Renovations - We're on our way!!

On Tuesday I had a 6x10 ft balcony as my only studio space and BANG! from 9am on Wednesday, things really started happening here!

1. This used to be a narrow guest bathroom (toilet on the far end). We (and I use the term "we" loosely, because I'm hiding upstairs in my office while a bunch of young guys do all the work with some really macho, loud tools) cut out the back wall of the bathroom, removed all the plumbing fixtures and tiles and bathroom door and back window. You can see that it leads right into my balcony studio. Right behind the head of our "shiputznik" (which is Hebrew for a person, usually a guy person, who knows how to fix things) you can see another entry. That was a wall, before. Now it will be a door to another guest toilet. You've got it right - this house had too many bathrooms.



2. This used to be the extra-narrow entrance to a dark, unused bedroom. The door, which we ripped out along with a lot of the wall, used to face the door to the guest bathroom that we demolished. Inside this room is yet another door which leads to the new guest bathroom. The old door will be turned into a display niche. (I realize this might be getting confusing.) This bedroom was never slept in - we stored all our junk in it. You've guessed it - this house had too many bedrooms, too. How lucky that I need more studio space!




3. This is a hole in the wall. A new hole in the wall, that will become a stained glass window that will bring beautiful light into my new teaching studio. Because the light outside is so bright, it makes the room appear still dark and dank but believe me, it is now light-filled and cheerful and will be a great working space.



Eventually all these areas will become one space - an enclosed balcony where I do lampwork, a corridor leading from the balcony, with a guest bathroom and some display space, to a stained glass studio with special lighting, special display, and an amazing storage rack for all my glass and beads. Check back periodically to see more photos. The shiputznik (see #1) says that it will be done in 2 weeks. In Israel? Hard to believe, but I live in hope!

Never Say Never!! First Boro Beads

I am waltzing around my kitchen with my new beads clutched close to my heart. Sure, I've got too much haze. Sure, the colors are over-struck in some and under-struck in others (which is kind of cool in itself), but HEY, I finally started working in boro!!

I must say that the photos don't really do justice to the colors and certainly don't show off the glittery silver deposits deep in the beads (silver is the main secret ingredient that makes these colors flip out like they do).

So, for all those who say that you can never work boro on a Minor and a concentrator, foo on you! All the beads above were made exactly on a Minor and concentrator, from only 3 colors of glass (which might actually be the total sum of reactive boro available for sale in Israel) + a little clear.

• I know that in a couple of months I'll look back at these beads and cringe but at the moment I am delighted. Working with boro felt like I was pulling toffee (or maybe tar), with a new rhythm and rules to learn.

Wish me luck?!

Eternal Flame

I'm showing off my newest commission for a synagogue in Nahariya, which is on the northern border of Israel.

This is a NER TAMID, or Eternal Flame, which will "burn" (with the help of a small light bulb) in their temple in memory of family and friends who have passed away. The finished lamp is 20 cms tall by 15 cms wide and square. The back and sides are made with mirror, slightly angled to increase the light shining through the stained glass flame, which will face the worshipers.

Thank you, Sue, for ordering this!

Magical Stained Glass Carpet?

You can't walk on it - and it doesn't fly - but it does make a nice hanging. Here is my latest project, which we installed in the home of a very nice family in Jerusalem yesterday. (and yes, I would think they were nice even if they didn't like glass art!)

The combination of 3 panels has more than 300 pieces, about 260 of which are in the outer border. The center panels have a lot of mirror which reflects the family portraits displayed on the opposite wall.

The piece was created specifically for this niche and the design was a joint effort between myself and the client (posing below with her new glass art). The design details were all worked out by email (lots of email), and I hope that the home owners are as pleased with the results as I am!

A special thanks to David, my beloved, for not only driving me back and forth but for standing on the ladder and holding everything in place - exactly in place - as I added the clips and screws that hold this wonder to the wall. Transporting it was nerve-wracking because of the shape (very breakable) .