Light as a feather & Steel Blue

Light as a feather & Steel Blue
Originally uploaded by 1Cher

follow the creek into Lake Michigan

follow the creek into Lake Michigan
Originally uploaded by 1Cher

Once of those perfect days of winter. What more can I say?

(Besides, click on the photo to go to flickr, the click on the "all sizes" icon and view large)

GO RED DAY

In honor of the American Heart Association's February annual event "Go RED FOR WOMEN", I'm offering a few pins and pendents that I have designed for this occasion, which just happens to be near and dear to my heart!

As a survivor/advocate who was able to appear before my representatives in Washington DC a few years ago, I've been inspired to creat these reminders, as well as offer a few official RED HEART PINS from the AHA.

I will donate 50% of the profit from any of my GO RED listings on Etsy to my state's chapter of the American Heart Association in your name.

Hopefully, the listings are showing up in the strip to the right. If not, check out http://www.stustustudio.etsy.com/

and Thanks for looking!

I'm BAAACCCCKK at work, in time for Valentines!

After a long absence, I'm finally back at work. If you can call this work! I know, in this economy it's tougher than usual, but it is what is is.
My take on it, at least for now, is that my items are Affordable, Artistic and "gift~able". With Valentines Day right around the corner, there's still a lot of love to spread and I've got a way to do it in an elegant manner without spending an arm & a leg.

Click on the Etsy pics on the right side, and it'll take you there. (my sales dept)

dark skies green waters fall hills Homestead ridge

Sleeping Bear Bay, Glen Arbor MI

dark skies green waters fall hills Homestead ridge
Originally uploaded by 1Cher

A belated acknowledgement of this photo being featured on a way cool blog!

"farlane", one of my flickr buds with an obvious great eye for the beauty of our land wrote:
Hey Cher - we're featuring your photo on the Leelanau Almanac for the week of November 6-12, 2008 - thanks for adding to the Leelanau (dot com) pool!

( http://www.leelanau.com/blog/leelanau-almanac-for-the-week-of-november-6-12-2008/ ) in case the other link doesn't)

I guess I got bogged down in November. Go Figure!!

This photo has also been selected as a subject for an oil painting by a 'famous' downstate painter who had requested permission. Permission granted, but of course! Just send me a photo of the painting of this photo please!

DH Day Farm 12-23-2008 5-43-43 PM

C DH Day Farm 12-23-2008 5-43-43 PM
Originally uploaded by 1Cher

This photo was selected to be featured on the Leelanau Almanac for the week of December 25-31, 2008. How cool! (OK, its cold, not cool, but you get the drift)

Empire Wintertime....SNOW UPDATE

jan 30 storm day Manning Light house
Originally uploaded by 1Cher

....Is a good time to be in Empire! For us locals, it's a time to get out the snow shoes or the nordic walking poles and get about one of the most engaging places on our planet.

OK, so some of the locals do flock to the warmer climes, and toast their bones.

THIS JUST IN!! Breaking new flash! As of 12-9-08, we have already received 1/2 of our average winter snowfall.

With the exception of last winter, we usually hope that we at least get a white Christmas. We have returned to Winters of 'yore, where white Thanksgivings were the norm. Global warming is now referred to as "climate change".

Mt Baldy in glass from Esch Rd (otter creek)

Mt Baldy in glass from Esch Rd (otter creek)
Originally uploaded by 1Cher

Here it is!

A vision in glass 12 inches across, 2 1/2 inches tall and 1/2 inch thick. NFS.
(The 'tongue' shape center right is a reflection from the lamp, nothing else!)

This piece of glass was kiln fired a total of 4 times. Originally, all of the Bullseye glass was crushed into tiny bits. I laid out the buff's' shape on a kiln shelf and fired it, then layered more to build up the depth needed to achieve a dimensional appearance to the bluff. The sand, water & sky were added with layers of crushed glass in different colors until the piece measured about 3/4 of an inch thick. Approximately one third of the volume is reduced during the firing process.

After a final slumping fuse to give it a bowl shape, the finishing sanding with a wet belt sander (See "Tool Gloat" entry below) gave it a smooth edge, and by using increasingly finer belts, a wonderful shine.

I have another bowl that will show this scene from the Empire Beach side of the bluff.

Now, off to clean the studio. a bit.

Mt Baldy from lakeside

Mt Baldy from lakeside
Originally uploaded by 1Cher

Fused from crushed glass. Side of bowl shot. (nfs) More info comming in next post.

8x8x3/8 pate de verre clock

8x8x3/8 pate de verre clock
Originally uploaded by 1Cher

A nice chunk of glass! This 8x8 clock "Pate De Verre" glass clock was made using bits of glass amid a sea of crushed clear glass. Before it was put in the kiln it was about 3/4 of an inch thick. During firing, it softened up, and 'glued' itself together into one smooth cohesive slab of glass, just a little less than 1/2" thick.

Comprised of cobalt blues, aventurine greens, iridized and sparkling clear glass pieces, there is still a translucency to this piece that I have highlighted with the brilliant coloring from the back of a CD. I use only top of the line Bullseye fusible compatible glass for all of my fusing projects, assuring you the best in color and lasting quality.

Created by a Self Representing Artist, making works of art for over 30 years, with 10 years of experience in creating one of a kind original fused creations. All of my works pass safety tests and will withstand many years of enjoyment.