Hood River Holiday Pop-Up Opens Saturday

The Hood River Holiday Pop-Up opens Saturday, November 1st.  Open hours are 10am until 6 pm every Friday, Saturday and Sunday in November and December; and every day December 12 – 25.  A fabulous place to do your holiday shopping, located at 301 Oak Street in Hood River.  I’m honored to have my work juried in with many artist friends including Kathy Watne enamels and several artists from Gorge Artists Open Studios.

You’ll find my ‘Buggettes’ (also featured on the poster, yay!), art glass star ornaments, miniature plates, treasure/trinket boxes, wall pocket vases and some sweet 8 x 10 photographs printed on metal along with some of my favorite images printed on all occasion greeting cards.

Don’t forget the ‘Snow’ Show opens First Friday at Columbia Arts in Hood River with some fabulous artwork depicting snow.  I may post a teaser of my work on my Steider Studios Facebook page, if time allows.

I’ll take my art glass and photography on the road again and meet you at the Soroptimist’s 10th Annual Artisan Shopping Extravaganza!  Held at the Hood River Inn one day only, Saturday November 22nd from 10 am until 4 pm.  Mark your calendars, this is a good show!

December 5 I’ll be in The Dalles with a small table of work at the MCMC Holiday Market in the Medical Office building.   December 6th you’ll find me in Trout Lake for the Holiday Market at the Trout Lake School, sponsored by the National Honor Society.   More info on both shows as we get closer to the events.

Until then, I think I’ll catch up around the studio as quickly as I can, then take a long and leisurely Sunday Drive up to Glenwood and visit my favorite National Wildlife Refuge, Conboy for inspiration and relaxation!

Coming Up ~ Fall Art Shows!

Flying by the seat of my pants to catch up, I stayed outside too long with my camera.  Now I’m buried in my studio working as fast as I can producing new art glass home decor, jewelry and garden art for upcoming fall shows.  The first is our first – the inaugural White Salmon Fall Art Tour takes place on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, October 24, 25, 26 from 11am until 5pm.  Downtown White Salmon. One week from today!  We have an event page on Facebook with our map and more information.

A White Salmon Art Council sponsored event.

Join 14 White Salmon artists as they open their studios and a Pop-Up Gallery all within walking distance of downtown White Salmon for a Fall Art Tour.  The self-guided tour takes place on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Oct 24, 25 & 26 from 11:00 am until 5:00 pm all three days.

A preview and month-long viewing of the artists work is at the White Salmon Pop-Up Window.

Participating artists are:

In the Hatchery Studio Arts Building at 363 E. Jewett:

Sally Gilchrist, a painter/printmaker inspired by simple natural forms.  www.sallygilchrist.com

Sarah Morton Erasmus of M.E.Jewelry Co. & Atelier, will be demonstrating the fabrication of her handwrought sterling and gold jewelry at studio #6. www.mejewelryco.com

Cyndi Strid, mixed media artist, is excited to share large-scale drawings and her admiration for our native Northwest bees in studio #4.

In the Elba Building, 290 E Jewett Blvd at the corner of Estes and Jewett:

Peggy Ohlson grew up surrounded by the beautiful landscapes she loves to paint.  www.peggyohlson.com

Linda Steider offers nature photography prints and greeting cards in addition to her kiln-formed art glass jewelry and home decor.  https://steiderstudios.wordpress.com/

Jo Dean Sarins will be using turquoise in a new collection of jewelry featured at the White Salmon Fall Art Tour.  arrayofelegance.com

Barbara Murphy creates colorful, impressionistic gorge landscapes in acrylic on canvas.  barbaramurphy.net

Chris Fischer, traditionally trained jeweler, wholesaler, retailer and artist, has created works in sterling silver and gold filled for the upcoming Fall Tour from Celtic- inspired themes, accented with gemstones.  www.chrisfischerdesigns.com

Miki Caldwell is a functional potter who enjoys making tableware and outdoor decorative ceramics in her studio in Husum, WA.

Ellen Nippollt creates shelter, furniture, clothing, and increasingly, jewelry, designed to a new materialism that’s torn from place, re-paired, re-strung.

Showing in their own studios:

Klickitat Pottery at 264 E. Jewett, Ed and Diane Swick making handmade artistic and functional stoneware pottery for over 30 years.  www.klickitatpottery.com

Ann Fleming at 200 SW Edgecliff Drive, will be showing limited edition bronze and one-of-a-kind clay narrative sculptures, jewelry and handmade brightly painted pottery.  http://www.annfleming.com

Katey Ellen Price at 217 NE Wisconsin Street will show oil paintings that are the result of her love for the outdoors and her continual exploration of both the intriguing effects in nature and a variety of techniques to produce pleasing works on canvas.  kateyellenprice.blogspot.com

In other news……

Opening the First Friday in November, I’m producing work in my other kiln for…..

… a gallery show titled ‘Snow’ at Columbia Center for the Arts.  It opens the First Friday in November with a reception from 6 until 8pm and runs through the end of the month.  I’ve created a series of ‘Snow’ Bowls in my ‘Celestial Series’ tradition and will offer my iridescent art glass snowflakes.

Between those two events I’m delivering work to the NEW Holiday Pop-Up Shop in Hood River at 301 Oak, formerly Gallery 301!  “Locally handmade gifts for everyone on your shopping list.”  It is open Fridays and weekends November – December and open every day the week before Christmas from 10am until 6pm.

There’s more in November, but for now I am dashing madly toward my studio!  Hope you’re all having a wonderful fall.  You can see many photographs I’ve taken between my last post and this one on my Facebook Page, Steider Studios.

 

 

Thanks to YOU for a Successful Studio Sale!

Thanks so much to everyone who drove to the top of Burdoin Mtn to see my studio & purchase my work!  You make it all worthwhile!!  I’m open by appointment and you can see my work in my ArtFire & Zibbet shops.  Now for some R & R in the garden!

Annual Studio Sale

It’s almost here!  My annual studio sale.  April 11, 12 & 13 in the hills above White Salmon Washington.  I’ll open my studio for three fun-filled days in conjunction with Gorge Artists Open Studios.  It’s the only time ALL my work is unpacked and displayed in one setting.  Enjoy a stroll through my garden on your way down to see my photography and art glass.

I just ordered new metal prints and all occasion greeting cards from my photographs.  My kiln has been reloaded with MORE garden art.  Last night I finished cold-working new earrings and bracelets.  I have a feeling I’ll be finishing them between guests as there’s still so much preparation left to do!

You can find maps at Mt Adams Chamber of Commerce or download a pdf from our website, http://gorgeartists.org  onto your iPad or similar device.

If you’re in ~ or will be in ~ the Pacific Northwest, I’m happy to send you directions, just send me a message.

Until then, I’ll be scouring out my studio & unpacking all my work to show you!

Women’s Business Holiday Showcase

The Soroptimist’s Pre-Holiday Artisan Shopping Extravaganza held at the Hood River Inn, in Hood River Oregon is this Saturday!  For more information scroll down to the post before last, or look at my Upcoming Shows and Events page.

If you prefer Sunday shopping, you’re in luck!  I’ll have a table at the Women’s Business Holiday Showcase this Sunday!  Same location from 9am until 5pm, Best Western Hood River Inn.  Exit 64 off Interstate 84 in Hood River.  Turn north toward the Columbia River, then right on Marina Way.   1108 East Marina Way, Hood River, OR 97031.  We’re in the stand alone building between the Inn and McDonald’s.

Fresh new bracelets just pulled from the kiln last night will be ready for you.  Hundreds of images for you to choose from in the form of greeting cards, metal prints and canvas wraps.  Ornaments and small delightful gift-giving glass-work.  Earrings, adornment for your hair, vases, candleholders, and as much as I can possibly fit on an 8′ table!

Not in the gorge?   You can always find my work on-line at Steider Studios shop on Zibbet.  Just for you, my friends, complimentary holiday shipping!  Use this code at checkout:    FREESHIP2013

You’ve seen an image or item that I’ve made but don’t see what you want in my shop?  I can email you a photo of what I have on hand, or make a new one just for you.

Buying quality handmade original art from someone you know is a unique gift from your heart that will be cherished forever.

Last Class of the Season – Kiln-formed Glass

Come play with glass every Wednesday night in October from 6 to 9 pm at The Dalles Art Center, while learning fundamentals of Kiln-formed (also called fused) glass.  I’ll bring a ton of glass and tools, introducing you to different techniques to achieve different effects in glass.  Many former students have gone on to set up their own glass studio after this class!  Each week we explore a new technique using a different process temperature giving you a set of samples to keep or give as gifts.

No experience is necessary. Beginners will make a series of sample tiles, holiday ornaments and jewelry learning the differences between full (flat) and tack (textured) fused tiles. Students will work with dichroic glass, inclusions, textured glass and more.

A small, functional bowl, vase or plate will be developed for a final project.

Learn the basics of glass cutting, placement and firing while receiving extensive information on the technical aspects of kilnwork, safety and studio set-up.

The returning student can participate in weekly assignments or develop their own course of study based on level of experience and pre-planning with the instructor.

Students should bring safety glasses, wear closed-toed shoes for safety, and bring any glass working tools they may have along with a sketch pad or note pad and pencil and pen.

Call The Dalles Art Center at 541-296-4507 to register. Space is limited to 12 students.

Latest Project with Metal Artist Tom Herrera

I love working with metal artist Tom Herrera of  Prairie Star Designs because his projects are always interesting and creative.  You can read about Tom’s process in creating this trellis and gate on his blog at Prairie Star Designs.  You’ll want to scroll down to May 6th, “Sanoe’s Trellis and Gate” to read about Tom’s process in this project, but you’ll enjoy his other posts too.

My process began with meeting Linda, Tom’s client and sorting out her ideas and color schemes.  She came to my studio sale and chose colors for sunsets and bodies of water as well as several reds for hearts.  She brought a photo of a sunset and we chose watery colors from my color bars and samples in my studio.

I always start with samples, for a client to choose from, so tried several combinations of yellow for my sunset background…and several shades of watery blues for the panels depicting water.

Three layers of sheet glass, topped with heavy doses of Bullseye’s powder colors in striations matching the sunset photo and my water sample that Linda had seen in my studio.   I drew lines through the watery panels to show movement.

The glass is dammed in my Paragon kiln with fiber paper between the samples to keep them separated.

In addition to sunset and water, Linda wanted to incorporate hearts into her fence.  After she chose which red she liked best from my samples, I stacked and fired my three layer combination.  It was simpler for us to frame squares of glass with heart shaped cut outs in metal, rather than me cutting perfect hearts and tediously damming them in my kiln; then Tom having to bend metal around them to frame.

After seeing my samples, Linda chose to eliminate sunsets from her trellis gate so the red hearts would have serene watery blues on each side of each heart.

Linda liked the deepest aquamarine and turquoise combinations especially those with lines showing watery motion.  With Linda’s decisions made, I blew up my samples to Tom’s size specifications keeping my designs as accurate as possible.

Because I STILL have not repaired my larger Skutt kiln, I had to fire each set of panels separately which added time on my end of the project.  I was already behind schedule due to custom work prior to this project and too many spring shows.

We were all happy with the watery aqua panels, especially how they glow under sunlight.

The red absolutely shimmers!  I was annoyed that I had a couple specks of kiln brick dust but it landed where metal would cover it and was so small that when held up to the sun we couldn’t see it, so decided to not shoot for perfection.

The darker turquoise panels also turned out gorgeous, especially when held up to the sun.

The final arrangement of panels and hearts.

And once again, the finished project.  I love it!!  I want one!  Thanks Tom Herrera for your faith in my work.  It is a pleasure to work with you!

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A New Pop Up Window Gallery

Yesterday was the Grand Opening Celebration of White Salmon Arts Council’s project, ‘Windows’.   I am honored to be the first artist selected for this fabulous project, showcasing my kiln-formed art glass and art photography.  I know it’s difficult to see my work in this photo due to reflections, so you’ll just have to come to White Salmon and see it for yourself!  My work will remain in this space next to Katina’s Cafe and Catering (a great place for breakfast or lunch) through the end of July.

‘Windows’, a project suggested and coordinated by Ann Fleming for the arts council uses a ‘Pop-Up- format, turning a vacant downtown storefront window into a window gallery.  Each artist displays their work for one month.  Juris Sarins built the beautiful display panels that make my work ‘pop’!!  Members of the White Salmon Arts Council hold the ribbon while Ann and I cut it during the opening ceremony.  Thanks to Ellen Nippolt for documenting the ceremony.

Special Gift for a Special Dad

Happy Father’s Day Weekend to all the men making a positive difference in the life of a child!  I’ve been working on a bird bath that was commissioned as a gift for a special Dad this week.  Below are my process photos:

Powdered glass is sifted in a pattern on top of a sheet glass substrate, then lines are drawn through the powder.  Disc is fired in a glass kiln for about 16 hours.

Second layer of glass powder is added to client’s bird bath, mimicking the first layer, but overlapping colors will be richer.  Lines are drawn alternating with the under-layer design.  Additional red accent dots are added to balance how bright the central red ring turned out.  Firing schedule includes a slow ramp up, long bubble squeeze and careful annealing.

Out of the kiln, a bit of cold-working (grinding the edge to eliminate any rough spots and to form a perfect circle) then it will be almost ready to shape into a bird bath form.

I auditioned it in my sunlit garden to make sure the iridescent sparkle in the glass showed through these colors.  Next I add some lines of gold duplicating those drawn through the powder, then it’s ready for it’s final firing.

To shape the disc into a functional bird bath, I ramp the heat up slowly overnight so I can watch it and control the process the following morning at my leisure.  Center of glass slowly ‘drops’ or sags through the open center of a ceramic ring.  At 1200º it took about 35 minutes – may have taken less time if I weren’t introducing cool air every 3 minutes as I peeked to watch progress.

When I like the shape, I quickly ramp down to the anneal segment, then wait until the glass is at room temperature before removing it from my kiln.  A potter friend made this ceramic ring for me in a larger size than commercially available.

Next up some pendant lighting and a cool outdoor fence/gate project!!

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More Good News – Please Vote!

More good news!  My bowl was selected to be featured in the ‘On Fire for Handmade’ Great Finds (Yummy Yellows) Page! I hope you’ll click the link & vote for my sunny…or should I say YUMMY yellow bowl.  http://onfireforhandmade.com/yummy-yellow-great-finds/

The Poll is at the bottom of the page. 1 vote per computer per IP only is allowed. Voting will close on Friday Morning June 7th.  Please vote for my bowl and ask your friends to vote too!

1st place receives a free Listing in the ‘On Fire Gift Guide’ and a free ad spot in the ‘On Fire’ site.

From my ‘Celestial Series’, iridescent sunny yellow with tangerine rings and 22k gold embellishment.  Oh, and it’s available from my Zibbet shop!

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Update!  Thanks to your votes, I won the feature!  My Zibbet shop will be featured here, at On Fire for Handmade through the end of June.  Thank you!!