Spring is upon us and so are the in-person events once again! PNWGG is looking forward to the annual Gathering Of the Guilds event held at Oregon Convention Center on May 6 – 8, 2022. See related event posts for all of the details on how you can register for your booth and volunteer for this great event. We need volunteers to help plan and coordinate throughout the months leading up to the event. Join us today to make this a great event for everyone and welcome back in person selling opportunities.
Another spring event is the Art in Bloom in Seattle, WA. At the Art in Bloom event you will get the opportunity to tour several artists’ yards and studios. Check out all of the details in related event posts on PNWGG website.
Thank you to everyone who have joined us at our first meetings of 2022, I look forward to hearing from you on how we can make PNW Glass Guild even more valuable and beneficial to our members. Please drop me a note anytime with your feedback.
We would like to extend a hearty welcome to our newest members…please reach out and connect with them.
Joesph Buckler, Joint Base Lewis McCord, Washington Scott Deasy, Bainbridge Island, Washington Kimberley Girard, Liberty Lake, Washington Kate Harris, Redmond, Oregon Vicki Joslyn, Portland, Oregon Teresa Kaufman, Portland Oregon Denise McGuiness, East Wenatchee, Washington
Teresa Ruch, Portland, Oregon Cathy Schwab, Wilsonville, Oregon John (Solly) Sollinger, Ashland, Oregon Cathy Southwick, Eugene, Oregon Mari Vandewettering, Portland, Oregon Mary Weber, Portland, Oregon
New Members: Don’t forget to create your Gallery Page. For help with this, Log in and go to “For Members” which will then appear on the top menu, choose Website Help and scroll down to Members’ Gallery…
We value your participation in the Pacific Northwest Glass Guild and look forward to having you as a member for a long time. So just in case you are wondering, you will receive an email notification of your membership renewal on the day that it expires so no need to worry that you will miss it. It is important that you renew quickly to ensure you do not miss any exciting news or opportunities. If you have any questions or would like to see new offerings to members, please send a note to either Rae or Terry.
There is something about flowers and how we associate them with beauty and affection. There is an instant warmth associated with flowers, no matter how bright or delicate, or fragrant full they are.
But has it occurred to you that there is a story behind all those flowers, beyond what our eyes can comprehend? Ever wondered where they come from? How did they get their name? When shall I give these flowers to someone? What would it mean if I gave them these flowers?
Just think, if the world is without the flowers, how would you feel? Speechless! The whole environment turns blank and dull. Flowers are like an ornament on the neck of woman, which enhances her beauty. Flowers not only beautify our earth but also give us many benefits.
The earliest known flower arranging dates back to ancient Egypt. Egyptians were decorating with flowers as early as 2,500 BCE. They regularly placed cut flowers in vases, and highly stylized arrangements were used during burials, for processions, and simply as table decorations.
Why do flowers make us happy? Flowers can make us happy by triggering our happy brain chemicals: dopamine, serotonin and oxytocin. … Flowers can help stimulate a sense of pride and excitement with others, and release serotonin – whether you grow them, buy them, give them, receive them or admire them from a distance.
How flowers help the world? In fact, flowers help the environment around us in many ways…in providing the seeds that make it possible to grow more plants, flowers benefit the environment by creating more carbon dioxide absorbing and oxygen-radiating plants.
Why we love flowers? This is a straightforward question to ask, but to answer this can be complex. Most of you will say they are beautiful. Right? But beyond this, there are many reasons why everyone loves flowers! Flowers are beautifully designed by nature to attract people. From ancient time till now (21st century and in further centuries) flowers have been playing their vital role in our life. Indeed, we can say that there is a significant relationship between flowers and human beings.
Stress Buster Flowers work as a mood changer. When you receive flowers, your face instantly brightens with joy! They are proven to improve your overall worse mood and lift spirits. Waking up to a gorgeous arrangement of flowers around you on your nightstand will start your day off right and fill you with positive vibes. Sending flowers to someone when they are going through a tough time is so popular to boost up their mind and make them and you happier.
Peony
Perfect Gifting Option Should you send a gift of flowers bouquet to your loved ones? We say yes! Flowers are one of the best and ideal gift you can give your loved ones on their special occasions and to lift their mood. From birthday celebration to Valentine’s day, people love to present flowers as a gift.
Healing Power Flowers have many powers beyond beauty and emotions. In addition to many meanings and sentiments, they have been known to help cure medical diseases for many centuries now. Some flowers are known to fight against nausea and provide pain relief for example. This has lead to the creation of many health medicines from flowers and plants.
Unique Fragrance They Hold Different flowers have different fragrances…have you noticed this? You love to get a whiff of your favorite flowers right? The fragrant aroma tickles your nose and pleases your soul.
Give Words To Emotions Sometimes, it seems complicated to find the right words to express your emotions. And in that, flowers help you to speak your heart out. People would give their loved ones beautiful flowers to express their feelings of admiration and love. For years blossoms have been used as a way to send unspoken messages of the heart. This secret language is attractive and leads us to love flowers.
Following the protocol of Victorian-era etiquette, flowers were primarily used to deliver messages that couldn’t be spoken aloud. In a sort of silent dialogue, flowers could be used to answer “yes” or “no” questions. A “yes” answer came in the form of flowers handed over with the right hand; if the left hand was used, the answer was “no.”
Plants could also express aversive feelings, such as the “conceit” of pomegranate or the “bitterness” of aloe. Similarly, if given a rose declaring “devotion” or an apple blossom showing “preference,” one might return to the suitor a yellow carnation to express “disdain.”
How flowers were presented and in what condition were important. If the flowers were given upside down, then the idea being conveyed was the opposite of what was traditionally meant. How the ribbon was tied said something, too: Tied to the left, the flowers’ symbolism applied to the giver, whereas tied to the right, the sentiment was in reference to the recipient. And, of course, a wilted bouquet delivered an obvious message!
Different Shades Nature gives us a beautiful gift, “flowers.” Different flowers have different colors, and every color defines various meanings. For example, the red rose symbolizes love and romance. On the other hand, the right roses or white flowers are known for respect and care to the person you offer these flowers. Yellow flowers are known for real friendship, whereas multiple flowers are known for bringing colors to life. There are a lot of meanings that we can’t simply explain in words, but the shades of flowers do. That is why everyone loves to present flowers as a gift to their loved ones on a special occasion.
The captivating timeless allure of flowers continues, “Flowers speak a beautiful timeless language, each having an ancient and spiritual meaning conveying messages beyond the spoken word… A gift of flowers can melt the heart and heal many a misunderstanding”
Illustrated postcard. Printed in England/The Regent Publishing Co Ltd. Photo Credit Dumbarton Oaks Archives
On the next beautiful, sunny day, take a walk around your garden or neighborhood and pay close attention to fragrance. Which scents spur your recollection of a favorite childhood memory or remind you of a loved one? Snap a quick photo or make a note of them, then look for them next time you’re at the nursery. Create new memories for those you share your garden with by filling it with the sweet perfume of fragrant flowers and plants and decorating it with beautiful flowers made from glass.
We are all really looking forward to this Spring and Summer and all the bright colorful flowers that signal this change of seasons! Flowers are a particularly good subject for glass art! You can do something complicated and realistic or something abstract and loose. Flowers make everyone feel good (plus there are no allergies with glass flowers and they never wilt!) Almost any glass technique will produce attractive flowers and they are also a perfect theme for using up all sorts of scrap! Flowers come in so many sizes and shapes and colors…. it is something you can really have fun with and also use as an easy subject when experimenting with some new techniques. If just can’t think of what to do next…. a flower is a great place to start! Plus, pieces containing flowers are wonderfully appropriate for so many holidays or special occasions like Mother’s Day coming up in May or for those beautiful June brides!
Here are some lovely examples of flowers created by a number of our members using a variety of glass techniques.
Cheryl Chapman lidded box. Using her reverse enamel technique.
Cheryl Chapman pup and flowers commissioned glass enamel piece.
Thank you so much to everyone who participated in our glass flower theme. Our theme for the next newsletter will be nature! Please submit 1-3 images with a brief description of your process. Please send JPG’s if at all possible to Greta Schneider by April 12th.
March 26th learn about Drilling Small Holes and Making Componentsfrom Carlyne Lynch and Ann Makiernan at a Play Day south of Portland. It will also be on Zoom. Play Days are Guild member-only events so you need to join before attending.
General meeting March 27th, 3:30pm via Zoom: Yard Art Tips, looking for speakers
Everyone from blowers to fusers to stained glass workers can make something to decorate a yard but there are challenges: How do you support glass so it doesn’t break? Making pieces that can stand up to the weather can also be tricky. If you have some tips about techniques, glues, stands, etc.or would like to show your creations please contact Rachel Dollar, our VP, so she can get a speaker order together or just show up and we’ll fit you in at the end.
Does someone want to coordinate a group expedition to the Glass Art Society’s Annual Conference May 18-21, 2022 in Tacoma, WA? 4-day tickets for the full event can be discounted by 10% for a group of 6 or more if purchased in advance. One day tickets are more affordable and can be purchased at the door but are not discounted. Contact Karen Seymour and she’ll help spread the word that you’re putting a group together.
Part of joining the Guild is your opportunity to talk about all aspects of working with glass with others who share our mutual glass interest. Each month we publish a list of our newest members in the current newsletter. We ask that you to reach out to welcome them, and especially if you are from the same general area.
How can you do that? Log in, go to “For Members” which now appears in the top menu and choose Member Contacts List. Type their name in the search and their contact info will pop up. Or if you want to hold a Play Day at your studio, you can sort the list by Zip or City and see who lives nearby (you may need to scroll sideways and show more than 10 records).
How do you find a member or teacher who shares your particular interest? In the Member Gallery and the Find a teacher page (both under “Glass” on the top menu) you can find contacts who teach a particular technique or who are perhaps willing to engage in individual coaching/teaching/delivering a special group workshop.
You can also network during Guild events. In addition to our monthly general meetings you’ll have two or three in-person events at which to talk glass with Guild members this spring: In Seattle there are 5 members on the ArtinBloomSeattle.com garden art studio tour and sale April 23-24. In Portland May 6-8 you can take part in one of the Guild’s biggest annual events The Gathering Of The Guilds, otherwise known as GotG (see related article). Even if you don’t currently sell your work you can volunteer or offer an extra bed to an out of town member. There will also be Play Day March 26th via Zoom and in-person south of Portland
One of the best ways to get to know each other is to attend the Board Meetings via Zoom to learn about the Guild and to express your ideas. You can volunteer to join a team or help with an event or even attend a Play Day. You can attend a General Meeting which focuses on a particular theme or topic and learn from the other members who attend and contribute. And don’t forget, if you know someone who is like minded but not a member, invite them to a General Meeting or even to join the Guild.
If you have other ideas on how to promote networking, please send them to Terry Thomas, our PNWGG President.
April 23-24: Art In Bloom Garden Art Studio Tour & Sale in Seattle
Talk with 5 Guild members: Janine Fitzpatrick, Connie Munford, Bridget Culligan, Lael Bennett, and Karen Seymour along with about 20 other artists in the ArtInBloomSeattle.com garden art studio tour and sale at 6 studios in north Seattle.
May 6-8: Gathering of the Guilds in-person at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland (see related article)
Here are just a few of the members who will be there:
Zoom on the 4th Sunday of most months at 3:30pm. You don’t even need to be a member to attend our general meetings. Help make the next two especially informative by contacting Rachel Dollar, our new VP, if you have something to share so she can arrange a speaker order. She also wants to hear your suggestions for future topics
Spring events:
(Guild sponsored events are bolded)
Members can submit glass related events to the calendar with this form
Having a photo makes it so much easier to invite people to participate in an event next year. If you go to a glass event please take some photos and send the best 2 to the marketing team (400 to 600 px or “medium” resolution, about 500 KB, not more than 1MB).
Welcome to Happy Glass Art Supply Irene Richardson is Owner / Operator / Glass Artist
Irene began her glass art journey in 1980. A friend shared some techniques and that was a gift to last a lifetime. Happy Glass Art Supply online shop is a subsidiary of our brick and mortar shop that was established in 2002. Happy Glass Art Supply is operated in the same manner as ISGS, INC Quality Glass Art Supplies in stock.
l) Quality Customer Service. 2) Attention to detail. 3) *All orders to be shipped are photographed with the order information plus a packing slip is sent with the order for easy check in of items ordered. 4) The sharing of the love and inspiration of glass art.
ISGS, INC is located in Hoquiam, WA and open by appointment. Appointments can be made by reaching out to me via email or phone 360-589-7766 or text.
It is such a pleasure to be able to have quality / uninterrupted time taking care of the specialized needs of fellow glass artists. “Wishing you happy glass art times ahead”, Irene.
These companies and organizations are an integral part of the glass art community. We thank our Sponsors for supporting our Guild through either generous donations or by offering discounts to our Members. Please take time to thank them for their generosity when you visit their businesses.
Gold Level Sponsors
Silver Level Sponsors
Colour de Verre – Artifex Toolworks – Glass Alchemy – D&L Art Glass – HIS Glass Works – Bonny Doon
Hi, I’m Cheryl Chapman and my business is Silly Dog Art Glass. I have been working with glass since 1990 when I took a stained glass class at the local junior college. I have been making a living with glass pretty much the whole time, first working at a small studio designing and building windows, then building and installing windows for private clients and even working as an office manager of a glass supplier and glass beveler for many years.
I’ve been fusing for about 20 years and when I began enameling on glass about 15 years ago, I never looked back. I fell in love with the process of painting on glass to present my drawings in a way that is unique to me. I am mostly self-taught. I don’t have any art schooling and have taken only a few glass classes – two semesters for stained glass at the junior college, one weekend of glass fusing with Gil Reynolds, and one several day workshop on glass enameling with Cappy Thompson. The rest I have figured out on my own with trial and error and research. When I began painting, I simply knew what I wanted the results to look like and then figured out how to get that look. I tried all kinds of shortcuts, but finally settled on methods that may take longer, but satisfy my aesthetic.
Fall Kick Off – Glass enamel
I do teach my reverse enameling techniques at workshops here and there as well as occasionally at my home studio in La Pine, OR. I like teaching the in-person workshops, but I also sell a video tutorial that gives you the basics of my process as well. Many people find that taking the workshop and having the video as a back up after the class works well for them to help remember all the steps and stages. I’m also always available to answer questions long after the class is done.
I’m always looking at new ideas for “products” to make and sell. I currently have my work in four different galleries/shops and find that in order to make money selling glass work I must have a good combination of accessibility (pricewise) and unique designs. So, I make several different types of items at different price points ranging from $15 to $500. And I frequently get bored making similar items over and over, so they tend to change and adapt over time. I have a few new ideas to work on this spring and am looking forward to getting to work on them.
Before I moved to Oregon, I lived in a small mountain community in southern California. That is where I joined an artists’ network that got me excited about being an actual artist and I forged friendships that will last a lifetime. I’m glad I’ve finally joined this glass guild and I hope I can meet many of you in person or virtually. I love seeing what other people are creating and hearing about how they got where they are today and what they are excited about doing in the future.
Bluebird View
Nuthatch and Tree
Fall Joy – glass enamel
Please feel free to reach out to me via social media – you can find me on Instagram and Facebook under Silly Dog Art Glass. Or through my website at SillyDogArtGlass.com.
I came to the world of fused glass in the way that I suppose most of us did; I had been working with stained glass since the early 1990’s when I “discovered” glass that had been manipulated in a kiln. Until then, I hadn’t realized that was an option! I was living in rural British Columbia (I still am) and the internet was relatively new, but my fortuitous visit to a glass retailer in Idaho awakened me to an art form that has been my passion for over 10 years now.
Shortly after buying my first kiln (encouraged by my husband) I attended the Glass Expo in Las Vegas, where I took some introductory courses in order to learn the basics. From there, I did a lot of experimenting. There are no fusing shops near me, so I had to improvise with what I had on hand to try to bring forth the ideas bubbling in my brain. I’m grateful for that. I think if I could run to a glass shop every time I thought I needed a particular tool or supply, I wouldn’t have had to become creative/innovative with what was in my studio. Within all of that experimenting, I came up with some techniques that I put into the tutorials that I sell in my shop on Etsy https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/SarahMillerGlass I have a Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/SarahMillerGlassTutorials related to the tutorials, which is full of tips and mini-tutorials. It has been very gratifying to be able to share in this way.
Before Covid, my husband and I would make the 9 hour drive down to Portland each fall. We would go to the Bullseye Resource Center, so I could stock up for the following year, and we’d also take part in the Run like Hell 5K. I miss that, and I miss Portland, and I wonder sometimes if I’ll ever get back down there. For now I’m ordering from Bullseye online, grateful that they ship into Canada. Having the tutorials and the Facebook group, and being part of the Glass Guild makes me feel connected to other fusers, and I’m grateful for that as well.
During this quiet time of Covid, I often find that I’m not drawn to working with glass. I’ve started working with textiles, making small art quilts using some of the same methods I use with glass. It’s quite amazing how similar quilting is to fusing, actually. That’s not to say that I haven’t been producing glass pieces.
I did quite a few pet portraits last year, just before Christmas. All of them were based on photos that were emailed to me by the person requesting the portrait. After working with the photos so intensely, I often felt like I knew the animal, which was really nice. I tried to capture the essence of the animal without just copying the photo. I mostly used just black powder, but every once in a while I added some color, as you see in this little one’s ears.
I so enjoyed creating the animal portraits that I decided to challenge myself by doing a person. My niece and her husband were separated by Covid, so I decided to do a portrait for her. I had intended to use only powder, as I did with the animals, but as I started on this I realized that dichro glass would be fabulous for the sunglasses, so I ran with that.
Of all the techniques I use and enjoy, I think the powdered evergreens is the one I’ll always keep coming back to. I have no idea how many pieces I’ve done using this technique, but I just find it so relaxing and satisfying. I can just do it without having to stress about anything. (This is one of the tutorials that I sell.)
Looking at these photos, which are some of my favorite pieces, I guess I’d say that I don’t have a particular style. The common thread running through all of them is that I’ve documented the creation of each one. I’ve been doing that pretty much since I started fusing. I find it really interesting to see how a piece looks during all of the stages of creation. That’s the sort of thing I like to share in the Facebook group.
I’m looking forward to a new year of creating, and to being inspired by your creations! -Sarah Miller www.sarahmillerglass.com
As we begin a new year it is appropriate to look back and celebrate what went well in 2021. During our annual holiday celebration December general meeting, I enjoyed hearing the 2021 successes. Members’ comments included:
Engagement via Zoom – as a regional organization it is important to engage with members across the region virtually.
Play Days – members enjoyed the recent play days and use of Zoom that made it feel like everyone is in the same room, learning new techniques and sharing our love of glass art.
General Meetings – keeping general meetings informative and opportunities to spotlight members’ art and sharing techniques
Website – recent updates to the website were acknowledged. Thank you to all the members that have been involved in bringing this to reality. Are you an IT guru? We would love to have you join us as the Webmaster. Please reach out to find out how you can help us by volunteering for this critical position.
VOLUNTEERS – members recognized all the great work that the Guild member volunteers have done. Without our volunteers we would not be able to continue as an organization. Thank you for the support and hard work that everyone does every day to advance the mission of Pacific Northwest Glass Guild. I look forward to the privilege of working with all of you.
It is now time to turn to 2022 and what activities we will focus on for the coming year. Some ideas shared included:
Increased regional activities
Continue informative general meetings – share your ideas for general meetings with Rachel Dollar – PNWGG Vice President
Member Exchange Event
On-line Contest
Mentor Opportunities
To make it easy to send Terry your ideas, here’s a form to type them into.
I would love to hear even more suggestions that you have so we can see how we can continue to work to increase the value of your membership while fulfilling the mission of the Pacific Northwest Glass Guild.
Thank you for your continued support of Pacific Northwest Glass Guild. It is a privilege to serve as your President and I look forward to hearing feedback on how we can expand our impact on your art education. Speaking of impact, please check out our Sponsors when you are in the market for new supplies, tools, or glass education. Be sure to mention your membership and thank them for supporting us.
May January be filled with new exploration and creativity in your glass journey!
Valentine’s Day is celebrated every February 14 as couples across the globe honor their spouses, partners and sweethearts. Hundreds of years of traditions and customs have made it into the holiday we observe today. When it rolls around lovers and friends exchange chocolates, jewelry and other gifts. Although this popular holiday has become known for its sweet Hallmark cards and romantic dinner ideas for two, the history of Valentine’s Day is actually pretty dark.
St. Valentines wasn’t just one person. There is actually some confusion surrounding which St. Valentine the holiday technically honors. One Valentine was a priest in third century Rome who defied Emperor Claudius II’s ban on marriage (he thought it distracted the young soldiers), illegally marrying couples in the spirit of love until he was caught and sentenced to death. The other legend suggests that Valentine was killed attempting to help Christians escape prison in Rome, and that he actually sent the first “valentine” message himself while imprisoned, writing a letter which he signed “From you Valentine”.
Some trace Valentine’s Day origins to a Christian effort to replace a pagan fertility festival that dated back to the 6th century BC. During the festival of Lupercalia, Roman priests would sacrifice goats and dogs and use their blood soaked hides to slap women on the streets, as a fertility blessing. According to legend, women would later put their names in an urn and be selected to be paired with a man for the year.
Every year, thousands of romantics send letters addressed to Verona, Italy to “Juliet,” the subject of the timeless romantic tragedy, “Romeo and Juliet.” The city marks the location of the Shakespearean tale. The letters that reach the city are dutifully answered by a team of volunteers from the Juliet Club. Each year they award the “Cara Giulietta” (Dear Juliet) prize to the author of the most touching love letter.
The Valentine’s Day tradition of giving a box of chocolates was started in the 19th century by Richard Cadbury, a scion of a British chocolate manufacturing family. With a new technique recently established at the company to create more varieties of chocolate, Cadbury pounced on the opportunity to sell chocolates in heart boxes as part of the beloved holiday.
History’s first valentine was written in perhaps one of the most unromantic places conceivable: a prison. Charles, Duke of Orleans wrote to the love of his life (second wife) at the age of 21 while captured at the Battle of Agincourt. As a prisoner for more than 20 years, he would never see his valentine’s reaction to the poem he penned to her in the early 15th century.
During the Victoria Era, those who didn’t want the attention of certain suitors would anonymously send “vinegar valentines.” These cards, also called Penny dreadful, were the antithesis of customary valentines, comically insulting and rejecting unwanted admirers. They were later used to target suffragettes in the late 19th and early 20th century.
The term “wearing your heart on your sleeve” may have origins in picking a valentine. Smithsonian reports that during the Middle Ages, men would draw the names of women who they would be paired with for the upcoming year while attending a Roman festival honoring Juno. After choosing, the men wore the names on their sleeves to show their bond during the festivities.
The iconic chalky heart-shaped candies that have been passed out lovingly every Valentine’s Day started out as lozenges. According to the Food Business News, pharmacist and inventor Oliver Chase created a machine that would quickly create the heart shaped lozenges before switching to using the machine to create candy – later known as Necco Wafers. Chase’s brother came up with the idea to print messages on the candy in 1866, and the candies got their heart shape in 1901, appealing specifically to Valentine’s Day sweethearts.
The chubby baby with wings and a bow and arrow that we call Cupid has been associated with Valentine’s Day for centuries. However, before he was renamed Cupid, he was known by the ancient Greeks as Eros, the god of love. Eros, the son of Greek goddess Aphrodite, would use two sets of arrows – one for love and another for hate – to play with the emotions of his targets. It wasn’t until stories of his mischief were told by the Romans that he adopted the childlike appearance that we recognize today.
The idea of using a kiss to sign off on valentines also has a long history according to the Washington Post. The use of “X” came to represent Christianity, or the cross, in the Middle Ages. During the same time, the symbol was used to sign off on documents. After marking with an X, the writer would often kiss the mark as a sign of their oath. As the gesture grew among the kings and commoners to certify books, letters and paperwork, these records were describes as having been “sealed with a kiss.”
International Quirkyalone Day is the holiday for single people the same date. The holiday isn’t an anti-Valentine Day event, but rather a moment to celebrate self love and platonic relationships. It has been celebrated globally since 2003.
Nearly 6 million couples get engaged on Valentine’s Day.
8 million conversation hearts (those candy hearts with words on them Nedco Wafers) are manufactured every year and they have a shelf life of five years.
Americans spent over $20 billion on Valentine’s Day gifts in 2019 and is was expected that in 2020, they would spend $27.4 billion.
And last but not least, Lovebirds are actually birds…It’s the common name for the Agapornis bird which is native to the continent of Africa and they typically travel in pairs, which is why many couples are referred to as lovebirds.
Happy Valentine’s Day to all those who celebrate it.
