Five year plan

Hi all,

I really suck at this blogging thing, but hey, I try right? I should get something for the effort. ;-) So since I last vowed to be more active on my blog I have since found a new job (feels like I'm always doing that these days), and with that developed a five year plan. I have decided that I was never happier than when I was working at the zoo so what better idea than to combine my love for helping people and my love for animals? SOOOOO, I'll be learning how to write a grant to do just that. Super stoked by the way!!!

I have absolutely no idea what I'm getting myself into but I'm up for the challenge. What is life without challenges right?

I'm still playing with stained glass. I am looking for new places to display my current pieces, as well as avenues to market my abilities to drum up commissioned works which are super fun as well. Anyway, time to get back to business.

Back again....hopefully for real this time!

Here I am trying to be a better blogger yet again. I think the barrier there is that while I have the blogger app on my phone, I still am having difficulty accessing my blog on my phone.....lol......

So here I am, on my laptop bloggin' ;-) An update from my last entry...I have currently four stained glass pieces showing in a gallery here in Phoenix. It is truly awesome. The pieces have been there for a little over a month now. I am expecting for the pieces to be coming home soon to make room for other local artists. In which case, I'll be looking for other venues to show them.

In other news, I have taken up yet another activity...SUP'ing. It's a new craze, but great fun and a way for me to meet new people who are amazing! I purchased an inexpensive SUP for the time being...as a way to save money on rentals. It's inflatable too! Easy to store, and transport with my EOS (it goes in the trunk)! I have not taken in on the water yet, which is killing me, so I'm look at my schedule as I type. ;-)

I think this is all for now, I've got some other things I need to get done....I've got the next two days off and have got to get some things in order around this place!!! Later!!!

Missing my blog

It has been a long time since I last blogged. I know that I've said this before, and I have even made statements like I will do better to blog consistently. HA I have done neither of these things....oops. I guess that things happen and I have other things that are more pressing that boring the few readers I have with the lack of exciting new I have in my life...LOL.

There is something that I can share with some vivor. I have been trying my hand at the art of stained glass...and with the help and determination of my friend and stained glass teacher, we have a gallery showing. Yes, that is right...my stained glass works will be in a gallery starting the first week in June! I'm stoked about it. Though there is still lots to be done before then. Like finishing the pieces I have started and get a few more for showing. Also, we need to get a structure built for displaying the pieces as well.

Since stained glass is not something that this gallery has shown before, they are not equipped with appropriate hanging areas for these magnificent pieces.

Like I said......LOTS TO DO....so I'll get to it!

Uniform no more

Tomorrow is the first day in a year that I will be going to work not in a set uniform. I've almost forgotten how to choose outfits that look nice and are comfortable. It would be so easy if I just put my clothes together in stylish combinations and hung them in the closet...maybe that will be my new thing...that will last a week...lol. It's summer, and that means it's HOT. Though, I'll be in an office of unknown temps adding another variable to my dilemma. I've planned what I hope will be a temperature wise outfit. I have a feeling that I will be taking some kind of cardigan to work to leave there for chillier temps. I do remember that the room I interviewed in was COLD!!! Though my soon to be new office was just perfect.

I know this post was not very interesting, I'm just trying to get into the habit of posting to my blog. Something that I find very interesting is that I'm getting closer to soldering on my newest stained glass window. It's for my mother, and it's a bird of paradise. I love it, and can't wait to see it with the light shining through it. A couple of the colors of glass appear so close in color with no light behind it that the true beauty of it has not been seen yet. I'm hoping that Tuesday will be the day that I get to see all the colors in their glory!!! It's so very exciting. I mean, even more exciting than peeling the pattern pieces off after grinding them down to their final shape. :-)



There are a couple of pieces (four to be exact) that I will be recutting and foiling before soldering. I discovered that trying to grind glass while exhausted is not a wise move. At least it was only four pieces, and that I noticed this defect now and not when my window is soldered....or I'd be getting a lesson in stained glass window repair. I'm sure that lesson is in my future, however, I'd like to complete a big window before I attempt repairs.

At any rate, I'm off, I just thought it would be fun to actually include a picture in a post...though, I have yet to figure out the whole Google+ thing to post pics from my phone since I blog from my phone most often (this post exculded from that last statement).

Time of my life

Last night I had the time of my life grinding away little crazy glass shapes. I've only got three more pieces to go. Then I can really begin the process of copper foiling. Had it not been for the two hour time limit on class last night I would have kept on going into the wee hours of the morning. ;-) I never think to take actual pics of what we are doing while we are doing it...so a picture of the end result will have to suffice! I am however collecting supplies for my next one. So since I'll be working independently in my own home, I'll be able to take pictures of the process! Kudos to a wonderful teacher. I'm lucky that our paths crossed and I've had this opportunity to learn from a great master!

New glass

I went to Hobby Lobby today after work with the intent of buying a magic runner. I was placed in the unfortunate situation of not being able to buy the object I desired. However, the stained glass section of this particular store was enough to keep me intrigued. I left the store with another piece of glass...my second now. I know my teacher will encourage me to buy wholesale with her...and I will in time. But for now...a 40% discount is enough to keep me going back for a few pieces to have now.

Google+ woes

So here it is, June 2nd and it's been awhile since I've blogged. Part of that is due to the fact that I do most of my blogging from my phone and I've not yet codified out how to add photos to my posts from my phone. It should be easy, but alas I cannot figure out Google's Google+.

In the time I've been separated from my blog I've been busy getting a new job. Yes that's right. I've got a real job and I'm beginning my final week of employment at the Phoenix Zoo. I'm sad that I won't be seeing my wonderful zoo family every day...so I'll just have to make more of an effort to stay active with them. Shouldn't be too difficult once I get in the swing of things with my new job.

I've also been staying active with stained glass. Yes that's right. Stained glass. It's awesome and takes my mind off stressful things and allows me to focus on the perfect score. Which I've begun to achieve with the Cadillac of glass cutters!!! The Gryphon Pistol Grip Glass Cutter has given me some totally awesome scores so far. I cannot wait for the millions more from this beautiful tool.

Until next time. I'm back to cutting glass.