The Golden Rectangle, also called the perfect rectangle, is a rectangle in which the ratio of its length to its width is an exact representation of the Golden Ratio . Many believe that this is one of the most visually pleasing of all geometric shapes. and it appears in many works of art and architecture.  The Parthenon of ancient Greece is the most famous example of the use of the golden rectangle. People also find the golden rectangle in the Mona Lisa, and many other Renaissance art works. Now to be technical for a moment, in geometry, a golden rectangle is a rectangle whose side lengths ..read more

Every month is so different.  Some months everyone wants to do big bold pieces of glass.  Some months we make loads of dichroic jewellery, and some months we do birthday events: well, this was a month of birthdays, and it was so much fun for everyone! My friend booked her mum and her mother in law into one of my workshops.  It was a special family treat for the three of them as a “family birthday” event. With a judicious stop for coffee purchasing on the way (well, this is Melbourne, after all!) the workshop began. Each of them wanted to make a 25cms x 25cms plate.  (I gave ..read more

  The Golden Rectangle, also called the perfect rectangle, is a rectangle in which the ratio of its length to its width is an exact representation of the Golden Ratio . Many believe that this is one of the most visually pleasing of all geometric shapes. and it appears in many works of art and architecture.  The Parthenon of ancient Greece is the most famous example of the use of the golden rectangle. People also find the golden rectangle in the Mona Lisa, and many other Renaissance art works. Now to be technical for a moment, in geometry, a golden rectangle is a rectangle whose side ..read more

  Sometimes “less” is just enough.  Especially when it comes to colour. This little blog is about the joy of white glass and the many ways I’m using it at the moment.  You can order  any of these pieces in any of my “normal” sizes.  Just let me know. River Marne My favourite all white glass design is one that takes a lot of patient work to produce but I love the outcome so I keep making it.  Here goes: the design is called RIVER MARNE.  Its in France. The Celts of Gaul worshipped a goddess known as Dea Matrona (the “divine mother goddess”) who was associate ..read more

  All crystal is glass, but not all glass is crystal. How does that work? What is the difference between glass and crystal? Well, your trusty glass artists is here again to explain the differences and similarities between these two versatile materials. The term crystal is often used to refer to glassware that has a more fine and elegant form. However, that is not the official difference between these two materials. So, what type of glass is crystal? Can it be recycled? And how are they different? Glass Glass is an inert and natural material, made from raw materials that are abundant ..read more

Every month is so different.  Some months everyone wants to do big bold pieces of glass some months we make loads of dichroic jewellery, and some months we do birthday events: well, this was a month of birthdays, and it was so much fun for everyone! My friend booked her mum and her mother in law into one of my workshops.  It was a special family treat for the three of them as a “family birthday” event. With a judicious stop for coffee purchasing on the way (well, this is Melbourne, after all!) the workshop began.  Each of them wanted to make a 25cms x 25cms plate.  (I gave ..read more

Kimberley came to my studio on the weekend, and did my Alcohol ink workshop. She’s more than half way through DRY JULY and said this would be the perfect way for me to catch up with my friends – provided she could have a glass of vino – when DRY JULY has finished, of course!  She thought Sip and Ink would be the perfect way to enjoy a regular a catch-up night with her girlfriends.  So here we are!  The antidote to DRY JULY!  (Dry July is a great idea, of course, and I’m truly delighted to say that she’s made more than double her initial donation to DRY JULY.  If you ar ..read more

As you know, from time to time I blog about wonderful weird words for you to learn. Here’s this week’s crop! Synecdoche Synecdoche is a really interesting word: it comes from the Greek word meaning simultaneous understanding. It is a type of figurative speech used as attaching a characteristic (natural or human) to a non-human object. Some good examples for synecdoche include the substitution of “bling” for jewelry or “boots” for soldiers.  Also, a synecdoche is a figure of speech in which a term for a part of something refers to the whole of something or vice versa. Clinomania Clinomania ..read more

Petrichor (n.) What is Petrichor? You know I love weird words. Well, today’s is Petrichor. It’s the pleasant, earthy smell you notice after rain. Petrichor is the scent produced when rain falls on dry soil.  The word is constructed from Ancient Greek πέτρα ‘rock’, or πέτρος ‘stone’, and ἰχώρ, the ethereal fluid that is the blood of the gods in Greek mythology. The human nose is very sensitive to geosmin – a chemical (C12H22O) released by dead microbes (commonly Streptomyces bacteria) – and we are able to detect it at very low concentrations. Some scientists believe that humans appreciate ..read more

‘Ink schmink’, I hear you say. Can inks and alcohol inks really be all that interesting? Well, yes, they surely can! Artists have always worked with ink, while alcohol markers, or artist markers, as they are known today, are a more recent invention. Read on and learn all about this fascinating medium throughout history, right up to today. Inks throughout History History is full of ink. From Paleolithic cave paintings to parchment scrolls to printed books, ink has recorded human history for over 100 millennia. Even the Kindle makes use of e-ink (a reusable ink that sits just below the surface o ..read more