After spending a myriad of hours on my website in the last two months I know how much work, and time, entailed in creating and keeping a website up to date.

OOPSSSS…need to go …My hubby is here!!!!!!!!!

I’m getting ready for my road trip to Salem, Oregon and Bellevue, Washington in July.  I’m hoping everyone comes to my booth and buys something!

I’ve been making my beaded necklaces for decades . After I started collecting African Trades beads in the 70′s I didn’t really know “How I would use them”, but, I knew they would find their way into my work. Over the years I adorned my glasswork with these and other beads. My Aku Ba Dolls and Verre VuVu dolls  utilized these beads with great abundance. At the same time, I started creating my necklaces for myself and as gifts. The numbers started growing as did my enjoyment!  now, as previously requested, I will be putting my necklaces on line.

LOOK OUT

Hi out there, This isn’t a big note. I just wanted to let you know I’m getting ready for my Carefree, Arizona Show. I’m working on my Shawn Athari newsletter and hope to get it out in time. Just in case you don’t receive it in time, print this note out to receive an extra 25 % off the show price. I’m celebrating being back!! All my African glass styles and Pacific Northwest styles have some new colors. I have some new glass ties that aren’t on my website yet but I’ll bring them. They are so cute. If you want to order from the website put in the code 25off so you’ll get 25% off the web price.

I’m still making my glass fish after 35 years and still enjoying creating them. They are better and more detailed than ever before.

My metal and glass chairs are going to be designed with needlepoint seats. Once again combining my contemporary glass art with the charm and warmth of needlepoint.

My newest glass Totem Pole is being done with so many new glass colors,  it is really exciting.

I just made a new glass Whale with a new red and blue, what a great combination. I will have to buy a glass Whale for MYSELF!  I’d love to display one in my entryway. I have so much light pouring into my entryway that I think my glass colors will POP!

I need to go and work on my, “Shawn Athari” newsletter so you can get it in time, so, SEE YOU SOON!!

In March after my annual L Quinta Art Show I went to the Doctor because my knee ( I had a very successful knee replacement in 2005) had been swollen. My doctor removed some fluid and gave me a cortisone shot. the fluid was tested in the lab at 1, 2 and 5 days and found to be negative, free of any infection. HOWEVER, within three days I couldn’t walk and went to urgent care. My white cell count was very high and the doctor removed some fluid from my knee again. THIS TIME it was immediately found that my knee was infected. I had to undergo emergency surgery to remove the grossly infected tissue in my knee.  Great!, the doctor had given me a staph infection. Following surgery I went home with a piccline (in home intravenous) whereas I had to administer Vancomycin twice a day through the piccline. Unfortunately this did not work. Next, I had a surgery to remove the knee replacement which was the start of a total knee revision. The knee was replaced with cement which was encrusted with antibiotics that were dispersed locally concomitant with a piccline AGAIN. A nurse came twice a week to change the line and a physical therapist came three times a week. I couldn’t do much and was mostly bedridden with an occasional spin in my private wheelchair for three months. In October the infection seemed to be gone so I had a third surgery to put in a new knee. Since everything had been removed this time the new knee had to be anchored with a titanium rod through the bone in my lower leg and upper thigh. I requested the titanium be anodized purple but I was turned down! From October to December I was non-weight bearing on my right leg so it was a wheelchair or hopping with a walker. I think this was the hardest time for me. It’s December and I finally feel a little better, and am hopeful that I am finally on the true road to recovery.It will be 10 months from my last show, to going to Carefree Arizona in January. I’m nervous and excited. I can finally put weight on my leg, and for those of you who “Know me”, I am overdoing it…and LOVING IT!!!  (easy does it, Shawn!).

It is awesome to be somewhat independent again. I can finally drive….YEAH!!

This year I also lost my “Dear mother”. It was a horrible 4 weeks from the time she fell and the weeks that followed in the hospital, seeing her daily. I still start to call her and ‘share’ that something special or just because I haven’t heard her voice for a while. I’m told it will be a long time before these feelings change. I really don’t mind since it brings her presence to the present .I LIKE THAT.

Everything else is moving along, as life does. I cherish my family and friends, am grateful I still get a “Buzz” from creating my glass art, love the garden, and, most of all, look forward to continuing on this ‘path’ I call, “Be here now.”

Thank you for being there and reading this. It is my hope we meet again in 2010 and that I get to share my newest glass styles for you to feast your eyes on.

SHAWN

Pacific Northwest mask

This wonderful mask is said to represent a human face. The colors around the mouth reflects the sun. This glass mask looks best with a black face with layer upon layer of colors. A lot dichroic glass is used to highlight the design. I like the Haida mask on a Lucite stand but it is beautifully viewed when mounted directly on the wall.

African mask

This Aduma mask is near and dear to my heart. it was the introduction of Large black images with a large palette of dichroic glass, my poured pieces and a sprinkling of lamp worked pieces. Most of these glass designs are about 29″ tall, 14″ wide and may be displayed on a stand, directly on the wall or put in a Lucite case. Coincidentally, most of  these are of African descent.

Pacific Northwest Wolf

This Pacific Northwest wolf is one of the few profile glass images I make. It’s shape is a slight  change in direction for me. My fused glass  really do suggest themselves to me while creating my glass sculptures.

After 30 + years of making glass fish, I’m still not tired of creating these little cuties. I’ve been thinking about a new shape fish and have come to the conclusion that an elongated  one with more dimension

African Fish

would add an interesting mix to the school I’ve already created.