Patience…

10.20.2026 - My hand is up, yup that’s me…

Ever heard about time moving so slowly, it’s like watching paint dry?

In a world where we can send digital images around the world in a second - everything screeches to a halt when I see my “work” is not dry…

yet…

I’ve been told to swaddle it in plastic to further slow the drying process - to allow it to dry evenly - which would help prevent warping, the dreaded S crack, or other things that signal the sad end of a piece.

So I’m working on slowing my process… I have to practically sit on my hands.

I’ve also heard that clay “remembers”. If initially shaped it, then nudged it as it’s drying to aid in righting the shape - it will punish you when fired and return to that un-nudged state. Whatttt???

Part two is knowing when to give up.

If I made a beautiful piece, and during the drying process has warped… I then need to realize that it won’t get better. Further time spent glazing it, extra energy firing it - will not fix that - and in the end it will still be a warped piece - a reminder I’m not a patient person.

So, I’ve also been practicing “letting it go”, I can crumble up beautiful yet flawed piece that hasn’t gone through a firing yet - rehydrate the clay and use it again - and try to play by the rules - a forgiving second chance, to see if I’ve learned anything.

I just love it…

Smiles,

Jill

Mid Century…

10.19.2026 - My latest class on the wheel is supposed to teach me how to build tall slender things…

Since I tilt towards functional pieces, the idea of a “tall slender something” in a home with a cat seems a bit unrealistic.

So I took the idea and made it short - we learned to make a gallery (a shelf inside the rim for a lid to rest upon), and a lid, and to countersink the lid… all in all, the elements are here - and it’s cute.

Then I used a gorgeous glaze, Peppered Plum, from one of my small dishes….

While I like the cooler tones on the plate - the clay body itself was a stoneware, below it’s on a white clay.

Smiles -

Jill

One, Two, Three…

10.17.2026 - As with anything new, we dip a toe in slowly… if a slab of clay rolled out and embellished with one texture is good, will two be better, or possibly three?

How will they relate? Proportions, visual weight, relevance, perhaps a story*?

Is there a standard size vase that’s most popular? Height? Will the vase’s texture and glaze be “quiet” or will it compete with its eventual contents?

I like functional art, and whatever it is that serves a purpose can be beautiful as well - no?

*I know I mentioned “story” - how can a vase tell a story?

Truth be told, the newest of the three is the middle one. I have found that the bold texture rollers I’ve purchased are strong enough to stand on their own, but don’t tend to play well with others.

Finding three that get along isn’t easy - and I had to come in and create horizontal bands to give “visual relief” between the elements.

I have the ground of pebbles, the flight of cranes, and a lacy sky (my favorite)❤️

…about that tiled table

10.10.2026

Years ago on FB Marketplace, I found someone with a storage unit full of furniture from a hotel restoration. This delightful heavy iron table was $35, and it had a travertine top which easily popped out. We cut a piece of plywood the same diameter …that was the first step.

I delighted in making many, many test tiles of all sizes - and settled on these small half dollar sized ones.

I was certainly feeling compelled to try all the different textures on the half-dollar sized coins of clay - then using all my favorite glazes on each them… I know, it pop seemed a bit OCD, but I was thrilled.

On my first trip to the pottery studio - I fell in love with the test tile wall - and in retrospect - I think this tabletop was my own version of that!

Smiles - Jill

Sweetness…

A gift for my son’s mother in law, sweet Deborah, this petite daisy vase allows a small spray of “end of season” color in tiny corners of their home.

It’s slab rolled and hand formed from Laguna B mix, textured with tiny daisies, glazed - then wiped back with Mayco Shipwreck. I added tiny dots of gold glaze accents at the centers of the flowers with a glaze made permanent at 350° in my home oven.

I’m enjoying getting to know the medium and trying not to have the house tilt too much because there is now quite a bit of pottery here!!

As always, smiles - Jill

*credit for the photograph goes to Deborah!

Tilt shift

A few years ago I took a pottery class…

…and that’s all she said. No, not really, as I always have more to say. I didn’t want to have the responsibility of the glass kiln, or oxygen/propane torch, but missed the creative outlet…

Three classes later, and a small home studio where I can create at my own pace - then transport glazed items to be fired in a community kiln - and I am a happy camper!

The ceramics community here in Auburn AL is wonderful, visiting with others to share the latest discoveries and admire what’s fresh from the kilns. We are not meant to be solitary creatives!

As with glass, I am finding I have tendencies that border on compulsive - but, you know what? That’s okay. I love texture and the visual simplicity of a striking form. So far I’m not wild about chaos of colors.

My first project is what my cup sits upon in the photo… and if you’d like, I’ll tell you more about that in my next post! Smiles, Jill

Popping in…

I know it has been way too long, and a lot has happened.

First, many of you have purchased Lauscha rods of glass from my father, Frank - of Glassdaddy.com - sadly - he passed away in January of 2025, and my mother - March of 2026. My takeaway for both is live life to its fullest, as tomorrow is not promised.

Losing family has been so hard - and I don’t know why guilt has the right to creep in with grief. I feel I did everything possible to help make their lives and subsequent declines as non-traumatic as possible.

They lived full lives, with much travel, tennis, family, a variety of friends, belly laughs, and good food!!

For those of you who knew my father through glass - Dad was as kind & gracious at the end as he had always been, I miss him so.

I know he enjoyed getting to know so many of you. He had retired from his career as a chemical engineer - he sought to have some “string of connection” to my world. He had seen the lampwork beads I made with the beautiful Lauscha glass. He said he wanted to be able to consistently provide this glass product to you when it was not always readily available.

On a closing note…

…he imported the prettiest transparent purple glass from Lauscha, then asks me “what should I call it?” I said… “Glassdaddy Purple, of course”. He liked that, and loved hearing that a beadmaker had called a competing supply house to ask for “Glassdaddy Purple”.

He loved the connection of beautiful glass, and a quality product, but most importantly he loved getting to know YOU. ❤️

9.18.2021 - Becoming the Chain.....

While I’ve seemingly stalled out, …things are not always what they seem….

Last year I purchased a beautiful silver pendant from Lark in Smithville, TX - it’s so stunning, shaped like the blossom of a yucca plant, it is hinged and opens as if blooming. I want to wear it all the time - but I also want to wear my work… so - the larger barrel shaped beads I had been making have now been scaled back to fit through the tiny bail on the pendant. My beads have become the chain… many of you know that I like to work small - and inevitably as I come up with new ideas I work to refine them into more delicate and, yes, much much smaller finished beads. (3/16”dia.)

I’ve been making these for a few months now - in lengths ranging from 16” to a decadent opera length of 38” - from every imaginable opaque and silver glass. The loop that the lobster claps hooks onto is also small - so that the pendant can be switched out.
I have quite a nice inventory and will be bringing the ‘chain’ out each week. Email me if you would like a certain length or color. Smiles, Jill

1.1.2023 - I’m reminded that "I'D Been Reminded..."

So.. this (below) was written two years ago. I’m starting by updating here - as my glass and torches are still packed. but seeing this draft blog entry reminded me that something has been missing in my life, and I’m sure it’s my connection to glass and you.

_____ so this was back in 2021….
This past year has been odd, I can see you nodding in agreement… “new norms” is what we have now.
I can only tell you that while the world has been in various states of flux, I continue to find refuge in glass & torch time. It’s my ‘go to’ place for reflection/stability. Glass isn’t going to change - but its transformation is and always has been immensely joyful.

Usually every six months (or so) I clean all the glass rods from my work surface, this entails full length 13” rods and what we call shorts. It’s easy to see which are my favorites and this time was no different! I gathered them up and ran them through the dishwasher, then they were dried, sorted & bundled. It was apparent as I dug down on my worksurface - like an archaeological dig, that I had used many transparent colors - but only, of late.. opaques. To me, the use of opaque glass signifies a time when the light changes, and more serious seasons are looming.

As I carried the tub of glass bundles to the torch, the sunlight hit just right, quietly nudging me as if to remind me that THIS is why I love transparent glass. Really. Why should beads have to be any more complicated than simply showcasing the beauty of this glass?

Through different shapes, textures, etching and thicknesses the color just jumps out with transparent glass. smiles - Jill

07.22.2020 - Sweet Boy

I just felt I should start this out with something gorgeous…. as we all need some relief. This year has been odd and the uncertainty of what is the new way things are done has made me weary…. Since my business is virtual - my time spent working from home is a known entity and I am never at a loss for things to do. BUT
SO…

Yesterday, the chapter of Charlie (my golden) closed. His jaw cancer had grown to where he was unable to rest comfortably… I knew it was time, and before I changed my mind - which would’ve been selfish - I made the appt and saw the vet. We all know that this kind of things is among the hardest thing to do - and even though I’ve done it many times before - spent yesterday with a little dark cloud over me. Time will smooth the edges, but I think I will always be looking for him to be just around the corner. Bottom line is, nine years is simply just not long enough.

I have yet to feel like myself behind the torch. Lucky for all of you - I have so many beads that my house tilts, jk… So - I will take baby steps to bring them to the forefront - and make good on shipments due to go out. Apologies, as it seems it’s just been hard to get from point A to point B - but I will get through this as well.

Maybe next week we can get things back on track! Hopeful, Jill

6.03.2020 - I thought I'd do something different.

Glass must have magical healing powers. I spent the week at the torch just zoning out (aka escaping it all)… making my favorite things - earring beads… and guess what? I didn’t make (well - not TOO MANY) into earrings… I have tonight’s update page laden with earring pairs. Three matching pair for $40. Usually a pair of earrings are $50.. so that’s quite a deal. Good for me (to get to make them), good for you too! Just to give you an idea.

But - please try to use the PayPal buttons if you can… or I will be forced to do MTO!

5.20.2020 - SO… My Cap Has An Instruction Tag

Who doesn’t own a Life is Good hat? You know, they have cotton ball caps with goofy things on them and little tiny instruction tags inside. “Do what you like, LIKE what you do”. What better advice to give?

I have said in the past how gratifying it is to have auch an incredibly positive venue in which to showcase my work, and that it’s so positive simply because people don’t come here and leave hate mail… if they don’t like it, they leave. If they like it, and something speaks to them - they buy. It’s a fine line being able to make something that speaks to someone else. I know me best - and it’s easy to make what I like, whereas it’s incredibly difficult to take direction from someone who has an ‘idea’ in their head - and if you have to create based upon an idea that isn’t yours - I, most often, fail.

So, musing the other day about what the week might hold, my very task/results oriented friend asks “Well, what sells?” I rattle off a few things - and she proclaims “make that”. BUT… that may have been how I was feeling then - it’s not in the cards right now. She continues, with this, which makes sense - but - from an artist’s point of view… doesn’t. “If you make what you like, it’s a hobby - if you make what sells it’s a business” - ouch. I think the goal is to make what I like and hope that my customers like it as well - and are willing to evolve with me - or at least wait the creative process out. - knowing I’ll be onto something they might like soon.

If you see today’s update page - you’ll notice that I’ve been working on those spree shaped beads with fine ivory scrollwork. I’ve been making some version of this for almost 20 years. Yet, if you compare today’s with those from then - the technique has been refined - the edges are crisper - and the precision is better… so each torch session - even while making the same style bead - is an exercise in other things. This week it was alternate color ways - to convey a different feeling entirely. The busy set above is more delicate, while this set, below, is bolder and more of the color of the glass is dominant.

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It’s also comforting to do repetitive things - hands active, mind thinking… (see way below)**.

Now, do consider that women wear a lot of black… I wear a lot of solids… what a lovely backdrop it would be to a necklace such as this! Smiles, and solids - Jill

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I’ve been seeing a LOT of cardinals on my deck - which is opposite from where I have morning coffee. I’ve never seen so many before - and not just in the mornings. They’re so delightfully brilliant and I just love the red. I was making birds - and started thinking about how distinctive they are with their tuft on top of their head… nice.

Cardinal Birds

A cardinal is a representative of a loved one who has passed. When you see one, it means they are visiting you. They usually show up when you most need them or miss them. They also make an appearance during times of celebration as well as despair to let you know they will always be with you.