What Do You Heart About February 14? 

A quote from Kahlil Gibran says “Wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving”. 

I love how the trees look in winter

Rain

Drops of morning dew

Family and friends

I am grateful for those who have shown support of my work and workshops 

Jester’s Gallery, Nashville Tennessee opening February 4 

Remember the song “Day Tripper”?

It may be time for a day trip to Nashville Tennessee to check out Jester’s Gallery, making its’ debut on Thursday, February 4, 2010.  Stop by whenever you are in Nashville and introduce yourself to AL Sherick, the gallery’s owner.  

Jester’s will carry all of my work including small gift items from the studio such as crystal dew drops, other Lampworked itmes, and cast leaves which make great paperweights (and Heart gifts). 

The leaves that I love are white oak leaves from The Serenbe Project and make perfect gifts for (Heart Day) February 14. 

Refreshments will be served during the evening from 6-9 on Thursday, February 4. 

The gallery is located at 5133 Harding Pike, Suite C1, Nashville, Tennessee  37205   A grand opening is planned for later this spring.  We will keep you posted.  

If you are not in Nashville, you can call the studio 205.612.3317 and we will be glad to help you with gifts for February 14.  Sustainable artful gift wrap is available.  

We would love for you to tell us what YOU heart about February 14  your gratitude, Nashville, or anything else. 

About Tara Glass Art Studio

Visit the new web site

Here are pictures from the workshop that was held on December 5, 2009.  My apologies for these not being posted earlier, but I should have asked Santa for a new digital camera….more on that later.  

We had a lot of fun and the studio received very positive feedback from those who participated, thanks to all who took part in our short survey.  Those who took part in the survey will recieve a 10% off the regular price of any item or workshop. 

The Studio donated 10% of all proceeds from the workshop and sales that day to Honor Flight Birmingham and Honor Flight was delighted to receive the donation. 

Enjoy the pictures and let me hear your thoughts.  So….leave me a comment!

If you feel like leaving a comment, please do!  This was a good time!

This is a glass “ikebana” choker/necklace/pin that is available from Tara Glass Art Studio.  The necklace features fine suede with sterling clasps and is adjustable.    It is approximately 16-17 inches long.  There is a pin bail on the back. The glass “ikebana” all vary in size, but usually are from 1 inch to 1.5 inches or so.  There are no two alike.  The piece is delivered in a black faux suede jewelry pouch so that it will not become chipped.   If you are interested in purchasing, please contact donnabranch@taraglassart.com  The ikebana is $35.

This is so easy!  All you have to do is go to Donna Branch Glass Studio Blog  and start a conversation with each other on the blog about buying handmade and taking the Handmade Pledge.  You do this by leaving your comments on the blog and bringing others to the blog to take part in the conversation.  You can send me examples of your own cool handmade items to donnabranch@taraglassart.com and I will post them as a conversation starter.  You could even post sources of  where others could find cool handmade items.  The person that serves as the biggest conversation starter on my blog, and brings other people into the conversation about the subject of buying handmade, sustainable lifestyle, slow design and taking the Handmade Pledge will receive one of my limited edition ornaments.  You can bring other people into the conversation by sharing my blog link and mentioning where you posted or forwarded my link.  I will be checking in on the blog at least once a day and taking part in the conversation.  This idea came to me as an offshoot of the Studio Workshop that will take place December 5 at the studio. 

Each time someone makes a thoughtful comment, (not one word, please), their name will be entered into the “hat”.  The contest will end December 18 at midnight and announcement of the winner will be December 19.  Those who entered will have to check the blog for the winning announcement and the winner will be ask to email their physical address to me so that the ornament can be shipped to them, so be sure to bookmark the blog page now or subscribe to the feed. This is a straightforward competition and all decisions regarding the winner will be final.  

The purpose of this competition is to engage the community conversation about buying handmade and doing our small part to change buying habits.  I’m looking forward to hearing what everyone has to say! 

How can you change your buying habits and what products do you find to be the most compelling?  Go to the blog and tell us  now.

Here is a picture of some of the ornaments we will  create in the workshop, “How to Etch Glass”.

Just a reminder that the studio workshop will be held on December 5, 2009!  

Yes, I know that it is the SEC Championship Game. 

 Participants will be learning how to etch glass ornaments and it will be a lot of fun.  So far, both sessions have participants and we still have a few openings left.  Each session will be limited to 10 people.   So, I hope you will take the time to use the link below to register.

After the workshop, we will post pictures here of the workshop so everyone can see what we created. 

If you are really interested in registering (and kicking Christmas up a notch), you can get detailed information on the sessions here, or you can register  here.  Hope to see you at the workshop! 

10% of all proceeds will be donated  Birmingham Honor Flight. 

Would love to hear your comments

In our society where there is so much mass production,  it is a breath of fresh air to discover the joy of  giving and receiving gifts that are made by hand…even you own hands.   Check out the why to buy handmade here,   or here. Many people think that they have to buy from the artist/crafts person in Oregon, or New York, or Santa Fe, which IS one way to do it!  But, you don’t have to buy from far away.   There are so many talented people around you that it is kind of like the “Acres of Diamonds” theory…if we only look around us, we will find what we are looking for right beneath our own feet.  

 You ask, “How do I do this?  I’m always in a hurry to buy a gift, and sometimes do not have much time “ 

 It does take a little planning and effort to break an established habit, but once you find your own favorite selection of “handmade” things  that you like to buy or make yourself,  then the hard part–the research–is over.  And, you don’t have to give an “item”, you can give a gift of a class!   We all know that creating is great therapy.  What better gift than a class where creativity is engaged! 

Join the next post and I will show you several ways you can break the habit of going to buy mass produced merchandise and really impress your friends with handmade gifts.   You can do this with paper or an electronic calendar.  It’s easy.  You’ll see.  So please go now and take the Handmade Pledge!  Meanwhile, I would love to hear suggestions or comments on the blog.