April showers bring glass flowers!

May 5 @ 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm Pacific Time: via Zoom

Kiln Carving will be discussed on May 5, 2024 at 3:30 pm

Via Zoom join us as speakers Greta Schneider, Rae Williamson and Carlyne Lynch share the process of kiln carving, which involves cutting a pattern or design in ceramic fiber paper and stacking glass on top of the pattern and firing the piece in a kiln.

Contact the VPs, Barb Kienle and Carlyne Lynch, to get on the speakers list if you want to share on the topic.

Zoom Link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83686557347?pwd=Y2hwTFgwSDlOZ0t0NjFTRjFla0ovdz09

As the weather warms and the sun stays up later each night, we are moving into spring glass event season! Reflecting the vibrancy of the glass community in the Pacific Northwest, there are events around the region coming up in the next few weeks. Check out the event listings for more details, and enjoy one or more of these amazing free shows.

April 24 – 26 Gathering of the Guilds, Portland, OR. This annual event at the Portland Convention Center features more than 300 artists from a variety of disciplines, including glass and beads, sculpture, woodworking, metal arts, weavers, and potters. Be sure to say hello to our 9 PNW Glass Guild members who will be showing their work. This year, there will be a special table set up to benefit Glass Guild member Andrew Jagels, who is facing significant medical bills from a recent diagnosis of ALS. Stop by the table to purchase one of the artworks or make a donation to the family’s GoFundMe account.

April 25-26 Art in Bloom Studio Tour, Seattle, WA. The twelfth annual event includes 15 artists showing their work focused on yard and garden art in 5 different studios in northeast Seattle. Meet the artists, see their studios, ask questions, and purchase beautiful art pieces to take home for yourself or as a gift.

April 22-26 PNW Artisan Marketplace, Mt. Vernon, WA. This is the last week to catch the blooming tulip fields and the equally beautiful art showcased in the PNW Artisan Marketplace. If you tiptoe through the tulips this week, stop in and see Guild member Mel William‘s glass landscapes, flowers, and more.

May 1 – 3 Gorge Artist Studio Tour, Columbia Gorge region, WA & OR. For twenty years, artists in Klickitat, Skamania, Hood River, and Wasco County have opened their studios to visitors. This year, there are 41 participating artists from a variety of disciplines, including Guild member Stephanie Johnston. Make a weekend of it and enjoy the natural and artistic beauty of the Columbia River Gorge.

Members – if you are showing your work in an upcoming market or event this spring, please let us know! It’s quick and easy to do – just log in and complete the form.

It’s October! Here are some of this month’s glass opportunities:

Oct. 4-5 Margie’s Fall Market, Aurora OR (a bit south of Portland) where the Guild is coordinating several indoor booths. Stop by this Friday and Saturday to say hi to and buy from members Kory Dollar,Shawna Hovey, Lesley Kelly, Lyn Kennison, Barb Kienle, Carlyne Lynch, Rose and Gerald McBride, Daryle Ryder, as well as nearly 50 other vendors. (There may be a space left in the Guild booths if you wish to try selling your work here: see details or contact Carlyne Lynch)

Oct. 4-6 Local 14 Art Show in Portland OR members Greta Schneider, Mitzi Kugler and Cheryl Chapman are showing and selling their work in this well regarded juried art show

Oct 5 Issaquah Salmon Days, Issaquah WA (SE of Seattle) member Linda Schnell will be selling her work along with lots of other juried artists in the 55th annual celebration of the salmon returning

Oct 17-20 Refract is the annual 4 day celebration of Seattle area glass that ranges from Tacoma to Everett and from live glass blowing to special museum exhibits to the Pilchuck Gala Auction. The Guild sponsored Glass And Decor Studio Tour and Sale, in north Seattle on Sat & Sun Oct.19-20, is counted as just one of the nearly 50 different Refract venues. Stop by the 6 studios on the tour and talk glass with members Lael Bennett, Angie Heinrich, Stephanie Johnston, Debbie Marchione, Karen Seymour, David Smith, and Sandy Spear.

Oct 19-20 on the Washington County Studio Tour members Linda Gerrard and Rosalind Cooper will open their Beaverton OR studios (SW of Portland) so you can see where they work their magic and buy their resulting glass art.

Oct. 27 General Meeting via Zoom: voting for 2025 officers (all are willing to serve a second term so it should be short) followed by a discussion of packing, shipping, hang tags and all those little details that can help raise the level of your glass professionalism just in time for holiday sales.

Saturday May 11th, 11 am to 3 pm

Sponsor NW Art Glass, 9003 151st Avenue NE in Redmond WA, has invited the Guild to hold their first Seattle area Vendor Fair in their upstairs classroom (the new ground floor classroom isn’t quite finished). The purpose of a Vendor Fair is to have fun sharing info with other glass artists, raise money for the Guild, give sponsors a way to interact with our members and give members a good deal on the donated items.

Anyone interested in glass is welcome to attend but if you join the Guild you also get discounts on your silent auction bids and from some vendors and teachers. You are encouraged to bring finger food to share.

• Silent auction featuring donated items from sponsors and anyone else (the CBS dichro donation just arrived!)
• Sponsors will be selling things on a space available basis.
• Members who teach can put out class information and talk to perspective students.
• Scheduled demos: we already have Gerald McBride demoing his new grinder design, Lael Bennett talking about reactive glass, Stephanie Johnston showing different ways to make silicon molds, and Karen Seymour talking about temperature/texture effects. Check the event listing as we update the demo schedule and assign times.

Contact Sponsorship to reserve a space or make a donation for the auction.

Taking classes in the summer is a great way to meet new people who share your passion for glass and learn new skills at the same time. Be sure to register in advance so you don’t find the class full or canceled. Here are a just a sampling of members offering classes this summer. (S) indicates a sponsor who may give a discount to Guild members (log in and look at the About>Our Sponsors page to see discount terms):

• Bridget Culligan, Seattle WA: Mosaic Garden Stepping Stone Class at the Phinney Neighborhood Center July 22, 10am to 2pm, $110 more details.
  
• Zetamari (S) Seattle, WA: Mosaic Mirror Class, August 5-6, $295 + Materials more details
  
• Glass Expressions (S), Burien WA: Beginning Stained Glass Classes, 8 weeks, 5-8pm, $250 plus tools and materials: Mondays July 10 – Aug 28, or Tuesdays July 11 – Aug 29 more details
  
• Melt (S), Vancouver WA: Pick-A-Project Fusing $85 Saturday July 15th 3-5pm or Saturday July 22 11am-1pm more details; Intermediate Stained Glass: Leaded Panel $215, Wednesdays July 12-26, 5 to 8 pm more details
  
• Marvelous Mosaic (S) Deer Island OR: Mosaic Retreat: Bears Elk Deer, August 25-27, 2 and 1/2 days $525 + $75 for meals and lodging more details
  
• Bullseye (S), Portland OR: Great Plates Class, July 22nd, 11 am, $120 more details

See our Glass>Find a Teacher page for more members who teach smaller classes by appointment or to find a fall class. Start now to find the right mix of glass skills and fun for you.

• General Meeting Saturday January 21st at 3:30 PM via Zoom to discuss Booth and Show Preparation (note the slight change in date). Those who have experience doing Gathering of the Guilds and other shows are encouraged to show up and share some tips with those just starting.

• Glass Applique Table Play Day in Seattle January 29-28

• Find classes submitted by Member Ann Cavenaugh (Battleground WA) and those submitted by member/sponsor Kory Dollar (Deer Island OR) on the News & Events>Events Calendar.

• Members can login to submit your own event: About>Contact Us, Submit Calendar Event tab

• You can also look for instructors on the Glass>Find a Teacher page.