Mixed bag



A sparkling day. Hard diamond trees, glittering, glazed and brilliant. As you can see --our willow was glazed while Shady Grove collected pinecones and frolicked in the snow. The snow geese were thick this morning in the sky.It was a beautiful drive to the wonderful pool of dilemmas. Had a great call with an old time musician who needs a CD image and brand. Her desires are good and my wheels are rolling. We are going to be working in black and red on white--with florals, birds etc. My only fear is not enough time to do a bang up job...but...I am going to do the best I can do for the time we have. Tissues are happening. Left Foot, Right Foot.

Big News about Steuben. Steuben Glass to close if it is not sold>> Sad, but not surprising. It's been a long time of touch and go...plus the funds it takes to drive that business against the cost of goods, overhead and expectations could be put to funding profitable and more core businesses for the new Corning Incorporated. Corning Incorporated emerged from Corning Glass Works....but they are not the same company. Corning is a technology company not a Glass (capital G) company. Not to say that Corning is not totally amazing in their understanding of glass, glass the material and the manufacturing. But Glass does not drive the train but is integrated in the entire technology story. Corning says that its not a fit...which given the divestiture of all direct to consumer businesses (Housewares (Corelle, Corningware, Pyrex brands), Sunglasses (Serengeti brand), to name the most prominent businesses except (until now) Steuben--it makes sense. They are no longer supporting design centers. When I started there almost 30 yrs ago there were six design centers within Corning committed to excellence in design (Science Products, Steuben, Consumer Products, Architecture, Corporate Design, Corporate Exhibits) with design and production services. Now there is just Steuben. And that, is going too. It will be interesting to see how it evolves. I am sad as it represents a chapter, an aspect of our lives (R and me) that has woven in and out of our careers with interesting travel, design and wonderful people. Plus, the american-ness of the product and how fashionable it was--is sad to see it change. But, change can be good.

>>Here's what the Corning Leader says>>

Having a meeting at the Lab of O (as the locals call Cornell's Laboratory of Ornithology) for a teensy show of birds. That should happen in a week or so. Slugging away on the horse...so as to be able to do a cat so as to finish my woodduck. Yipes! And, there will be a Texas picture on the horizon for the U of Hartford.

YES! Neigh!