Eye Candy

Last week after dropping my son off at art class I strolled down a different path and was thrilled to find on that path less traveled the new Water Candy Glass Studio and Barbara Krueger.

Her studio is located on the grounds of Tillet Gardens here on St Thomas where many craftspeople, potters, and painters also keep their studios. As I entered the space I was transported to a place of quiet tranquility. Ella Fitzgerald music softly playing like a lullaby in the background and soft lights hanging overhead, on the floor and wall.

My favorite!

A white hanging Paper Candy pendant light

by artist Barbara Krueger

a multi style Paper Candy floor lamp

Paper Candy table lamp using an old cobalt blue glass bottle

I walked closer past the table of colorful jewelry and shelves filled with mosaic tiles and was floored (no puns). Upon closer inspection of these mod light fixtures I think was when I finally made eye contact with the artist herself and simply said, "Wow!"  Barbara explained that each light was created by hand cutting and then interlocking each piece of paper together. Some of her Paper Candy light sculptures are very large and take a few days to finish. Colors intricately intertwined reminding me of wave like patterns of the sea. I knew in

an instant this artist had something important to share and a fabulous eye and flair.

Here the artist made her own fabric paper to create the gorgeous turquoise hue in the center of the wall sconce. Reminded me of a swirling sea.

Barbara is formally trained having studied fine art at the Art Institute of Chicago. Tired of the weather she longed for the sun and surf and came to the islands to find the perfect balance of art- work- and play. She now lives on a sailboat with her husband and dog and is a foodie. Check out her fabulous Galley Notes cooking blog here. What a great balance I thought to myself. A studio to create in and at the end of a long days work a sailboat to go home to? Just dreamy. Jokingly she said to me how living on a sailboat also adds to her art. Some of her windchimes have copper details and to get the right patina she opts out of a torch and hangs them for a few weeks off the boat for the salty air to do it naturally. She also came up with her version of a chicer topsy turvy by using recycled bottles with the bottoms cut out hanging them upside down and filling them with dirt and seeds to hang on her boat. Now who said you couldn't garden at sea?

Windchimes & Glass Tomato Planters

Whimsy, form, function and sustainable are all words that come to mind while walking through her space viewing her collection. Napkin rings and earrings made from the necks of glass bottles, seaglass jewelry that looks as sweet and colorful as candy, mosaic tiles, and even a line of decorative sea shaped and lollipop shaped soaps.

each piece is beautifully handfinished and very smooth.

My fave! Recycled Glass bottle necks finished into napkin rings

Made from recycled bottles and Oh! So pretty!

wire wrapped sea glass bracelets

A gorgeous sea glass mosaic tile.

colorful mosaic tiles depicting objects of the sea

Yummy lollipop soaps and starfish shaped soaps.
What a great party favor idea!

Barbara's work is sold online, and in fabulous shops on St. Thomas and St. John. For more info visit her website fan her page on Facebook or drop her a line. She is also available for custom designs: