Recent Stained Glass Projects

I have been horrible about keeping things "updated" with Newsletters this year! I am hoping that this Blog will make that a little easier and more manageable for me. Here are some projects that have been completed this year . . . Sookie has been a busy, busy gal!!

This piece was done for Dixie. She had installed shutters in the pass through between her kitchen and living room. The panel was designed as a "shutter topper". I think it turned out really well, and complements her decor beautifully.

The next two suncatchers were made for Cindy. She gave them as gifts to friends and family. I liked the Calla Lily pattern so much, I modified it to use as a piece in my art shows. (Maybe I'll put a photo of that up one of these days!)

The Lady Bug has also made it into the art show offerings . . . it has been pretty popular and is frequently purchased as a gift.

Rusty commissioned me to do a House Number panel to hang on the porch of her home. (Last I heard, though, it hasn't made it out of her living room!! She has it displayed on an easel, and says it is too pretty to hang outside just now!!)

When I delivered the panel to Rusty, Katherine saw it and commissioned me to do a Magnolia panel for her, too. She didn't want the house number, but was intending to hang it beside her front door. I thought "Welcome" would work for this application.

I used a foil overlay for the lettering. I think this worked out splendidly! I will definitely use that technique again. You can put in plenty of detail without worrying about cut lines.

Finally, I was able to finish the "River Center" logo which was commissioned months ago by Enoch Morris, the Executive Director of the River Center for the Performing Arts in Columbus, GA. You should check out their website: http://www.rivercenter.org/ It is a happening place. They host extremely professional productions and have a lovely, elegant facility. I will be exhibiting there at WinterFest 2007 from November 30th through December 2nd. WinterFest 2007 is an Art and Fine Craft Show that will be held in conjunction with the concerts and events focused around the Christmas celebration. It is an event not to be missed!

That's all for now! Stay tuned for more updates . . .

199th Light Infantry Brigade

I mentioned in a previous post that I had a customer visit scheduled for Tuesday afternoon. Here is the piece that the customer was picking up.


The plaque reads:
"In Commemoration of the Reflagging of The 199th Infantry Brigade
Presented by the Veterans of the 199th Light Infantry Brigade - Vietnam 1966-1970
To the Soldiers of the 199th Infantry Brigade
27 June 2007, Ft Benning, Georgia
REDCATCHER! The 199th Light Infantry Brigade Association".

This is another one of those jobs to which it is a great honor to contribute something. I really don't know how I managed to get so blessed with meaningful jobs, but I surely do appreciate each and every one of them.

Hombre Goes to Summer Art Camp

I took the dogs with me to Summer Art Camp on Tuesday, because I had class that night and a customer visit in the afternoon. I didn't think I would be able to get home before 10 PM, so they camped out in the glass studio all day.

At lunch, Hombre, who is great with children came out for a visit. At one point, he had about six kids petting him all at the same time. He looked up at me with the biggest grin on his face, and that little butt just a wigglin'!

Here is the cartoon story that one of the kids wrote about him yesterday. It is too cool!

A Pleasant Surprise

Well, when we left to visit our friends Bob and Devona in Covington yesterday, we didn't really intend to come home with a dog . . .

For some time now, Devona has been looking to place Hombre, and was waiting for just the right situation for him. At 6 years old, having already achieved his Working Trial Championship (WTCH), Devona wanted to place Hombre in a home where he could be "just a dog" and have plenty of individual attention. He gets along well with other dogs, loves people and children, and is all around a great dog. He should be fine for light competition, maybe Rally Obedience or Agility, but doesn't enjoy the pressure of serious trialing. That fits pretty well with our life, as I don't have a lot of time for serious training anymore . . . since the glass business has taken off!

Craig and I have known Hombre for most of his life, and always have found him to be a pleasant, well mannered dog. He has a beautiful, glossy black coat, and is a sturdy, sound dog . . . a nice example of the breed.

Craig has always especially liked Hombre. As I found out on the drive home last night, he has entertained the thoughts of taking Hombre home for a couple of years. Who knew?!?!

Callie and Peggy Lee (The Girls) have known Hombre as long as we have, and they love him. They have always enjoyed romping and playing with the handsome fellow. Guess it was about time we got another man around the house!!

Stained Glass Classes at Images Studio

I hope the new year is rolling along happily for everyone out there. I know that things around here are hopping, as usual!

Most of you have already heard that my friend and fellow artist, Deborah Smith, has recently opened Images Gallery in the booming metropolis of Moreland. The Gallery showcases local artists, and is packed to the brim with the finest quality pottery, paintings, stained glass (of course!), photography, hand made soaps and other original creations. Moreland is conveniently located just south of downtown Newnan off Highway 29 with easy access to I-85. Images Gallery, located at 21 Main Street, Moreland, is open Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

http://www.imagesgallery.biz/

Deborah has also secured a building just two doors down from Images Gallery in Moreland, a small portion of which will be used for her photography studio. Deborah is generously providing the remainder of the Images Studio building to be used as classrooms for teaching art classes. There are currently classes forming for stained glass, mosaics, wire art jewelry, children’s drawing, children’s and adult watercolors, calligraphy and scherenschnitte. For more information on any of these classes, please call Images Gallery at 770-254-1555. You may also contact me (770-254-0349) for more information on the stained glass and mosaic classes.

Deborah has assigned an entire (enormous) classroom that will be dedicated to stained glass. My husband, Craig, and I worked feverishly to install lighting (five 8-ft fluorescent fixtures hung on a 14 ft ceiling!) and build giant work tables. I will be putting the finishing touches on the teaching studio over the course of the next few months, but I am already very pleased with how it is coming along. It is already a functional glass studio!

If you’re interested, I can send you a copy of the Stained Glass Course descriptions and current calendar of stained glass classes. I am very interested to hear your feedback on what types of classes you would be interested in taking.

I have changed the format of the classes a little as things have developed. I initially thought a "structured" class would be the thing to do. After all, that's the way everyone else does it. . . I quickly realized through your feedback, that this type of environment doesn't lend itself to our present lifestyles. I am now doing more of a “free form” class. Basically, in the studio, we have students working on different projects at different skill levels at different stages of completion . . . all at the same time. I find that this lets me give people very individualized attention, as not everyone needs help all at once. Also, we’re not all trying to do the same thing, so we don’t have as much competition for the equipment.

With that said, you can come to class and chose whatever project you’d like to do from my book of patterns. Or bring a pattern, or picture of something you’d like to do. I’ll help you design a working pattern for your project, and away you’ll go. I have glass and supplies available for purchase, and you are welcome to use my tools. If you want to bring in supplies and glass from an outside source, that’s fine, too.

As far as payment, you can send a deposit to reserve your spot in class. The first class, you’ll purchase a block of classes. Depending on what project you’d like to do, you may want to get 4 or 6 or 8. (I do offer a discount for the purchase of 10 classes. Purchase 10 and you’ll get the 11th at no charge.)

I offer a flexible schedule. If you pay for 8 classes, you get 8 classes, whether it is over the course of the next 4 weeks, or 10 months. If you need to miss a class, no problem! “Maintain rigid flexibility” is my motto.

Currently, classes are offered at the following days/times. I will be adding more classes as these fill. I want to maintain a small class size . . . around 6 people or so.

Tuesday 6 PM – 9 PM
Thursday 10 AM – 1 PM
Saturday 10 AM – 1 PM

If you haven’t guessed already, I’m very excited about this new opportunity. Even if you can’t take a class right now, do drop in for a visit. I look forward to seeing you at the Studio, or at an upcoming Art Show in the near future!

Who is Sookie?

My Father,
a life-long perfectionist and stained glass hobbyist for 30 years, introduced me to stained glass in 1999. With that introduction, I was instilled with the passion, the drive & the determination to become a proficient glass artist.


With the initial introduction by my father, I abandoned the sterile, analytical world arising from a degree in chemistry, and fell seamlessly into the passionate landscape of artistic expression. I never looked back. My continuing growth has ultimately resulted in my evolution into a highly skilled glass artisan.


Since my father has always lovingly referred to me as “Sookie,” it is in his honor that my business is named Sookie’s Glass Art Studio.

40th Anniversary Present

This piece was completed on Saturday (6/23). It was made for a couple I met at the Virginia Highlands Summerfest back in June. Their friends are celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary, and this is to be a present for them.

I used elements from existing patterns to fabricate this sweet little suncatcher. Note the heart shape formed by the joined beaks and the twisted wire which connects the flower to the hummingbird bodies.

It is simple, but I like it.

Welcome

Blogging is a new thing for me. I know just enough about computers and the internet to be completely dangerous! I thought this seemed like a fun thing to do . . . so here goes!!

I have intended to do a newsletter at least four times per year. That worked in 2006, but this year has been so crazy, I STILL haven't managed to get out a single newsletter. Maybe this will be a format that I can manage to update frequently, and will hopefully, be somewhat interesting . . .

I plan to update my students and customers on the latest happenings around my studio, including my glass work, watercolor pieces, dogs and family events. As always, comments and suggestions are welcome.

That's all for now!
Kay