Recycled stained glass trophies

When Radhika Deshpande, a well-known face in the Marathi TV and film industry asked me if I could make stained glass trophies for her organisation, I was thrilled.

I had never made any trophies for anybody before this. Never ever.

10 Trophies and 54 medals in glass was her idea to encourage and celebrate young talent, a bunch of teenagers that were graduating from her organisation in Pune called β€˜RadhikaCreations’.

The idea was to make wearable art in glass replacing the usual boring medals.
Interestingly Radhika asked me to make the glass pendants for both girls and boys with crystal beads at the end and it looked simple yet bright and catchy.

For the trophies, the initial plan was to make the base in wood and it seemed the most practical option against a metal base which would have been over the top expensive for both of us.

While I started cutting the Peacock trophy (which is actually a part of her logo) I thought and asked Radhika if we could use the half cut wine bottle base as the base for the trophy rather than getting it made in wood. To create an example Of recycled and upcycled version of glass art.

 

For all the wine bottles that I cut to make wind chimes, the base is either gifted or used at the studio to store tools and I thought it would make an excellent base for the trophy.

To fit the stained glass trophy, floral plants with a bit of earth into these bases was just perfect. We set an example of recycling, gifting plants and an art form of Tiffany style stained glass trophy, and it worked out beautifully. You can see the pictures πŸ™‚

You need to meet fellow artists and clients like Radhika who believe in your work, and take you creative inputs positively, what else does an artist crave for? πŸ™‚ Thank you Radhika.

 

 

 

 

AND my work is always incomplete till my friend and photographer Suchi Govindarajan captured it.
Thank you Suchi πŸ™‚

Butterfly tea-light holders for your Home

The story of my butterfly wall tea-light holders goes back to 2009. I was a fresh student/ artist of stained glass work and I had made a 2D version of a one sided butterfly in stained glass. In December 2009, when the management at Olive Beach restaurant (Wood St. Bangalore) called me for their Christmas decor, they were keen on having tea light holders on their wall opposite the bar and as I got busy suggesting design for the same, the manager there asked me if I can convert the 2D butterfly into a 3D design and give it a small flat glass piece at the back to keep the candle, and I was thrilled at the idea.

‘This’ is the design I made then, about 12 butterflies were made and put up at Olive Beach πŸ™‚ only to have put aside later, as this is a tedious and mathematical design to be honest. Re-introducing these butterflies once again, after my friend and my photographer @Suchi insisted that this must be re-crafted and believed in the design.

Here I am, introducing these first batch at the beautiful store ‘Timri’ in Indiranagar, Bangalore. Come, see it for yourself πŸ™‚

Times of India – WhatsHot.in features Glasshopper

Glasshopper is featured in the The Times of India’s online edition – ‘What’s hot .in’ Bengaluru edition πŸ™‚

#CitySecrets: A Studio In Indiranagar For Stained Glass Goodies.

To the point: Glasshopper is reviving the art of stained glass with door and window panels, lamps and then using the remainder of shards and pieces for mosaics, windchimes, suncatchers, broaches and more.

Sarus Nirhali left the drab courtrooms a few years back and moved to the colourful world of stained glass. Working from a cute studio in Indiranagar, Glasshopper is all about reviving the rare art of Tiffany-style original stained glass in Bangalore.

Read more here.

Thank you Kanika for the feature.

Brooch is a sell-out and now introducing Dragonflies

Brooch! is a sell-out!!

It’s NOT just a decorative pin, it’s a personal style. The most versatile yet under-utilised accessory, here is my humble attempt to bring the brooches back into fashion. I have hand crafted these in bold colours and patterns, in original stained glass and in the most unique designs of which these are the first pattern that I am unveiling.

While most of the jewellery and accessory is intended to be used in a specific way, the possibilities of placing the brooch are endless

My friends and me found some styles of ‘How to wear it’ and now it’s your turn to make it a part of YOUR style.

Because…. ‘Placement is the key

Photographs by – Suchi Govindrajan, Style guru – Nivedita Barve & Suchi Govindrajan

I was anxious and at the same time nervous about how well the bird brooches would do with everyone following my work when I first made these.

After many trials and failed attempts, I was happy with the product design which was appealing and strong at the same time. The anxious ‘me’ made 250 brooches in one go and I am thrilled to share that it has been a sell out!!!!

I started making another batch day before yesterday as I must take these for my upcoming exhibition on Sunday, the 28th May 2017 at the Bold creative, Indiranagar and also send some to the gorgeous store ‘Timri’ in Indiranagar, Bangalore.

Thank you!!!! To all of you who wrote to me and bought the brooches in numbers, for yourself and for your friends and family.

But the brooches are not over yet. I shall start making the next batch from Monday, and you can still select the colours and place your orders πŸ™‚

Now… as you can see the Dragonflies here which is my newest design at Glasshopper πŸ™‚ The design has a story of its own and I shall share it soon. It’s an original design and before I roll them out on my website for purchase, I have made a small number for Timri and for my Sunday exhibition. It has over 20 colour combinations and it’s a stained glass jewel for your gardens and balconies.

The fabulous store Timri where I have been displaying and selling my artwork for more than a year now is exhibiting at VR MALL Bengaluru as a part of the OWC summer bazaar, Sunday, May 28th 2017 from 11am to 9 pm.
I am introducing and launching my very first batch of ‘dragonfly’ garden sticks and of course the ‘bird brooches’ and many other things
Whitefield junta please go grab some awesome jewellery and accessories from Timri and also Glasshopper stained glass πŸ™‚ πŸ™‚

That’s not all !!!

I am exhibiting my work at ‘The bold exhibits’ coming Sunday, May 28th 2017. It is one of the best curated event that Bangalore is all set to witness. Such amazing artists, designers and film makers have become a part of this fantastic event that you cannot afford to miss. The event has been featured in ‘The Hindu’ on May 27th and talks about all the exhibitors participating at the bold exhibits

See you on Sunday and wait for more individual photographs and the story in the upcoming week.

Bangalore, hope to see you at the Bold exhibits πŸ™‚

Recycle – Reuse – Refurbish

Sandra Fernandez first met me and interviewed me in the year 2012 while she was working with a print media startup. Back then, she was curious about my wine bottle recycling, although the article that came out back then did not really talk about recycling, I am glad she remembered my work and thought of me for this Bangalore Times article on glass bottle recycling.
This one was featured on April 3rd, 2017 and here it is –

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Sold-Out at Kala Ghoda Arts Festival, 2017

It’s the first time ever that I decided to take the plunge and take my work outside Bangalore, my comfort zone.

It was a late decision, I had a few dozen things in stock that I had made for a bazaar but for some reason I could not attend it. Plus I was super excited about doing what I truly enjoy, the larger, much bigger stained glass door panels. But then I wanted my work to travel and I chose Mumbai and Kala Ghoda Arts Festival.
The day I went for the interview with my products, the love, warmth and confidence I received that day is unforgettable, the panel was waiting for me, they had seen my website and were welcoming and warm, at the end of the interview the products that I took with me were purchased by a panel member.

The event itself was overwhelming and 1400 plus handmade stained glass products that we made were sold out one day before the last day of the exhibition.
All this and the final sell out would not have been happened without our friends and family, it would have been an impossible task altogether.

The photographs below say it all that happened on Saturday 11th February 2017 at my stall.

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I made 600 birds and I am overwhelmed, not just by the sale, by the re-re-re sale to the people who kept coming back twice/thrice to buy more to gift their family and friends πŸ™‚

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GlassHopper was featured as one of the 10 ‘Fresh Fantastic Makers You Can’t Miss’ at Kala Ghoda Arts Festival

10 Fresh Fantastic Makers You Can’t Miss At The Kala Ghoda Arts Festival 2017

Model/Actor/YouTuber Vaibhav Talwar features Glasshopper as his favorite stall at #HTKGAF17 in his video blog that beautifully covers the entire event, Thank You!

 

ABP Majha Ghe Bharari – does an exclusive video on Glasshopper at Kala Ghoda Arts Festival. This was aired on ABP Majha on Feb 13, 2017 and you can watch the video online now.

#THANKYOU #MUMBAI and the #HTKGAF for all the warmth and support.
Gratitude and love towards everyone who stopped by, bought my work, appreciated and extended best wishes.

 

Glasshopper at Kala Ghoda Arts Festival, 2017

 

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Glasshopper is thrilled to be part of one of India’s biggest arts festival. Even bigger is the fact that it would be the first time original stained glass would be featured at this event. It is a big moment for us.

Here are some of the designs that I am launching at this festival and look forward to taking them to the #HTKGAF17 audience.

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The 2D birds are back as garden sticks. These lovely birds will beautify your garden and balconies. Use them in the pots or stick them into the earth in your lovely gardens. Available in various color combinations.

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These are tiny butterflies that I have made in over 30 different colours.
You can wrap these up anywhere you wish to. On a branch of a tree, to a rod, on a window pane, just anywhere. The long copper wire won’t be seen at all

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Vintage map pendant – available in different sizes and for various custom locations.

So glad that ‘Glasshopper’ is mentioned and written about in the ‘inside story‘ Of the KGAF 2017.
Thank you Bhavia Thakkar for choosing my work in your write up

The Hindu also featured us as one of the 3 dark horses for the #HTKGAF17, do read!

See you at the stall. Join the handmade movement and spread love!

 

Glasshopper at Unfactory

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Unfactoried!

While I am still on my learning path, on a path where I try, experiment, create, chuck things off and re-create, sometimes beg for help from friends and family for ideas, resources and much more, the lovely team at Unfactory decided to visit me and feature me on their blog.
This indeed is A dream blog, every artist waits for in his/her career.
Thank you for this magical blog and observation Yamini and team Unfactory Marissa Dsouza, Anupama Bharadwaj, Ashok and Mohit πŸ™‚

The Glassy Paradise

The media comes searching for my work and me, and you can see the outcome – A wonderful 10 minute documentary on original stained glass and on ‘yours truly’

About 2 weeks back, my former student and now a good friend, Deepika Sharma was interviewed by News9 while she was taking a mosaic workshop at a prominent art/workshop space in Bangalore. In her interview she mentioned me as her teacher and that’s how News9’s search for an original stained glass artist in Bangalore finally ended.
Thank you Riya and team News9 for the documentary on my work.

In collaboration with Art by Aarohi – The Fusion Projects

I am so excited to share this with you.

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I am not a jewellery person, I adorn jewellery pieces, yes I do, but for me jewellery has always been precious metal and gems. That’s what comes to my mind when I hear the word ‘Jewellery’ Please pardon my limited interest in ornaments and jewellery, but all these years I believed that anything other than precious metals and gems is nothing but just an assembly of beads to make something that is attractive and a fun project to match this accessory with your attire.

I believe in Metal smiths, Silver/goldsmiths who are the ‘kaarigars’, artists who have kept the concept of ‘Handmade’ intact with beating, welding, soldering, carving hard metals to perfection. It’s the ‘kaarigars’ who create, others, assemble. With all due respect to each person who attempts handmade creations, I was lucky enough to be chosen by Aarohi Singh, artist and designer at ‘Art by Aarohi’.

I must admit that I have been a fan of Aarohi’s work, followed her creations through all social media links and I have also personally known her for a while now. When Aarohi came to me with the idea of getting some pieces done in glass for jewellery with her original artwork sandwiched in between two glasses, I was thrilled, and asked her if we could do this together πŸ™‚ She said Yes!

IMG_4618 Six months into making jewellery and these past six months have been nothing but a non-stop learning for me. As artist, as an entrepreneur, these past few months were precious. There have been times when I was overwhelmed by all this, but Aarohi made sure that I observe and work on the details of each piece that I craft. Cutting a pair of perfect circles, grinding them to perfection, copper foiling them and eventually soldering them together was tough. For me, this was a sudden shift from making and designing 7 X 3 square feet stained glass door panels to creating a 1inch diameter circular jewellery piece. It was a giant leap and it only made me realise my true potential as a stained glass artist when I slowly started working perfectly onto much smaller glass pieces. Aarohi and me are all set to launch our creation really soon and meanwhile I am eager to share some of the ‘work in progress’ photos of our work.

Do take a look and we eagerly look forward having you at our launch event on Aug27th and 28th!

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Please do click here, to read more about ArtbyAarohi and the fusion projects.

To view this first collection do drop by at the ArtbyAarohi Studio in Bangalore on the 27th and 28th of Aug 2016 at:

The ArtbyAarohi Studio
C-44 Diamond District Apartments,
Kodihalli, Old Airport Road,
Bangalore – 560008 KA

‘X’mas 2009… upcoming events

Its been a year since I wrote my first blog to introduce Glasshopper. πŸ™ Haven’t been writing at all. The year 2009 which still continues to be…. has been really busy for me. Some bigger projects of stained glass panels in Bangalore… mainly restaurants has kept the ball rolling.
Glasshopper has extended its work in Pune and Hyderabad too πŸ™‚ feels good to have done projects outside Bangalore before Glasshopper gets a year old.
Its year end and Christmas is on its way…. and I wanna welcome it with unique Christmas tree hangings and hampers in Glass painting and stained glass. You can see my work being displayed at The ‘Community Services Bangalore’ Christmas Bazar at the ‘Lalit Ashok’, Bangalore on the 1st December 2009 and also at a fairly bigger Christmas bazaar event hosted by ‘The Overseas Women’s Club’, Bangalore at ‘The St. Marks Cathedral’ on 5th December 2009 from morning 10 till evening 5.00 p.m. πŸ™‚
It is more challenging to craft the little things in glass than the bigger panels…. its the test of your neatness, cleanliness and cutting of glass and I simply love doing that.

Hope to continue writing….
Do hop in for the events mentioned. πŸ™‚

Details of the venue once more –

1. Christmas Bazaar
Hosted by – Community Services Bangalore
When – 1st december 2009
Where – The Lalit Ashok
Time – 10.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.

2. Xmas Bazaar
Hosted by – The Overseas Women’s Club
When – 5th December 2009
Where – St. Marks Cathedral
Time – 10.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.

See you!

Saarus.

A new beginning with GlassHopper

I wrote this blog in 2008, when the Glasshopper was born. Reposting the same here, as I continue to blog on my own website. This was really the first public appearance of Glasshopper to showcase its original tiffany style stained glass.

Perhaps you know the story of Michelangelo, to whom a painting was brought by a young painter for his comment. Michelangelo merely changed the shape of the eyebrows and eyes. This radically changed the portrait. Said the painter, β€œYou made so small changes.” Exclaimed Michelangelo,” Small things make the difference.” Against the backdrop of Architecture, stained glass may appear a small thing that if captured colours, it adds grace to the architecture and changes the aura and the internal vibrations of the Vastu.

Started by Tiffany, it is now accepted by all those who want to beautify their homes – without making it look gaudy. Those who want to beautify their homes by just doing small things are now turning to the use of Stained glass. It can be on any one of the windows, entrance doors, kitchen or ceiling to imbues the Vastu with soothing colours.

May I invite you at Glasshopper’s to witness our effort in stained glass work?
Little gift ideas in stained glass to beautiful and unique lamps, something unusual and unique out of scraps to large window panels, glass panels, cabinets and huge lanterns.

Please come. Let us exchange ideas on how we can be creative in our own way. My medium is glass… let us find yours.

What? Exhibition cum sale

When – 18th & 19th October, 2008
10.30 a.m. – 8.30 p.m.

Where? – 3367/ C 1st floor, 13th main,
Hal 2nd stage, Indiranagar,
Bangalore – 08