Clear the Air Challenge Awards

Recently, I was lucky enough to be able to make the awards for the top three companies for the Clear the Air Challenge.

Step 1, Proposal:

The proposed award would be made with 3/8" thick recycled glass bent into a gentle curve about 12" wide by about 6" high.  We would use the logo of the program and do a pseudo-screen print on the glass.  The winners names would be engraved on the front after the ceremony.

Step 2, Photoshop Magic and Preparation:

Using the original photo and some photoshop magic, I separated the colors into four color "plates" that would be used as stencils to apply the colors individually, in order.

This is the green "plate" printed of transparent plastic prior to being perforated.

Here are the four different color "plates" that have all been perforated with a million 1/16" holes to let the frit through.

Base glass cut into the appropriate sizes.  The glass was recovered from a sign company that was going out of business.  Originally these were large glass panels with shopping mall names on them.  It looked like they had probably been used for a trade show exhibit.

Step 3, Applying the Color:

Since I wanted the color to be on the back of the glass, I had to build up the image in the reverse order, i.e.  white first, then blue, green and black.

Here the white frit has been applied over the stencil.  The blocks of glass you see are holding the stencil flat against the glass.

White finished:

Green:

Blue next:

and black last.

Wash, rinse and repeat!

With one extra, just in case.  It often saves time in the long run to do an extra from the start.

Here is the finished award, after firing and slumping. 

Of course, what are awards without an awards ceremony?  Here is Mayor Becker with an award in his hot little hands, ready to give away.

And finally!  At long last!  The envelope please....The winners are:

2010 Top Small Company Lloyd Architects.  Congratulations Lloyd and crew!

2010 Top Medium Company: New Dawn Technologies.

2010 Top Large Company:  ADP, Inc.

Excellent project wrap up team, take a break. 

Performing in Vegas

Not many of you know I recently had a brief performance in Las Vegas on the strip... at the convention center... as a booth assistant... at the ACRE show.  Yea, okay, it isn't broadway or anything, but it was still pretty cool!

I went as slave labor with my dear friend Colleen of Turtles Wings Art wages payable in cocktails.  This was both of our first experience at a wholesale trade show.  Colleen, obviously made of sterner stuff than I opted to actually have a booth, whilst I just went along to watch.

Here is the view from our hotel room on the 10th floor of the Las Vegas Hilton.  Crazy blue sky like a giant inverted bowl.

and the other direction:

And here I am, off the plane barely 15 minutes and she's already got me working:

The set up wasn't nearly as hot as we had been led to believe.  It may have something to do with the fact that Salt Lake City is pretty darn hot in and of itself.  We're tough girls, used to this kind of hardship!

Here is our across the aisle neighbor, Kent Eppler of Laughing Boy Art, wearing his lucky shirt.  He let us touch one of the cacti so the luck would rub off.

Beautiful glass at the booth next door.  Really lovely blown and sand-carved pieces with added metal.
Other swanky booths (photographed with permission, of course):

The jewelry people really go all out on their booth displays. 

What we learned:  A wholesale show can be a great tool, but it isn't a magic bullet in and of itself.  You have to integrate it with all of your other art marketing tools!

Red Butte Garden Glass Donation

Now here's a whacking big pile of glass that won't go to the landfill!  Approximately 3 cubic feet of glass that was replaced during the Red Butte Garden gift shop remodel weighing in at over 480 lbs. 

Very exciting to have such a nice stash to work with.  And, the new gift shop is lovely, you should go check it out if you haven't already.

Glass Art Guild of Utah show at the Patrick Moore Gallery

The Glass Art Guild of Utah is holding it's annual Gathering of Glass show at the Patrick Moore Gallery through June 11.  The gallery is located at 2233 South 700 East in Salt Lake City, open 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.

And I'm very excited to report that my large recycled glass panel "Hatchlings" was given the Juror's Choice Award for Kiln Formed Glass. 

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Monday Morning Brain

Yesterday it was 62 degrees here in Salt Lake City.  There was just a tiny breeze the keep the air moving around.  I spend the afternoon digging out garden boxes and compost bins.

Today, I'm at the computer longing to be finishing the garden boxes.  Would I rather be outside planting peas?  You betcha.

Why aren't I?  Because, this is my job.  My full time employment.  And you know what?  I would choose it again without even a second's worth of consideration.  I do what I do because I love it and I've never found anything I like better.

So, how do I switch gears from weekend brain to Monday Work brain?  Well.  It's not magic really.  I set the timer for 15 minutes and start writing long hand, with a pencil, knowing full well that most of it will be crap.  Right around minute 10 though, I can feel the switch flip and start to feel enthusiastic about what's on my plate for the week, and we're off!

I also check in with my imaginary board of directors; business people and blogs that are consistent and high quality and always inspire me to move.  I imagine telling these people that I'm just not in the mood to work, and trust me, it's imaginarily embarrassing enough that I get right to work!

Great Monday Reads:

ittybiz.com
http://whitehottruth.com/
http://www.jonathanfields.com/blog/
http://www.enchantedeye.com/

Toggle anyone?

I have a fairly large kiln, so when I make jewelry parts, it just doesn't make any sort of sense to make a single pair of earrings (for example).  So, I make 100 earring pieces.  After picking out my favorite two for the pair of earrings and throwing away the 5 or 6 fugly pieces, I have about 90 left over.

What to do with this bounty and largess? 

Recycled Glass Tile Molds

Often I get questions regarding the molds I use to make recycled glass tiles.  There are two types of molds that I use, stainless steel and ceramic. I make both types and each has its strengths.

Stainless steel molds are:

• easy and quick to make
• work best in small sizes, tend to warp in larger sizes
• must be kiln washed before every use
• can have sharp edges and corners

 

Empty Stainless tile molds (1" x 6")

 

Filled Stainless Tile molds (1" x 6")

Ceramic tile molds:

• more difficult to make and require drying and firing.
• very durable and inexpensive to make.
• can be very nearly duplicated for production work.
• easy to kilnwash

 

Empty ceramic tile molds (1" x 4" and 2" x 2")

 

Filled ceramic tile mold (4" x 4")