Flame Run puts out a monthly eNewsletter that will be featuring short, informational articles about glass and working with glass, so make sure you sign up for this if you want to pursue glass work.

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Brook received the Al Smith Fellowship from the Kentucky Arts Council in 1998, and is also a juried participant of the Kentucky Craft Marketing Program. His work has been recognized nationally, including at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., the Huntington (W.Va.) Museum of Art, the Asheville (N.C.) Art Museum and the Owensboro Museum of Fine Art. He is currently serving as a co-chair for the Glass Art Society 40th Annual Conference (GAS 2010), which will take place in Louisville during June 2010.

Jib

Sun from the Twinkle Twinkle collection, that includes glass formed
planets of the solar system

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Glass artist: Brook White

Here are two gorgeous examples of glass models by Rudolph and Leopold Blaschka, created near Dresden, Germany in the late 19th century.

Mary Blue Magruder, director of communications at the museum writes that many people who are familiar with Harvard University’s Ware Collection of ‘Glass Flowers’ do not know about the glass animals and are excited to learn about the Blaschkas’ earlier work.   For those who haven’t seen the Glass Flowers, this unique combination of artistry and science is truly a revelation.

As you can imagine, a careful hand and eye are needed to prepare this exhibit. Glass artist Elizabeth Brill of Corning, New York, who is also trained as a marine biologist, is doing the work to clean the Harvard collection of Blaschka glass models of marine invertebrates.

Credit: Harvard Museum of Comparative Zoology (research parent museum). Photos courtesy of  http://www.mcz.harvard.edu/hmnh

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Harvard Museum of Natural History

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world
Craftside has tutorials on how to make two punk rock scarves one with yarn and one with fabric, info on participating in the Good Mail Day Challenge, One Person’s Oddity and a Polaroid Postcard design, a bunch of mixed element jewelry and tips on laying a pattern out on plaid fabric.

Crafty Princess Diaries
Tammy talks about booth set ups for art shows as well as trade shows.

Cross Stitch at About.com
One of Connie’s friends is really big into Egyptian history and culture, so she has some pattern ideas for gifts. If you like Egyptian-themed decor, you will love these charts!

Mixed Media Artist
Have you ever used an online publisher to create your own artist book?

Naughty Secretary Club
Jen shows how to transform old lace curtains and a cheap wooden embroidery hoop into a one of a kind earring holder.

The Artful Crafter
Eileen just took her new Zutter Bind-it-All out of the box. Woohoo! Look at what a bona fide binding newbie can create with the Bind-it-All.

The Impatient Crafter
Check out this Haute Couture inspired felt, ribbon and glass bib necklace Madge made for I Love to Create teens!

Vickie Howell-Craft.Rock.Love
Get a signed bookplate for your copy of Vickie’s book, Pop Goes Crochet!

About Family Crafts
Who are your favorite popular characters? Are they included in this collection of free coloring book pages?

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Artsy blogging round-up!

Greenieglass Votives
Launched this year, this is the very first “green” collection from Annieglass, made from 100% recycled glass and gold. Made through an innovative glass recycling process, the salvaged scrap glass is stacked and heated to very high temperatures, creating an alabaster type of glass with a texture unlike any other Annieglass product. The Greenieglass votives come in four styles: Leaf, Star, Starfish and Flower. These stylish votives are designed with a mirror at the base, to give off reflected illumination.

Arabella
The Arabella collection is the first Annieglass collection to combine both 24K gold and platinum in one design. The pattern brings together a lyrical hybrid of feather and a paisley pattern.

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Glass Artist: Annie Morhauser

Psalm 63: 6-8
On my bed I remember you;
I think of you through the watches of the night.
Because you are my help,
I sing in the shadow of your wings.
My soul clings to you;
your right hand upholds me.

Step by step instructions

Materials and Tools
Heavy watercolor paper
Silicone-based spray wax
Acrylic paints
Mulberry paper
Verse or poem
Polymer medium or white glue
Plastic straws
Assorted yarns
Heavy card stock, black

X-acto knife
Paint brushes or sponges
Scissors
Tapestry needle

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Peeled paper technique

Her youngest son, Nick, founded a non-profit organization in his mother’s memory, the mission of which is to help fund the basic needs of children in developing countries.  He calls it Cling.

That story reminded me of one of my favorite psalms, which has a line about clinging to God.  I’ve used that verse in this mixed media piece, and tomorrow I’ll share the peeled paper technique with you that I used to make this.

Psalm 63: 6-8
On my bed I remember you;
I think of you through the watches of the night.
Because you are my help,
I sing in the shadow of your wings.
My soul clings to you;
your right hand upholds me.

Post from: Blisstree

Cling

Digital artwork is HOT right now and we’re super excited about the premier of a new publication that will feature all digital designs. Somerset Digital Studio will focus on all things digital — scrapbook pages, ATCs, collages, cards, invitations, calendars, clothing, heritage pieces — anything that is unique, distinctive, artistic and created digitally. In order to be considered for publication in Somerset Digital Studio, please send via e-mail the following for each submission: a high-res image (300 dpi, at least 6 x 6 inches), a brief paragraph describing the artwork (who’s who in any photos or why you were inspired to create it), instructions on how you created your digital artwork including the specifics as to what tools, programs, etc. you used. Please include your name, e-mail and mailing address with every submission. E-mailed submissions should be directed to the managing editor, Jana Holstein, at somersetdigital@stampington.com. Please put “Somerset Digital Studio” in the subject line.

Deadline for artwork to be received: October 15, 2009

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Call for entries: Somerset Digital Studio

Aileen’s Musings
Aileen’s created a quirky copper bird pin,,,,stop by and check it.

Alexa Westerfield a.k.a. Swelldesigner
Alexa revisits and reconnects with a craft from her childhood

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world
Craftside has a sneak peek into the soon to be released book; Who’s Your Dada? Redefining The Doll Through Mixed Media, free graphics of good angel/bad angel birds with a tutorial for using them as T-shirt iron-ons, how-to’s on bleaching and cutting photos to create windows, and a mosaic chicken project. The book and bobbin winder contest continues, leave a question on any topic and you are entered to win!

Crafty Princess Diaries
You’ll find some big crochet fun in these new little books published by Leisure Arts and written by Drew, The Crochet Dude!

CraftyPod
Sister Diane’s new podcast compares two ways to publish a craft book: the traditional print and publisher method, and the ebook method. If you dream of writing a craft book, this is useful information.

Cross Stitch at About.com
Sometimes, you’ve just gotta go against the grain. Find out when and share your comments about stitching against the grain.

Mixed Media Artist
Have you ever tried using heavy watercolor paper to make a peeled paper collage?

Stefanie Girard’s Sweater Surgery
Relax! A Toilet Paper Cozy never looked cuter then when embellished by embroidering with ribbons to make a plaid square on a recycled sweater using a tutorial from the book Ribbon Embroidery by Natalie Bellanger-Clement

The Artful Crafter
A reader asks, “What are the pros and cons of selling crafts online?” Eileen answers.

The Crochet Dude
Drew gives good advice on how to handle the non-crafty people (muggles) in your world.

The Impatient Crafter
It’s time for back to school fashions and Madge has whipped up a fab tiny Moulin Rouge inspired top hat headband project for your discerning teen…or any gal who likes a little splash of whimsy in her accessories!

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Artsy blogging round-up!

I found lots of clever items in the Home Decor section, including the wonderful tin lion shown below.  This piece comes from Zimbabwe, where there are no lions.  Other gift categories include wearables, stationery, dining, and instruments.

Another item that really caught my eye was found in the stationery section. I think these notebooks, made from handmade paper and decorated with natural elements, would make splendid gifts for any occasion.

If you happen to have a gallery, there is information available on how you can get involved as either an affiliate or a wholesaler of the beautiful work available here.  Fair trade products would make an interesting addition to many gift stores.

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Fair Trade Gifts and Decor

It was a hit!  So that prompted me to go back and see what else BigHugeLabs had to offer.  It’s really amazing, and could also turn into an incredible time suck!  But I’m not going to apologize for that.  If you’d like to see more photos that I warped, you can visit them here, but I’d suggest that you simply grab some of your own photos and go play.  My favorites at BHL (besides the Motivator) are the Warholizer and the Hockneyizer.

If that’s not enough for you, here are a few other sites with loads of fun effects you can try:

Be Funky: turn your photos into artwork

Blingee: add glitter (I’m not sure why, but hey!)

Dumpr: really fun effects

Images: Cyndi Lavin

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Fun with BigHugeLabs