2nd Dragonfly painting (with Lotus), July 30, 2014

I didn't like how my first dragonfly painting looked like because it looked like a common blue insect from the angle of his body.

So, I decided to paint another one that looks like real dragonfly reaching a lotus flower.

I used acrylic paints on 9x12 inches canvas panel.

Dragonfly and Lotus Flower, July 30, 2014

July 25, 2014 Dragonfly Painting

I tried to paint dragonfly, which is one of the painting class offered. I was interested in taking the class, but it's too far for me. So I decided to save the money and tried it myself. It was kind of challenging mixing colors but turned out ok.

I used black, white, yellow, burnt sienna (brown) acrylic paints for this painting and use 9x12 inches canvas panel.

July 26, 2014 Dragonfly

July 23, 2014 "Mystic Cherry Blossom" painting class

I took the second Paint Nite class this week. I didn't plan to have 2 classes in a week, but I fell in love with this painting from beginning and it was sold out too quickly after I hesitated. Then one day, the class became available again for 2 more spots (someone probably cancelled), so I registered the class right away.

I'm so glad I took this week classes despite how tired I am after long day of work. Somehow, taking the classes refreshed me.

This painting uses black, white, red, yellow and blue acrylic paints and it was painted on 16x20 canvas.

Paint Nite Mystic Cherry blossom, Jul 23, 14

Jul 23, 2014 Mystic Cherry blossom painting

July 21, 2014 Paint Nite painting class: Bird's Nest

I took second class from Paint Nite tonight after work with my friend, Lisa.
We learned moderately difficult painting technique with "Bird's Nest" painting.
It was fun and educational although making eggs were much more difficult than it looks.
But, we were able to finish the painting in 2.5 hrs.

We used black, white, blue, red and yellow acrylic paints for this.

Paint Nite with Lisa, July 21, 14

My Bird's Nest painting, July 21, 2014

I didn't like how my background looks. I didn't have time to soften the whole background in the class.
So today, I made the streaky yellow on the background disappeared, soften the red on the flower petals and added few more flowers. That way the painting's focus is at the nest instead of distraction of flower petals color.

"Edited" bird's nest painting, July 22, 2014

July 20, 14 Koi Fish

I painted something different today, Koi Fish. I grew up with having koi fish at the indoor-outdoor pool.
When I saw this painting, it reminds me of koi fish pond back home.
I used black, white, red, yellow, and green acrylic paints for this on 9x12 inches canvas panel.

Jul 20, 2014 Koi fish

July 19, 2014 Cats Sunset painting with friend together

My friend and I wanted to do painting together ever since we went to painting class a couple of months ago.
She's been wanting to paint "Dogs gaze". So we did that except I changed mine into cats, since I love cats.
We used red, white, yellow, and black acrylic paints for this one.
We had great time and here are our paintings.

Jul 19, 2014 Cats sunset that I made

Jul 19, 2014 dogs and cats sunset with friend (she did the dogs)

July 17, 2014 Sunset Safari Painting

I can't stop painting!! I enjoy it so much I couldn't wait to get home from work to start painting.
Tonight I painted Safari Sunset with elephant on it. The challenge was making the elephant's tails and trunk because I don't have teeny tiny brush to do that. But, it worked fine and at least it ended looking like an elephant.

I used combination of red, yellow, brown and black for this painting on 9x12 canvas panel.

7.17.14 Sfari Sunset

July 15, 2014 Cherry Blossom Moon painting

I decided to make another acrylic painting called Cherry Blossom Moon using 9x12 inches of canvas panel, red, white, black and brown paints to make them. I had great time especially making the cherry blossom petals. Love the silhouette effect and night sky.

July 15,14 cherry blossom moon

7.14.14 First Painting at Home (Love birds)

After taking 5 very fun painting classes, I decided to take a leap of faith and try it myself at home.
I bought a cheap kit with few basic acrylic paints, brushes, desk easel, and canvas panels (canvas on a cardboard). It took me over a week to get rid of my fear.
Today, I did it and painted Love Birds. I saw the picture online and thought I could do it because it's simple enough. I added leaves and snow to make it little bit of "me" instead of just dark branches.

I am happy with the result and most importantly I'm happy because I took a leap and tried something new.

7.14.14 Love birds painting

July 3, 2014 Song of the Nightingale Painting

I took another Painting Class. This time from a place called Vine Gogh.
I had a great time as usual with "all ladies" there and sweet older lady next to me, who brought me crackers because I was too serious with my painting..  :)

The painting is called "Song of the Nightingale", kind of oriental-theme.
It was a little bit challenging but that's the reason I'm taking painting classes, to learn all technique of painting as much as I can.

Here it is:

Song of the Nightingale, Jul 3, 2014

June 26,14 Paint Nite class: Hummingbirds

I bought a couple of groupon for painting class from Paint Nite and decided to go tonight.
It was at Buffalo saloon and eatery closed by my work. It was challenging but really fun to be able to paint humingbirds. Love the blue and pink ofcourse :)

Butterfly Bead, June 7, 2014

I've always loved butterflies. I tried making butterfly beads yesterday.
I made 3 of them but 2 of them had "broken wings" when I tried to take them out from mandrel.
At least 1 survived nicely. I had so much fun making them, layering colors on each wings.
Maybe I'll make more of them soon.

Butterfly bead, June 7, 2014

White and Pink Flower beads, May 31, 2014

I felt like making flowers yesterday using short bullseye rods. Plus learning sculpturing them.
It was fun and was able to make 2 before I ran out of propane.
Here they are..

Pink and White flower beads, May31,14

Drinking Glass for Birthday Present, May 31, 2014

I wanted to give a gift that I made to my best friend. So, I booked a glass blowing instructor
to help me making drinking glass. I chose dark and light blue together and turned out really nice.

Happy Birthday!!! May your year fills with happiness, laughter and great health.

Drinking Glass, May 31, 2014

Beads made during Memorial Weekend, May 27,14

I made few beads during 3-day memorial weekend. Well, only able to play with my torch 2 days, but here are the beads. Just had fun and at the same time learned to use the heat from my torch.

Beads made during Memorial weekend, May27,14

Red Blossom Tree Painting, May 23, 2014

I took another class at LLLG this evening. It's called Red Blossom Tree. I invited my friend, Lisa and she enjoyed the class also. We had great time painting together.

My red blossom tree painting, May23,14

Me with my red blossom tree painting, May23,14

Sunset crane fan lamp, May 18, 2014

My son is going to mission trip to Alaska this year with his youth team from church. Someone from church gave a very generous anonymous gift and enable him to go this year. It was all paid for.
As our thank you to whomever gave, I made a crane stained glass fan lamp.
I hope they like it. And from the bottom of our hearts, we are so grateful!!

Stained Glass crane fan lamp, May 18,14

Stained glass crane fan lamp outside, May 18, 14

Goddess Bead, May 17, 2014

I've been wanting to make goddess beads for a while but didn't have confidence to do it yet.
Now a year after I started torching, I decided to give it a go and tried it last night.
It was a fun process and learned a lot especially dealing with heat control and shaping the body.
I'm just grateful to be able to achieve this, although I probably won't be making so many of this kind of beads.

Goddess Bead back, May17,14

Goddess Bead front, May17,14

First time using my Bobcat torch, May 13, 2014

I used my new GTT Bobcat torch last night after work. What a difference after using HotHead for a year.
The new torch is soooo quiet. I had great time making my first beads with it.

I made 2 ducks and 3 birds.

Ducks and birds beads, May14,14

My Bobcat Torch setup is done for my Mother's Day!!

Happy Mother's Day!!!

I received a beautiful flowers today. Also, a beautiful card from my boys. Thank you!!

Mother's Day accomplishments:
My Oxygen Concentrator Devilbiss 515ADS came last Thursday. During weekend, we set everything up, fixed the oxygen leak by the hose fitting, even got the hose away from my knees. I'm so glad that after waiting for exactly 2 months, I can now start to torching again soon.
Since Bobcat torch's fire is longer and hotter, I cleared out everything in front of it, just in case.

I also got my second stand for my Empress beading robe, all done and painted. All I have to do is finish it up right on the stand. Such a beautiful stand.

Empress Robe stand is done

Apr 27,14 Pink and white flower

I learned from Jacqueline Parkes' tutorial of "My Secret Garden" yesterday and was able to make 1 flower made of Effetre White and Rubiro Oro. I had fun making it and will try again soon with different color flowers.

Pink and White flower, Apr27,14

Vase Beads, Apr 20, 14

HAPPY EASTER!!!

I enjoyed making vase beads. Found a marble looking glass so I made few of the vases.
I also made few heart beads but didn't take photos of them.

Anyways, when they are done and out of kiln this morning, I tried taking photos of the beads but my cat, Chibi, decided that he wants to be in the pictures also. So, why not. After all, it's Easter and he deserves to be included :)

Vase Beads with Chibi, Apr20,14

Another one of Chibi after he wanted a do-over. This time, he looks at camera

Painting Classes in April 2014

April 5, 14 my "sunset lighthouse" painting

My favorite glass place where I learned glassblowing, torching, and even fused glass started painting classes.
I've never paint before and I know I'm very bad at it, but I love to learn something new.
I took my close friend, Atsuko to go on April 5, 2014 for our first class. We were learning how to paint "Sunset Lighthouse". It was really fun and turned out not bad for a first-timer like me.

Atsuko and I at painting class, Apr5,14

Note: Since I didn't like the way my sun looks (not even half circle), I fixed it on July 22, 2014.

I also soften up the path a bit. So, here is the "edited" painting.

July 22, 2014 (Fixed/Edited Sunset Lighthouse)

Then I had another opportunity to take another class which I really wanted to take, called Mt. Hood. This time, Atsuko couldn't come with me due to her busy work. My Mt. Hood turned out not bad either.

At Mt. Hood painting class, Apr19,14

My Mt. Hood Painting, Apr19,14

Glass of milk and cookie, and a vessel, Apr18,14

I wanted to make glasses of milk and cookie beads and it turned out cute. My boy always dunk his chocolate chip cookies into his milk so these beads remind me of him.
Also I made a vessel that I usually use to hold sake and put it into microwave to warm it.
Turned out not bad for the first time making it.

Glasses of milk with chocolate chip cookie and a vessel, Apr18,14

April 11, 2014 Car beads

I saw tutorial at Beads of Courage and wanted to try making car beads. It was really fun and although not perfect, it's for kids and I hope they don't see too much flaws in my cars.
I tried to make one with "rust" on it, regular car and ofcourse pick up truck. It was really fun making these and will make more in the future.

Apr 11, 14 cars

Home Sweet Home Stained Glass, Feb 8 - Apr 6, 2014

We've been hit with Snowstorm the last 3 days. I'm feeling antsy at home but I don't know how to drive my van on the snow. So, I decided to challenge myself and make the biggest and the most pieces of stained glass I've ever made so far.. ha ha.. (I should go out more often)..
Anyways, I decided to make this panel called Home Sweet Home from Glass Patterns magazine, probably about 10x16 inches big and over 200 pieces of glass.. Yikes (the most pieces I've ever made is less than 36).

This is the journey of this panel:

Day 1:  Decided on the project and did phase 1 of cutting the first 40 pieces of glass. 6-hour of work from tracing and cutting the pattern to cutting the glass.

Day 1, Feb8,14 Trace the pattern

Day 1, Feb8,14 Cut the first 40 pieces of glass

Day 2: Another day stuck at home with freezing rain outside. I cut and grind 38 pieces of glass and cut few more patterns for the next phase. I worked for about 3.5 hours today.

Day 2, Feb9,14 Cut the next 38 pieces of glass

Day 3: It's Monday and there is still no school for the boys due to the slow thawing of the ice.I didn't want to take chance of driving in the morning so I was able to cut 38 more pieces of glass for my Home Sweet Home early in the morning and an hour before bed. I spent about 3 hours today, with 38 pieces of glass being cut.

Day 3, Feb10,14 Cut the next 38 pieces of glass

Day 4: Feb 11, 2014: I traced and cut only 23 pieces of glass on the top right part. The top part of this will be tedious and tiny pieces so I'll do little parts each so I won't get too overwhelmed.

Day 4, Feb11,2014 top right pieces cut and grinded

Day 5-8, March 9-11, 2014: I cut the rest of the pieces, then fine grind a lot of pieces so all of them fit into the frame. Tedious job but so glad it's done. The next step is to take each pieces out and clean them with alcohol before foiling them.

All pieces in and fine grinded, Mar11,14

Finally, I finished  foiling all the pieces and put them together. Took me a while and not so easy with pieces that ended up too big or too small.

Foiled all the pieces, March 30, 2014

After almost 2 months making this project, it's DONE!!! It measured about 9x12 inches.

Finished, Apr6,14