Trouble at the Knoll

Ok, so back in the day, we used to make our own wine.  Paul is a chemical engineer, and figured he could be a wine connoisseur and vintner also.  He created his own label for his artisan wines that continued for several years until we fell in love with glass and it became the alpha-hobby.  During that time, he coined the name "Shepherd's Knoll" for his labels, and that's what I like to use in reference to our home, our castle.  Moving right along...

I was intending to blog about our show and to wish everyone a Happy Mother's Day, but our plans were derailed.  Upon arriving home last night after a show and putting in 7 hours at the office, we found our home had been burglarized.  We were initially concerned we may have interrupted the crime in progress, as the television was off the wall but still connected to the stereo, so we went outside cautiously to dial 911.  As many of you are aware, this is a crime that strikes the very core, the foundation of our security, as it was abundantly clear that nowhere we lay our heads was sacred.  Our possessions ransacked, cats escaped (they came back in the house, but they're indoor kitties and shouldn't be exposed to the elements like that) and previous weekend's show revenue gone, we are still reeling but settling in with the lessons learned.  The Riverside Police responded quickly, although the first two attempts to dial 9-1-1 were met with BUSY signals, forcing Paul to dial the non-emergency line used to report noise issues from raucous parties.  It was a cold night waiting outside while the police searched the residence and property to secure the area so we could come inside, but we were eventually left to clean it up and try to get some sleep, hard as it was.  Fingerprint residue seems to come off alright with Lysol wipes :)

The items can be replaced, money can be earned to replace the cash lost (yes, we should have deposited it, but we were going to do that today!), and we are very thankful that the most important "things" in our life cannot be stolen or ransacked.  Our safety is most important in this type of situation, and we are both fine, as well as the kitties.  The Riverside PD recommended we remove our show schedule from our website, however, and we have.  We ask that you contact us for specific show dates, as we won't want to post it anymore.  Harsh lessons I know, but ones that we all learn eventually, one way or another.  We appreciate the kind sentiments from our friends who have sent messages our way during this turmoil, and will now proceed to apply the lessons learned for better preparedness.  Onward and upward, and no looking back at what we could have done differently.  Happy Saturday folks, and don't forget to celebrate your Mothers this weekend :)

Friday: Farmer's Market!

Ok so it's a little past Friday, but we have a big show this weekend, so it was bound to happen ;)

We normally attend the Riverside Certified Farmer's Market (on Arlington x Madison) every other Friday, but we threw in one more for those customers wanting something special of ours to give for Mother's Day.  Can't say what we're giving our moms for Mother's Day (because they might read it here), but it's bound to be good.  It's difficult to keep trying to top it each year though.  Moving right along...

The weather was lovely, albeit a bit gusty, and we had a great day.  We did, however, become famished as it approached the noon hour, and Paul could not contain himself any longer; Here's a photo of him munching on the end of a Jalapeno Cheese loaf (PRICELESS!):

Man is this flame HOT! This photo is a new one of me working on a large custom order. It’s good to push the limits of what we are able to create, and for that reason I am happy to make this request a reality. It just takes so much time, my shoulders were aching halfway through. You know that point where you are knee-deep into something and start second-guessing whether you should have embarked on that road at all? This is where I was, though in the photo I am nearing the finish line on this particular cane. Why can’t there be a snooze button on everyday tasks? Just putting them off without a button isn’t as satisfying ;)

Also, I’d like a Ctrl-Z function for regular life. That would be great. Thanks :P

Art for the Animals Auction Started Today!

The auction is live, so go check it out!  I saw a number of intriguing, tasteful, funny, colorful, serious, etc. pieces of art up for grabs, so if you want to buy (online silent auction!) a gift for someone that will help feed and support abandoned animals, this is the place to go.  View the Auction Page

We have a purple seahorse and a minty green turtle in the auction, and right now the bidding is just at $5 each!  Hurry though, the animals are waiting ;)

New Member of the Fire Divas

Just a quick update: I've joined the Fire Divas - a group of talented artisans and artists blazing their way through the interwebs ;).  It's a very interesting group, so please take a moment to visit the blog and see what's new with the ladies by clicking the banner below.  More to come, as well as some new glass pieces and a possible spin-off blog of mine to get some of the nature stuff its own spotlight... Stay tuned!

http://firedivas.blogspot.com/

Art for the Animals : Riverside Animal Shelter's Art Fundraiser

The timing may be different than their usual pre-Christmas affair, but the cause is the same:  Art for the Animals is the yearly Riverside Animal Shelter's premier (in my opinion) fundraising event.  It involves artists across various mediums donating their works of art for an online auction and competition.  I'm not interested in the competition, since I think I'm the only glassworker that donates, and I don't think it translates into competition with the very talented painters who put their hearts and souls onto canvas.  We do it for the cats and dogs (and other assorted adoptable animals) at our local shelters.  100% Of the funds raised from selling ours and others' art gets put towards creating a better environment for these temporarily-between-homes animals.  See flyer and website Here.

So in line with that, what should we donate?  I have some choice pieces available to bring in under the wire on Monday, but I was hoping to make something different, new, fresh -- for the kitties.

Our own two kitties were once from the Riverside shelter, and are now in the lap of kitty-luxury.  Well, at least they get plenty of food, tons of lovin, fake mice that squeak, rattley plastic balls to play with, and a nice cat-condo-like piece of carpeted furniture from which they may gaze out upon the hummingbird feeder and backyard.  Yep -- this is the life...

Back to the studio now, but check out their website if you want to visit the online auction once things get underway.  It's a great way to add a new piece of fun art to your decor while simultaneously helping those animals in need.  How can you say no to a face like that?

Spring? Almost!

Spring is here! Or at least it will be this weekend, which is as good as here for me. :)
I need to design some new Easter glass pieces, as right now I have mostly just crosses and bunnies. Don't get me wrong, our crosses are awesome, but the bunnies can probably use some more work. I need to make white ones, those might do well. Also, Easter eggs, though that kinda throws me off since I can't make the Jesus-Easter-egg connection in my head. Oh well, maybe just crosses and bunnies again this year! Let Jesus sort the eggs out... you know he'll be fair with them.

With Spring comes the need to weed-whack. Yes I have a garden, and yes I have a ton of weeds. Anyone want to volunteer? I think I'm holding out on the gardening until Paul finds a great job, that way I can pay someone to clean up the yard and trim all the trees, instead of us having to get out the unwieldy 32 ft. ladder and the jimmy-rigged pole-saw-on-a-longer-pole--saw-with-stabilizing-super-strut-arm... That thing's just plain dangerous! Yet effective.
Today's blog's photo? My new favorite wicked flower pendant. It combines my tried-and-true (yes, I'm enjoying hyphens today) design of wicked vines with a new bi-color flower. Do you like it? Ok, I'll throw in my newest turtle too, a periwinkle sea turtle with tattooed fins :)


Thanks for coming back! Leave a comment sometime to let me know who's actually reading this stuff, ok?