The Year of Glass
So, 2025 was the year I learned to do stained glass. I love it! I have always loved stained glass, but it didn’t even occur to me that it was a thing I could learn to do myself. But for several years, I have walked by a stained glass shop in Pasadena not far from where we live – a couple of years ago I saw people going in and out that looked young and trendy, and I could tell there was a lot going on. I was curious, so I went in – and was surprised by the fun, creative atmosphere. I was expecting a dark little place with one old man working there. Not the case! As far as opposite as could be! (Owned by a young female glass artist, who has a staff of all women, as far as I can tell). At the time that I discovered this place and their classes, the time was not right for me to sign up. This year, there was a time when work was bleak – probably a good time to not spend money, but our neighborhood had just burned down, everything was so depressing, and I HAD to do something! The time I have spent there has been worth every investment. I have loved it so much. It is so satisfying breaking the glass, and it is so satisfying when your piece is done, and you have something so beautiful to show for it! I started just learning to do basic suncatchers, but keep working my way up. So, through the year I have a whole collection of suncatchers, then candle votives, then lamps, then larger window hangings, then finally, a full window. The window that I was prepping to do, came at a time when my husband, Tim, just had surgery, (what a great year 2025 was!), so I had him take a workshop with me and he did the final assemblage, in an attempt to keep him busy, while sitting, and not bust his stitches. Anyway, we have our sunniest windows covered now, and now own a couple of lamps! It is not like I am going to go become a professional now, but I will keep on doing it. It has been the best therapy. IMG_0144 IMG_0037 IMG_0173 IMG_0983 IMG_0660 IMG_0692 IMG_0821 IMG_1629 IMG_1564 IMG_4051 IMG_4056 IMG_4060
Pulp Art Surfaces
Things are quiet right now in the film industry, but was happy to do a side job for Pulp Art Surfaces. They were getting ready for a convention and needed some samples displayed. I have prepared them for a couple of conventions over the years, with different owners! This time was different, though, since I did it in their shop, so I got to bring my daughter, Violet, along as an assistant. She’s at CalArts for film, but has helped me paint since she was in middle school! This time was fun, since I got to show her how to do brick and aging techniques. In the end, it looked great! Come to think of it, she also helped me right before Christmas, hand painting a sign. (So sign painting photos below, are NOT for Pulp Art Surfaces). I am not even sure what that sign was for? Check went through, and it looked good, so that was all that matters. And Violet did a great job helping!
IATSE Kick-Off Rally
Spent my birthday at the IATSE rally to kick off negotiation with the AMPTP. Hoping things go better than last year with the actors/ writers strike! Here is a Hollywood Reporter arcticle about it. It was fun running into old friends I haven’t worked with in ages. We all were wearing our IATSE merchandise – and I even made a special t-shirt for Violet, who has an interest in acting, directing, and editing. So, all these fights are for her future! I realize I never posted photos from last summer when she joined me on the writer’s picket line. Man, I hope these weird times pay off and we’re not just wasting our time encouraging her to apply for film school. She was raised on sets, so it’s all she knows. The t-shirt I made my kid (and the front has a chest emblem that says “The Future is Female”), and pics from last summer at the picket line. Also made her a t-shirt then! It says “Future WGA Member”.
Child Development Institute
Very grateful that during the writer’s and actor’s strike I had some graphic design work! The Child Development Institute in Reseda needed some signage and graphics before their big grand re-opening. So nice to work for since they are such an amazing organization helping special-needs kids. Since I was coming in on the tail-end, my graphics had to be cohesive with the graphics that were already designed and up. Some graphics (like the main logo) were pre-existing, but some I created from scratch. All in all, a lot of fun. And in the end, they had a lovely opening party, where main contributors to the construction were acknowledged. My husband, Tim Zeug, being one of them. The actual site. Always nice to see your work in action. So thankful for Dan Maltese who created this project. Tim has worked on it for over 10 years! I painted walls, and even my daughter who was in middle school helped roll walls at some point. Seems perfect that I’d get to participate again, in the final stages with some graphic design. Anyway, it was nice to see Tim also get acknowledged. On the grand re-opening evening, Scott Hartle came out to support. (Photo is Tim, Dan, and Scott, in that order). More from CDI: Graphics Page Graphics/ CDI
Villains of Valley View on Disney Plus
I suppose the next few episodes will come out in a couple of more months? Really looking forward to sharing all the work I did – and the show, itself, of course! Click images below to see full size. TV screenshots are off color since they are just photos of the TV! Disney+ doesn’t allow screenshots from the computer. Episode 10 was actually one of my favorite episodes to work on, since I got to do a bunch of Photoshop composites for a “historical family album.” Kind of bittersweet to watch because I miss work! I hope these strikes end soon, so we can all get back to creating stuff… Villains of Valley View Graphics Page Graphics/ Disney TV
RedBubble Shop
So, I finally opened a Redbubble shop! Not much is in there right now, but hopefully I’ll get more in there soon. My goal is to have a theme of animal related items, as in animal activism, conservation, etc. So far, my favorite is my Orca Fight Club – since I am definitely #teamorca. (If you have been hearing about boats being capsized by orcas, I feel bad for the people losing their boats, but I think Mother Nature has had enough of human shenanigans!) You can find my Redbubble shop here.
Netflix/ Family Reunion
This week, the last episode of Family Reunion airs on Netflix! Happy to be a part of it on and off for a few years. It was 3 seasons, but it was broken off into 2 part sections, throw in the pandemic, and it seemed to span a long time? Lead painter was Hern (Juan) Hernandez, although there were a few others in the beginning, ultimately it was Hern’s show. https://vimeo.com/552667211?share=copy#t=0