29 March 2007
These three pretty things are handblown glass tumblers that I made! Every summer for the past three years, Ginger and Kelly and myself have had the wonderful opportunity to study under the amazing Shannon Jane Morgan of Girl Glass. Shannon is a mostly self-taught, extremely talented glassblower. We consider her a master, although she will sometimes argue that. She has generously given us the gift of her time and her studio and her supplies, and we have tried to be the best apprentices we can be. It is after all, the opportunity of a lifetime.
Somewhere along the line, I developed a particular love for the use of glass “canes” as colour in a piece, and I’ve chosen to make a number of items using them. I made Kyle a blue one that he keeps at work, then the pink one for myself, in 2005. Then, in 2006, I made the purple and green ones. What I’m crazy proud of is that these three are so similar in size and shape. They sit now, on the little shelf over my kitchen sink, and I get to look at them every day. Every day beauty.
Today, another full outfit left my possession to go home to its new owner—Leah’s burgundy and ivory ensemble is complete. Woo Hoo! Tonight I worked on sewing more pearls onto Emily’s sleeves. And now, I’m going to get some sleep—I’m in bed before eleven for the first time this week. Heck—I’m in bed before three a.m. for the first time this week! 
~MB
Lovely! I like the swirl effect. Alex & I are actually having our rehearsal dinner at Vetro, a glassblowing studio in downtown Grapevine. They have a gallery but also have the work area in the back where they actually do the glassblowing. We thought it would be a unique place to have our rehearsal dinner, and we get hand-blown wine goblets out of the deal! We went a couple of weeks ago to watch one of the goblets being made. Supposedly, the goblets are one of the most difficult items to make because of the different “components” that make up the entirety of the object. Anyway, I’m fascinated by the art. I would never have the patience to do it! Or a steady enough hand.
~Emily
P.S. Alex and I had dinner with Doug Jacobs last night, as he is officiating our wedding ceremony. He said you were making his Scarborough outfit as well. =) I can’t wait to see it!
I’m sure there will be photos of bits of Doug’s fabric and the like, soon!
I am delighted to be outfitting him! This is a wedding I think I just must see!
I had no idea Vetro did events! What a cool thing! That is a wonderful place. I had inquired about apprenticing there, and as it turned out, I simply haven’t had the spare time! But, I’ve been up there and just sat watching for hours! Interesting you say you wouldn’t have the patience. That’s not one of the virtues I would have listed as necessary! Concentration . . . strength . . . courage . . . confidence . . . will your fabulous photographer be there, too? What a great place for photos, if they’ll be demonstrating for you . . .!
Our photog won’t be there, but I’m sure there will be other cameras present!
I thought it might take a lot of patience to get one piece of glass art complete from start to finish, because you have to keep going back and forth getting glass, heating, twirling, blowing, molding, etc. and even after all of that, there’s no guarantee that it won’t all smash into a million pieces when you try to break it free from the rod! I think I would get very frustrated if that happened to me. =)
Yes, you MUST come by the wedding, if you have a free moment from the shop, of course. It would be a shame for you to miss it after all of the hard work you’ve done to help me, my family, and my maid of honor. You’ve practially outfitted the whole group!
~Emily
I will be honoured to attend. I will inform my wonderful staff that I will be absent from the booth for the occasion.