ALL THINGS SUSHI - RESULTS!

WOW!

That's about all I can say about how much fun we had at the sushi roll tasting and sushi platter making day last Saturday! Sarah Norek makes wonderful sushi rolls, which you can investigate further in the next blog.

Above, we all gathered around the dining room table and got to visit while enjoying the sushi rolls. Sarah (sushi chef) is standing in the center back of the photo.

It was a great time - and we'll do it again, especially for all of you who said you wished you could be here! For now, though, just enjoy the photos...

(Left) Deb contemplates her winged, fire-breathing dragon platter and sauce dishes. Don't tell everyone that Phil cut out the dragon on the ring saw for her, though! :-)

A little bit of mixing, matching and cutting out pieces with the mosaic wheel cutters, and soon the dragon had legs and feet!

A bit of stringers and noodles... and the border was applied!

Deb's finished project: 7"x10" platter; two 3"x3" dipping sauce plates.

Transparent light blue; green dragon with a red wing and red-yellow "flames" shooting from his nostrils! Red-yellow frit "scales" on his body. Borders on the 3" square plates tie in with the trim on the ends of the platter.

Sarah (left) and Mary diligently working on their projects.

Unfortunately, I remembered too late to get everyone's photos! Maybe they will come back again next time and I'll be sure to do that! There was one photo I couldn't use because Michelle told me if she looked silly, I didn't have permission. So, since she wasn't smiling...

Sarah's Set: Abstract design on turquoise with vitrigraph, dots and scrap glass. 7"x10" platter; two 3"x3" dipping sauce plates.

Probably won't be too long before these plates are filled with sushi rolls and wasabi! Remember to check out the next blog to see the photos of the sushi rolls!

Mary's Set: Cherry Blossoms, constructed on transparent cherry red with vitrigraph and custom-color frit (made at Martin's Glass House) flowers. Very clever use of the frit!

Results of Mary's project... 8"x8" platter; two 3"x3" dipping sauce plates. Curiously, the design in the dishes was also in the top that Mary wore that day!

The Megan and John Team (back right side of table in photo at the top) designed this abstract design set: two 6" square plates on transparent light blue with various dots, frit, vitrigraph and scrap glass, with accents in the 3"x3" square dipping sauce plates pickingup the colors in the serving plates.

FUN!

Jill's Set: 7"x10" platter and 3"x3" dipping sauce dishes, white with multi-color stringers and noodles.

In the top photo, Jill's face can't be seen. Clockwise, I think Deb (or Vicki?) was sitting next to John, then Jill was at the middle of the right side of the table between Deb (or Vicki?) and Michelle (in brown top, front right of photo).

Michelle loved everything in the studio, but fell head over heels in love with the blue in this glass, so she opted for the "swirl" design instead of making some other design. But - that's OK! It looks great!

Then she spent the rest of the afternoon sorting out the dots into separate jars by color! Boy... I am so tempted to put that photo of her here so you can see why she probably did that... but, I gave my word...

Patty's Set: 6"x6" and 3"x3" sushi and dipping sauce plates in transparent yellow with a celebration of assorted vitrigraph colors and dots.

Patty (in photo at the top, wearing a black top) is sitting at the left front side of the table next to Guyla (who is wearing the turquoise top).

Guyla's Set: 6"x6" sushi plate, black with Amazon green vitrigraph and dots in red and white; 3"x3" dipping sauce plate in Amazon green with black vitrigraph and dots in red and white. Fun!

By the way - I forgot to mention that I hope that I have everyone's plates photographed in their "upright" positions! Just goes to show you that they look good from any angle!

Vicki's Set: Paw prints everywhere, with inclusions of copper "leaves"! We ran out of light blue transparent dots, so Vicki used bits of stringer for the "toes" - but they came out looking like dots. Very cool!

All in all, I think the sushi rolls must have been pretty inspiring, judging from the creations these students made. We definitely need to do it again!

GRAPEFRUIT - MARCH FRUIT OF THE MONTH

Just a reminder - it is not too late to start taking part in the Fruit of the Month workshops!
So far, we've made Kiwi (January), Papaya (February), Grapefruit (March)... and coming up in April: BLUEBERRIES!

The dish samples (above, left) are Cat's. There is a 9" round bowl at the top right, and a 5" round bowl in the wrought iron standing spoon rest. These were all done on a clear base, using glass frit for the pulp/fruit, glass "dots" for seeds, and glass stringers for membranes that section the fruit. Does anyone know what the white part is called?

The four small 3" square dishes in front were samples made to see what color combinations of glass frit might work to make the dishes look like grapefruit. They are edged with glass noodles.

STUDENT ART PIECES!

Students used a combination of glass frit, stringers and glass chips cut with mosaic nippers to create their dishes.

Front Row: Laura (left), Sara (right)
Back Row: Dorothy (left), Patty (right)

We've all been having a great time - and learning to overcome the challenges that come with trying to make glass look like fruit!

We've also been sampling some interesting recipes that call for the fruits we've made in glass. Last month we all sampled Kiwi Papaya Salsa - YUMMY! This month we tried Grapefruit Apple Crisp ... Well, what can I say about it? Maybe not the best use for grapefruit, but it was certainly an "interesting" recipe that probably should only be tried for the fun of it.

I am definitely looking forward to Blueberries next month. I like them just plain, but if someone has a good - or interesting - recipe for using them, we'll give it a try! Just email your recipe to me at dts@martinsglasshouse.com. If we use your recipe, we'll give you some kind of prize - or at least recognition for your contribution!

Hoping to see you at the next Fruit of the Month workshop! Be thinking of a fruit that YOU would like to make, and bring your ideas!

c@

WE HAVE A WINNER!

CONGRATULATIONS - to Makenzie Marshall who won the drawing from the Martin's Glass House booth at the Bridal Expo in Laramie on February 22!

Makenzie selected the black "Fireworks" set which included an 11" cheese ball/cracker platter and four 6" serving plates.

It was Makenzie's "lucky" day at the Bridal Expo - she also won the grand prize... a choice of one of two cruises for their honeymoon!

MARCH CALENDAR

Here is the latest version of the March 2009 calendar for Martin's Glass House!

Due to the number of closures this month, I have tried to incorporate more open studio times for you with both Easter and Mother's Day fast approaching.

Just click on the calendar to make it larger and to print it. Descriptions of all workshops are below.

Looking foward to seeing you soon! c@

MARTIN’S GLASS HOUSE – MARCH 2009 CALENDAR DESCRIPTIONS

Please phone or email AT LEAST ONE DAY IN ADVANCE to reserve a place for open studio time and workshops!

Phone: Cat Martin, Martin’s Glass House 307-399-6441
Email: dts@martinsglasshouse.com


HAVING A PARTY OR CELEBRATION? Bring your group to our studio – collaborate as a team, or each person can make a project of their own! A great idea to make a gift or gift set – from the whole group! Excellent idea for wedding gifts! Special pricing may be available for groups. Please call or email to make arrangements.

REMINDER: For your personal safety, please remember to wear long pants and hard-sole closed shoes to all open studio times and workshops.

OPEN STUDIO (Pre-requisite – Fusing Basics)
Please check calendar for dates and times.

Make a project of your choice. Come with your ideas and friends to enjoy a few hours of creating beautiful handmade fused glass items. FEE: $10 studio fee covers use of all tools, equipment and supplies; extra fee for all glass materials and accessories for projects, with cost determined by the size of your project and types of glass used.

FUSING BASICS
Saturday, March 7, 1-4 p.m.

Designed for those new to glass fusing, and required before you may participate in open studio sessions. Includes studio safety, types of glass used in fusing and their characteristics, and illustrations of results acquired by firing the glass at different temperatures. You will receive instruction on use of all glass cutting tools (including power tools!) and techniques for cutting strips, squares and circles. You will have time to create one 8”x8” square project that can be turned into your choice of final shape including a plate, bowl, vase or sun catcher. FEE: $45; includes all materials, supplies and kiln firing.

FRUIT OF THE MONTH – RUBY RED/PINK GRAPEFRUIT
Wednesday, March 11, 6-9 p.m.

No experience required. Anyone can take part in this workshop – you don’t need to have made previous fruit projects to be part of the “club.” All techniques needed for this project will be taught.

This month – the Ruby Red (or pink) grapefruit! The techniques you will learn in this class are applicable to many other designs besides fruit; but once you learn them, you can make virtually any fruit at any open studio time – either the 6” project size from the workshop, or even larger for a full-sized salad bowl. FEE: $40 for first time participants, $30 for repeat participants; $15 for each additional 6” piece. Fee for larger pieces based on size and type of glass used.

ALL THINGS SUSHI
Saturday, March 28, 1-4 p.m.

Sushi roll tasting AND make your own sushi set at one great workshop! A REAL DEAL! Come taste sushi rolls made by Sarah Norek, then each individual or couple will have the opportunity to create one of three package deals. This is a very drastically reduced fee based on the expected popularity and size of the group. You won’t want to pass up an opportunity like this!

PLEASE NOTE: A $25 DEPOSIT IS REQUIRED PER PERSON OR PER COUPLE

TO HOLD A SPACE IN THE WORKSHOP FOR YOU.

THE BALANCE OF $20 MAY BE PAID UPON ARRIVAL AT THE SUSHI TASTING.

DEPOSITS MUST BE RECEIVED NO LATER THAN WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25

PICK ONE PACKAGE DEAL – to be made per individual, or couples may work on one set together:

PACKAGE A: Sushi tasting AND… two 3” dipping plates, plus two 6” sushi plates
PACKAGE B: Sushi tasting AND… two 3” dipping plates, plus one 8”x8” sushi platter
PACKAGE C: Sushi tasting AND… two 3” dipping plates, plus one 7”x10” platter

PAPAYAS - A SUCCESS!

Here are the photos you've been waiting to see! We have PAPAYAS!

Clockwise from top: Paula, Cat, Sara, Dorothy, Cat (standing spoon rest).

Another successful Fruit of the Month workshop - and this is what YOU missed!

Coming in March: RUBY RED GRAPEFRUIT!

This one is going to be challenging to get the color just right, but you might be surprised what we'll create!

Sure hope you will be there to join us! Check the March calendar that will be sent out shortly!
c@

Glassware, Giftware, Table Favors and Accessories

YES!

We custom craft glassware gifts for your wedding or other special event!

If you have specific color requirements or designs in mind, we can accommodate your needs.

Take a look at some of these photos (just click on them to make them larger) for ideas.

If you have any questions, just give us a call!

JEWELRY FROM THE LARAMIE BRIDAL EXPO

Here are photos of some of the jewelry that was modeled at the Laramie Bridal Expo on Sunday, February 22, 2009. The pieces looked simply amazing with the gowns! If you're interested in having custom pieces made for weddings or other special occasions, just give us a call! These pieces can be made in other colors and sizes for adults or children. We also make bolos and belt buckles for the guys.

Click on the images to make them larger!




This image illustrates the different look of dichroic glass when worn with dark and light colors.
















Just a few samples of various jewelry styles in dichroic glass.
















Pendants don't need to be beaded - they also look elegant just on a neck ring, chain or cord. These images show how to wear pendants with a neck ring.
















These pieces looked great with bride's maid dresses, but would also be suitable for any guest at the wedding, or for the mothers of the bride and groom.
















Some jewels for the Flower Girl! These can be made larger for the bride's maids - and bride's maids sets can be made smaller for Flower Girls.
















Beautiful with a gown, or with a suit!

Earrings shown here are clip-on style. We can convert any earring to clip-on or for pierced ears.
















A set for the bride in white... or with any gown!











































































A set for the bride in beige...

Another good example of the different look of dichroic glass when on white and black.

Keep this thought in your mind when you look at more of the images. When the light hits the dichroic glass, you may see a rainbow of colors.