How travel affects my art...

Today I was asked by a local college to consider speaking on how my recent travels to Europe have effected my art.  This may be done in conjunction with other artists.

Sometimes my first instinct is to say no... how am I going to fit one more thing into my day.  But, I said sure.  In the back of my mind I realized this may be the push I need to organize my travel materials and put them to the good use I intended.

And besides, the reason I went to Europe in the first place was to expand my vision of what can be included in my artwork, to get some spiritual uplifting, and at the same time have some wonderful time with my son and brother who were invaluable to me on this trip.  With my sons French speaking skills and my brothers many experiences traveling in Europe, I truly believe I could not have made that trip without them.  It is a little daunting going to so many countries with so many languages and it is easy to feel lost.  With their help, I was able to see all that I wanted to see and truly enjoy the experience.

If things work out as planned, one of these future blog posts will let you know about my arrangements with the college.  I am very often inspired by other peoples travels and this will be my opportunity to share that experience with others.

It will be nice if this leads into another idea I have for future trips to Europe.

I'll keep you posted!


Pat Deere

Links:  I have changed my website some, added a lot of new ready to ship items, posted my recent newsletter, etc.  Check it out.

Tis the season!

DARK KNIGHT MISSION LAMP

Although this is not a lamp I made, it is one I sell on my web site.  It is a production lamp at a good price.  Sold one yesterday... check it out by clicking my link below.

SIZE: D:23", H:24" Mission Design Lighted Base Table Lamp (2*E27*60W+1*E12*15W), 3-Ways Knob Switch

These Lamps are hand crafted. They are made of real glass, foiled and hand soldered. They can slightly very in color because they are handcrafted. They are beautiful to see and any customer will be proud to have them in their home. Some of the biggest and HOTTEST resellers anywhere. 

These retail to $299, but they are on my web site now for $149 including shipping.  Can't beat that.  They are production lamps, but very beautiful.

If a more customized look is what you want, that is where I specialize.  The lamp to the left was made for a customer who had a lamp base and was looking for something different that he couldn't find in every other store.  The glass was hand picked to match the base and his decor.  Give me a call.  We'll talk!

Tis the season!

Pat Deere

LINKS:  Production Lamps
               Custom Designed Lamps

My CyberMonday Newsletter is Going Out!

CyberMonday - What is it?

I don't know about for everybody else but for me it is the day I offer deep discounts on a lot of items.  What you see here is the first page.  The whole newletter is on my web site.  But,  your best bet is to be added to my mailing list so you can get the whole thing first hand with links that work, more legible writing, etc.

Hope what I am offering can help make your Christmas shopping a little bit easier this year.

Although my greatest discounts are on Monday, I am offering discounted items through the whole month of December.

Enjoy,

Pat Deere

1st Day In London... what a day!

September 8, 10am.  Off the plane in London - first impression:  much like NYC.  Today we checked into our hotel, then walked... and walked... and walked...

Lots of fun stuff.  Everything is old, sculptural, alive.  I didn't expect to like London as much as I did.  Matt and I decided to buy tickets for Shakespeare's Globe Theatre for Bedlam, a play written for the Globe.  We decided to go outside of the main area to eat dinner and found a wonderful neighborhood restaurant/bar called the Walnut Tree on High Road in Leytonstone where I had Morrocan meatballs, and Matt had a curried cous cous dish.  Both were good and the prices very reasonable.

After dinner we walked around the town.  Lot's of row houses.  Lots of fake stained glass in them... WHAT?  Promised myself to take my camera back there the next day for proof but we never got there.

Prior to dinner we went to St. Mary LeBow Church. I have more information about it in my blog: http://www.churchesandchapels.blogspot.com/  .

But, some of the most fun things were quirky things we found around town...  Oversized chairs made of astro-turf:















Love this funky little painted van.  I am kind of jealous - would love an old van I can paint up however I want without having to worry about resale value. 












I actually took this for a friend of mine, Marapat, who is a wonderful writer and in the process of publishing her first children's book. This one's for you!

When the day was done, we checked into our hotel, the UMI Hotel, 16 Leinster Square, Bayswater, City of Westminster, London W2 4PR.  The first is a picture from our room, and the second is a photo of the entrance.  The entrance photo is typical of businesses and housing that we saw around London.

Statistics:  According to my pedometer, we walked 19,968 steps, burned 603 calories, and covered 6.3 miles.  Not bad in a days work! 

Inspiration this day gave me:  Definitely have to do ArtPrize in Grand Rapids, MI next year.  No Doubt.

Photos:  On top of these photos, I am little by little posting more photos on my Facebook.  Look me up:  Patty Sailus Deere .

Patty Deere

I'm just as excited as the day I left!

Last night I was finally able to start organizing my photos from our trip to Europe... and have them saved on my computer!  I was just as excited as the day I left.  The pictures are bringing back so many great memories.

The day before, my family took a day trip to Cedar Point Amusement Park in Ohio.  I don't do rides.  I am a people watcher.  So I had a lot of time to observe...
 
~A young girl with black hair, pretty face, slim, brown boots, shorts, tattoo's up one arm, ear lobes filled with disks the size of half dollars, and an heir of confidence with 4 guys accompanying her.

~A teenage boy with long, blond, straight hair, cigarette in his hand, with a similar outfit to his friend smoking with him.

~A really cute 6ish girl with blond braids and a pink court jesters hat with white pants, sparkly strings and bellls wearing brown Carhatt overalls.

~A small black boy with a big smile, giving directions through a microphone for a ride.

~Older women trying to look young.

~Young girls trying to look older.

~Young couples enjoying a few hours of freedom away from adults who are still there to help form their lives.

~A lot of smiles, tired looking faces, people waiting on family and friends to finish a ride and a lot of park workers.

Here I am at a Cyber Cafe in Ohio, looking up things to do in London and wondering what I will observe while there.  And, enjoying my family in between their time on the rides.

Pat Deere

Today's Photos:  Awesome clouds on my way from Detroit to London.  The last one shows a heavy storm cloud above and beautiful puffy clouds below.  My son Matt, who I am travelling with is sitting in Detroit Airport waiting for our plane.

Where to go tonight from 4-6pm

As a member of the Lenawee Council For The Visual Arts, I volunteered to help with their reception Saturday. If you are looking for some fun Christmas presents… stop by.

NOTE: All art is cash and carry! Jewelry, oil pastels, acrylics, watercolors, photography - start your Christmas shopping now!  I plan on taking some of my glass as well.

Great art, food, and friends. I will be there for sure and would love to see you! This would be a fun way to start your Saturday night!

Announcing The LCVA Reception/Celebration For The Holiday Salon!

Date: Saturday Nov 6

Time: 4-6 pm

Where: The Croswell Opera House, 129 East Maumee Street, Adrian, MI 49221, (517) 264-7469


Today's Photo:  This is a picture of my studio, the back doors, and the awesome sunrise this morning.  I love getting up to work when the stars are still out, the sun starts to rise, and the day is still beautiful - regardless of the temperature.  And by the way, the temperature in my part of Michigan is going into the 30's.

Pat Deere

Voting

Going to vote!  Getting out early before the crowds.

Deere Transom

It's been a long time coming and this is only a temporary installation, but... here is the transom that goes with the sidelights for our home.  The sidelights are still on the work table, and this window still has to be backlit and trimmed out.  I just had to see how it looks though.  Can't wait till tomorrow when I can see what it looks like with the sun shining on it.  This photo was taken in the afternoon when the sun was already on the other side of the house so the colors are appearing a little dark.

My computerized drawing is posted on 8/29/10 of this blog.  I wanted to temporarily install it because I was undecided on the color of the patina (for the solder).  I finished it in copper but was considering using black lead lines instead.  Once I got it installed and looked at it from the porch and street, I decided to leave it finished in copper.

GREAT NEWS:  My supplier has just given us a new option when ordering sheets of glass that customers want shipped large.   Normally, I have to order and have it shipped by truck. Now, I can have 4 large pieces of glass shipped in a box, cut to as large as 24"x24", and avoid truck charges.  Call today to find out more about this option!

Pat Deere

LINKS:  Classes are starting.  If you are interested, check out my web site or give me a call.  517 431-2271.

What a way to start a morning.

Started out the morning leaving my house around 7am.  There was such a beautiful moon when we got home last night and it was really warm for a Michigan Fall.  So, this morning I was in the water using my rented kayak before 7:30.  This is pretty close to what I saw.  The moon was full, the water was still, and it was very quiet.

As I paddled along, the sun started to come up.  Not a great sunrise because it was pretty cloudy on the east side.  But, as you can see from this picture, the color was absolutely beautiful.  A couple of weeks ago it was even more brilliant but we are getting to the end of the color season.  Still quiet except for the fish flopping and geese taking off of the water.

Now to the best part.  I am using my camera phone so the pictures are not great but this is still worth posting.  I have been lucky enough to see a lot of deer while I am on the water.  It is easy for me to be quite and get really close to them.  If you look just to the right of center, left of the two skinny tree trunks, and above the shoreline is one of the six deer I was following this morning.  Two of them came from the top of the hill, down by the water, and back up the other side as I sat in the kayak.  So cool!

On my way back I always pass this beautiful red bush.  You can see from the leaves in the water, it gets pretty soupy sometimes.  Great morning.  Now back to the studio for a busy day of repairing stained glass, removing some church windows from their frames for repairwork, and catching up from the week-end.

Pat Deere

$200 was the highest bid!

The Art Bra I posted yesterday sold for $200 at the auction tonight!  It started at $75 and they closed the bidding at 6:10pm - only 40 minutes after the bidding started.  Thanks to Elizebeth Engle, who made the ceramic base I was able to work with, it was put back up for auction and reached $200 before they closed the bid again.  Fun work for a good cause.  Lots of fun pieces - some bras that people were wearing, some edible art bras, music, food, and a lot of people. 

If you didn't make it this year, put it on your calendar for 2011!

Pat Deere

Art Bra Auction in Tecumseh - Bid on a bra for breast cancer research.

What a fun project.  When my friend, Elizabeth Engle asked me if I wanted to work on an art bra with her using ceramic and glass, I said "sure!"  I have been wanting to use that combination of materials for a while and never had the chance.

While I was on vacation, Elizabeth got a mold from my studio.  She created the pieces, brought them back for me to fire in the kiln, and I used this one as my donated piece.  The top section was created by painting fusers glue mixed with glass frit with a design carved into it prior to firing.  The nipples fell off during the firing process, so they also were covered in frit, fired, then glued back on after the mosaic work was completed.  The strap is copper wire and the bottom is decorated with beadwork.

This is the third bra I have created for this event over the years and it is a lot of fun to be a part of.  Some of the bras are a little quirky, like this one, but the cause is serious.  If you are in the area and have the opportunity to go, I have the information listed below.  Advance tickets are required - I believe they have sold out in the past so call ahead to be sure.

You can find information on facebook:  Tecumseh Art Bra Auction

Contact Info: The Purple Pear Tree, 109 W. Logan St., Tecumseh, MI, 49286, Phone: 517-424-6003

Hope to see you there!

Pat Deere

Glass Class Fridays are starting now!

People have been asking me when I am going to start giving classes again!  Well the time is now. 

TO DO:
1. Take a look at my web site and see the list of classes I offer.  http://www.picturesinglass.net/
2. Contact me to let me know you plan to attend.
3. Take advantage of my incentive - get your first class hour for FREE!
4. After that, class time will be $10/hour including tools.  Materials used are extra.
5. Call your friends... it's always more fun with friends.
6. Think of gifts you want to give for Christmas:  Candle holders, jewelry, picture frames, etc.

The plan for now until further notice is:
Time:  6pm-9pm
Date:  Friday Evenings
Location:  My Studio (10650 Carson Hwy., Tecumseh, MI  49286)
Pre-Registration:  REQUIRED

Pat Deere

Re-engergized!

Lot's has gone on and my energy is peaking again.  Just got back from a 3 week trip to Europe that I am beginning to organize through photos and thoughts... more to come on that.

Friday I was one of the lucky thousands of visitors to Grand Rapids, MI with the purpose of seeing art for the 2010 ArtPrize competition.  Today is the last day.   It is well worth the visit.  Art along the water, inside buildings, outside buildings, in restaurants, etc.  Over 1,000 works of art are everywhere and it represents such diversity.  I'll say it again, it is well worth taking the time to go today if you haven't been already.  I spent 5 hours walking around and still did not see it all.

All of this is giving me the excitement to start my cathedral again.  While in sculpture class quite a few years back I started a 5' x 8' glass and steel cathedral.  To make a long story short, it would dissapoint me at different times in my life when I needed a place to go and feel peace, serenity, or just have private time in a place that I felt close to my God.  That got the ball rolling.  I had no idea it would take the  amount of time it is taking to get the cathedral done.  Needless to say, after traveling through London, France, Barcelona, Florence, Rome and Venice, that inspiration has kicked in - in a very big way.  I am working on it again.  I'll be posting the progress on my blog and try not to think about the hours it will take to get it done.  But, this is being done for my benefit and I don't have to put a price on it.  And, all cathedrals I have seen have taken years, and often are in a constant state of work.

Today's Photo:  The doors to my cathedral.  They have been cut with a hand saw out of steel, sanded, sandblasted and heat treated for color.  My original plan was to cut them with a plasma cutter.  The steel I was using was too thin and it was causing the steel to warp.  So, what I thought would take a day or two, took me many days and hours to do by hand.  OK The photo will have to come later.  Techinical difficulties... my computer is not recognizing my internet card.  But, I don't want it to stop my momentum so here goes my blog update without a photo.  Later this afternoon, working on my flying buttresses.

Pat Deere

Links:  ArtPrize, Grand Rapdis, MI

Monet's Gardens Tomorrow

This is part of a stained glass window I found while walking along the shopping district in Paris (I am pretty sure).  We covered a lot of ground.  Due to internet difficulties... a quick list of our travels:
Notre Dame
Many other churches in Paris I will go through later.
Wonderful sandwiches on French bread on every corner.
Best meal of our lives while in St. Malo.
Mont St. Michel today.
Back to Paris tonight.
Planning our trip to Monet's garden for tomorrow.

More to come later!

Pat Deere

1st Day In Paris

It's midnight and I am going to sleep so we can get up and be at Notre-Dame de Paris by 8:30am.  Then off to the Louvre before heading to Mont St. Michelle in St. Malo tomorrow.

Today though in a brief outline... details to come later:
Breakfast in our room - baguette, yogurt, juice, etc.
Walk down the Sienne on a beautiful sunny day.
Prayed at Notre-Dame.
Lunch at a little cafe.
Walk walk walk walk walk.
Coffee at another cafe.
Watch a chalk painter painting the Mona Lisa outside the Museum of Modern Art.
Visited St. Eustache and St. Merri.
Planned our travel to get to tomorrows destination.

More later,

Pat Deere

London to Paris

OK.  I have to admit I am loving this artfilled journey but the familiarity of home and the access to technology as I know it is greatly missed.

That said, we are having a great time and ideas for projects once I get home are definitely flowing.

One of the best experiences was going to the Globe Theatre in London (you can see Matt holding Delilah here).  It is a reproduction of the original Shakespeare Theatre.  It is an outdoor setting and we bought standing only spots for 5 Euro a piece.

Computer failed on me again ... so:
London:
Globe Theatre - check.
Westminster Abbey - check.
The Actors Church - check.
Shopping - check.

Paris:
Eiffel Tower at night - check.
Baguettes & Escargot - check.

More details when I get home and can right in a flowing manner without the frustration.  Don't need that while I am here.

Pat

Where in the world is Dlilah?

1st day in London. What a treat. My first impression was how it reminded me of New York.

Today Delilah can be seen sitting in a broken out window pane of a red telephone booth on a London street. She is my travelling companion and will lead the way for this blog while I am in Europe.

First, the photos of the clouds, which I will post when I have a computer I can use with better editing abilities. Our trip began in Detroit with a layover in Philadelphia before leaving for London about 10pm Tuesday night. There was a storm over Cleveland that allowed for some wonderful photo opportunities. My son, Matthew thought we might be able to get a free international flight when he saw the “Volunteers Wanted” sign. Darn it when he found out they were only looking for one volunteer to give up their seat for a free flight and they already found that volunteer before we arrived. Our United Airways flight left about a half hour late as they tried to fix the tv’s… no luck… and they served us miniature pieces of chicken, on miniature trays, with miniature salads about an hour into our trip. Six hours later we woke up to a miniature Danish in plastic wrapping before we headed off to customs, which was uneventful, thank you very much.

Love the streets of London.  Cars are small.  People drive on the opposite side of the road.  Tipping is different here than in the States.

Later in the evening we were able to walk through a London side street.  There were many row houses that had a lot of character.  But, they had fake stained glass.  Couldn't believe it.  I'll take pictures later.

Went to St. Mary le Bow Church and information about it is on my Churches and Chapels web site.  The link is below.

I'm tired and heading to bed.  It's after midnight here and after 7pm in Michigan.  On our list for tomorrow is Shakespears Globe Theatre, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace and not sure what else.

Pat Deere

Links: Churches and Chapels Blog

Crushed Glass Kitchen Cabinet for Epiphany Kitchens

Today's Business: Really - I am just trying to keep the people who are filling in for me informed of what to do while I am gone.  Even though I have an office procedures manual, feel like I have covered my bases with the bank - employees - and customers, being gone for three weeks is a long time and I feel like I am leaving something out.

Today's Photo: When Epiphany Kitchens from Northville called about working on some cabinet doors for their display I knew what I wanted to do for them.  Shown here is one of two doors completed for them.  The other has the same design, but a less expensive version with the central piece being clear textured glass.  They will be having an open house for their customers, designers and builders while I am in Europe so I am thankful I was able to get it to them before that event.  Their showroom is very nice and has a lot to offer.  I put a link to their web site below that you may want to check out.

Pat Deere

Links:
Epiphany Kitchens
107 N. Center St.
Northville, MI 48167

Artprise Entry by the Svelata Foundation

Growth Idea:  Following artists on Facebook is a real motivator for me.  I have been following the work of Mia Tavonatti as she progresses on the mosaic shown here.  This is just a small portion of a large mosaic she is creating as an entry to the Artprise competition coming up in Grand Rapids, Michigan.  Unfortunately I will be gone during the voting part of the constest, but I will be back on time to visit Grand Rapids and look at all of the entries.  Any takers, let me know.  I will go sometime in early October and plan to make it a day trip.  If you have the time, a trip to Grand Rapids during the voting period would be a good use of time I would think.

I love the flow of color in this mosaic.  I love the glass chosen to depict the water scene.  And the composition itself is beautiful.  You will find it worth your while to click on the link below and see more pictures and read more about Mia and her foundation.

Today's Business:  My trip to Europe is just around the corner.  I have a couple more patterns I need to get ready and printed off before I go... so that is priority today.  I also need to get some money... exchange my US dollars for some Euro and I have been told the exchange is getting better so that is on my list today also.  I can't even imagine the emotion I will be experiencing when I enter the cathedrals and architecture of years past in London, Paris, Barcelona, Marsielle, and then again in Florence, Italy and Rome.  It is just sinking in that next Tuesday I will be on a plane that will lead me to a place that will undoubtedly change my artwork forever.  Can't wait!

Today's Product:  Classes, classes, classes in October.  I'll be able to start them when I return.

 Pat Deere

Links:
Svelata Foundation, Artprise Entry by Mia Tavonatti

Finally something for my home!

Trying to prepare for my upcoming trip to Europe and I have decided to have Brandi, one of my helpers, work on the transom and sidelights for our  home which has been newly log sided so it will be ready to solder when return.

The glass has been picked out for a while.  I had a general idea of how I wanted the color of the glass to flow,  but I wasn't sure how I wanted it to pull it all together.

This is the design I have decided on.  One of my favorite multi colored glasses by Uroboros, their #6595, will be the basis for the design.  Our name and the ribbons will be cut using Youghiogheny Medium Amber Stipple Glass, #5002.  The ribbon-like pieces will have a contrasting green to pull together the green trim of the house and the hints of green in the Uroboros glass. 

One piece of the Uroboros has a lot of rustish colorations.  I anticipate putting that portion of the sheet around our last name, "DEERE".  On the bottom of the transom and into the top of the sidelights I plan to pull the blues out of the glass.  From there it will be a gradation of green and ambers.

You can see in the photo of the front of our home,  the spaces where the sidelights and transoms will go.  Our initial thought was to put glass in the upper sections of the log fans going across the top of the porch area.  But after rethinking that idea, I have decided against it.  The wood fan design looks great on its own and I don't want to take away from it.

More photos will be posted as I move along.  Pretty exciting for me.  We have lived in this house for 20 years and finally made the decision to stay in it and fix it up the way we want.  So, even though I have been working with glass for 30+ years... there really is not much in my home.  But, that is going to change.

Custom glass for your home could be customized to your taste just like this one has been customized to fit our needs.  For more on custom glasswork, click onto the link below.

Pat Deere

Links:  Custom Stained Glass

Greek Orthodox Church in Southgate, MI

See my posting for my Churches and Chapels web site for more information about this church.  Photo was taken by Dave Lamarand Photography.

Pat Deere

Links:  
Dave Lamarand Photography
Churches and Chapels Blogspot
Pictures In Glass Stained Glass Info.

Wedding Invitation Framed in Glass and Flowers

I have a customer from Ann Arbor I have done work for in the past.  She likes to have the invitations for the weddings she is invited to framed in glass and embellished with dried flowers.

This is the third frame I have made for her and she requested blue glass and a lot of flowers.

This evening I am heading that way so I will deliver this, check the fit on another customers windows before I install them, and meet up with my son who is moving back home.

Full evening at the end of a busy day!

The next time you are invited to a wedding, think about giving a gift they won't get from everybody else.  Although this is beautiful, yours does not have to look just like this one.  Every frame is created around the invitation you bring in and the likes of the wedding couple.

Pat Deere

Sonbahar Resimleri:)... - from Facebook

Growth Idea: Say what you want about Facebook but... I get a lot of inspiration from it.  Check out the intricate artwork on this leaf.  On a normal day, I probably never would have found this artist.  I can't even read the language on the FB page.  But, I can appreciate the artwork that people have posted to it.

The only downside I see is spending too much time looking at other peoples art and not spending enough time on my own.

So... I'm off to my own studio and no more FB till the day is over.

Pat Deere

Links: HEYKELTRAŞ Coşkun ÖZER Facebook Page

Students work donated to give back...

A while back during one of my free classes a student, Cal, worked diligently on this piece using scrap glass pieces I had in my studio and a few other fun findings.  When I was asked for an item to donate to the Art Affair in Tecumseh, I knew what piece to give.  This year I have made it a priority to to give a percentage of my income to charitable causes.  Part of the percentage comes in the way of donated glasswork.  So, thank you to my students for donating your time and for those of you who are local, be sure to check out the upcoming event:

CIS and CAT Art Affair - The Art Affair is a collaboration between Communities in Schools and Community Arts of Tecumseh
Join us on August 31st from 7-9 PM at the Tecumseh Country Club for a great evening of art demonstrations. There will also be art works available to win through a raffle drawing. Mary Rochelle Burnham will be doing caricatures. Tickets for the event can be purchased at the Art Center or at First Federal Bank for $20. Raffle tickets for the artwork are $5 each or 3 for $10.

Donated Item:  Above glasswork to the CIS / CAT for Art Affair Tecumseh.  If you have an event coming up, it is possible we can donate to your cause also.  Just let us know.

Day 163 Growth Idea: Letting people know what I do when I assume they should know already... is a mistake.  So today I am letting you know that along with free classes I give every now and then, I also give classes in bead making, traditional glass painting, sandblasting, stained glass, lamp making, and more.  Check out my classes website for more detail about what you can expect to learn in each class.  I also give private lessons which work out very well for certain customers.  Nobody goes home disappointed.
 
Pat Deere
 
Links:
List of glass classes
Communities In Schools
Community Arts Of Tecumseh:  Facebook, Blog
Art Affair Tecumseh (Article is at the bottom of the page.)
 

Rose Carden Cabinet Door for a Manchester Kitchen

Today's Product:  My customer called looking for glass for a kitchen cabinet she said she had been intending to put glass into for 20 (+/-) years.  These openings were not very big and putting cut glass into them was possible, but I felt there was a better use of that space.  The glass shown here, I call Rose Garden.  It is a picture glass I had made for me from the glass manufacturer, Uroboros.  They made two types of this picture glass, one is the piece shown here and the other is the Iris glass.  Although the glass is one of my most expensive, it is such a beautiful piece that it does not pay to cut it into small pieces, thus saving on labor costs.

So, Saturday, Cheryl was able to walk into the studio, pick out her glass, have me cut it for her while she took off for a few minutes, and when she returned she had glass in the cabinet doors that had been left undone for 20 years.  It's nice when a project can be so quick and still meet my customers needs.  The link to this glass is below.

Today's Growth Idea: Listening to live music is always an energy booster.  This week-end I attended a wedding where the couple hired a Bluegrass band that I don't know the name of that was wonderful.  Honestly, it was not my first choice of music but was perfect for this wedding.  And the musicians were wonderful.  I gained a new appreciation.  After that we headed up to Habitat Ultralounge at Webers Inn in Ann Arbor and heard the Bugs Beddows Band. On their web site they describe themselves:  Trombone - Driven Rhythm & Blues and Funk - Hot, Danceable, Rockin' Rhythm & Blues - Plenty of Vocals, Horns, & Dancing! .  It was all that.  We danced the rest of the night and loved watching the band on the rare occasion we sat down.  What a great energy and idea booster that was.

Pat Deere
 
Links: 
Rose Garden Glass
Bugs Beddows Band
Habitat Ultralounge, Webers Inn, Ann Arbor

Looking for links.

www.PicturesInGlass.net

Today's Business:  Moving right along... getting ahead on my personal stuff, my plans for Europe are almost set, and business is moving right along.

Today's Growth Idea:   What has been working best for me is my web site.  I have been told by "people in the know" that linking is really important to continue to bring up my web site to the top of the search engines.  So, if you would like to share links, please send me an email.  For me, it would be most beneficial if it is a related business.  Stained glass artists, mosaic artists, studios, and supply shops would be ideal.  Even if you don't know how to do it, send me and email and we will help you through the process.  It will help all of us.

My History:  When I opened my studio in Adrian life was still a struggle.  Juggling a business and small children isn't always easy.  But it was important to me as an individual to do that and I think it made me a better mother as well.  It forced me to think about what was important for me to do in my business each day, and what special things I could do with my boys.  On days they came to the studio, they knew if things went well and they behaved, we would go roller blading or bike riding or something fun.  It is how I tried to keep some sort of balance in my life.

Today's Product:  Because of projects I had going on in my studio, classes were pretty hard for me.  When I get back at the end of September, I will once again be able to give stained glass classes.

Check out my class link below to see what options I offer.


 Pat Deere

Links: 
Send an email to Pat Deere for linking opportunities.
Stained Glass Classes

Virgin Islands - Here We Come

Today's Business:  Well, I got a quote sent out to a church in the Virgin Islands.  This is an exciting possibility for me.  They are looking for a very traditional style of glass which means a lot of glass painting, lead came construction, and a design where the pictures tell a story.

In the Catholic church, stained glass windows were used to tell stories of the bible and help people understand through pictures.  Children could see what was happening before they could read and adults could be inspired through the artwork.  For myself, although I know the church is made up of the people and not of the art, it is the art that often initially attracts me to enter a church building.  That is the goal of this church in the Virgin Islands.  Their goal is to have the Stations of The Cross painted on 15 of the windows. 

The 15 Stations this church is looking for includes depictions of the following scenes:

1.   Jesus is condemned to death
2.   Jesus is given his cross
3.   Jesus falls the first time
4.   Jesus meets His Mother
5.   Simon of Cyrene carries the cross
6.   Veronica wipes the face of Jesus
7.   Jesus falls the second time
8.   Jesus meets the daughters of Jerusalem
9.   Jesus falls the third time
10. Jesus is stripped of His garments
11. Crucifixion: Jesus is nailed to the cross
12. Jesus dies on the cross
13. Jesus' body is removed from the cross (Deposition or Lamentation)
14. Jesus is laid in the tomb and covered in incense.
15. Resurrection of Jesus

What an honor it will be, if given the opportunity, to work on my vision of each of the scenes and know that what I have been asked to create could affect many people in a positive way for years to come.

My History:  Writing about the history of stained glass in the church made me feel like going back to my history.  One of my favorite memories of my studio on 115 W. Maumee Street in Adrian was when my mom and Grandma came to visit.  My Grandma lived in Traverse City and didn't come down very often.  She and Grandpa were milk farmers and that made it hard for them to get away.  When they did get away, it was usually for a specific event like a birth, anniversary, etc.  She came when my studio was just opened, not much displayed yet, but it had a very nice look.  This will always be a good memory for me.

Growth Idea:   I have been having a Vicki help me out and am continuing with that still.  She only comes once a week but is a true asset for my business.

Today's Product:   Glass painting brings so many possibilities to a stained glass window.  It can be anything from a traditional style I described above that this church wants, or something as simple as the lake shore scene shown here.

This was a wedding gift for a young couple who visited Lake Cumberland.  The scenes are all simple and beautiful.  This hanging panel includes a piece of rock taken from the shore that a fisherman made of wire is standing on.  The scrap glass used for the frame was chosen because of it's unusual color and shape.  If you have ever been on Lake Cumberland you will know how the lake jogs and curves around in a very unusual pattern that reminds me of these pieces of glass.   This is what makes custom gifts so fun.  They can be catered to fit your exact needs.

LINKS:  Glass Painting classes and Custom Stained Glass

Pat Deere

Arkansas is home for these cabinet inserts.

Today's Business:  Busy days ahead.  Actually, I am getting a lot accomplished.  Don't know if I mentioned it yet but I am working with a church in the Virgin Islands about the possibility of an installation of about 15 windows there.  Pretty exciting.

Today I have to call to figure out shipping costs.  We are considering the possiblity of cutting and painting the glass here, shipping it to the Virgin Islands, then constructing them on site.  Todays goal is to have a fairly comprehensive quote for them to present to the financial committee next week.  More to come on this as it progresses.

Today's Project:  Kitchen cabinet doors heading for Arkansas - Last night I was up until 1am tryng to finish these kitchen cabinet inserts that I just delivered for shipment to Arkansas.  They were a little bit of a rush to get done because my customer had family visiting who could bring the doors to her... saves a lot on shipping and less headache worrying about breakage.  I just got the glass needed on Monday.

Debbie is in the middle of redoing her kitchen.  When she was visiting family and told them about her remodel, they knew she wanted glass and brought her to me.

While in my studio, Debbie was able to look through glass and show me the colors she liked.  Once home, she sent me pictures of her kitchen cabinets and I began to draw up designs.  The glass used was Amber waterglass, green Spectrum opal, orange/yellow Youghiogheny Stipple.   These are a set of 6 cabinet doors inserts ranging in size form 8.5" -17" x 31".

Can't wait to see the photos of the glass installed in her cabinet doors.

Pat Deere

Links:  Custom Glasswork by Pictures In Glass

Wheat doors heading to Ohio.

Although the 365 Day thing sounded like a good idea... as things changed, office staff changed, and my responsibilities changed, time just didn't permit.

Life has been busy.  Getting ready for my trip to Europe and trying really hard to finish all unfinished projects before I go.  We re also in the process of redoing our house - which I am not spending near the amount of time on I should be because of my priorities here.  Not bad problems though - I can't complain - just busy.

The kitchen cabinet doors shown here are for a customer who is redoing their kitchen - wheat is their theme.  They have a door with the wheat theme and wanted their cabinet doors to match.  These were made using clear GNA for the background because of the light texture and the customer wanting their items on the shelves to show through.  The wheat was made with clear textured glass as well with a black patina on the solder.

Simple but elegant.  And, it gives them the custom look they were wanting.  A detail of the wheat is shown here.

Going back to the 365 days idea... I think I will pick it up again at some point in time.  Continue with my history, etc.  It really helps me and hopefully helped a few people along the way.

Today's Growth Idea:  Hiring help where needed.  I have called in Vicki Philo.  Vicki has helped me in the past to keep up on things that fall behind for me.  Important things that I just can't seem to get to.  Usually it has to do with marketing for new business.  She is a blessing in disguise.  Because of the new newsletter I recently sent out, I got a call from a church in the Virgin Islands... YES the Virgin Islands.  We are just in the talking phase but a step in the right direction.  And, yesterday, because of her following up on letters to builders I  talked to in 2007, another job is on its way.  Sometimes I have to remember it pays to have other people do things I just can't get to.

Pat Deere

VACATION... Yes!

Off to Munising, Michigan in our beautiful Upper Peninsula.  The plan is to stay in Munising, be at the beach at 9am, paddle across Lake Superior to Grand Island, camp out and paddle back.  With a whole lof of fun stuff in between. 

Seems like a perfect way to spend my 50th birthday.  On an island with all of the men I love:  My husband Tom, and my boys: Matthew, Travis and Casey.

See you when we get back.  Full of energy and ideas!

Pat Deere

Day 163: What do MacTalla Mor, The Lion King, and Jimmy Buffet have in common?

Day 163 Growth Idea:   These are all bands that keep me going when the going gets tough.  A late night cutting glass again tonight.  But the music is good and the sun is still shining!  That makes it easy.

Day 158 Donations:  $29.34219

Donations Running Total: $257.54

My History:   The history here is not necessarily chronological.  I found this photo of an announcement when I first opened my studio in Tecumseh.  I'm not holding stained glass in my arms... just my son Matt.  What was I thinking.  Babies and glass don't mix very well.  But, when it's in your blood you figure out a way to make it work.  If I am doing the math right, about a month after this photo, I was pregnant with my 2nd son Travis.

Today's Business:   Nice quite day.  Phones were not ringing much.  Picked up a check for a new job I'll be starting - sidelights and transoms for a home in Ann Arbor.  Music and glass cutting this evening.

Today's Photo Above:   Matt and I when I opened my first studio.
Today's Product:

2"X3.5"  Hand painted glass broach by J. Jaussaud, kiln fired, and edged in gold. Painted pink rose created on this pin.  $20 on my jewelry web page.


Pat Deere



LINKS:  
 
Jewelry Page of Pictures In Glass website.
MacTalla Mor Band

Day 160: Lady Liberty looks like she may be holding a "twist" ice cream cone.

Day 160 Growth Idea:   Keep on working till you can't work any more!

Day 159 Donations:

Donations Running Total: $228.207

My History:

Today's Business: Working, working, working all day in my studio... YESSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I have needed this.  I am probably 80% done with the cutting on my 14+ foot statue of liberty window.

Today's Photo:   Guess what it is?

Pat Deere

Kayaking, Glass Cutting, Phone Calls and Computers

6/28-30/10

Day 159 Growth Idea: Striving for that balance again... mixing kayaking and biking into my glass cutting, phone calling and computer working is not just a luxury for me, it really is a necessity.  Without that exercise in my life, my brain gets overloaded and my work load can feel overwhelming.  So, yesterday morning while I was kayaking down the river in Tecumseh, I let my kayak float to shore.  I was very quiet.  The closer I got to shore the more noise my boat made as it floated over the lily pads on top of the water.  Before I knew it a doe popped up its head, stood up to look at me, and ran away.  That kind of stuff makes the rest of the day much better.

Day 158 Donations: Think I have a place for the mosaic monopoly table I made for a fund raiser that never happened.

Donations Running Total: $228.207

My History:   So, we call in the building inspector and with a few minor changes the building was approved for business.  I felt like I could have used more finished pieces for the front of my studio, but my glass supply was pretty good.  I tried to keep a piece of all of the most popular brands of glass at the time in stock, and a lot of what I liked to work with.  Without a large selection of glass to choose from, it is difficult to effectively design a window.

Today's Business: Where does the time fly?  Business during these times is pretty hectic.  Too much work for the employees we have but not enough to hire more help.  So, among cutting glass, designing new projects, and bidding new jobs... it's answering phones, working out computer problems, paying bills, and trying to collect money.  The past few days have found me meeting with Pamela Shapiro on the Immigration Window.   Since she actually designed the window, her imput was important to me.  As usual, it was easy for us to communicate how the finished piece should look so that part of the week went very well.  Today, however, the phone was ringing off the wall making it impossible to cut any glass until around 4:30.  So, I am enjoying my time alone in the studio right now.

Today's Photo Above: My most recent wedding invitation framed for a wedding gift.  This one had a very plain invitation, so we took the shower invitation and incorporated it.  I have more samples on my web site.

Today's Product:  This wooden mirror frame was normally $15 and is on sale in my "Garage Sale" for only $7.50 .  It was in my shop during my studio fire years back so the packaging is funky but the frame is in great shape.  Lots of great deals on that page.

Pat Deere

LINKS:  Garage Sale Items - Wooden Mirror Frame

Cabitzing with other artists can be an invaluable way to spend a lazy Sunday afternoon.

Day 158 Growth Idea: Cabitzing with others artists can be an invaluable way to spend a lazy Sunday afternoon.

Day 157 Donations:

Donations Running Total: $228.207

My History:   Part of the difficulty of my new building was it's age and trying to meet the requirements of the American Disabilities Association without going broke in the process.  I had 2.5 floors.  The top floors had not been used in years.  Because I was using the building for the same use, retail, that the previous owner had used... I had some things grandfathered in.  I did have to be sure the bathroom was handicap accessible, the doors and hallways were wide enough, the rams were not to steep, etc.  The first floor I could handle.  But the regulations made the 2nd and 3rd floor too much for me at the time.

Today's Business:  It's Sunday... so I can't call it business.   But I did get the opportunity to visit with a group of wonderful women, artists, and now friends.  Seeing what inspires other people is a real inpiration to me.  Tonight... catching up on paperwork.  Tomorrow... moving right ahead with cutting glass for my Immigration window, designed by Pamela Shapiro and fabricated in my studio.

Today's Photo Above: I posted this picture again because it was a combined effort with artist, Pamela Shapiro.  Although we did not know each other at the time the project began, she became a wonderful friend and artist I have worked with on other projects since.  I find collaborating with other artists something I really enjoy.  I think that successful combined effort really shows here.

Today's Product: 

In The Arms Of God came about while I was studying the Holy Spirit and how it moves in my life. It often comes very quietly and if I don't pay attention, I will miss it. It comes during prayer, when I'm in the car, when I'm by myself, when I can hear the silence...

Pat Deere

LINKS:
~In The Arms Of God can be found on my web site.

Art For Arts Sake

Day 156 Growth Idea:  Sometimes it is fun just to make art for arts sake and not for any other reason. Not for money. Not for somebody else's expectations. Not for obligations. It is good for the soul.

Day 155 Donations:

Donations Running Total: $228.207

My History: Kind of a funny story that could have turned out not-so-good, but it didn't.  During the process of renovating my new studio my boys often came with me.  Once in a while they would bring somebody else.  On one of the days their cousin Blake came with them they discovered a way to cross over the staircase onto the second floor.  Blake was crossing and didn't quite make it.  He fell from the 2nd floor ceiling onto the 1st floor floor - on his butt.  After looking stunned for a bit and realizing he wasn't hurt, he just started laughing.  We closed off that section real quick!

Today's Business: A real productive day.  Finished my Devils Lake Underwater crushed glass piece. My camera is still in for repair so I will have to post pictures later.  My 4.5'x14' pattern is ready for cutting my next Flint MTA window - Immigration.  And... I visted the new LCVA Art Gallery at the Croswell Opera House for the first time since they merged.  What a great space and great show today.  If you haven't visited it yet, you have to check it out.  The link is below.

Today's Photo Above:  Making art for arts sake reminds me of the fun little project shown in the picture.  The LCVA used to have a "Box Show" where artists would make "box-like" artwork and bring it to the gallery to be auctioned off.  My box was created by saw cutting various bottles and arranging them into a design.  I called this, "Patron of the Arts", and it was intended to be a pencil holder.  The red glass rod is a pencil made from lampworked glass rods.  I kind of liked this piece.

Today's Product:

On my web site I have a whole section devoted to "Garage Sale" type items.  This is a Kaleidoscope kit that normally ran $13.90.  It went through my shop fire so the packaging is old looking.  But, the kit inside is new.  It sells on my site for $5.00 now.  You might want to check out the bargains.  The link is below.



Pat Deere

LINKS:
~Croswell Opera House/LCVA Gallery
~Pictures In Glass "Garage Sale"