Happy Holidays!

Sharing family traditions passed down from generation to generation are what make the holidays special. Cooking old favorites like bourbon glazed ham and baking Christmas cookies top my list. Its fun to get the whole family involved in measuring the ingredients, mixing the cookie batter and shaping the dough.

We started last Sunday and the baking went on till Thursday! That afternoon, I pulled out my sticky, old cook books and a smudged file folder full of loose papers. While sorting the pages in the folder I came across dog eared and faded hand-written recipes, given to me by my mother-in-law. I couldn’t help but show the kids the browned papers covered with her neat, curly script and share the fond memories I have from years of baking Christmas cookies with her. When the day was done, we had mixed nine varieties including my favorite, Santa’s Whiskers. Santa’s Whiskers are sweet sugar cookie dough mixed with red and green cherries, then rolled in coconut. The coconut coating browns during baking, making a crispy golden fringe that resembles whiskers.

In keeping with tradition, we’re going to share the love and give cookies away to friends and family. In keeping with my inventory reduction plan, they’ll be delivered in decorative vases.

Hearts Take Flight 

FREE pattern download on www.LisaVogt.net

http://www.lisavogt.net/classes/HeartTakesWing.pdf

My gift to you is simple, but it comes from the heart. The butterfly is a symbol of change, beauty and hope. I offer a pattern, Hearts Take Flight, to you. It’s a small gesture, a tribute to love and compassion and a sign of hope and healing.

                                                     

The pattern is available free on my website. It’s drawn for fused glass but can easily be adapted to mosaic or stained glass techniques. The small version is intended to hang in a window or on your tree.  

Best wishes for a happy holiday filled with love and laughter.  

Cherish the moment, 

Lisa

Creative Gifting

Flowers are a passion of mine and I’m frequently given arrangements. The local florist delivers so often they actually wire one dog biscuit per puppy right into each arrangement. And so my office/studio buddies are as excited to see the deliveryman as I am.  The problem was I ran out of space to store all the pretty vases I’d collected.

They were too nice to throw in the trash, so I made it a personal goal to figure out a creative way to share them. I started small by giving a neighbor a vase full of chocolate chip cookies. Another one brimming with crackers was purposely left behind at a party. I admit it was getting out of control when I sent Joe’s uncle home after dinner with a fluted vase full of pot roast. But I was on a mission.

It was about this time last year that the perfect idea came to me. I purchased a variety of colorful, individually wrapped seasonal candy. After stuffing the vases with chocolates, caramels, peppermints and butterscotch, I tied candy canes around the neck with a festive bow. I gave them to neighbors, friends and family. The re-gifting was a huge success. Everyone loved the pretty vases and thought filling them with candy was so clever.

Now it’s December, and again I find myself with an overstock of vases. After some careful thought, I’ve decided that home-made Christmas cookies will be the filler this year. Baking cookies is a family tradition we enjoy every year. And the best part of this new plan is I can bake to my hearts content and the cookies won’t be around to tempt me for weeks afterwards.

Here’s to another triumphant holiday season!  

  

Website news

New this week on www.LisaVogt.net

Art Wear: signed, one-of-a-kind dichroic pendants with leather cord and silver findings. 

Clocks-Form and Function: kiln formed clocks with contemporary style.

Vintage Series: elegantly detailed votives and dishes.

Art and Function you’ll find ten fresh, new botanical themed pieces. 

Endless Summer series has six new breezy dishes.

FREE shipping and handling on all orders shipped in the continental US.

Last week to SAVE $100.00 on class tuition!

For your convenience, you can now register for my 4-Day, hands-on classes Fused Vessel Sinks and More Feb, 5-8, 2013 and Cast Away Feb 19-22, 2013 on the website. Click Shop, then Classes and Workshops.

Now on e-Bay

Two, one-of-a-kind kites are up for auction on eBay

Search: Bird of Paradise Kite fused glass art and

Princess Kite mini fused glass art

Make dreams come true. Dig deep, 100% of the Princess Kite sale will be donated to my daughter’s Interscholastic Equestrian Association team. Bid starts at $10.00!

During this joyous season of giving I wish all the best to you and yours. And if you happen to be in the neighborhood, stop by we’d love to see you. Just be warned, I probably have a vase full of pasta salad with your name on it.

Health and happiness,
Lisa

You’re Awesome!

Published Art- Cherry Blossom Vase

It’s been an amazing week. The overwhelming response and positive feedback I’ve gotten on the updated Lisa Vogt web site is incredible! I’ve heard encouraging comments from friends all over the country and as far away as the Netherlands! I’ve enjoyed seeing your familiar faces on Facebook and look forward to keeping in touch with you there. The site has also attracted so many new visitors. The traffic exceeded my expectations and the shopping activity has been phenomenal! I feel incredibly fortunate to be part of such a generous community. Thank you!

Grinch intervention! Treat yourself to a little studio time and check a few holiday gifts off your list at the same time. December is looming, but there’s still time to make the fast and fun projects you’ll find in Fireworks, available at your art glass supplier and on Amazon.

Glass fusing is enjoyed worldwide. Thanks to Friederike who wrote from the Netherlands this week with kind words and to order my books!

New Art Wear on www.LisaVogt.net

Dew Drops are one-of-a-kind, kiln-formed pendants. They’re fashioned with an assortment of exotic metallic glasses that magically shift colors in the light.

Only 3 seats left in the Fused Vessel Sinks & More and Cast Away Classes.

Register by December 15^th and SAVE $100.00 on tuition.

Publishing News

Glass Fused Projects Magazine - Winter 2012

Check out my article, Embossing Made easy in the winter 2012 issue of Fused Glass Projects, a downloadable magazine now live and available at

www.fused-glass-projects.com

Congratulations Kelly!

Dead Like Me, friend and critique partner Kelly Miller’s debut murder mystery novel was released this week. I was lucky enough to read her book in advance of publication. Kelly's book is well written with authentic characters and a page-turning plot that delivers all the way to the shocking finale.    

In an interview, Kelly was kind enough to answer some questions about her book.

Lisa: What is your debut novel, Dead Like Me, about?

Kelly: Homicide Detective Kate Springer is on edge after a two-week mandatory leave due to an officer involved shooting. Her first case back, she’s blindsided when she discovers she shares a link with Tampa’s newest murder victim. A troubled teen found strangled and dumped in a remote part of town. The bond between them threatens to expose Detective Springer’s past—a past she’s been hell bent on keeping secret. When the killer finally emerges from the shadows, Kate finds her secrets aren’t the only thing on the line, so is her life.

Lisa: How is Dead Like Me different from other mysteries?

Kelly: I don’t just tell the story, I shed light on what’s going on in the main character’s head. What Kate’s feeling and why those feelings lead her down a certain path. Mysteries today are full of great plot twists but as a voracious reader of this genre, I’ve always wanted writers to get into the head of their characters more. So I wrote the book I always wanted to read.

Share the love and show support for a local writer. You can order your copy of Kelly’s book Dead Like Me by visiting her web site.  Kelly Miller, www.kellymillerauthor.com

Visit next week for exciting writing news.

All the best,

Lisa

Happy Holidays!



Stirring, cast glass sculpture. 



You’re invited to visit www.LisaVogt.net my updated website where you can now purchase signed, Lisa Vogt originals for a limited time. Prices start as low as $6.00, with most items under $50.00.  

As the year’s end approaches, I find myself mentally going over my 2012 to-do list. It’s been a year with challenges, change and growth. Though there are still a few things on my list, including finishing my novel, I’m pleased to say it is shorter now than when the year began.

As I frantically try to calculate how to cram everything left on the list into the last few weeks, I have to remember that, like it or not, the holiday season is here. And this time of year is not about deadlines or rushing to the mall to find the perfect gift. The holidays are about connecting with people, friends and family. I remind myself to slow down and enjoy the company of those close to me, because the most cherished gift one can give or receive comes from the heart. The gift that outlasts all others is your time. 

Let’s keep in touch; join me on Facebook, Lisa J Vogt.

http://www.facebook.com/#!/LisaJVogt

Be generous,

Lisa

Updated classes for 2013.

Note the February 19-22 class has changed from fusing to advanced casting.

Sign up by the early registration deadline, December 15, 2013 and receive a $100.00 discount on tuition.

 

Fused Vessel Sink, 4-Day Workshop

Hands on / All skill levels

February 5-8, 2013

Location: Wesley Chapel, FL

Kiln formed sinks are the hottest functional art glass topic today! In this class, Lisa will teach you the many advanced techniques used to make these lavish basins.  She’ll cover the many processes used to create large vessels, concepts for design and color selection, plus much more. 

Beginner and advanced students alike will gain valuable knowledge that they can apply immediately to push their work to an exciting, new level of sophistication.

Each student will leave class with several projects, a large vessel, process outlines and the technical information needed to fire at home. With the professional tricks and secrets revealed, you will be ready to dive in and take the fused sink plunge!

 

Cast Away! 4-Day Fusing Workshop

Hands on / All skill levels

February 19-22, 2013

Location: Wesley Chapel, FL

Think big, think heavy, think glass casting!  In this class, Lisa will teach you several innovative techniques she uses to cast large scale and small scale works of art.  You will be guided and shown step-by-step how to design, build and fire in your own custom made casting molds.  Beginner and advanced students alike will gain valuable knowledge that they can apply immediately to push their work to an exciting, new level. Students will make several projects, and leave class with process outlines and technical information. Your new found abilities will have your mind whirling in new creative directions, ready to seek new shores, drifting, exploring, literally cast away!

WANTED! Missing Muse

Titan tries to help.

At the FWA conference last weekend I sat in on a session titled, Finding Your Voice, with literary agent Nicole Resciniti and author Amanda Carlson. Both ladies were friendly, inspiring, generous speakers. Throughout the presentation Amanda repeatedly said to keep writing, keep trying. When something doesn’t work, scrap it, you can do better. “You can do better.”

It’s been one of those weeks. I put in the time. You know, butt in the chair. But I couldn’t get the ideas onto the screen let alone, reduce them to tight, meaningful sentences. My head felt like an over-inflated helium balloon.

Finally, I resorted to sitting on the floor with a drawing pad and rainbow markers. There, I wrote anything and everything that came to mind. Ten scribbled pages later I was still clueless as to how to write the paragraph I was struggling with.

Even though it was dinner time, I debated cleaning the shower. I’m not sure if it’s the mindless chore that spurs inspiration or being in a confined space with strong chemicals. Anyway, the shower had already been cleaned earlier in the week and the kids were hungry, so I cooked instead.

Tyke thinks we should sleep on it.

In the middle of the night the ideal phrase, the perfect words, woke me up. They fluttered across my mind as lightly as a butterfly. They were so simple and familiar they seemed to have been there all along.

I’m happy to say the paragraph is written and best of all, it’s really sharp. It was a tedious effort but Amanda was right. I can do better.

You can too!

On the lighter side.  

Salads get a bad wrap! Get creative with your salads. They can be satisfying culinary delights. Here’s one of my recent weird-o salads. Give it a try, it’s delicious. 

Ingredients:

Chopped cucumber

Canned garbanzo beans 

Cubed ham

Diced onion

Cherry tomatoes

Crumbled Feta

Fresh chopped cilantro

Italian salad dressing

Combine ingredients. Toss. Chill. Share.

Enjoy!

Lisa

On the Road

Wow! Am I enjoying all the motivating sessions and super friendly people here at the Florida Writers Association Annual Conference in Orlando. Can't wait to get back home and use these helpful nuggets in my manuscript.

Write on!
Lisa

Victim of auto-correct!

 Yesterday, while riding in the passenger seat of my car, I hammered out an email on my phone. My permit-carrying 15 year-old daughter was driving. Her new boyfriend was in the back seat. Somehow, HE was in control of the music, the volume and the play list. What they called so cool, I called scream-o DEVIL music. Needless to say I was a little distracted but still tried tapping the email to my critique group. I wanted to let them know that I was having trouble with a chapter in my novel and wouldn’t be submitting anything for this weeks meeting. Before hitting the send button, I realized the phone auto-corrected my message. I quickly deleted it and wrote a generic, “No submission this week,” for the sake of giving the ladies adequate notice.  

The hurried original message read: I won't be submitting this week. This chapter is licking my butt.

Hope you get as big a laugh out of it as I did.

Life’s little pleasures.  

• Morning temperatures under 60 degrees
• Sleeping puppies
• Jessie’s hugs
• Niki’s laugh
• Good friends
• Unconditional love  <3

Find this spooky pattern and other holiday treats in FireWorks
now available at your art glass supplier.

Cinderella

Proof that shoes can change your life.

Make it a great day!
Lisa