delve

Posted on September 20, 2017 by Maggie C

so many layers
light and dark, near and distant
each tells a new tale

The Daily Post weekly photo challenge: Layered

Glassic Complaint

Posted on September 6, 2017 by Maggie C

trapped in my own pane
cut me loose before I crack
waiting for a break

My stained glass project waits for my return.

The Daily Post’s weekly photo challenge: Waiting

Waiting for the Shadow

Posted on September 6, 2017 by Maggie C

The Daily Post weekly photo challenge: Waiting
CB&W photo challenge: Shadows

Rush Hour Photo Opp

Posted on September 1, 2017 by Maggie C

The Daily Press weekly photo challenge: Structure

Stained Glass Production: at the Corner of Art and Environment

Posted on August 23, 2017 by Maggie C

Interior corner at the Uroboros Glass studio in Portland, OR.

The art glass industry is facing many changes lately, and it’s hard for me to get on board with the direction things seem to be going, even though I feel like I “should” think it’s all for the better. Even though it IS for the better. Likely.

In the Pacific Northwest where I live, two of the three nearest art glass manufacturers have essentially gone out of business recently, in large part due to newly imposed environmental regulations. Growing concern about poisonous contamination from glass factory operations have led to tighter – and very costly – restrictions on manufacturers, and the expense of implementing the revised safeguards has been crippling to the industry.

Glass bins were nearly empty at the Uroboros Glass factory as of mid-July, 2017

One could question the impetus for such strict mandates: How viable were the environmental studies, and did they provide an accurate depiction of environmental impacts? Was there consideration and investigation of other potential sources of contamination in the tested areas? Are the specific restrictions and requirements that have been imposed actually effective and/or what is needed to improve safe factory operation?

Maybe it simply boils down to “better safe than sorry.” Environmental, ecological and human preservation and safety are paramount, and if the art glass industry has to sacrifice certain hues of glass to contain unhealthy contaminants, then so be it.

A no-brainer, I suppose. But still…

Entry to Uroboros Glass Studio in Portland, OR.

Production of art glass previously produced by the two closed factories, Uroboros Glass and Spectrum Glass, has been taken over by another glass manufacturer, Oceanside Glasstile, and moved to a different, less restrictive location. But that doesn’t really resolve the issues.

There are still myriad choices in color, texture, opacity and other facets of art glass, certainly enough to feed my artistic soul for a long time to come. Perhaps I need to be open to “turning the corner,” and seeing what new “avenues” appear, so to speak; non-toxic avenues that will help sustain ALL of us for a long time to come.

The Daily Post weekly photo challenge: Corner

earth ~ water ~ air ~ fire

Posted on August 9, 2017 by Maggie C

earth
volcano erupts
molten rock lunges skyward
gravity defied

water
water unresolved
hovers between sea and sky
foggy dilemma

air
swirled by fickle winds
tinged by sun’s pastel palette
confections aloft

fire
forests breathing fire
evening sky set ablaze as
sun and smoke conspire

The Daily Post weekly photo challenge: Elemental

grinding out an obit

Posted on August 4, 2017 by Maggie C

millstone laid to rest
industry ground to a halt
please do not send flours

The Daily Post weekly photo challenge: Textures

What Money Can Buy

Posted on July 26, 2017 by Maggie C

I was talking with my eldest daughter the other day (okay, maybe it was more like complaining) about how much I’ve been spending on all my DIY home improvement projects; projects which include reviving the hardwood floors that I discovered under my grungy living room carpet, ripping up the ugly linoleum from my bathroom floor and laying down vinyl tile, making a bathroom sink back splash out of art glass squares, constructing a stained glass privacy panel for the bathroom window, remodeling the kitchen (still in progress), and redoing my dining room to… well, to make it look like a dining room and not a staging area for all my other projects.

dining room

And those are just the indoor projects.

My daughter asked me if spending all that money brings me happiness. ‘Cuz, you know – that whole thing about how money can’t buy you happiness. I didn’t have to ponder that question long at all before giving a resounding “Yes!”

I never had much occasion to practice any handyperson skills up until the past couple of years, so every home improvement project I take on involves a learning process of new skills and knowledge about the workings of “this old house.” (Does that phrase sound familiar? I could probably start my own DIY TV program).

living room floor

The projects have varying levels of success. Some turn out well, some have to be completely redone. Some results are “interesting” and “unique” to say the least, so I just pass those off to my eclectic artistic license and try to imply that that’s where I meant to go with the project – I just didn’t know it until I got there.

Regardless of how I rate the outcomes, I can honestly say the process itself is almost entirely fun and satisfying. I love the challenge, the chance to research and learn new things, the hands-on real world application of what I learn, and the gratification of a daily tangible result.

kitchen

So despite my complaints about the cost of my myriad DIY projects, it is indeed money well spent. It buys a more comfortable, appealing home atmosphere. It buys an “experience” in addition to paying for material goods. And – you might well say – it buys me happiness.