Natali Baird is a glass artist based in Guelph, Ontario. She is a fellow member of the Grand River Bead Society. We bonded soon after I joined and have been fast friends ever since. So it is a real pleasure to showcase her flame working skills here. She uses primarily borosilicate (pyrex) and soda lime (soft) glass.
Natali lives and breathes art and has done so all her life. A graduate of Sheridan College (glass design) and the University of Windsor's Fine Arts program (sculpture), she has participated in many juried shows.
She also sells on Etsy She is a trained Artist- Educator and has taught adults as well as school children. I enjoy listening to her stories about her latest teaching program during our lunch dates!
Natali is known for her exquisite hand made glass hearts. They are unlike any others I have seen before. Dainty with sweet little points at the bottom and unusual side bails. Some make for delicate pendants and others are small enough to be used as charms for bracelets and earrings. Natali takes
custom orders for her specialty hearts and other items in her Etsy store. (Think Valentine's Day!)
The swirls of colors are gorgeous - no two are exactly alike. Natali explains, "I love mixing my own colors, and experiment with different types of flames and heat, all of which create different effects."
Natali's main source of inspiration is nature. She is especially fond of underwater creatures, both real and mythical which is reflected in her other designs. My favorites from the sea collection are her fish ornaments. Each is utterly different - with big eyes and pointy lips! Some, I swear, have sassy expressions!
Her jelly fish ornaments are also fun with their fancy yarn tentacles! Natali's booth designs are also distinctive. I have helped out for a bit at some of her shows and can attest it is like entering an underwater grotto which has been decorated by a mermaid or two! Who knew blue scalloped shower curtains could double as the grotto walls? Natali is a refreshingly different kind of artist. And I am not saying that because I am a friend!
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Natali at the Fair November (Guelph) Show |
Giveaway
If you'd like to
win $35 worth of Natali's art glass , please make a comment below. Make sure you leave contact info below if you do not have an online shop or blog.
Email subscribers need to scroll down the post they receive, click on Share Comment and enter your comment. Pick Name/URL. If you don't have a store or blog, leave the URL blank.
This giveaway is international.
Extra entries if you become or are a blog subscriber or follower etc. If you also do shout outs about this giveaway, those will count as additional entries too! Please say so in the comments.
It ends in a week's time at
6 pm EST Monday, February 1 , 2016. I will pick the winner randomly and announce the results as soon as possible after. So be sure to leave a contact email if you don't have an online link or make sure you come back and check! Otherwise I will redraw in a week. Good luck!
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