December... DECEMBER?! What happened to this year? I remember just a few short months ago when it came twirling and dancing into our lives. “Why hello, 2011” we said, perhaps toasting its arrival with champagne or whichever beverage we prefer to use for toasting. Now look at it: all haggard, decrepit and barely able to sustain a sedate waltz let alone the boisterous twirls of its youth. There it sits, still proud in its waning hours, ready to pass the torch it fashioned from old gumballs and twine to that young upstart “2012”. At least I assume its going to pass the torch... I mean I could be mistaken, and its really just staked out a good ambush spot and a fine torch with which to chase the youngin' away. Sometimes years are like that I've heard.

Regardless of any potential horrible year on year aggression, it IS December, and that can mean only one thing: the holidays are upon us once again! And THAT can only mean one thing: it's time for my yearly Holiday Open House! “Yay!” I'm sure you just yelled, perhaps waking up a sleeping neighbour who tends to be rather grumpy when woken by joyful noises. So the open house... oh, he's at the door? It's okay, we'll wait right here while you go apologize. Tell him I'm sorry too, if I'd known it was his nap time I wouldn't have... jeez, is he STILL going on? What's that guy's problem, anyway? Just close the door. We have important things to talk about.

So the open house is on the weekend December 3rd to the 4th, otherwise known as the “First Weekend Of December”. Basically it's going to be a showcase of my glass art, and what I've been up to this year in the hotshop – mostly making glass, for those whose curiosity simply can't wait. But what glass! I'm proud of what I've made this year, from small vases meant to hold a single flower to new holiday ornaments and other such things. I even have a rather large collection of traditional hand blown ornaments ready for display on your tree, around your house, or to give as a gift to those you care about. If you'd like to see some pictures of what you can expect to see, you can visit my website at www.kellyloweglass.com, to feast your eyes on glass.

Speaking of the traditional ornaments, have you heard I'm gonna be in the movies? Before the movies, actually, in a short film by Cineplex Entertainment about how my ornaments are made. The film is going to play before all rated G and PG films throughout the month of December (an estimated audience of 6.4 million!), and is sure to leave you saying: “Hey, I know that girl. She sent me a rambling email once!” I even wrote a press release, the first I've ever written, which you can read here: Kelly Lowe Glass - Cineplex Press Release if you're interested, or if you love press releases for some reason.

Finally... I really hope you come to my open house. This is my first in a long time, and I've been working hard to try to make it something special. There'll be tasty baked goods, original prints by photographer Tim Russell (I like to describe his work as “one step to the left of reality” when I'm feeling the need to fancifully describe things), and of course me and my glass work. I've worked really hard this year, and would love to have the chance to share it with you.

Warmest regards, and thank you for another wonderful year.

~Kelly Lowe