Fusography: order early for holiday gift giving

You're probably thinking, why are you talking about holiday gift giving in August? December is four months away! In the handmade world, four months seems more like four weeks when you're busy completing orders and creating inventory to sell at markets and in your online shop. So, this is just a little public service announcement to remind you to get your holiday orders in early. Fusography orders take three to four weeks to complete, so you'll want to get those in soon. Most other items can be completed in two weeks or less (if I don't have to special order glass).

I was ordering some decals for a custom order of coasters today and that's what made me think about the holidays. I've got some fun holiday graphics that I will be sharing over the next few months, so let me know if something strikes your fancy and we'll get your order placed.

Fusography video series and ebook coming soon!

Good news for those of you who have been waiting patiently for the Fusography workshop video series! It will be available in August! If you are interested in updates on the video series or want to be informed of when it is available for purchase, sign up here. I've been working on the content and now I'm almost ready to start shooting the video. If I were to teach an in-person Fusography class/workshop it would take about a week, so the video series is the smartest, most time-efficient approach, even though I love in-person teaching. Maybe I will offer a downloadable cardboard cutout so you can pretend I am there teaching.

Super Sassy Sizzling Summer Sale

Have you ever realized you have waaaay too many of a certain thing? Maybe it's shoes. Maybe it's makeup. Maybe it's cats. What do you do when you make this realization? You declutter. Except with the cats. You're kind of stuck with them. Well, this is just the dilemma I found myself in with fused glass pendants. I have hundreds of pendants available and most of them are not listed in the Etsy shop (but they will be soon)! So, in an effort to reduce inventory and make room for new designs, all fused glass pendants in stock are now only $10. Yes, only $10!!! Stock up and save or do some early holiday shopping. The price is right!

Want to receive monthly updates on new items and sales? Sign up here!

Check out the newest Fusography designs in the Etsy shop! In the next few weeks, I will be stocking some new Fusography designs on my shelf in the Handmade shops at Southern Market too!

{Connect with us!}

Follow us on Twitter

Find us on Facebook

Pin us on Pinterest

Peep our pics on Instagram

Get us in your inbox

Shop us on Etsy

What's New at Sassy Glass Studio?

As you know I am not just a fused glass artist and instructor. I am also a photographer working with my husband, Allan, at ALM Photo and over the last few months I have been working on the launch of my creative business mentor program {more on this in an upcoming blog post!}. Just recently I began my first semester as a business coach at University of Tennessee for the BA353 class.

I have one section of students that I will coach as they progress through a business simulation game. The game allows them to start and run a business for eight quarters and they make tactical decisions, present their business plan to investors and try to remain profitable along the way. 

Even though I am only into the fourth week of class, I am loving it. As a newbie business coach, I also have to play the simulation a few quarters ahead so I know what the students face as they move through the simulation. The students form teams of five students, but I am a team of one. It's a challenge for sure! My organizational and motivational skills are getting a workout both in and out of class!

But that is not the only super awesome thing that is going on over at Sassy Glass Studio.

What else is going on? 

Over the last few weeks I haven't had much time to work in the glass {no surprise, right?} so I will be spending more time creating new pieces for the holiday season starting next week. If you have been waiting to place an order for a custom creation, don't wait too long! Also, this is the best time of year to take a fused glass class. The weather is getting cooler and you can give your class projects as gifts.

Don't forget about the Fused Glass Jewelry and Holiday Ornament Classes! Space is limited!

Even though my time has been limited in the glass studio, I have created some new pieces. Take a peek below and be sure to drop by the Market Square Farmers' Market on Saturdays or visit the Etsy shop to see all the fused glass goodness.

Here are a few new pieces that came out of the kiln this week...

A bowlful of Fusography pieces that will soon be pendants!

A rainbow of future mustache pendants

Turquoise Coral Collection votive holder

Green Coral Collection votive holder/ring or trinket holder

Teal Coral Collection business card/eyeglass holder

White Coral Collection bowl

Green and purple bubbly soap dish

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!

Mini Classes are here! Give the gift of handmade this holiday season and make your own fused glass goodness! The Holiday Ornament Class has three different ornaments you can choose to create and the Jewelry Class offers your choice of four pieces such as pendants, earrings or rings. Limited spaces, so don't wait to sign up!

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!

______________________________________

{Connect with us!}

Follow us on Twitter

Find us on Facebook

Pin us on Pinterest

Peep our snaps on Instagram

Sign up for the Newsletter

Fusography | Show off your fabulous photos!

{ Fusography }

It's a word I made up to describe the pieces I create by permanently fusing a full-color {or not} image, whether it be a photograph or other graphic, to a one-of-a-kind fused glass piece. Several years ago, probably more like four years ago, I set out to find a way to combine my two passion/professions: photography and fused glass art. There were plenty of decals you could DIY, assuming you could lay your hands on just the right type of laser printer, but these decals would only fire to a sepia tone. I wanted COLOR!

So I spent a lot of time Googling full-color decals and a multitude of combinations thereof until I found In Plain Sight Art. I was so excited when I found them. They are artists who print exactly the type of decal I needed! And it wasn't ridiculously expensive. And they are super easy to work with.

My first decal order was of artwork by a friend {see finished bowl below}. I was super nervous about messing something up and it took me several weeks to get up to courage to actually create the piece. I wrote a step-by-step post about Fusography a while back outlining the whole process. It's not for the beginner or anyone not having a great attention to detail. The step of getting the decal off the backing paper and onto the glass is tedious and if not done right, can ruin the whole piece. My patience is tested every time. I sweat while working to get the decals off the backing paper and onto the glass without any bubbles.

I've been sharing photos of Fusography pieces I have created and I have had a lot of fused glass artists ask me about the decals, but I have yet to find another artist {besides the creative geniuses over at In Plain Sight Art} sharing art they have made using the decals. Of course, you need to have a digitally programmable kiln and many fused glass artists don't use one, but I figured somebody out there was doing the same thing I am.

One of my business goals for 2014 is to increase exposure of Fusography, get more custom orders for it and experiment with different types of designs and techniques. It's unique and since it gives customers the option of using their images, whether they are professional images they have permission to print, Instagram photos, mobile phone photos, or photos of photos. See...lots of possibilities! I bet right now you are thinking of some images you would love to have on coasters or pendants. Custom created fused glass art is a fantastic gift idea, but it is even more awesome when you embellish it with a photo of someone special or your own photography.

Here are the decals on order right now! I just uploaded this image file to In Plain Sight Art and I will have them by the weekend. As you can see I can add a lot of images to one sheet! There are several images on here for customers, but a lot of them are for new pieces I am creating for the Etsy shop and for the Dogwood Arts Festival Market Square Art Fair and Dogwood Art DeTour coming up in April.

Next up with Fusography is a video tutorial sharing the entire process from creating the decal sheet, placing the order, fabricating the fused glass blanks for the decals, firing and finishing pieces. I'm excited to share one of my passions!

______________________________________

{Connect with us!}

Follow us on Twitter

Find us on Facebook

Pin us on Pinterest

Peep our snaps on Instagram

Got Heart? | Fused glass pendants and rings

It's that time of year gain when shop shelves are filled with hearts, chocolate and suggestions of lacy lingerie. We're jumping on the Valentine's Day bandwagon with a fabulous selection of fused glass pendants and rings featuring hearts in red, pink and black. Yes, even black! Not everyone loves this holiday, so the black is kind of the anti-Valentine's Day choice. Or maybe they just love black.

Here are a few of the items available in the Etsy shop:

Fused glass cocktail ring - red on ivory

Fused glass pendant - red on white

Fused glass pendant - black on white

Fused glass pendant - pink on white

Sassy Glass Studio can also custom create the perfect fused glass gift for that special someone whether it be jewelry, plates, platters, vases, votive holders or coasters. There is something Sassy for everyone!

Visit the Etsy shop to see all of the items currently available.

_________________________________________

{Connect with us!}

Follow us on Twitter

Find us on Facebook

Pin us on Pinterest

Peep our snaps on Instagram

Love Instagram? Share your photos on fused glass!

You're a photographer. I'm a photographer. 

My Instagram feed is a little bit of everything...

Well, aren't we all photographers capturing what interests us with our smartphones, DSLRs and point and shoots. How many photos do you take every day, week, month, year? I bet your answer is "a lot". Photos of your kids, cats, dogs, sunsets, thrift store clowns, cute outfits, vacation, shoes, stuff you want, people you find interesting...after they have been shared on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter they are just stored on your phone, computer or Dropbox. Am I right? Maybe some of these photos see the light of day as prints, but most of them are probably hiding out on a hard drive somewhere, never to be seen again.

It was the idea of all those awesome images you captured being hidden away that got me thinking. Instagram photos are square...coasters are square. Why not make some coasters with my Instagram photos! These images were all taken with my smartphone and shared via Instagram. How cool would it be to set out a set of coasters the next time you have friends or family over and they feature your awesome photos? As you can see from these samples the colors stay fairly true, with the exception of the bright pink/magenta. {I knew this color wouldn't print true on the decal, but needed to confirm how the color would shift.}

Here are my Instagram photos:

These are the bright pink azaleas that, as you can see below, turned a little more brick red.

This was a giant puffy flower, not a dandelion.
Interesting, but it needs a darker background to really be impressive.

I have to admit this is a pretty cool macro shot. Sometimes I get lucky!

This was a panorama and I cropped it down to an interesting square.

And here are photos of the coasters I created. These photos were taken with my smartphone, so they are not particularly awesome.

Notice the color change, but the image still looks pretty good.

This image looked about the same fired.

The pinks in this image stayed fairly true to the original. 

I was thrilled with how this image fired. The color is so vibrant. This photo doesn't so it justice.

Of course, I can fuse full-color images to anything I create, but coasters are something functional and decorative that everyone loves. They are a great choice for holiday gifts, a newlywed couple, parents, grandparents...well, pretty much anyone! Coasters are $15 each with a minimum order of 4. Design can be different for each and you can create a collage too. The coasters are 4 inches square and the image is 3 1/3 inches square. I will resize your image for you if you prefer. The image does not have to be square, I've made some with rectangular photos and they look great too. If you image has white in it, it will be fused to white glass, but you can opt to have a color border. Just like with a printed photo, white does not print.

JFG sign against a vivid blue sky makes for a neat graphic coaster design

Fusography is a great gift idea and if you are considering it for Christmas gift giving, please make sure you place your order by the end of November! Fusography orders take longer to create and the decals are only printed once a week, so be sure to plan accordingly. Call or email me if you have any questions!

PS Only 54 days until Christmas 2013...and counting.
_____________________________________________

Find us on Facebook

Follow us on Twitter

Shop us on Etsy

Pin us on Pinterest

Love us on Instagram

Custom Creations | Weddings, Anniversary, Birthday & Holiday Gifts

Ever run into a brick wall when trying to find the perfect wedding gift? Well, I don't mean a literal brick wall, but you've exhausted all of your shopping options and are ready to give up. If you can relate, I can help you! Sassy Glass Studio can custom create the perfect work of art for someone your love or someone you are wearing yourself out shopping for.

Here are three suggestions that are truly one-of-a-kind and will show how much you care. Even if you don't.

Coasters: Coasters are typically sold in a set of four and can be created in lots of color combinations and designs. This is a great choice if you would like to give a color-coordinated gift. Coasters are also available with Fusography. Click the link to find out more about Fusography. Imagine giving someone a gift featuring their own photographs or images from their favorite place. Your gift would definitely be one of their favorites!

Sushi plates, platters and sets: Times have changed and many couples getting married are either already living together or combining two households, so their need for the traditional housewares gifts is limited. How about giving a set of two or more plates or platters colors to coordinate with their dinnerware, so choose something that would be great for entertaining. Be creative with colors and patterns or add full-color Fusography.

Pendants: Small and wallet-friendly, a pendant is the perfect gift for anyone who loves to make a statement with their wardrobe. Or for anyone, like me, who wears a lot of black and needs a splash of color to make it pop. Pendants can be created in almost any color combo and can also include Fusography. Rings can be made to color-coordinate too!

Find us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Or drop us a line and let us know what you are looking for.

Autumn Has Arrived

Autumn made an appearance in East Tennessee for a few days at the beginning of October and it reminded me that Christmas is right around the corner. This means I have to create lots of fresh fused glass goodness to restock the Etsy shop and fill the booth at Market Square Farmers' Market. It also means that you still have time to place your custom order for Christmas gifts. 

Don't forget there is something Sassy for everyone! With the launch of the new Digital Fusography line of fused glass featuring color images permanently fused to the glass, the possibilities for personalized one-of-a-kind fused glass art are endless.

Drop by the Sassy Glass Studio Etsy shop to see what's new and drop by the Market Square Farmers' Market every Saturday to see what is available as well as place your custom orders.

Find us on Facebook

Follow us on Twitter

Shop us on Etsy

There's No Place Like Home {one-of-a-kind fused glass art | Knoxville, TN}

I love when customers send me photographs of the fused glass goodness they purchased because it gives me the chance to see how it looks in its new environment and I can really appreciate how they see my work and why they chose it in the first place. The orange platter in the photographs below was the result of a custom creation request I received through the Sassy Glass Studio Etsy shop and was actually made twice. The first platter was destroyed during shipping and, after I stopped crying about it, I created another piece that I personally liked a lot better. The customer loved them both.  She's a super customer and I love that she was so easy going about the whole situation.  The only information she gave me was the color scheme but amazingly when I saw the photos it was neat to see I had almost copied the coral reef design on a pillow. I don't know which came first, the platter or the pillow, but I thought it was really neat.

The platter is made of frit in orange, yellow and green artfully arranged on two layers of clear glass with some of the finer frit between the two layers as well. The use of the frit gives the platter a very dimensional look.  I think I will have to design another platter in a similar design since it is so unique and eye-catching. Oh, and I just realized the coasters in the middle photo are also Sassy Glass Studio creations.

Share images of your Sassy Glass Studio one-of-a-kind fused glass art with me and I will feature it on the blog. I always wonder where folks put their pieces after they receive them so it's nice to see how awesome they look in their new homes.

Drop by the Sassy Glass Studio Etsy shop and browse for one-of-a-kind fused glass goodness, follow us on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.

Stylish and Chic Fused Glass Sushi Set - Custom Created In Your Color Choice {one-of-a-kind fused glass art | Knoxville, TN}

Looking for the perfect gift for your favorite sushi lover? A wedding gift? A housewarming gift? Or perhaps pieces to coordinate with your dinnerware or dining room? If so, Sassy Glass Studio's one-of-a-kind fused glass sushi set for two is what you are looking for. The set comes complete with two 8 inch square sushi plates and two wasabi dishes in your choice of color(s) for $100. Additional pieces can be added, such as a 12 inch square sushi platter for $75, an 11 inch long sushi tray for $50, plates for $35 and wasabi dishes for $15.

Check out the Sassy Glass Studio Etsy shop for more fused glass goodness or to place an order for a custom creation.

Unleashing My Creativity in the Studio {one-of-a-kind fused glass art | Knoxville, TN}

Sassy Glass Studio had the opportunity to custom create several fused glass platters, vases and plates for Knoxville law firm, Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz. Here are photographs of the pieces created to coordinate with their office decor. The color palette throughout the office is varying shades of grey and the glass was chosen to compliment those colors as well as accentuate the stunning photography of Senator Howard Baker, senior counsel to the law firm. The orange and white platter, shown below, is a unique addition to the firm's Volunteer Conference Room. This platter is entitled "Tennessee River" and reflects the river's flowing currents.

Sassy Glass Studio loves custom creations! Contact us to discuss your home or office decor needs today. Visit our Etsy shop for fantastic gifts and accents.