Springtime in Wisconsin

I have made many 3D stained glass stars over the years, and one hangs from the edge of my roof near the back door. It has been especially durable, hanging there through many snowstorms and freezing temperatures. In the spring, when it gets above 32 degrees, the snow on the roof melts and drips down on the star. Then it freezes again over night and in the morning, the star is embellished with icicles. The morning sun was shining on it today and it was a beautiful ornament, even though not very seasonal.

Small Parts Drawers

Recently, I set up a workspace in the garage where my husband has his small engine repair business. My dad gave me a workbench he wasn't using anymore, a chair, and a file cabinet. He also gave us a drawer unit that he used to have on his workbench at home. It is wood, with six little drawers. Each drawer is actually an antique cheese box. Of course then ends are painted, so I don't think they are very valuable anymore. But the unit as a whole has sentimental value for me since I remember it being on his workbench when I was growing up. I now use it for various sizes of spark plugs for my husband's business.

Not long ago, my dad said he was given some scrap wood, and that he was making me another parts cabinet with little drawers similar to the cheese box drawers. Then last Sunday he presented me the drawer unit. It is a work of art! I have since added wood knobs as drawer pulls, and put polyurethane on the whole thing. I plan to take it to the Studio to store craft supplies. It can be appreciated there as a work of art and not just a storage piece.

Working on Stained Glass Terrarium

I've always loved terrariums and have been making them since the 1970's. My first ones were in the big  water bottles that are delivered with spring water and put in dispensers. I can't believe how I ever got the plants in there and got them planted, but I must have done it somehow with sticks. One of my next ones was in a very large glass brandy snifter. That one existed on my coffee table for several years until my young son decided to push it off on the floor. More recently, I have purchased a large biology beaker with a cork in the top. I got a good deal on it at an estate sale. I plant to plant that one soon. I have also created a stained glass piece that will become a terrarium. I saw one similar in my Dwell magazine, and knew I had to try to make it in stained glass. I made the bottom pentagons in a dark purple glass and the upper ones in clear glass. The lid is hinged in order to reach in and plant it. I post more pictures once I get it planted.