The Birds

I was stopped at a traffic light and had one of those eerie moments when you see something and it reminds you of something from your past.  I took this picture because it reminded me of the first time I saw Alfred Hitchcock's movie The Birds.  At the time of the photo I did not realize the camera setting was set at black & white.  After I took the picture, the birds took off flying everywhere.  There were birds all around our van.  My son said he thought the birds were going to attack our car.  I think maybe the flash scared them.  Do you remember the first time you saw the movie The Birds.

Ahaa Moment

Sometimes it takes me a while to figure things out.  Remember those cast iron crosses I found at a great bargain.  I didn't know what they were made for or what to do with them.  I even found a way to cut the nail off the back.  Well, I think I finally figured out what they are made for.  I believe they are made to add a little spark to a plain candle.  The nails can easily be pushed into the side of any candle to give the candle a little more decorative look. I went back to Sacco to buy ten more crosses. I added ribbon around one used candle before adding the nail and displayed it at a craft show.  That display helped to sell all the crosses I had.

I just laugh when I have a light bulb moment or what Oprah calls it an ... Ahaa moment.  LOL

Sun Catchers

What could I make with two pieces of scrap glass and a marble glob?

Hmm....



Thinking ....



Thinking .....



and still Thinking.  


I've got it! 




An Angel

Stained Glass Angel Sun Catchers

Finished Crash Glass Project

Here is the photo of my finished crash glass project.
As you can see I have grouted the panel and added a cast iron cross at the top and a coin with a prayer at the bottom right.  The Prayer reads:  I said a prayer for you today, I know God must have heard.  I felt the answer in my heart, although he spoke no word. 

This project has a personal meaning to me as the religious cards used were in my collection of religious cards I have collected from funerals I have attended.  The Praying hands is from my Mother-In-Law's funeral and the Sorrowful Mother is from my Grandmother's funeral.  It took a while to finish this project as I did not know how to cut the nail off the cast iron cross.  (See my previous posts: Cast Iron Crosses and Old New Toy)

Old New Toy



Cast Iron Crosses with and without nails and Rotary Tool

I asked Hubby and my Brother how I could cut a nail off the back of some cast iron crosses.  After studying the crossing they were stumped as to how I could cut the nail and leave a smooth back.  They said I needed a small saw or drill which they did not have.  That's when the light bulb lit in my head.  I remembered that I had a Dremel that could probably do the job.  The Dremel is a small rotary electric tool used for carving, engraving, routing, grinding, sharpening, cutting, cleaning, polishing and sanding.  Now my problem was learning how to use it.  You see, when I bought the Dremel three years ago, the Quick Start Book did not make any sense.  I did not understand the directions on how to use it. So the Dremel with Case was stored in the tool shed until now.   I stayed up all night reading and re-reading the directions.  Looking at pictures and reading over and over again.  Finally a small screw in a picture caught my eye.  It finally made sense.  So, here's the picture of the Dremel and some crosses with and without the nail.  I love this Dremel, it is my old, new toy.          

Butterfly Panel

The Butterfly window panel is finished. The background is a clear glass with what looks like rain drops.  The pink wispy boarder glass was chosen to bring out the pink color in the butterfly wings.   The butterfly glass was also used on the four corners of the panel.  I am happy how it came out.  If interested in purchasing, call or e-mail me before my first show which is on October 13th.  I have a feeling this panel will sell fast.  Click on the photos to get a closer view.  

Closer view of double butterflies

Butterfly Panel - 15 1/4" x 14"

Closer view of single butterfly.

Mrs. Piggy Gets Nose Broken

Mr. & Mrs. Piggy

While watching the boxing match this past Saturday, Mrs. Piggy was caught in the wrong place at the wrong time.  The suspect, 16 year old son of Irene, was questioned and released after admitting to accidently breaking Mrs. Piggy's nose.  Mr. Piggy was a witness who said Mathew got excited watching the boxing match and hit a shelf which knocked down an object from the shelf and hit Mrs. Piggy on the nose.  Mrs. Piggy did not need medical attention right away but was told to see the nearest crafty person as soon as possible.  It was Monday night when Crafty Irene looked at Mrs. Piggy's nose.  The diagnoses looked good for Mrs. Piggy who's nose will be adhered back together using E-6000.  Crafty Irene said these two piggies have been partners for years.   I don't even remember when or where I bought them from.    It will take about 24 hours for Mrs. Piggy's nose to completely heal.  Mathew was not charged and all is forgiven and well in the Maldonado household.

Butterfly Window Panel

How many times have you gone to the store and saw something you liked, and say to yourself, "I can make that."?  So you go home without buying the item and never make it.  That has happened to me many times.  This past week, I saw a stained glass window panel hanging at a glass shop that I liked.  I liked it so much that I decided this time to make it.  I knew what glass I wanted to use for the butterflies, I cut that glass first.  Then I decided what size the panel would be and placed the butterflies where I wanted them.  I used brass rings to draw the circular lines on the panel which will give the panel movement. 

Little by little I am teaching my boys my craft.  So, I asked them to help me choose the background and boarder glass.  We talked about color, texture, transparency and movement of the glass. The picture on the right shows the glass we chose, cut and placed on the cartoon.  The next steps are grinding, foiling and soldering which will take a couple of days due to work, family and life.  I will post updated pictures as I go along.

Cast Iron Crosses

2 X 2 3/4 Cast Iron Crosses

While shopping at a religious store I found these cast iron crosses with a nail in the back for 85 cents each. I thought they were a good price so I bought ten.  I thought I could do something crafty with them and sell at a craft show.  The problem is I don't know what to do with them. What would you do with them?  Any suggestions?

God Is Awesome

Everywhere we look there are signs to remind us of God's presence.  Today, I saw one in back of a flatbed truck.  My son took this picture for me, as I was busy driving. 

FAMILY/FRIENDS

Friend/Me/Cousin

This past weekend my family got together to celebrate my aunts 80th birthday party.  Turning 80 is a big deal in itself, but what I really enjoyed was seeing alot of my cousins that I grew up with and their spouses, children and even grandchildren.  At this joyious occasion there were a few tears as we remembered cousins who have passed away and tears of joy as we saw old friends we had not seen in awhile.  I met my nephew's new wife and found out that her family lived a few blocks from where I live and her parents knew my parents.  I caught up with a friend whom I had not seen in awhile.  I also saw the three sisters that babysat me and my sister when we were oh so young little girls. When the DJ started it was hard to talk and hear so we traded numbers and vowed to get together again at a much more quieter place.  That night before going to bed, Hubby and I talked about the party.  We talked about how blessed we are to have such good friends and a close knit family.  We talked about how close our friends are that sometimes they are our family.  As I reflect on this past celebration, I am happy my hubby and two boys were with me to celebrate my aunts birthday, but most of all I am happy to have been able to see my cousins and their family and so many old friends.  I can't wait for the next birthday celebration which should be in September for my two youngest brothers and a nephew.  I wish you all the best week ever and may God bless you and your family and friends.

Tia Luisa



Irene & Tia Luisa

I had the pleasure of celebrating my Tia Luisa's 80th Birthday Lua Party. It was fun to see my family get together for such a wonderful event.  My Tia Luisa is the only surviving aunt on my mothers side of the family.  We do keep in touch with each other by phone about once a month as she is a very busy lady.  (Her daughters had to get her a cell phone because they had trouble finding her at home.) Besides going to the senior center every weekday, she is always going out of town with family and friends and on weekends there's always a party of some sort or special event.  For a lady who has never learned to drive, she sure gets around. Doesn't she look great for 80.

Crash Glass

Crash Glass Added

Layout without Crash Glass

This Saturday I took a Crash Glass Class at Harmony Stained Glass www.harmonystainedglass.com/  
The  first time I saw an example of crash glass I knew I had to learn how to do this.  I happened to be at Harmony Stained Glass Shop looking for a certain piece of glass  when I saw the sign-up sheet.  I knew it was a popular class and fills up quickly, so before I left the store I signed up. 
The class was taught by Lisa Morales who was a great teacher with lots of patience and understanding.  She had knowledge of the glass, layout and color.  You can see some of her work in her etsy shop at www.apinchofwonderful.estsy.com  I have not added the grout as Lisa is ordering a certain grout color that she suggested would look good with my project.  Meanwhile I need to paint the back and sides of the board and add something to hang it with.  After it is grouted, I have some trinkets to add to the top of my piece.  Once my project is completed, I will post the final picture.

Glass Paint Workshop

I went to Texas Art Supply Store(www.texasart.com/)  to find a paint for glass.  This store is a dream for any artist or crafter.  They have all sorts of supplies for school, art or craft/hobby projects. I never leave that store without buying something.  While checking out, I saw a flyer advertising a free pebeo (www.pebeo.com) Glass Paint Workshop.  Yes, that's right "Free", -- so I signed up for the class.

Texas Art Supply called me the day before to remind me of the class.  I asked what should I bring with me and was told "Everything will be provided."  I thought this must be a demonstration and not a workshop. 

As I walked into class, I was told to grab a glass from one of the tables.  There were flower vases, wine glasses, champagne glasses and jars all made out of glass.  I chose a wine glass. 

The class was conducted by Kat Kurganand, who works for the pebeo  Company based in France.  She first introduced the three different types of pebeo paints that were being demonstrated.
Vitrea 160 - heat set
Vitrail - air dry
Porcelaine 150 - heat set
Kat had several pieces that had been painted and fired to show us the difference in paints. 

After several questions answered we were given paint brushes and free to choose which color paints and other supplies to start painting our glass.   I first chose the Vitrail which has a transparent color.  I did not like the outcome, so I cleaned my wine glass and then used the Porcelaine 150 which has an opaque look.  I painted grapes with a vine of leaves swirled all around my wine glass.  The paint dryed fast, enough to get it home.  I waited the twenty-four hours before heat setting it in the oven.  As I set it on a cookie sheet to put in the oven, the wine glass tipped over and broke into pieces. I was upset at first, but then realized I could use this as a learning experience and after all, it did not cost me any money.
  
Many thanks toTexas Art Supply and pebeo for this fun free workshop and for providing the refreshments.  By the way, I was also added to Texas Art Supply e-mail list for upcoming workshops. 

Bling

About a month ago I bought these Flip Flops to wear around the house.  The only female in a house with three males, I asked them for their opinion. (That was a mistake I will not make again.)  I boxed them back up and stored them under the bed.  A recent visit from my teenage niece reminded me of these flip flops.  My niece is very trendy and loves bling.  She is not ashamed  to express herself.  She knows what she likes and is not afraid to wear it.   She was wearing stretch blue jeans with bling in the front and back pockets.  Her t-shirt had bling and her tennis shoes were also blinged out.  So out came the flip flops and am happy to say I wore them to work for the first time.  Thanks to my niece who taught me not to be afraid of expressing myself and if it makes you feel good, why not wear it? 

July Contest Winners

Okay here are the winners to my July Contest.  The following winners guessed what I made with four pieces of glass.  A  SNOWMAN!. 
Fanny Young
Ellen Aguirre
Annonymous (Name did not show up in your comments)
Winners, please email me your physical address at: iomaldo@aol.com, so that I can mail you a snowman.

These cute little guys will add lots of holiday cheer to your home this holiday season and can be used as a sun catcher or as a Christmas tree ornament. 
Thanks for playing and I hope you return to my blog on a regular basis to read my blog and post comments.

Altered Decanter

This decanter was altered using gel medium and adhering animal print, gold and maroon tissue paper.  After it was completely dry, I added a rub on dragon fly and a cross sticker.  The bottle was than embellished with an old broken irredized earring and a few feathers. The clear glass handle was left as is.  A bouquet of feathers was used for the topper.

Altered Mini Folder

 These mini envelopes were perfect for sending graduation pictures to a niece up in Montana.  They are small but made of a sturdy card stock and just the right size for about eight pictures. I altered the front and back of the envelope using graduation paper, rub on stickers, music notes and panther paws that are symbols of my sons high school days.  Now my niece can store the pictures and carry them without worrying about bending the pictures.  I did not have to leave space for the Mailing or Return Address as I enclosed the mini envelope in a box with a birthday gift for my niece.  I also decorated the gift box, only I forgot to take a picture.  You know how you forget things as you get older.  I have heard from my niece who said eveyone who saw the box loved it.  The box was decorated with a birthday theme.  She is using the box to store some of her little treasures.  

Back of Envelope



 

Mini Envelopes







Front of  Envelope



July Contest Giveaway

Wow! Can you believe July is almost gone?  It is so hot in Houston, I thought I would chill things down with a cool contest. 

In my effort to try and get more followers on my blog, I have decided to host a Contest Giveaway till the end of July.  As you may know from my blog, I love to work with stained glass.  In my July Contest Giveaway the first ten followers who guess correctly what I will make with these pieces of glass will win one of the finished item.  Feel free to mention/post this to your fellow bloggers. The contest ends at the end of this month (7-31-11).  On the first of August, I will post a picture of the finished item along with the list of ten winners.  Be sure to keep following my blog as I will be posting a few small clues to help with this guessing game.  Good Luck!

RULES:
1.  Become a follower of my blog. 
2.  Post your guesses under the comments of this post.
3.  Share contest with your fellow bloggers.
4.  Keep watch for clues.
5.  Use your imagination and have fun with your guesses.

CLUES  (Will be posted on the following dates here):
1.  July 18, 2011 - Small sun catcher with 4 pieces of glass: 1 big & 2 sml. circles and 1 sml orange piece
2.  July 22, 2011 - Kids love it, some adults do too just not to much or it becomes dangerous.
3.  July 25, 2011 - We don't see it in Houston too much. When it does hit Houston, people get excited and bundle up.
4.  July 29, 2011 - It makes the temperature drop and has the power to close schools and businesses.

Glass Cutting Board

Blue glass cutter, running plyers and shards of glass.

Every time I score and cut a piece of stained glass, I cut it on a plastic glass cutting board.  Most cutting boards are rectangle and come in various sizes.  They have a grid pattern that is lifted so that the pieces of glass fall down into the grid.  It makes it very convenient to cut the glass plus it is easy and safe to clean up those really small pieces.  The pictures above show the multi-colored shards of glass that I cut for one project.  When finished cutting I usually throw these shards away as they are too small to be of any use.