One of my favorite benefits of working with glass is that I get to make great thank you gifts.  This one is for a woman who helped with my new shipping crates.  I only wish I could be there to see peoples’ faces when they open their gifts.

These are beads of Italian glass that I made by hand, with onyx and sterling silver.  I treated the beads with acid to give a matte finish.  I hope Tami likes it!

Last year I was fortunate to participate in a wonderful art project designed by artist Tamiko Rast.  The project culminated in a city block lined with murals from local artists.  As people work, shop, move about their everyday lives, they get to experience all this art right on the street.  It’s brilliant.

My art in the project was representing the Bay Area Glass Institute.

After the installation was complete, film students at Burnett Middle School interviewed some of the artists.  I thoroughly enjoyed working with the students!

And now, here’s the video of my interview   http://www.nextvista.org/mural-artist-kathleen-elliot/

Fun!

Recently I learned that a genetically modified strawberry has been created.  It is twice the size of a natural strawberry with the same nutritional content as its smaller counterpart.

This seems so indicative of our pop culture today — complete fascination with packaging even when there is little substance behind it.  We are surrounded by marketing and packaging, all aimed at “selling” us.

I’m working on a genetically modified strawberry of my own, the next piece in my Questionable Food series.  The frame is complete and now I’m sewing on the “skin”, with the first three pieces completed so far.  If I can make it work, I will include glass seeds.

The necklace is ready.  This is a gift for Art Williams at Air Systems, who has made a generous donation to help us with our upcoming ventilation system at the Bay Area Glass Institute.

It’s a surprise he doesn’t know is coming.  Today I will deliver it telling him to give it to his wife Lisa as a gift from him.  I’m excited to deliver it, and then to hear how Lisa receives it.

Happy Holidays!

A friend is helping with a project at the Bay Area Glass Institute.  As part of my thanks, I’m going to surprise him by helping with his Christmas shopping.  I’m making a necklase he can give his wife.

Beads are done.  All the little flowers and leaves are glass.  Now on to completing the design and making the necklace.

Fun!!