Grape-licious Glass from Etsy Glass Artists

I belong to a group called Etsy Glass Artists. We're a diverse street team with members who work in various areas of glass. Fellow member, Rhonda Willis made this Etsy Treasury featuring some of our members.

It does make me think of those grape popsicles that I used to love in summer.

You can find our group in different places on the web.
Our main website is http://www.etsyglass.com which includes a blog, and there's also Etsy's profile.

Today is the last day of the Christmas in July sale. Check out the participating members here.

And of course, our group is tweeting too. Follow Etsy Glass on Twitter.

Whew, there's even more, but I'll save it for another day. Sometimes it's just fun to look at the pretty glass items and dream about all of the ones I'd love to own.

BIG SALE ~ Etsy Glass Artists & I'm One of Them!

The Etsy Glass Artists Street Team is having their own type of Economic Stimulus Package. It's called a BIG Sale. I'm participating in it and want you to come by my shop for a whole lot of savings.

Starting today, the Etsy Glass Artists (EGA) is having a "February Fling" Sale from February 1st through the 7th. See each shop's Announcement and the list below for their offerings! Please use the code "FEBFLINGS" in your notes to buyer upon checking out so you can get the sale price. A great deal and a great time to put a little sparkle into your day.

The reason why this is cool, is because you'll see sales in all kinds of glass art- stained glass, enamel, fused, lampwork and sometimes there are other mediums in their shops too. Some of it is jewelry, home decor, garden art, bobbleheads(of course!) and more!

Etsy Glass Artists "February Fling" Sale
February 1st - February 7th

Participating Members:

Woohoo, this is me>>>>http://www.StudioMarcy.etsy.com/ BOGO 1/2 Off (Free Shipping on orders over $40 too)

And these are my friends.....
http://leahpellegrini.etsy.com/ BOGO 1/2 Off
http://vickileigh.etsy.com/ 25% off everything
http://jewelrybynatsuko.etsy.com/ BOGO 1/2 Off
http://creationsbykris.etsy.com/ BOGO 1/2 Off
http://glasscat.etsy.com/ BOGO 1/2 Off on fused and dichroic jewelry
http://groovyglassgirl.etsy.com/ BOGO 1/2 Off
http://mycabincreations.etsy.com/ 20% off
http://msotherdenartglass.etsy.com/ 10% off
http://susanlambert.etsy.com/ BOGO 1/2 Off
http://rwillisglassartist.etsy.com/ 20% off Shop
http://westernartglass.etsy.com/ BOGO 1/2 Off
http://paulasstressart.etsy.com/ BOGO 1/2 Off
http://prizmatic.etsy.com/ BOGO 1/2 Off
http://popko.etsy.com/ Free Shipping
http://colorshoppestudio.etsy.com/ 20% off Stained Glass Jewelry
http://giapet.etsy.com/ BOGO 1/2 Off

*BOGO - Buy One Get One 1/2 off

I will be adding at least 3 new beads daily throughout the sale, and that's no croc....
(sorry, I couldn't resist)

Colorado Slim Cooks Out

Here's a photo that makes me smile. It's Colorado Slim and his charcoal Weber grill. I'm not sure, but it could be buffalo burgers with cheddar that he's grilling.

What I really wanted to talk about today is glass assemblages. Where more than one bead is combined to make a vignette. Technically, an assemblage is a 3D piece of art that is made with found objects. I just find mine on my bead racks.

I didn't make these beads to go together. As most of you know, I see something, remember something, or just have an idea pop into my head and then make a bead. Colorado Slim came from a few sources. When my son was little, he liked a Deputy Dan book. Slim is a lot slimmer than Dan, but has his influence of a scruffy look. The red Weber grill was one that I won years ago when I worked for a corporation in marketing. And I liked how these two beads look together as an assemblage. This type of combination works well when you're putting together a postcard for marketing your work or a small ad. It makes your work more memorable and adds a touch of whimsy. (Colorado Slim is available in my etsy shop- http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=7906349 )

Later this week, I'll post a small tutorial for making your own simple stands for multiple beads. I make them so they can hold a couple beads upright in one place. These are good for assemblages or just for your photography.

New Wonderful Website for Glass Fusers and Us Too!

A few years ago, I found http://www.glassfacts.info, which is a website dedicated to "a daily dose of glass art knowledge". I love it and still go back to read and learn more about glass.

Now, the founder of that site, Paul Tarlow, of Helios Kiln Glass Studio has started another website which looks to be equally interesting and noteworthy, http://www.fusedglass.org.

I've added a shot of his online glass tools, because these pot drops have always interested me. It seems like a great way to use up some of our shorties and stubbies of leftover rods. (if anyone does this already, please post and tell us about it1)

He also has a forum, glossary, reviews, art glass news and lots of other areas for information. I love some of the definitions and use similar ones when explaining during classes .

For the final kicker, if you join his site and post, you get your name in a hat for a drawing for 10 lbs of free Bullseye Frit. (Feel free to send it to me, if you don't use it- I'll trade you out for some glass and/or beads.) Hope you get a chance to check it out. The drawing entries end late Sunday night, so do it soon. www.fusedglass.org