HERE’S HOW TO TAKE CARE OF A STAINED GLASS PIECE OF ART. (This is cut and pasted from a handout on stained glass care that will be going home with each piece purchased or commissioned from Art Happens on Tarboro.

HANGING A SUNCATCHER:  I RECOMMEND THAT YOU HANG YOUR PIECE SECURELY FROM A STURDY HOOK THAT HAS BEEN SCREWED INTO A SECURE MATERIAL, LIKE A WALL STUD OR WOODEN WINDOW FRAME – SOMETHING THAT ISN’T GOING TO FALL DOWN. I AM NOT A HUGE FAN OF SUCTION CUP HANGERS ATTACHED TO WINDOWS.
 
CLEANING: THE STAINED GLASS PIECE YOU HAVE PURCHASED HAS BEEN CLEANED, THEN COMPLETELY PROTECTED WITH A WAXY SEALER THAT IS APPLIED IN ITS SPRAY LIQUID FORM, IS LEFT TO DRY, AND IS THEN BUFFED AND POLISHED WITH A SOFT, DRY RAG. ASIDE FROM A GENTLE DUSTING, YOUR PIECE MAY NEVER NEED TO BE CLEANED. I DON’T RECOMMEND USING WINDOW CLEANERS OR OTHER CHEMICAL CLEANERS ON ANY PIECE OF STAINED GLASS, SINCE THEY MAY DAMAGE THE LEAD, SOLDER, GLASS AND INTEGRITY OF THE PIECE. 

WHITENING OF SOLDER LINES: I CLEAN THE PIECE BEFORE IT IS SEALED. HOWEVER, FROM TIME TO TIME, SOLDER OR LEAD WILL OXIDIZE AND LEAVE A WHITISH SUBSTANCE ON ITS SURFACE. GENTLY WIPE WITH A BRUSH OR A NON-ABRASIVE PLASTIC POT SCRUBBER TO REMOVE THE “WHITE”. (NEVER PUT ABRASIVE STUFF ON YOUR GLASS PIECE. IF YOU CAN’T GET THE “WHITE” OFF, CONTACT ME.) 

TWICE A YEAR, I RECOMMEND YOU RE-SEAL THE PIECE SO THAT IT’S PROTECTED FROM “WHITEN”. GLASS SEALER IS AVAILABLE AT ART HAPPENS ON TARBOR. I SPRAY THE SEALER ON A SOFT RAG AND THEN POLISH THE METAL AND GLASS SURFACES FOLLOWED BY A SOFT DRY RAG TO BUFF IT.​

TOUCHING YOUR GLASS PIECE:  STAINED GLASS PIECES ARE PUT TOGETHER WITH SOLDER THAT CONTAINS LEAD. EVEN THOUGH EACH PIECE IS SEALED WHEN IT’S FINISHED, I ALWAYS SUGGEST THAT YOU DO WHAT I DO AND WASH YOUR HANDS WITH SOAP AND WARM WATER AFTER CLEANING/ HANDLING ANY STAINED GLASS PIECE. LEAD IS A HEALTH ISSUE WHEN INHALED OR INGESTED. WASHING YOUR HANDS AFTER HANDLING IT IS CONSIDERED SUFFICIENT PRECAUTIONS TO PREVENT UNWANTED EXPOSURE. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CALL ME 252-650-2530 OR EMAIL ME kim@Arthappensontarboro.com or kim@kimsjoy.com.










]0

Yesterday I delivered and set up my area in ArtBeat Gallery in Manassas. I have the two windows between the Gallery and the Jewelry Store next door and one of three cases. It is very exciting. I still need to work on the hanging pieces to make them attractive and add more pieces to case as it has lots of dead space. Please come by Thursday through Saturday 11 am- 6 pm and Sunday 1-5 pm to see my work along with all the other artists. 

I am thrilled to be in this Gallery. The other artists are so welcoming and I feel right at home. I can't wait for all my Manassas area friends to see my work there.

Where do you have your work? Are you in any old town settings? Send me you Gallery info and I will share it on Facebook.

Have a wonderful Thursday!

What a beautiful fall day out. It may not be sunny but it feels and looks like fall is here.

Today I am working on piece for the Metamorphosis Show at Del Ray Artisans for October. I think I am just submitting one piece this time, usually I enter as many as the Call For will take. Changing things up a little. Also working on patterns for the next show at the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria in October. these shows will keep me busy and out of trouble.

I also need to restock from the craft fairs I have done in September. I have one in October, one in November and 3 in December. Better get cracking..... Do you know of any good shows out there I should be considering for next year?

Also need to load pieces in my online store. It has been up for two weeks and I have one sad lonely piece in it. So sad and such a procrastinator! Anybody have a couple of hours to spare?

Anyone out there know trees well? My Elm trees have this crazy stuff draining from where branches died. I think it is some fungus like slime fungus and that the trees need to come down. Hate to cut them as they are wonderful cover. If you know what it is and how to handle please email me. Thanks.

This week has flown by! I have learned so much is it not funny. Long story short- I changed my website over to Weebly from Yahoo and ended up loosing my website ans email for two days! It was very traumatic. Can you imagine no email for two days? Ok maybe when you are on vacation but just during a regular work week? I am recovered and I think my family has only minor damage from me loosing it. It was not pretty at all. I either spoke or chatted with MelbourneIT and Lycos (domain registrar) and Yahoo and Weebly (website hosts) for three days. If only I could add them to my contacts list I would probably double my email list! No seriously, I did learn a lot about  myself and how easily I get upset when things not in my control happen. Note to self: stop, step back and relax... it will work out if you are patient and calm. Oh one bad thing, I did loose all my blog posts from 2010-2014, very sad. Lots of good stories lost. By chance did anyone copy them? If so please email them to me and I will send you a present.

So all week I have been getting ready for two shows this weekend. Saturday is The Art Market at Del Ray Artisans in Alexandria. Sunday is Old Town Manassas Art Exhibit at the Harris Pavilion, hosted by Art Beat Gallery. It will be a full weekend for sure. I am looking forward to it. On Saturday I have help setting up as Berto is coming with me. It will be good for him to see what is involved with this part of my life. He is very supportive and this will show him yet another aspect of art as a career. If you are out and about please stop by and visit. Not too early to think about holiday gifts you know!

My classes for the fall are filling up. If you are thinking of taking a stained glass class I have openings in my Monday morning and Wednesday evening classes starting next week at the Workhouse Arts Center. Or if Saturday morning is more your speed for stained glass then Fairfax Parks and Rec had a class for you, starting September 27. And if jewelry making is what you want to learn then Fairfax Parks and Rec has a class starting next week or at the Center for the Arts in October. And last be not least is Kumihimo September 27 in Manassas at the Center for the Arts. Shameless promotion! I also have classes at my Studio that can be scheduled to fit your schedule.

So I know I will be having an arty weekend. I hope you have a wonderful weekend and that maybe our paths will cross, till then remember to keep art in your heart.