Getting back to it...

So, I know I keep saying I'll get back to working on glass shortly, and I will. However, this weekend was dedicated to something much more important - my daughters sweet 16 birthday party.

So, I put glass on hold for a little while longer. I am starting to notice that summer is getting away from me though, and I have fall and winter shows already on the calendar. So, I am anxious to get to work.

I have done a few pieces recently. Above are some of my recent pendants. I wanted to experiment some more with the circles, just play with different colors and sizes. I love some of the color combos! I also did a few of the flowers, but I need lots more of those. That is my next goal.

The amazing Paper by 53 app is where I am channeling most of my creativity recently. Primarily because it's at my fingertips when I'm sitting in the dentist office, waiting in the car for someone, or just home too late to drag out and work on glass, below are some recent Paper drawings. I attempt to post one drawing each morning on leisaworks.tumblr.com.

 

 

Fun with Paper

I'm having the best time playing with the Paper by 53 app.

One of my college art professors encouraged us to carry a sketchbook with us everywhere and continually be drawing. This app makes it convenient and fun to do that!

I try to post a sketch each morning to my Facebook and tumbler pages. I haven't posted any recent sketches here on the blog, so I thought I'd post some tonight. The little nest above is the sketch for tomorrow morning. The ones below we're posted in the past week or so.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full Circle

Yesterday, I enjoyed a nice day off from my regular job. I got to spend part of this gloriously rainy day in my mostly garage/kind of studio playing with some new ideas for pendants. I was working with my ring saw and started by cutting out circles in varying sizes and colors. I was really pleased with the way they came out - I loved how they looked.

I went ahead and fully fused the first four, but I think I may try tack fusing a couple soon - it would be cool to see them stacked up too.

Ready to fire

Fully fused

Finished

 

Thank you Viva! Everyday Design

I love it when things I use everyday are beautifully designed.

I know this feeling explains my 23 year passion for Apple products. It began at my first real job, when I first put fingers to the keyboard of a 512K and has progressed through the years with each new Apple creation I have had the pleasure to use.

Not only are their products beautiful and fun to use, they are solid and reliable and well designed from start to finish. I have always loved the moment when a new Mac arrived at my office or home. It is a treat to see how even the packaging is carefully designed to enhance the overall Mac experience.

For me, this love of beauty carries over to even the most mundane things. The other day, I picked up a package of paper towels that were on sale at Target. I do try to shop frugally, so often the ones on sale aren't all that great, but hey..it's just paper towels, right?

I really didn't even notice what brand or what they looked like until later when I was putting them away. I was so surprised to see something different than the plain white, or gaudy prints I'm used too. The colors coordinated, the designs were well done and fun, the quality of the actual towel was a superior. I'm not sure I can afford them when they aren't on sale, but I would totally be tempted. I know this may sound silly to some but just looking at them made me feel happy!

Thank you Viva!

 

Too long gone...

I know it's been too long since I've posted anything here.

Since I don't have any shows this month, I don't feel quite the pressure to produce as I sometimes do. But I have slowly started to work on glass a little bit in the last few days. In fact, I've created 2 batches of pendants this week. Below is a shot of a hot kiln from this afternoon.

I'm still really having fun with the Paper app. I try to do at least one sketch per day to post. Once a drawing is done, I can automatically tweet it, save it to my camera roll, post to Facebook and post it to my tumblr blog at http://leisaworks.tumblr.com.

This week I was surprised to find that my sketch of Fall's Park in Greenville had been noticed and chosen as a featured sketch by the creators of the Paper app. Cool!

If you'd like to see all of the sketches I've posted, click over to my tumblr blog here.