Art Glass Nail Files – Now for Dogs, Too
Art glass nail files are back, including new Happy Paws files for dogs. How could we resist matching nail files for Fido? Happy Paws are a safe grooming tool with no risk of cutting tissue or damaging paws. Use it on dogs up to 200 lbs. ; help puppies overcome foot shyness.
For people, medium files ($18) are great for every day use while small files ($15) are perfect for pocket and purse. Files come in a black velvet sheath with a one-of-a-kind fused glass bead on the end for easier handling of the file. Handmade in USA.
Based in Portland, Ellyn Ford and Jean Wilson lead Eye for the Find, a company of artists crafting distinctive products to brighten your every day. Ellyn (left) debuted her first product line, the original handcrafted art-glass nail files, in 2006 at small local arts-and-crafts shows. Today, her art-glass nail files are found in fine boutiques, spas and gift shops throughout the world. Jean (right) is a gifted glass artist who specializes in creating unique works from dichroic glass. As the lead artist, she creates the multi-dimensional cabochons that embellish each of the art-glass nail files.
Oct. 20th: Visiting Artist Kathy Plowman
Please join us 6-9pm on October 20th for a special Thursdays on Kentucky artist showcase. Lakeland artist Kathy Plowman will be in the store to meet you and show some of her more recent work. Kathy works in two different mediums, stained glass and polymer clay.
Kathy has been working in stained glass for 13 years and was trained at Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts in Gatlinburg, TN. Her stained glass suncatchers and panels depict mostly nature settings including swans, butterflies and hummingbirds. The black and white stained glass swan ornaments are one of our best-selling Lakeland gifts.
Polymer clay is a newer passion for Kathy and her jewelry reflects her love of color and intricate design. Polymer clay is a man-made clay which is available in a wide variety of colors. Kathy transforms this colorful material into jewelry, figurines and individualized wall plaques with names, team spirit sentiments or inspirational words. Kathy also creates custom pieces in both stained glass and polymer clay upon request. Please join us for a fun evening with Kathy and the rest of the Brooke Pottery staff.
**This Week’s Thursdays on Kentucky Deal**
Buy one of Kathy’s necklaces and get the matching earrings free! Plus, buy one get one half off on all other jewelry in the shop. Discount applies to item of lesser value ; limit 4 items.
Stranded Glass Jewelry by Gail Crozier
This month we are excited to add Gail Crozier’s gorgeous handmade jewelry to the Brooke Pottery shop . This Missouri artist creates her own lampwork glass beads and sterling silver elements, infusing her Stranded Glass Jewelry with personality. The style may appear simple, but Gail’s use of bright color, interesting shapes and unique wire work results in jewelry that makes a bold statement and always gets noticed. The Puzzle Link Collection (bracelet pictured above, left) combines intricately coiled sterling silver wire with vibrant glass disk beads rimmed with black and white stripes. Truly a work of wearable art! And no less fun to wear is the Ring Charm Collection. Ring Charm bracelets and necklaces practically *DANCE* with color. Very pretty! Browse our online jewelry shop –> to see more incredible designs by Stranded Glass.
Just In: Smart Glass Jewelry
Atlanta jewelry designer Kathleen Plate recycles ordinary glass bottles into extraordinary jewelry, lighting and art installations. We are very excited to share our new assortment of Plate’s wearable art known as Smart Glass Jewelry.
Left: Classic Coke bottle necklace and earrings
About the Artist:
Kathleen Plate grew up in rural Washington learning to maximize resources during the fuel crisis 70′s. The resourcefulness of Plate’s eco-conscious upbringing sparked her artistic creativity. It is Kathleen’s hope that her jewelry will raise a consciousness about the small choices people can make in their daily lives, which will inevitably inspire environmentally responsible choices on a much larger scale. “It’s easy for advocates to live green, but I love it when an everyday person will try to make a small change for the greater good. I create Smart Glass Jewelry to compliment outer beauty as well as inner beauty,” says Kathleen.
The Smart Glass collection ranges from simple circle earring and pendants to collars of dazzling glass drops wrapped in sterling silver. Whether you are shopping for an accessory to compliment your holiday party dress or shopping for unforgettable gift, Smart Glass is a gorgeous option. Priced $26-$125.
Interchangeable Glass Flower Bouquets
While they may need a little dusting from time to time, our extraordinary glass flower bouquets require zero water and will bloom forever. These new arrivals come in beautiful color combinations: Sonoran Desert, Aloha, Black and White, and Champagne to name just a few. The handblown glass flowers rest on stems of brushed aluminum or patinaed copper.
Our contemporary flower sculptures are handcrafted with an eye for practicality. Each glass flower is removable and can be switched for another color- perfect for seasonal displays or for when you redecorate a room. How clever is that? Choose from over 40 colors of glass. Replacement flowers, jumbo flowers and wall sculptures are available by special order. Single stems $35, flowers with figures $82, and bouquets of five or seven flowers $105 – $233.
About the artist: Scott Johnson is a master glass artist who has been making glass flowers since 2003. Johnson began his artistic pursuits in bronze, creating limited edition works. His love and curiosity for visually appealing arts led him to ceramic sculptures combined with hand blown glass, and eventually to creating extraordinary glass flower bouquets. Scott Johnson lives in Arizona, with his wife, Shawn and six beautiful children. Together, the Johnsons pour their creative energy into making hand blown glass flowers, spending time with their family and building a successful business.
Flowers with Figures
Sonoran Bouquet
New Stained Glass Art by Sharon Earl Burridge
It is truly a pleasure to represent talented American craftspeople. Florida glass artist Sharon Earl Burridge is one such person, and she brought exciting new work to Brooke Pottery this month.
Simply put, Sharon Burridge’s stained glass art enchants. The graceful linework and artful tapestries of color transport us into a realm where the wonders of the natural world stand still. Sharon Burridge has been working with glass since 1978 and is clearly a master of her craft. Her exhuberant passion for glass is contagious. “Finding the right color mixes and putting them together is my favorite! Like finding that special sheet of glass, knocks my socks off!” If you love glass, too, come visit Brooke Pottery to see these new stained glass pieces in person.
Above, Monet’s Garden, 16″x40″, $1,175. Below, Macaw Panels with Three Crow Glass ornaments. Macaw on branch, $340. Best Friends, $2,400.
Sharon loves “designing from nature, especially fish and corals, where there are great opportunities to use unusual glass to recreate the amazing colors and textures found in the ocean realm. Fun!” The new 15″ round sea turtle panel is an excellent example,using textured and dichroic glass. Green sea turtle, $375.
Sharon’s circular swan window has a special place in our hearts, celebrating the beautiful white swans that have graced Lakeland since the 1920′s. Lake Morton and Lake Mirror are particularly good spots to observe scenes just like this in person. The swans really do make this heart pose when they dance together!
In addition to stained glass panels, Sharon Burridge also creates dichroic glass jewelry and small painted fused glass plates. She delights in creating custom work for clients, whether the project is big or small. So if you’ve been dreaming of a french door installation or a small portrait of your dog and cat, we know a wonderful Florida artist who can help!
Square plates, $22-68.
