This gorgeous, leaf-shaped, fused glass platter was inspired by many a long, sunny stroll in Ballynahinch woods.When my wife Pauline and I first arrived in Connemara, one of our first actions was to get a dog. Sally, as we named her, was a Golden Retriever and she lived to the great age (for her breed) of seventeen years. Frequently when she was young – and, in her later years, as often as her aches and pains allowed – we loved to take Sally for a walk in the grounds of Ballynahinch Castle. Allowed to run, jump and snuffle in the woody leaf cover, the dog’s expression told you she was ecstatic, in her element. When she was young and sinuous,...
Visitors to our gallery often ask where we get our inspiration. Our answer hasn't changed since 2012. The Connemara area provides all the inspiration we need. We are lucky enough to live and work in one of the most beautiful parts of the world. This last week we have spent some time photographing our glass pieces in the places that inspired them. Taking the roads less traveled, carefully making our way across rocks and bog-land, and crossing the odd stream, it feels almost poetic. Today we chose Mám Éan as our destination again. On our last trip, see our previous blog-post here, it was a rather wet day. Today, we had beautifully bright sunshine. Elizabeth rightly pointed out that it doesn't...
February 15th was what the locals call a "soft" day. Grey, with rain that isn't heavy enough to be called rain, but JUST heavy enough to thoroughly soak you. Elizabeth and I locked up an hour early (shhhhh), carefully packed a few glass pieces into my little car, and set out on an adventure. It had been years since I last visited Mám Éan. All I remembered was that the drive was particularly scenic. Mám Éan (often anglicised as Maumeen, Mamean, etc.) is a little pilgrimage spot at a pass through the Maumturk mountains of east Connemara, roughly between Oughterard and Leenane. A visit reveals a tiny chapel, mass altar and the Stations of the Cross scattered roughly around the rocky, boggy site. ...
"This unique streaky glass uses the magical properties of Bullseye Red Reactive glass. Each sheet is a swirling dreamscape of moss, geological caramel, and jewel tones. Heatwork heightens the interplay. Fired characteristics may include areas of opacity, transparency, mottling, streakiness and polychromatic effects ranging from earth to jewel tones."
All sorts of people ask all sorts of questions. They range from, “is this plastic?” (no, it isn’t) through, “do you paint the colour on afterwards?” (no, we use coloured glass), to “how do you squish it into shape?” (is ‘squishing’ even a word?!)
