My Patriotic Platter

A few years ago I got the inspiration to make a fused glass platter (big plate).  I had been submitting my artwork to the Daughters of the American Revolution "American Heritage" art and craft competition.  So.. I of course decided to make my first piece in a patriotic design.  A lady who owned my favorite bead shop also had a glass shop.  I looked around there and she agreed to show me how to do fused glass whereupon I bought all the colored glass and worked in her workshop in the back.  I cut each piece of glass, even the stars!  She showed me how to grind the stars and I was amazed how it could be done.  

You then lay the colored glass pieces over one sheet of clear glass, I used a rainbow iridescent piece of long glass to lay over the joins to conceal them and then she put the piece in her kiln and fused all the glass together.  After that, she put the whole thing in a platter shaped mold and fired it again.

I realized by using the rainbow in the design, it represented how America is a melting pot of people of all colors and pursuits of happiness.  :-)  I was super pleased at how it turned out.. but you know what?  It did not place well in the contest.. I was so disappointed that I stopped submitting things for several years.  But I've decided to start again this next year.  

Kristi surprised me with this cute Uncle Sam candleholder she found at the Goodwill!  

I volunteered at Multnomah Falls yesterday with my sister Denise.  I snapped this as we left at 5 pm.  It's rare to have the falls illuminated by the sunshine as it's on the south side of a very tall cliff and is in the shade most of the year.

The Falls are getting more crowded each year.. even on a Thursday now we had trouble getting through the traffic to our parking spot reserved for USFS trucks and the afternoon volunteers.  We had a busy day and one medical emergency, a man had fallen and dislocated his shoulder!  Thank goodness the USFS has hired an EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) and he handled the situation.  

We will be decorating our gazebo for the 4th of July which is on Monday.  We'll go up to the Corbett parade, my sister Denise and husband Steve are coming out to watch with us and then we'll come back here and have a BBQ on the deck.  If you celebrate the 4th of July - I hope you have a wonderful one!  It's when we Americans celebrate our Independence.. :-)  ((hugs)), Teresa :-)