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!

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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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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.
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Just in time for the Holidays!

A couple of weeks ago I was chatting with one of my Market Square Farmers' Market neighbor vendors  and somehow the conversation came around to dry erase boards. I honestly don't know how it did, but I decided I would create some boards and bring them to the Market. I made five different designs and color combinations and they made their debut at the Farmers' Market this past Saturday.

I am pretty jazzed about the whole dry erase board idea and can't wait to create some more. They are about 6 inches wide by 8 inches tall and feature two stainless steel loops at the top for hanging. I added a ribbon hanger to each one, but you could easily swap it out for something more appropriate for your decor.

The 6 x 8 dry erase boards are $35 each and you can find them in the Sassy Glass Studio Etsy shop or at the Market Square Holiday Market on December 1, 8, 15 and 22 from noon until 7pm. Custom created boards are also available, so let me know if you want a particular color combination. Or you can add full color photos to your board for an additional cost. These are a great gift idea and I can't believe I didn't think to make them sooner!

SHOP SMALL | SHOP LOCAL | SHOP HANDMADE

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Holiday Sparkle | Upcycled Bottle Serving Trays

What do you get when you take a plain, clear wine bottle and add a half a teaspoon of sparkly mica powder into it and heat it up in the kiln until it is flat?

You get an amazing upcycled serving tray!

Sassy Glass Studio finally found a use for all the clear wine bottles that were getting a bad rap for not being 'pretty' enough to be made into serving trays, cheese boards, trivets, spoon rests or whatever you want to call them. The photo below shows the first bottles to receive some sparkly shine. There is one each of gold, bronze and reddish pink. More or less mica can be added to the bottle for different effects. More of these bottles will be created and will be available for sale at the Market Square Farmers' Market, Holiday Market, and in the Etsy shop very soon. These bottles will be $20 each. Regular sized wine bottles without mica are $15 and small bottles are $15 with mica and $10 without mica.

These trays are the perfect gift to give for anniversaries {gold, silver and bronze mica are available}, hostess gifts, weddings, and of course, Christmas. Discounts are available for order of ten or more bottles {plain or mica}.

Clear bottles with mica powder added prior to flattening in the kiln are a great gift idea!

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.

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All Things Sassy! :: December 2009 Newsletter {one-of-a-kind fused glass art, Knoxville, TN}

Happy Holidays from Sassy Glass Studio!

Here's the December 2009 edition of All Things Sassy!

Sassy Glass Studio 3-Day Open House Extravaganza

Holiday Gift Guide

Fused Glass Classes

:: Click on image to view full-size newsletter ::

:: Click on image to view full-size invitation ::

Click here to visit the Sassy Glass Studio website

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Sassy Glass Studio 3-Day Open House Extravaganza {one-of-a-kind fused glass art | Knoxville, TN}

Sassy Glass Studio will be holding an Open House Extravaganza over 3 days (see hours below) to give everyone a chance to come check out our one-of-a-kind fused glass art and relax with some refreshments. You will find great gifts or maybe something for yourself. Orders for custom creations will be taken throughout the Open House for delivery by Christmas.

Preview Sassy Glass Studio's one-of-a-kind fused glass art at www.sassyglassstudio.com. Most pieces are available on-line through Etsy and new creations are posted on the blog. We love custom creations!

There is something Sassy for everyone!

Photographic prints by ALM Photo will also be available.

OPEN HOUSE HOURS:

Friday, December 11th- 4pm to 8pm
Saturday, December 12th- 2pm to 6pm
Sunday, December 13th- 2pm to 6pm

Please invite your friends, the more the merrier! Sassy Glass Studio is located at 5000 Parkdale Road, two driveways up Parkdale on the right from the traffic light intersection of Cedar Lane and Inskip and Parkdale.  The Open House will be held in the new expanded glass studio in the building at the end of the driveway. There's plenty of parking in the driveway and on the lawn. Look for the lights!

See you here!

Here is a link to the event!

All Things Sassy :: Handmade Holiday Gift Guide {one-of-a-kind fused glass art | Knoxville, TN}

It's been a bit since the last Handmade Holiday Gift Guide post, but I am back on track now and you can expect lots of great handmade gift ideas to come your way over the next month until Christmas.  Most of the items I will be featuring are created by Etsy sellers in my own community of Knoxville, Tennessee because I really think it is important to shop local whenever you can.  We have a growing collective of Etsy sellers on our Knoxville Creative Hands Street Team offering a wide range of hand-crafted goodies and you can find out more about them here.

Holiday Tip #2 :: It's a well-known fact that some folks are harder to shop for than others, but it is less difficult if that person shops on Etsy.  Most Etsy users have a bunch of items and/or sellers marked as "favorites" and you can view their favorites from their profile. So next time you are looking to get a unique gift for that hard-to-shop-for person on your list, just check their profile or ask them to share their list with you.

Gift Suggestion #2 :: Gorgeous quilted batik bags from Hamncheezr. Here is an example of the wonderful fabric goodies offered. Click here to visit Hamncheezr's Etsy shop.

HOT LIPS Pink Batik Quilted Cotton Tote Purse Market Bag- $35

Grab a cup of coffee and browse Hamncheezr's Etsy shop, you'll be sure to find something perfect for someone on your shopping list or maybe even yourself!

Be sure to check out Sassy Glass Studio's Etsy shop for one-of-a-kind fused glass art, become a fan on Facebook and follow on Twitter @AllThingsSassy.

Knoxville Creative Hands Street Team Holiday Show & Sale :: November 7th

The leaves are just beginning to make a change from verdant hues to brilliant shades of red, gold and orange and Halloween's trick-or-treaters have yet to come calling, but according to the news stories and retail store displays it is not too soon to begin thinking about shopping for Christmas.  Don't fool yourself, it really isn't too soon!  In an effort to help you get a jump-start on your holiday shopping for both gifts and decorative items I want to let you know all about a wonderful event taking place next month that is the perfect opportunity to find unique, hand-crafted items from over 40 Knoxville-area Etsy shops.  Knoxville Creative Hands Street Team will be holding their Holiday Show & Sale on Saturday, November 7th from 10a to 9p at West Town Mall.

Visit the Etsy shops participating in the Holiday Show & Sale any time by logging on to Etsy at http://www.etsy.com/ and searching by vendor name or go directly to a shop by adding ".etsy.com" after the shop name listed below.  Many vendors will have items not available in their on-line shops at the Show & Sale so mark your calendar and make it a handmade holiday.

addiebear :: Cards and gift tags
artisandistrict :: Scarves and jewelry
beadmeup :: Jewelry
BGKDesigns :: Handcrafted jewelry and monogrammed items
BigDaddyLaneCreation :: Woodcrafts
boomsheboom :: Art wear, silk carves, clothing, accessories
Buzzabee :: Handmade bookmarks and soy candles
chandlercharms :: Jewelry, small gifts, hari accessories and jewelry holders
CooCoos :: Crochet items, women's undergarments, handbags, holiday stockings
creativefocusds :: Professional quality graphics
luckyroni :: Stationery, notecards and crocheted crafts"
DesignsbyDenae :: Jewelry, Precious Metal Clay
designsbypanda :: Painted birdhouses, painted gourds, coat hooks/racks, wrought iron wine racks and sinks
DoubleLoveDesigns :: Baby and children's apparel, personalized gifts
firetreefiveo :: Wearable art
hamncheezr :: Beautiful batik and quilted handbags
hraines40 :: Personalized, custom embroidery and dye sublimation, knitting, sweatshirts, aprons, bibs
InseineCreations :: Handcrafted soaps, soy candles, lip balms, body scrubs, lotions
jessicavanneste :: Jewelry
JPatPurses :: Unique handbags and accessories
karikatzi :: Knitted hot water cozies, night lights made from gourds, painted gourds
KnoxPhotoFusion :: Jewelry and ornaments with photos
lavenderhillcottage :: Shabby Chic, Cottage, French Country tea towels, pincushions
loveloveboutique :: Pillowcase dresses, bibs, onesies
megdesigns :: Jewelry, knitting, home décor
melhowardportraits :: Commissioned hand-drawn portraits, cigar box purses, magnets, key chains and cell phone charms
mjbordendesigns :: Hand-crafted beaded and wire wrapped jewelry and original acrylic paintings
Moonelighte :: Gemstone beads and jewelry
OddlyEnchanting :: Precious & semi-precious gemstone jewelry, precious & semi-precious beaded jewelry
petalshandbags :: Handbags, totes, headbands, spirit ribbon hair ties and wallets
PureSilver :: Precious metal clay jewelry
QuackersandTea :: Baby quilts, stuffed animals, pillows and pincushions
Rossoaps :: Handmade goat's milk soap
fluff4ewe :: Fiber carded batts and hand-spuns
My7kids :: Luscious yummy yarns
heartfeltfun :: Recycled sweater creations
SassyGlassStudio :: One-of-a-kind fused glass art
ALMphotoTN :: Fresh fine art photography
snigglefritz :: Girl's skirts, rosette pins, rosette hairclips, baby ribbon paci clips
SouthernAlchemy :: Candles, soap and bath products
SouthernSkirts :: Handmade women's clothing and accessories
TheTrendyBaby :: Baby and children's items, personalized gifts
thirdhand :: women's accessories, jewelry, hats, hairpieces, art
XpressionsThatStick :: Vinyl decals, vinyl home decorations
yoganoodles :: Yoga-inspired artwork and home décor

Click here to become a Fan of Knoxville Creative Hands Street Team on Facebook or follow us on Twitter @KCHSTknoxEtsy.  See you on November 7th!

Your Mother is Unique So Give Her a One-Of-A-Kind Gift For Mother's Day {one-of-a-kind fused glass art, Knoxville, TN}

Fresh Fused Glass Photograph Frame Designs from Sassy Glass Studio

Sassy Glass Studio recently added fused glass photograph frames to the growing list of one-of-a-kind fused glass goodness we offer. Above are a couple of the new additions to the collection to which we will continually be adding new designs. Since much of what we create for our customers is custom we would love to work with you to design the perfect frame for that special photograph. Frame sizes can range from tiny enough to hold a 4 X 6 photo to large enough to accommodate a 16 X 20 image. The possibilities are endless and limited only by my imagination!

Fused glass photograph frames can be displayed in a number of ways, therefore, the easels shown in the images above are not included. Easels to coordinate with the frame or your decor can be purchased from many sources, however; if you require an easel for your frame and would like us to choose one for you, we will. Aside from easels the frames can be displayed with mounting hardware on the wall that holds the frame out from the wall to give it the appearance that it is floating or you may wish to have hanging hooks fused into the top of the frame to allow it to be hung similar to a traditional frame.

The topmost frame is 9 X 9 inches square and accommodates a 6 X 6 image. The photo is simply taped to the back of the frame and the image shows through the clear glass portion. Black poster board was added to the back of the photo to reduce the amount of light shining through, but some images may benefit from the glow of the extra light. This frame features a green/blue art glass and white opaque glass and is priced at $50.

The bottom frame is 10 X 11.5 inches and can accommodate a 5 X 7 image. This frame provides a little more versatility and can be displayed horizontally or vertically. Black opaque glass accented with iridescent black glass on clear give this frame a sophisticated look perfect for almost any decor. This frame is priced at $70.

Sassy Glass Studio would love to design a memorable one-of-a-kind Mother's Day gift especially for your mother whether it be a fused glass frame, vase, plate, nightlight or pendant. There's something Sassy for everyone!

Don't forget to contact ALM Photo for fresh portrait, wedding and sports photography. Visit our website for more information about our professional photography.

Sassy Glass Studio :: Last Minute Shopping!

Do you still have some Christmas shopping that needs to be done? Looking for the perfect one-of-a-kind gift for that special someone? Trying to avoid shopping at the mall and box stores? If you answered "yes" to one or more of these questions then I have fabulous news for you. The shop is still open at Sassy Glass Studio! Call us at 865-406-3870 to let us know you'd like to stop by and enjoy some stress-free shopping with ample parking. Gift wrapping is also available for a nominal fee.

Guys...we have a lot of great gift ideas for the ladies in your life (wives, girlfriends, moms, sisters, aunts, grandmothers, and friends) and Allan would be more than happy to help you shop for them. He's great at picking out just the right pieces.

We'll be open through Christmas Eve at 4pm! There's something Sassy for everyone!

Christmas Shopping Sassy Glass Studio Style

There are only 12 more shopping days until Christmas...maybe even less by the time you read this. Have you put off your holiday shopping because it is a daunting task lacking excitement or are you just a procrastinator who always waits until the very last minute? Either way, Sassy Glass Studio is here to rescue you from the ordinary with extraordinary Christmas gift ideas. If you weren't able to attend the Sassy Glass Studio Open House this past week it's still not too late to find a unique gift that is sure to be treasured for it's originality and thoughtfulness. Here are some items you might wish to consider...

Check out the Sassy Glass Studio shop or contact us to host a Sassy Glass Studio @ Home Show and earn free fused glass art.