NEW Shop Update

I've been a busy bee working away these last few weeks of winter and getting ready for spring (sigh, spring....).

In the coming weeks, you can expect to see a bunch of changes in my glass shop, Penny Glass Girl and even more in my new shop Gibsons Landing which will open at the end of February.

Today I began with listing these key chains which are new to the Penny Glass Girl line.

New Items For Fall!

It's been a while since I've been able to post new work. Major construction and renovation delays have made working in my studio difficult these days, so I am thrilled to have had the chance to produce some new work over the last few weeks (finally!) and get it listed (finally!). The idea for these new necklaces have been running through my mind for quite some time, it was such a relief to actualize them and so satisfying to see them in reality. It's such a great felling when a piece turns out even better than I pictured:)

I do hope that you'll stop by and see all the new pieces being added to the shop this week. xxoo Penny

Finally Spring

I came across this pilliow from syko which makes me REALLY happy because it reminds me that spring will indeed appear and this very long winter will be over soon. The whole shop is full of lovely spring themed items to get my spirits up.

It is finally good weather here (as a Canadian I am hesitant to say that spring has actually arrived lest we get one more dumping of snow - eek!).

For now, I will luxuriate in this great day and enjoy the coming of spring.

Happy Weekend

Letting Go

Just let it go art print , HoneyBoo

Ok, confession time. I am not good at letting go.

If I feel like I haven't done something perfectly, or worse, if I feel like I have failed at something, I can't seem to tell myself, "oh well, better luck next time". Instead, I sit and stew and brood or abandon an idea althogether.

Take this blog for example. I love to post here, and when I started my "new things" project, I was even more excited. I loved the chalenge of pushing myself out of my comfort zone and doing something new. But as soon as I started messing up, missing a day here and there, or hitting an obstacle (like not being perfect at something I tried), I stopped.

I don't know why I'm like this. I think part of it is personality: I'm stubborn, I'm a perfectionist, I work hard because I don't know any other way, I expect a lot from myself. So why, I have been asking myself, do I beat myself up about it? I like these qualities about myself, in fact, I think that all these traits have lead to great success over the years - both personally and professionally.

After months of brooding and contemplation, I think I have found the answer, I need to LET THINGS GO. I need to start now. I need to be able to fail, learn from it, and move on.

So, I think I'm ready to continue with my New Things Porject today. My new thing, beginning to LET GO, forgive myself and see what is really important in life.



Just Let It Go by Jessica Simanowski

Bubbles are Fun

I've been doing these small stained glass pieces on my etsy site, the series is entitled, "Bubbles".

It has been great to dabble in stained glass again after a break whileI have concentrated on fusing. I forgot how fun soldering is - an how hot, ouch!

It's fun to see the all the different ways I can design within the same confines. Each piece has been very different.

Looking for other e avenues....

I began looking to sell my goods in other places in the last few weeks...
I love etsy and the supportive community I found there, and now I need to expand. So far, my investigation has turned up DaWanda as a good place to sell across the pond, so off I go on another e adventure.

For someone so young (relatively speaking) I have somehow missed the tech gene. My husband (V.P. of a tech company) makes fun of my lack of skill and constant questions: What's a "thread" and how the heck am I supposed to keep it alive? (aren't I responsible for enough lives already?). What is the difference between a "hit" a "mark" or a....well I don't care just get me there!

I vow today, to brush up on my "e language" and not be left behind in the e merchant world. I go forth from here. Look for my new shop www.en.dawanda.com/shop/pennyglassgirl (coming soon, if I can figure this out in euros!).

Penny Glass Girl Finally Begins a Blog!

I have been making art my entire life, but fell in love with glass about six years ago. I began selling to friends and family, then friends of friends, then family of friends, then to retail, then online...before I knew it I had started to build a small but fullfilling business that I could work into my full-time parent schedule.

It all began when....
My husband dragged me to a stained glass class so that we could have an activity only adults could do after the birth of our first child. He quickly became the "teacher's pet" as his mechanical skill was far superior, but after many, many late nights I fell in love - with glass!

Light drives me....
I love the way light can pass through glass and totally transform it. My sons, although only seven and three, already marvel at my creations and beg me to put them up to a window to view them. I love that I have instilled this appreciation for glass, and all its reflective qualities, in them at such a young age.

I just had to start melting stuff...
About a year ago, I was no longer content to make cold glass and was inspired by a local lampwork class. After an attempt at making lampwork beads however, I realized that this was not for me. While at the studio, I inquired about glass fusing, and decided to dive right in. I bought a kiln, all the supplies and decided that I could teach myself. I was amazed when my first, second, then third attempts were successful - again I fell deeper in love. Like most relationships, all it takes is a little background research and many sleepless nights!

Glass has given me the ability to take all the colours and shapes floating around my head and translate them into art, while challenging my technical abilities. When I'm in my studio I get to use the Parts of myu brain that were dusty from parenting duties and give me more to pass on to my kids, a deep appreciation of an age old artform and their mother - the glass artist.

www.pennyglassgirl.etsy.com