Last October

It is fun when I can do glass and not paperwork in my studio. THAT, is a good day. This is my latest crushed glass piece getting ready for firing. I call this one Last October because it was inspired by a trip I took with my husband to Northern Michigan for our anniversary and a look at the color display. I must have taken 500 pictures. This was taken somewhere along the way. Possibly around the Boyne area. When we went, the color was the best there.

I have been playing with crushed glass, using System 96, mostly transparent pieces. This is actually only about 2/3-3/4 done with the layering process. I find that if I take photos in the flash mode as I am layering the glass, I get a better idea of what it will look like when it comes out of the kiln. I try to layer it about 1/2" thick so it is not brittle.

This is the time of the year to be in Northern Michigan if you plan a color tour. We are going again in October - I hope. We are planning on being in the Upper Peninsula but the color will probably be better at that time in upper lower Michigan.


I am hoping to have this piece out of the kiln and incorporated into a stained glass panel so I can take it to Art-A-Licious in Adrian tomorrow. While it is firing, I'll be working on a fireplace screen, a display for my nightlights and fused glass bowls, etc. etc. etc.

Hope to see you there!

Pat Deere

Shows, Tents, Weather...

I am excited to try my new tent for my upcoming shows. In the past I used a frame made of wrought iron rails that was beautiful, but it weighed a ton. In my search for something more user friendly, I ran into some artists who had tents made by Flourish Company. I have a link to their web site attached.

First I purchased the interior walls that allow me to hang things right on the mesh wall - without damaging the wall. The tent goes up with push button ease - no more bolts and wing nuts for me.

The top is vented - yes! And has the versatility to open one side, all sides, or close sections of the front in case of bad weather - which we have all experienced if doing outdoor shows.

And....... they have great customer service! Any time I call, a PERSON answers the phone. That person is ALWAYS FRIENDLY, and very KNOWLEDGEABLE. If they put me on hold for a MINUTE they really mean a MINUTE. And, they get the tents to you quickly. I strongly recommend these guys if you are in the market.

Pat Deere


Upcoming Shows: Art-A-Licious http://www.artalicious.org/

The Clinton Fall Festival http://www.clintonfallfestival.com/

Free Spirit Art Fair, Orchard Lake

Night Light & Slumped Bowl Sets

Just a few of my new Nightlight/Slumped Bowl Sets. These have been a lot of fun. The nightlights are made with either the best section of a piece of stained glass, utilizing the fun natural edges where possible (as seen in the top of the brown nightlight), or fusing crushed glass (as seen in the red nightlight).

The bowls have been created with another section of the same glass cut to various sizes and heated in the kiln to the temperature needed to get the shapes I want. All nightlights and bowls will be slightly different than the ones you see here, making each set unique. I will be putting these on my web site soon. They will be priced at $15 for the nightlights, and $15 for the matching bowls, or the set will be sold for $25.00 and includes a gift bag and note card.



I use these bowls wherever I place them to hold jewelry, candy, change, etc. It looks much better in a glass bowl than it does sitting on a counter.These make wonderful gifts whether purchased separately or as a set.

I will have a variety of these at the upcoming Art-A-Licious event in Adrian this week-end.

Pat Deere

ARTISTS - Art-A-Licious 2008

Art-A-Licious Art Festival in Downtown Adrian, September 18, 3-8pm and September 19, 10am-8pm is looking for artists. Sponsored by the Lenawee Council for the Visual Arts, half a 10x10' booth, tent and table are provided thru a membership to the LCVA for $35.00. 48 artists displayed in 2008 and we are looking to expand that number this year. The festival also includes artists demonstrations, art for kids, HS art displays, dance, music, lost arts, readings by writers, and food. If you are interested, contact Pi Benio at 264-3901 or pbenio@adrian.edu .

Chair-ity event for the Boys & Girls Club

I got an email asking me to help find people interested in donating a chair for the Chair-ity event described below. This photo was actually from the FaceBook page for the Meadowview Elementary auction. It's a fun event and I have purchased chairs in the past. The "Cherry" chair is in my office right now.

Call for Art....”Chair-ity” event for Boys and Girls Club.

The Art-A-Licious Festival is looking for artists to construct, decorate, embellish, weld, paint, paste, or fabricate a chair however you please out of new, or old materials. The sky is the limit. Your donated chair will auctioned off to support the Boys and Girls Club Art Foundation.

A “Chair”ity silent auction has been planned to run in conjunction with the 2009 Art-ALicious Festival. Dozens of artistically constructed or altered chairs will be shown at the two day festival. The chair art will be on display the week before the event at participating business locations. Each participating business will host a silent auction in which anyone can bid on the chair art. Winning bidders will be announced Saturday night at the conclusion of the festival. The proceeds from auction sales will be donated to establish an art foundation for the Boys and Girls Club of Lenawee.

For more information about where to pick up existing chairs or for drop off details please contact... Pi Benio pbenio@adrian.edu

Links:
Art-A-Licious: http://www.artalicious.org/
Meadowview Elementary Chair-ity Auction: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=1500074&id=68655829456&ref=mf

Art-A-Licious, You'll Want To Be There!

Art-A-Licious is really a local event that you won't want to miss. Last year I took part, along with a number of other very talented artists. If you were one of the people who did come, I am sure you will be back for more. There were over 20 artists (+/-) demonstrating throughout the week-end. I was working on a stained glass panel made up of melted glass coke bottles and other memorabilia. There was a glass blower, potters throwing on their wheels, painters painting, and more. The quality of artists and the ability to see so many actually working on their art right there in the streets of Adrian was a wonderful opportunity. I really do feel it will be something you will want to tell your friends about. Then, there was the food. A number of area restaurants brought samples of many of their best sellers. Not your fair food as usual. And music... The piece shown here is one I am donating to their auction. All of the artists were asked to bring post card size pieces for this purpose. So if you come, feel free to help support us by purchasing from one of the artists or bidding on any number of post card sized artworks. A link to the web site with more information is: www.visitlenawee.com/old/html/art-a-licious_2008.html . There will also be a Chair-ity auction. More on it later. For now, put September 19th and 20th on your calendar. Pass this on to your friends. Meet them there for a very fun week-end.