Thanks to Barbara for answering some interview questions so as our fans may become better acquainted!

OOOH:  What craft do you primarily work in?  What sets your work apart from other artists?

BS:  I primarily work in stained glass done in the copper foil technique, “Tiffany Style.”  I often incorporate beads into my designs to give them added dimension.  I have been working in stained glass now for twelve years.

OOOH:  How long have you been working with glass?  What was your first inspiration to begin?

BS:  My interest in the glass medium began many years ago after a visit to the Corning Museum of Glass, and my desire to learn how to make stained glass was DEFINITE after a tour of  the Frank Lloyd Wright home, Fallingwater.  After my youngest child was born, I signed on for a basics course at Lehigh County Community College.  This was the perfect “Mom’s Night Out” for me, I enjoyed it so much that I have continued to make stained glass ever since.  I started experimenting with making jewelry out of the glass scraps simply so I could use them up.  I didn’t want to discard any of the beautiful art glass scraps.  It was very challenging working with the tiny pieces of glass, and working with lead-free solder was much more difficult than I had anticipated.

OOOH:  What continues to inspire your work?

BS:  Coming up with new design ideas and making them work is what keeps me inspired.   I get very excited and motivated when I hear a customer say “I just love that piece I bought,” or ”I always get so many compliments when I wear the necklace you made!”

OOOH:  Within our store, your work ranges from small pins and ornaments to large glass panels.  What work are you most proud of?

BS:  What I am always most proud of seems to be the piece I have just finished at the time.  Right now I have completed a new abstract and earthy panel that is my favorite of the moment.  Mastering the jewelry done in stained glass has been challenging for me and holds my interest as the jewelry fashions change constantly.  I am always happiest when working on a new design, whether it is jewelry or stained glass.

OOOH:  Where do you normally find your glass supplies and equipment?

BS:  Most of my stained glass supplies are purchased at Warner Glass in Allentown, and I am always keeping my eyes open for unusual pieces of vintage glass to incorporate into my work.  I often travel to New York to do some bead shopping and keep up with current fashion trends.

OOOH:  Craft shows are another outlet for your work, and you are often participating in shows around the area.  What are your most successful venues?

BS:  I participate in several shows each year.  My favorite is the Hoboken Arts & Music Festival because it was my very first breakthrough show.  My favorite fall show is the Rockaway Beach Arts & Music Festival where I have many repeat customers there and it is fun to see them each year.  My favorite local show is the Bethlehem Fine Arts show that is held every Mother’s Day weekend.

OOOH:  Do you have any plans for future work?  What would you like to accomplish?

BS:  My future goals are to always progress by creating new designs and improving my skills.  I would like to broaden my business by finding more retail outlets for my work, and  teaching others the craft.

OOOH:  What would be your best advice for someone interested in working with stained glass?  Where should a beginner start?

BS:  My best advice for beginners is to find out the basics of stained glass making before paying for a class and buying all the tools on the list.  Many people I went to class with found it was just not for them after a several hundred dollar investment! If you are already sure it is for you, then a community college course would be an excellent place to start.  You can also find classes at glass shops & art schools.

We’re having a spur-of-the-moment sale during tomorrow’s Snowblast Festival  in Emmaus. There are lots of events happening in town, and we’d love it if you stopped in and peeked at our selection (we have TWO new jewelry artists to discover)! We’re offering 10% off ALL jewelry items, just in time for Valentine’s Day shoppers. But hurry, this sale will only last from 10am-6pm on Saturday, February 13th.
Ladies, you may want to pass this on to the man in your life…just as a hint, of course!

4O1 Creative has yet again shown their true support by featuring our website for one of their personal ads.  Shown is a crisp shot of a computer monitor with the company’s latest website featured (OOOH), complete with the clever tag line, “Handcrafted Websites.”  We cannot thank 4O1 enough for showing us off. :)

Check out the photos…we are directly across from Emeril and an ad for the Sands Casino Resort in Bethlehem!

While you’re at it, do yourself a favor and visit 4O1’s website www.401creative.com to see their professional work first-hand.  Not only are we lucky enough to have them as designers for our new site, but they also designed Lehigh Valley Style’s chic webpage as well as other thriving businesses in the Valley.  And on top of being stunningly talented, they are undoubtedly the most humble and sweet guys I’ve ever come across.

OOOH:  What sort of quilting do you primarily work in?

LM:  I mostly enjoy geometric-type piecing, and in using triangles and squares that when combined, build a whole picture not seen in only one single block. I am working with a piecing method called Foundation Piecing. This is a technique that allows you to have finer, sharper points and intersections between fabrics. You actually sew upside down, using a printed grid instead of lining up the fabrics against each other.

OOOH:  What do you think sets your work apart from other fabric artists?

LM:  I believe every fabric artist has tried quilting of some sort – I just like the challenge of color combination, and adding embellishment (such as old buttons) to compliment the piece.

OOOH:  How long have you worked with quilting?

LM:  Do I have to admit this? When my children were pre-school, we lived in Lancaster County – almost 25 years ago I made my first wall hanging, and still have it over my piano. It reminds me of how “green” I was, using scraps from clothes I had made for my daughters. Looking at this piece also reminds me of how far I have come with my skills, and encourages me to create unabashed!

OOOH:  Who or what inspired your first quilt, and what continues to inspire you?

LM:  My first whole bed quilt (a queen size log cabin that I hand quilted) was inspired by the Amish quilts I would see when I drove through southern Lancaster County during the day. They were hanging high, airing in the wind, and they just called out to me – you can do this, too!

OOOH:  In our gallery, your work ranges from smaller ornamental creations to large scale wall hangings.  What interesting items have you created in the past?

LM:  I have been asked to do many custom pieces – some successful, and some not so much. It is difficult to envision another person’s thoughts in abstract. One success was for the mother of distant cousin who wanted a wall hanging in a lofted foyer. The pattern she chose was out of my comfort zone, and I was nervous when I brought it to her. She loved it, and that gave me added confidence. It is nice to know something you do pleases others.

OOOH:  Where do you normally find your supplies?  Do you have a favorite supplier?

LM:  I like to shop the fabric department of Good’s Store in Quarryville, PA, and at Shady Maple near Morgantown, PA. My favorite online supplier is Keepsake Quilting in Centre Harbour, NH – where I visited with my family one summer. I was in heaven!

OOOH:  Do you have any new plans for future designs?  What would you like to eventually accomplish?

LM:  I am working on two miniature projects, one a log cabin star, and hope to have them framed and in your shop this season.

OOOH:  What would be your best advice for someone interested in working with fabric?

LM:  Go for it! Nothing ventured, nothing gained! Fabric is an ever changing medium, and there is always something new and exciting out there to sample. You will always have to rip out some seams, re-do some of it, and form a love-hate relationship with it, but in the end, there is great personal satisfaction and solice in basic acts of creativity. When your friends ask why you buy large pieces of fabric, cut them up into smaller pieces and sew them back together again – smile and say “You would not love me any other way!”

www.snowblastwinterfestival.org

2/5: Ice sculpting and appearance of Ice Princess (Emmaus Triangle); musicians and “chill chaser” fare (local coffee shops); Hoot Hike (Wildlands Conservancy, 7pm).

2/6: SnowBlast Blizzard Jazz Brunch featuring the EHS boys’ a cappella group Fermata Nowhere and the EHS Jazz Ensemble (Moravian Church, 11am-1pm); hearth-side cooking demonstration and children’s activities (1803 House, noon-4pm); adventure hike with Wildlands Conservancy guide (South Mountain, 2pm); storytelling with children’s librarian (Emmaus Public Library, 2-4pm); Frosty’s Snowball Toss, slippery tug of war, Ice Cube Treasure Hunt, snowboard and ski safety demo (library lawn, noon-4pm); Iditarod sled dog demonstration (library lawn, 3-4pm); Frost Bit Fun Run (3:30pm). All events free. Blizzard Ball with rock ‘n’ roll and island tunes by Jimmy and Jimmy (Emmaus VFW, 7:30-11:30pm). $10 in advance; $12 at the door.

Location: 1741 on the Terrace, Hotel Bethlehem. $75/person. RSVP required. 610.882.0450.

Not only do my tags reflect my personal and artistic style, they compliment my jewelry and help them stand out to customers. I believe personalized tags are a great way to market and draw attention to any type of artwork. They add a finished look and create consistency throughout a collection.

Some suggestions to create an identity that is right for you:

1. Use a typeface or handwriting that is easy to read and works with your style and type of art. Keep it consistent so it creates a connection throughout your collection.
2. Color helps to draw the eye, so you might want to try one or two bright colors. But don’t let it overpower the actual artwork. After all, it is your art you are promoting.
3. Create a logo for yourself. A dominant icon or symbol can add a legitimate and professional look to your art.
4. Describe yourself and your work graphically. For example, I use bright colors and a pattern on my tags that reflect my modern and fun artwork and lifestyle. But this might not work for a classic or traditional type of artwork. Discover what works for you and will attract your audience.

Overall, you want to enhance your work and help it to stand out to customers. Remember not to distract from your art, but to create a finished and professional look.