Barbara Schaefer and MyKickAssGlass

How often in our lives do we get to say to ourselves that we got to do a truly amazing and exciting thing. Something absolutely unique to our experience. That is what happened to me.

I have known Barbara Schaefer for several years and when I launched my blog I sent her an email with a link to come and check it out. She got back to me immediately, asking if I wanted to create some little hors d’oeuvres to put on her new jeweled plates and photograph it for my blog. Of course, I jumped at the chance, because her work is phenomenal.

Barbara, of MyKickAssGlass, is an established artist specializing in hand painting and jewelling glass and furniture. She calls her work functional art, because you use it everyday. You don’t hang it on the wall and forget about it. You eat off of it, drink out of it and sit on it. Her belief is that each one of us is special, so you should give yourself something that makes you feel special. Her work is exciting, enchanting, romantic, elegant, fun and, of course, outrageous.

Barbara’s work has been featured in such publications as Creative Homes, Islands, Mary Engelbrecht’s Home Companion, Romantic Homes, Victoria and Rosie. Her work is so striking and unique that some of these magazines featured her glass art for their cover. The other day she told me a couple of her goblets were used in a photo shoot at Campanile Restaurant, a tidbit I treasured because that is where I did my cooking internship for culinary school. Her work can also be seen at Cesars Palace, Las Vegas, at the Galerie Michelangelo.

These little 5-inch diameter plates are each a unique work of art. None of them are the same. Barbara said she imagined them on an hors d’oeuvre buffet, where each guest  picked the plate that enchanted them the most.

I wanted to create appetizers that would compliment the artwork on the plates.

When I went to Barbara’s studio, it was really hard to decide which pieces to photograph. I was really awe-struck by the painting and beading on this plate.

And this 3-foot tall candle holder made me grin, it was so outrageous.

And last, but not least, if you need a custom-made crown, for any occasion, Barbara will create one for you.

My appetizers are in order of appearance:
Salmon, caviar, green onion slices
Sliced sirloin, Maytag Blue cheese, watercress
Puff pastry rounds, goat cheese with chive, pistachio

To see more of Barbara’s artwork glass, especially her Bride and Groom Goblets, see the Terranea post.