Hi, I’m Back!

At last, something new on my page!  It’s been a long dry spell, but I’m back in the swing of things now.  To be truthful, the world of fine art has been consuming my time the last couple of months:  I had a show in October, with all the matting, framing and such, and I just hung a show with a friend of mine for the months of December and January.  I don’t have another showing of my artworks planned until May of 2010, so now I’ll have a winter to concentrate more on calligraphy.

It snowed here last night – we have about four inches on the ground, and it is so beautiful.  Later today I’ll take the camera out and once again try to record the wonder of winter, but for now, I’ll stay indoors, writing and working on a small project, which I want to share with you.

I’ll be making small glass-covered ornaments for my friends to hang on their Christmas trees during the season, and then maybe in their homes for the rest of the year.  It’s a simple project, but the end results are lovely.

All you need for this project:  small pieces of picture glass (mine will probably measure about 1 1/2″ square); heavy colored paper (I’ll be using dark reds, greens, and blues); gouache in white, silver or gold; a flat pen with a small nib; some thin ribbon; super glue; and copper foil or silver foil tape (this usually comes in 1/4″ or 3/8″ widths).

You’ll also need scissors or a knife to cut your paper; a pencil to trace around each piece of glass; glass cleaner; and a bone folder or similar tool to burnish down your foil tape.

How to do it:

First cut your glass pieces, or have someone else cut them if you don’t know how.

Trace around each piece on the paper you have selected, but don’t cut the paper yet.  Keep the glass pieces in the same order that you traced them onto the paper, or you’ll have a very interesting time indeed when everything is cut out, and you’re trying to match the paper pieces to the glass.

With your pen and the gouache you have chosen, letter a single word or short phrase on each area of your paper.  You might need to rule a baseline for your words, which you will erase later.

When the lettering is dry, erase your baselines and cut out each piece of lettered paper and match it with it’s glass cover.

Cut a piece of ribbon for each ornament to serve as a hanger, position it on the edge of the glass where you desire, and glue each end to the glass with a small dot of super glue.  Let the glue dry.

Sandwich each piece of lettered paper with it’s glass cover.  If it’s easier for you, you might want to glue the corners of the paper to the glass where the joins will be covered later by the foil.

Cut small pieces of foil tape a bit larger than each edge of your ornament, and working with one piece at a time, starting at your hanger, wrap the tape from the edge of the glass, over the top of the ornament, and around to the back.  Trim and burnish each piece of foil before continuing around your ornament.  When you’re finished, your glass and paper will be firmly attached, ready to give your recipients joy for many years.  If you used copper foil, the edges of your ornaments will develop a beautiful patina over time.

You may also choose not to include a hanging loop on your ornament.  If you choose that option, you might want to include a tiny easel to display each piece as a miniature work of art.

I started making these pieces many years ago with postage stamps and hand-painted or drawn backgrounds.  My original concept was to use them as pins, so my first pieces have pin backs.  Of course, they can still be displayed on easels when they are not being worn.

Every year I get several requests for these mini works of art, and usually the person comissioning them gives me the particular postage stamp they want featured.  Then it’s up to me to create the rest of the package, to delight the giftee.  It’s really fun for me to go into someone’s home and see one of my miniatures displayed!