be booked a minimum of two weeks out. If the dates aren't booked, I will offer them to my photography clients, etc.

So, if you want to see the Sassy Glass Studio fused glass goodness in person, I will be at the Market Square Farmers' Market on May 2nd and 9th from 9am to 2pm, in my usual spot in front of Krutch Park. I have lots of new items available and would love to see you!

Here is some of the fresh fused glass goodness you will find at the Market on Saturday!

Yes, there are lots of Fusography pieces, but that's not all! I recently photographed all of the fused glass goodness and I'm working on getting it edited and listed in the Etsy shop. It's been slow going. ALM Photo has been keeping me hopping and so has Pink Spark Creative. I love doing all the things I love, but there are only so many hours in the day. I guess that's another reason why I'm at the Market less often this year... I need some downtime. Doesn't everyone!

I hope to see you at the Market Square Farmers' Market this week or next and if you're interested in a fused glass class, call me or send me an email and we'll get you on the schedule! Also, if you aren't already following me on your favorite social media platforms, check out the links below and get to following!

Get Crafty With the Knoxville Creative Hands Street Team
As many of you know I am one of the founders and Team Captain of KCHST, the local Etsy team and we're excited to be hosting the Etsy Craft Party again this year. The Craft Party will take place on June 5, 2015 from 6pm to 8pm at the ALM Photo studio. More details will be posted on the KCHST Facebook page as they become available. We're currently seeking food and beverage sponsors for the event, so if you or someone you know if interested, please let me know.

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Behind-the-Scenes at Sassy Glass Studio : Dogwood Art DeTour - April 11-12, 2015

Spring has sprung at Sassy Glass Studio!

Read on to find out what's happening in April and May...

Every now and then I get a request from someone who wants to watch me work in my fused glass studio, see my kilns or view all of my fused glass goodness, and I often can't accommodate these requests because I don't actually work in my glass studio full-time. Most days of late, I am toiling away at my laptop in my office just outside of Downtown Knoxville, across the hall from the ALM Photo studio and offices. For the last few years, I have been spending more and more of my time working on Pink Spark Creative, my creative business mentoring and consulting business and as a photographer than a fused glass artist. And it seems that I tend to be in the glass studio more often teaching fused glass classes than creating fresh fused glass goodness. It finally hit me recently that I'm an educator at heart, so I have been spending much more time teaching and coaching than creating.

I share all of that with you now because this is the first year since I started Sassy Glass Studio that I will not be exhibiting at the Dogwood Arts Festival on Market Square (formerly the Market Square Art Fair), but I am participating in the Dogwood Art DeTour on Saturday and Sunday, April 11 and 12, 2015. So the good news is that you get to come visit my glass studio which will be open that Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 5pm and watch me work, ask questions and even purchase some of my fused glass goodness. It is your personal behind-the-scenes look at Sassy Glass Studio!

There are over 20 working artist studios open to the public for the Dogwood Art DeTour so you will have plenty of places to stop and visit on your way to or from Sassy Glass Studio in Fountain City. I look forward to meeting you and sharing my love of fused glass with you. I'll have plenty of chairs and some snacks too, so you can come hang out as long as you would like. Just don't judge me if my lawn is impeccably manicured and my gardens free from weeds! I'll be busy filling custom orders in the glass studio over the next week and a half until the Art DeTour.

Other exciting events coming up...

The first Market Square Farmers' Market of 2015 season is May 2, 2015 from 9am to 2pm and I'm listing the dates I will be participating below. My MSFM participation is very lean this season for the above-mentioned reason of affording myself more time to teach fused glass classes and focus on making time to enjoy life.

Mark your calendar to visit Sassy Glass Studio at the Market Square Farmers' Market
May 2
May 9
June 27
July 11
August 15
September 19
October 10
I also intend to participate in the Market Square Holiday Market each Saturday before Christmas in December.

Fused Glass Classes
Fused glass classes are scheduled when it's mutually convenient for the student and me which, as I mentioned above, is one of the reasons I am participating in the MSFM less often and freeing up more Saturday's. If you are interested in signing up for a class or would like more information, simply click here to email me or call me at 865-406-3870.

Get Crafty With the Knoxville Creative Hands Street Team
As many of you know I am one of the founders and Team Captain of KCHST, the local Etsy team and we're excited to be hosting the Etsy Craft Party again this year. The Craft Party will take place on June 5, 2015 from 6pm to 8pm at the ALM Photo studio. More details will be posted on the KCHST Facebook page as they become available. We're currently seeking food and beverage sponsors for the event, so if you or someone you know if interested, please let me know.

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Fresh Fused Glass Goodness | Late Summer Edition - Part I

Well, I fell off my weekly blogging schedule. I hate making excuses, so I won't. Let's just say things have been really crazy awesome (and busy) at Sassy Glass Studio and I have a lot of posts coming your way very soon. In the meantime, I wanted to share some of the fused glass goodness I have created this summer. I'm at the Market Square Farmers' Market most every Saturday from 9 to 2 {check out the calendar on the right hand side} if you live in the area and would like to check out my work in person, but almost everything is now in the Etsy shop, so you can check it out there as well. This is Part I of II, so be sure to check back soon!

I'm particularly excited about all the new Fusography designs! If you have suggestions for types of images or photographs, please share them. Also, if you are a graphic designer or artist and would love to have your work on fused glass, I am looking to partner with a few artists on new collections.

{Click on the photos to view the items in the Etsy shop!}

Set of four fused glass coasters featuring photographs of Jacksonville Beach, Florida

Fused glass coaster featuring an image of a bird

Fused glass coaster featuring an image of an owl with adorable teal wings

Fused glass coaster featuring a photograph of Jacksonville Beach, Florida

Fused glass coaster featuring a lone bicyclist on Jacksonville Beach, Florida

Fused glass coaster with a photograph of beachgoers on Jacksonville Beach, Florida

Fused glass coaster in bright blue with an image of a DSLR camera

  

Fused glass coaster in lemongrass with an image of a Polaroid camera

Fused glass coasters in mint green and ivory

Fused glass coasters in green, blue, yellow and orange

Fused glass coasters in aqua, turquoise, green and purple

Fused glass soap dish in orange, red and yellow

Fused glass wasabi  or trinket dish in greens and purples

Fused glass nightlight in mint green and dusty purple

I'll be posting Part II of the Late Summer Edition of Fresh Fused Glass Goodness next week!

ON A SIDE NOTE:
Now is the time to sign up for Fused Glass Classes! The weather is perfect to work in the studio and open the doors to cooler temperatures and the sounds of the birds. Click the links to find out more information on Beginner Fused Glass Class and Intermediate Fused Glass Class!

Classes are all four hours so you can even schedule them in the early evening during the week. Pack your dinner before work or grab some fast food before class. The first hour or more is class time so you can have a snack or dinner while you learn!

Now booking speaking engagements! I am available to speak to your small or creative business group on the topics of social media and turning your passion into a successful business. Contact me for details on these topics, cost and scheduling.

Creative business mentoring is available one-on-one and in small groups. I will work with you to overcome obstacles, help guide you to reach your small/creative business goals and lead you to success. Let me show you how to unleash your inner superhero!

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