unblinkingeye designs

Simply Embellish

unblinkingeye designs — Wed, 07 May 2008 15:16:00 +0000

My patchwork bowl was one of those selected by Simply Embellish as a favorite fused glass pick from Etsy. I made this bowl last fall and am hoping it sells this weekend at a benefit show I'm participating in!

Red Stripe Overboard!

unblinkingeye designs — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 01:09:00 +0000

I like to slump bottles in my kiln for use as serving trays, spoon rests, and hanging objet d'art. They don't always turn out as expected. In fact, I've ruined a few perfectly beautiful bottles this way.

Recently, I thought my kiln's goose was cooked for good when I opened the lid and saw this lovely little mess.

Lessons learned?

1. Kiln-wash the bastard kiln once in a while.

2. If a bottle seems like it wants to roll, it probably will right after you close the lid of your kiln (even if you think you have it stabilized with a piece of kiln shelf paper).

3. The enameled labels on Red Stripe bottles don't burn off when fired.

Huzzah!

Upcoming Events

unblinkingeye designs — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 14:28:00 +0000

Yaaaaaaaaaaawwwwwwnnnn..... sstttttttttrrrrrrrretch.

*Rubs sleep-filled eyes*

G'mornin ya'll. It's been a relaxing (ha!) few weeks avoiding glass for me. But now it's on bitches!

Come see me and my wares at these upcoming events:

Handmaiden MPLS Makeout Show
Sunday, February 10, 2008
10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
VFW on Lyndale at Lake

Craftstravaganza
Saturday, April 26, 2008
9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Minnesota State Fairgrounds, Fine Arts Building

Between now and then I'll be in my top-secret lab fabricating all-new stained glass panels. Shhh!

No Coast : End Scene

unblinkingeye designs — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 18:24:00 +0000

The big event is over... whew!

Thank you to everyone who stopped by to shop or say hi. This year's event allowed for a bit more breathing room as shoppers were pretty evenly spread out over two days. I actually had a chance to do some shopping myself.

I'd like to give a shout out to some of the vendors I patronized this past weekend:

My absolute favorite is Phineas P Pooterbutt Productions. I adore his polymer clay (yes, polymer clay) figures! Check 'em out.

When Life Gives You Lemons for $35

unblinkingeye designs — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 01:32:00 +0000

You loyal readers might not know what a $35 sheet of fusible glass looks like. And, I'm really quite certain you don't know what my face looks like when I break a $35 piece of glass... unintentionally.

Let's just say that when it happened most recently, I left that shattered piece of glass sitting—for over a month—in its brown wrapped exterior. I dared not look at the remains.

Eventually the sharp pointy shards jutting out of the wrapping forced me to do something with the mess.

Apparently this particular $35 sheet of black fusible glass wanted to be a tiger. The stripes on this here pasta bowl are exactly as they were out of the "ruined" package. I also made 2 tiger-striped candle bridges.

Here's hoping someone shopping at No Coast likes pink and/or 1980s-retro styled things that may or may not resemble spandex leggings worn by David Lee Roth circa 1985. It can be yours for only $65.

Alternate title for this post: Eye of the Tiger

No Coast Sneak Preview

unblinkingeye designs — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 20:30:00 +0000

Who has time to blog when No Coast is just around the corner?

I've been firing the kiln like a crazy lady with colorful results. This pasta bowl will spice up any table -- no matter how drab the table cloth!

There's a lot more where this came from...

Handmaiden Craftsmas Spectacular

unblinkingeye designs — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 14:13:00 +0000

The stress of making enough items to sell at one show just isn't enough for me. Join me the week after No Coast Craft-o-Rama at the Handmaiden Show: Craftsmas Spectacular! This is the first, of hopefully many, shows sponsored by i like you.

Sunday, December 9, 2007
10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Uptown VFW
2916 Lyndale Avenue South
Minneapolis

I'll be sharing a booth with the lovely and talented Brooke Hipsher aka Giraffe.

Treasury

unblinkingeye designs — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 14:05:00 +0000

What Etsy seller doesn't want to see one of their items featured on the Etsy.com homepage? Fellow Minnesota crafter, Stoney Mist Designs, was kind enough to include one of my dishes in her latest treasury.

I know some of you have got nothing better to do right now (you ARE reading this blog) so click through all the items on this treasury. With enough traffic it could land on the homepage. The list expires in 2 days—click through soon!

I Pledge Allegiance

unblinkingeye designs — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 13:47:00 +0000

Pledge to buy handmade this holiday season at BuyHandmade.org!

"Buyhandmade.org is a collaboration between Etsy, Craftster, indiepublic, Craft Magazine, Interweave, Burdastyle, The Austin Craft Mafia, Design*Sponge, and The American Craft Council, nine prominent forces in the DIY and handmade worlds. Calling ourselves The Handmade Consortium, we have banded together to encourage people to buy handmade this holiday season.

The ascendancy of chain store culture and global manufacturing has left people all dressing, furnishing, and decorating alike. The connection between producer and consumer has been lost. Buying handmade helps them reconnect. We created the pledge as a call to action for consumers to be conscious of how they spend their money this holiday season. We want people, whenever possible, to support independent creators and shop outside the big boxes."

What a Hoot

unblinkingeye designs — Sun, 14 Oct 2007 16:40:00 +0000

This is what happens when I have a pattern all cut out and opt to use the glass that's at the top of my supply pile. Cute? Yes! Realistic? No!

It can all be yours for a mere $135 (plus shipping). Shop online now!

Fume Trap

unblinkingeye designs — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 18:57:00 +0000

Most stained glass enthusiasts—such as myself—use solder that contains a percentage of lead.

According to the National Safety Council, lead can increase blood pressure and cause fertility problems, nerve disorders, muscle and joint pain, irritability, and memory or concentration problems.

I have a new excuse! I mean, oh, THAT explains a few things...

So here's an item for my Holiday Wish List—a fume trap. How much difference can there be between a $49.95 model and a $149.95 model? Is my health something to scrimp on?

kan-dee kawrn

unblinkingeye designs — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 15:12:00 +0000

Candy corn is addictive (if, like me, you enjoy eating pure sugar... assisting your teeth in rotting out of your head).

It's also a fun inspiration for making arts and crafts. There's just something wonderful about those bright white, orange, and yellow layers!

What is your favorite sweet?

Stalking Snarkolepsy

unblinkingeye designs — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 12:38:00 +0000

If you're still doing your Interweb stalking the old fashioned way, you are seriously missing out. I simply sit back, relax and let Google Alerts do all the hard work for me.

For example, this morning I learned—via my alert for unblinking-eye.com—that I was (or at least my stained glass robots were) being blogged about way back in April... see the comments under that post.

Snarkolepsy has given me a great idea for pushing my robot stained glass panels to the next level—blinking LEDs.

Google Alerts, you shouldn't be withholding this type of information from me for so long!

He's Alive!

unblinkingeye designs — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 01:52:00 +0000

I know you've all been wondering what happened to the infamous "State Fair Robot". Well I'm pleased to announce he is finally complete.

Take a gander—he can be yours for a mere $138 (plus shipping, if applicable).

And.... now what?!

I'm in!

unblinkingeye designs — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 23:25:00 +0000

The jury has spoken—I'll be a vendor at the 2007 No Coast Craft-O-Rama!

The unblinkingeye designs glass sweatshop is officially open for business. The question now... did I learn anything at all from the procrastination-induced State Fair debacle?!

Saint Paul Craft Mafia: Kitchen

unblinkingeye designs — Sat, 25 Aug 2007 19:10:00 +0000

Images are in Flickr now... take a look!

Things I Have Learned

unblinkingeye designs — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 01:34:00 +0000

My kiln has 2 relays (switches).
Relays last approximately 32,000 "clicks" (or was that 23,000?!).
One of my kiln's relays quit, causing one of the two elements to not fire.
Running a kiln twice with only a single element firing can cause problems including, but not limited to, melting of electrical outlets and plugs as well as oozing of weird substances from plug prongs.
New relays cost approximately $20 and I can replace them myself.
I'm back in business!

Exhibit: Textile Center

unblinkingeye designs — Sun, 19 Aug 2007 19:53:00 +0000

My craft partners in crime, the St Paul Craft Mafia, and I will have an installation at the Textile Center in Minneapolis. While this event isn't yet listed on the Textile Center Hall Displays, it will run from Monday, August 20 through Saturday, September 1. Stop by to see our kitchen!

I am contributing some slumped bottles, fused dishes, and one very fugly chicken stained glass panel. I firmly believe that every kitchen needs a chicken.

Kiln Hospital

unblinkingeye designs — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 15:15:00 +0000

My trusty side-kick, Jen-Ken AF3P 15-6, is sick. Today she goes into the kiln hospital. Hopefully it's just her cord that needs to be replaced. I won't know for a week if she'll make a full recovery. Keep her in your thoughts or there won't be any fused Christmas tree ornaments this year!

Nevermind

unblinkingeye designs — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 13:39:00 +0000

Argh! My kiln is dead and I have no eyes for my State Fair robot. Timely timing though.... my kiln warranty expires on September 5.

I'm rethinking the whole procrastination bit. Unforeseen technical issues really get in the way.

Birth of a Robot

unblinkingeye designs — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 03:44:00 +0000

You may be wondering what this horrible looking thing is. Worry not, you are simply witnessing the magical birth of a robot. Underneath that thin layer of numbered paper pattern lies (lays? sits....) 63 pieces of glass. What color will it be? How will it look? Will its eyes really be bugging out of its head like that? I'm not telling. You'll have to check back to find out.

Applied! No Coast Craft-o-Rama

unblinkingeye designs — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 00:00:00 +0000

Ye olde application is in for the 2007 No Coast Craft-o-Rama. All the cool kids will be there. Cross your fingers that I will be one of them! Applicants will be notified by September 15. I don't have enough nail to bite until then.

MN State Fair... Here I Come

unblinkingeye designs — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 01:55:00 +0000

The MN State Fair Creative Activities judges should brace themselves. I'm throwing my hat into the ring and entering category "661 Glass, stained and leaded, 1 ft. to 2 ft. high". I have committed to making a stained glass robot.

I have until Sunday to produce said robot.

I have a pattern cut.

Hmm.