A Candy Cane Design

12/31/09 - Candy Cane - This candy cane pattern is the final pattern added to the Fused Glass Christmas page for this current year. Although most candy canes are made by twisting canes of candy together this one is simple to make out of glass. The pattern uses red Glassline paint to draw the thick lines across the base white glass. I have added some flakes of frit to enhance the color and add some depth and dimension to the glass. Before placing inside the kiln be sure to allow the paint to dry completely. Carefully remove any stray flakes of frit from the white section of the glass before finally fusing the glass inside the kiln.

A Three Christmas Tree Design

12/30/09 - A Three Christmas Tree Design - This design involves a simple triangle pattern that is cut out of three different colors of glass. The three separate triangles are then decorated and overlapped so that they can be fused together to make up the three Christmas trees. Just decorate each tree individually with any desired adornments. Stringers, frit, scrap glass or even glass paint can be used to embellish each unique tree. Once decorated just line them up in a straight line or tiered in any way preferred.

A Santa's Sleigh Pattern

12/29/09 - A Santa’s Sleigh Pattern - Filled with any desired presents or gifts, this Santa’s Sleigh design can be customized to your desired appearance. Use Glassline paints, glass paints, or a pilot pin to add any of the tiny details. This is another design that will help you use up all that scrap glass. I have used a pulled piece of glass for the runner on the sleigh, but you could also cut and bend a rod, or cut a piece of glass for the piece. Add a name for that personalized touch.

Peppermint Candy Pattern

12/27/09 - Peppermint Candy Pattern - A twirled white and red and peppermint candy design that can become a irreplaceable hot pin or fused into any other design for the Christmas season. When viewing this finished piece, you can almost taste the minty peppermint. When the glass is brought to a full fuse, the two colors seem to melt and swirl into each other. This gives the piece a look like the old fashioned starlight mint candies. It would be a fantastic accent on any fused platter filled with holiday treats.

Making Personalized Christmas Ornaments

12/22/09 - Making Personalized Christmas Ornaments - There is really something extra-special about a memento Christmas gift and personalized Christmas ornaments do just that. Modify the design for your specific size need. Add a high temperature wire before firing so that it can be dangled colorfully from the Christmas tree. They could also be turned into personalized place settings, or fused the pattern into any other fused Christmas project. Personalized the design by using either Glassline paints or adorn them after firing.

A Holly Jolly Christmas Pattern

12/20/09 - Holly Jolly Christmas - It is time to have a holly jolly Christmas. This is a colorful holly branch pattern. I have turned this particular piece into a pin for one of my friends, but it could be fully fused into a platter or slumped into a bowl for all those Christmas goodies. Be sure to use several different colors of green on the leaves to add some character and interest to the piece. A silver Pilot pin or Glassline paints can be used to add veins to the green leaves. Make plenty of red dots for the berries before assembling the piece.


The patterns and designs for this year’s Christmas holiday season are just about listed and finished. If you are looking for any pattern ideas, be sure you check out the Fused Glass Christmas page.

A Xmas Present Pattern

12/18/09 - Xmas Present - This is a very simple angled square design that can be decorated as a special Xmas Present. Try using some Glassline paints to put in any tiny details, and other pieces such as scrap glass, stringers or frit to embellish the pattern. Personalize the piece by adding a special saying or name.

Be sure to go to the Fused Glass Christmas page if you are looking for more Christmas patterns.

Christmas Fireplace

12/17/09 - Cozy Christmas Fireplace - Sitting by a hot festive Christmas fireplace warms the heart and puts into the joy of this holiday. Decorate this simple pattern with Glassline paints or pieces of frit to add any details to the scene that you desire.

This pattern is just one of the various designs you will find on the Fused Glass Christmas page.

Christmas Cat

12/14/09 - Christmas Cat - Christmas is almost here and it is time to start adding some patterns for the holiday season. The very first pattern this year is for this very simple Christmas Cat. The pattern only has 4 pieces and it is really quick enough to cut and fuse in no time.

There will be even more patterns added to the Christmas section in the following weeks. So, if you are wanting to warm up the kiln and fuse some Christmas designs for the holidays, check out the Fused Glass Christmas page.

A Scarecrow Pattern

11/30/09 - Scarecrow - Fall just isn't complete without a scarecrow protecting his crops. Make this cute pin design for your favorite friend or family member. Add a few patches with some scrap glass or some Glassline paints. This is the last of the Thanksgiving patterns for this year. Fall and scarecrows just seem to go together.

Pinecone Pattern

11/29/09 - Pinecone - The pinecone has many layers of cones that evenly overlap each other. This particular pattern uses fiber paper stabilize and separate the layers. This makes them stand out and keeps them from melting into each other. The fiber paper can be removed and the residue washed off after firing the piece.

Pilgrim Pumpkin

11/28/09 - Pilgrim Pumpkin - A sweet orange pumpkin wearing a pilgrim hat for the Thanksgiving holiday. Another pattern that helps you use up all that scrap glass. Use Glassline paints if desired to add a personalized message for the holiday.

Turkey Dinner

11/25/09 - Turkey Dinner - This particular pattern is for a cooked turkey on a platter. The design can be turned into a pin to give to everyone at your celebration, or enlarge and fuse it in the middle of a keepsake turkey platter for this year and future Thanksgivings.

I am finishing up all the final patterns this month with this turkey platter design. You can find it linked from the Thanksgiving Crafts page.

A Fall Scarecrow Head

11/24/09 - A Fall Scarecrow Head - A goofy fall scarecrow head just in time for the Thanksgiving holidays. The head can be either decorated with the hair pattern or add a few stringers and give the more realistic effect of straw that is protruding from under his hat.

Thanksgiving is just a couple of days away, so this is will be one of the last patterns that added to the Thanksgiving Crafts page for this year.

Indian Turkey Head

11/23/09 - Indian Turkey Head - This is not your ordinary bald headed turkey. He is keeping his cranium warm by sporting an Indian headdress. You can adorn the piece with feathers if you wish, but this chap has a single solitary feather in his cap. This is the latest pattern added to the Thanksgiving Crafts page this year.

Indian Headdress

11/19/09 - Indian Headdress - A very colorful Indian headdress design that uses all of the fall colors. It can be made as a pin or add it to any other Thanksgiving fused piece. Use Glassline paints to draw in the details of the face. This is yet another of the many Thanksgiving patterns on the Thanksgiving Crafts page.

The Happy Harvest

11/18/09 - The Happy Harvest - This happy harvest pattern is a reminder of all the colorful fall vegetation. I have placed some corn and pumpkins on my piece, but you could add any fall vegetation desired. Use a little Glassline paint before firing to add a salutation if desired. I am still in the process of adding more patterns to the Thanksgiving Crafts page. There are lots of patterns on the page from previous years if you are looking for a particular design for Thanksgiving.

Happy Thanksgiving

11/13/09 - Happy Thanksgiving - This is an extremely easy and very basic pattern. White was used for the background on the piece. An adorable little orange pumpkin with a smiley face is placed in the upper left corner. Glassline paints were used for the details to his happy face and to add the writing. A thin candle curled stringer was added for a little color. This is just one of many patterns that can be found on the Thanksgiving Crafts page. Check it out!

Thanksgiving Acorn Cluster

11/12/09 - Thanksgiving Acorn Cluster - The weather is turning nippy and it is time to start thinking about some Thanksgiving projects. This particular design is for a cluster of fall acorns. Use various shades of brown to distinguish the acorn shell and cupule of this nut. Then add a few different green leaves and just a touch of color. This is the initial design that has been placed on the Thanksgiving Crafts page. For even more Thanksgiving patterns from other years, check out this site.

A Witch's Brew Pattern

10/29/09 - A Witch’s Brew - This design is a large black cauldron of witch’s brew. To indicate the presence of bubbles, use some glass dots. They can be placed in the brew and over the edge and onto the pot itself. In the design, multi-colored green glass is used to represent the various ingredients inside the cauldron. The pattern can be adjusted for various projects or used as it is for a pin design. This will be the final design that will be placed on the Halloween Gift Idea page for this year.

Spooky Halloween Coffin

10/28/09 - Halloween Coffin - A coffin is spooky all by itself, but this Halloween Coffin has two piercing eyes to add even more fright to the piece. It is simply spooky how easy this pattern is to cut and assemble. Still searching for more Halloween patterns before this holiday approaches? Take a peek at the Halloween Gift Idea page.

The Eye of the Cat

10/27/09 - The Eye of the Cat - There is something spooky and mysterious about the eye of the cat piercing the dark of night. This simple design uses Dichroic glass to enhance the piece and add shimmer and mystic to the piece. This would make fabulous pendants for all of your spooky Halloween friends. For even more Halloween patterns and designs, check out the Halloween Gift Idea page.

Vampire Count Dracula

10/26/09 - Count Dracula - Count Dracula is usually a scary and frightful figure, who is perfect for the Halloween season. This specific pattern has an amusing view of this foul being. The design can be turned into a brooch, or added to any other fused Halloween venture. Along with all the other Halloween designs, this one has also been added to the Halloween Gift Idea page.

Common Raven pattern

10/23/09 - Common Raven - Halloween is next week and time is running out for making this year’s projects. This one-of-a-kind common raven pattern is perfect. Etch the pattern into dichroic glass and then fuse it inside a kiln. The directions for etching this design are explained on the site. Like all the new designs for Halloween, it has been added to the Halloween Gift Idea page.

Mummified Mummy

10/21/09 - Mummy - This is an extremely simple and straightforward pattern to make. Glassline paints are used to add all the fine little details to the mummy. These would include the lines to signify the wrappings and of course a little dot for each eye. This specific design has a primitive body shape, two black shiny shoes and the gapping area for the dot eyes. I have changed the Halloween Gift Idea page to now include a link to this addition to the site.

Vampire Teeth

10/21/09 - Vampire Teeth - A spooky and scary pair of white vampire teeth. These seem blood thirsty and ready to frighten and scare your friends and family. For more spooky Halloween patterns and designs, check out the Halloween Gift Idea page.

A Scary Tree for Halloween

10/20/09 - Scary Tree - A very simple and easy design and pattern of a scary tree. It is placed on a crisp fall night with a full moon hanging in the nippy night. This is just one of the many new Halloween designs that are being placed on the web site. For even more Halloween patterns, check out the Halloween Gift Idea page.

Black Cat Head

10/14/09 - Black Cat Head - A delightful black cat head pattern that could be fused into a plate or platter. It could also be used to fashion some pins for your family or friends. This is an extremely simple and basic design that only uses a few colors of glass and some stringers to add details to the piece.

Flying Witch Pattern

10/14/09 - Flying Witch Pattern - This flying witch pattern is done by using dichroic glass to etch in the design. First the image of the witch and the large moon is etched into the dichroic glass using a dremel drill with a diamond tip bit. Then the piece is topped with a clear piece of glass before bringing the entire piece to a full fuse.

Heating Coils

09/29/09 - Heating Coils or Kiln Elements - Sometimes referred to as the kiln elements these curled wires are the heart and soul of a unit. When the kiln is turned on, these coils heat up and allow the kiln to reach the required temperature. They are usually made out of a metal alloy that is called Kanthal. When they wear out from usage, they can be replaced easily and quickly. Check with the manufacturer of your individual unit for purchasing information.

Diamond Hand Polishing Pads

09/28/09 - Diamond Hand Pads - Diamond hand pads really come in handy when you need to polish glass in its natural state. The Diamond hand pads are the most popular brand. Sometimes a particular piece demands that polishing or removing sharp edges needs to be done by hand and not by a machine. These polishing pads are manufactured by a variety of companies and come in an array of grit sizes. The higher the number of the grit size, the finer the polishing effect on the glass.

The Crackle Technique

09/26/09 - Crackle Technique - There are many involved ways to achieve the look of crackled glass. These particular techniques will give you the same look without having to work with hot glass. They are very simple to achieve.

Cold Working in Glass Fusing

09/24/09 - Cold Working - Cold working is completed while the glass is in its natural condition or at room temperature. There are numerous ways to modify the glass, such as drilling holes, etching a design, grinding edges, etc. These processes are accomplished when the glass is cold. Sometimes the route is done prior to firing the glass, such as cutting or grinding, while other practices are done after the glass has been fused.

Devitrification

09/23/09 - Devitrification - Devitrification is also known ad devit. It can sometimes occur on glass that has been fired to a high temperature and held for an extended period of time. This crystalline substance appears as a dull finish on the surface area of some glass. Glass goes through at change when held at a high temperature. It goes from glassy surface to a crystalline structure due to the chemical change that is occurring. Usually this is an unwanted occurrence, but some glass artists actually try to achieve this look on their pieces.

Glass Casting Molds

09/21/09 - Glass Casting Molds - These particular molds are used for the various casting techniques. They are not like the slumping molds. There isn't a hole in the bottom to allow any air to escape during firing. There are many various types of molds depending on the type of casting technique. These glass casting molds are the containers for frit, fusible glass or molten glass.

Glass Canes

09/18/09 - Glass Canes - Canes are a fabulous and simple way to insert exclusive patterns and details to fused glass pieces. They are made by using either a furnace or a torch. the glass is heated to a molten state and pulled to create the canes. Sometimes they are twisted with other colors, or decorated with other pieces of glass.

Ceramic Fiber Insulation in Glass Fusing

09/17/09 - Ceramic Fiber Insulation in Glass Fusing - Ceramic Fiber Insulation is comes in a variety of shapes and forms that help with glass fusing. It is a refractory material. From a fiber blanket to kiln insulation this material can withstand the torrid temperatures inside a kiln.

I am continuing to fine tune and update the site. This page is linked directly from the Tools and Supplies page, as I continue to update and fine tune the site.

Annealing Point in Glass Fusing

09/16/09 - Annealing Temperature - The annealing temperature, also known as the annealing point is the stress-relief point. It is reached during the cooling down phase of glass. At this point, glass has become too firm to be bend but is still soft enough that any built up stress can be released. The piece is soaked at this temperature which evens out the warmth throughout the piece and allows any built up stress to be released.

The Hot Casting Method

09/12/09 - Hot Casting - Hot casting is another casting glass process. This procedure does require the use of a furnace to achieve the torrid heating temperature necessary to pour the molten glass. Special molds are used to receive the hot glass and there are more safety precautions that are required. It is the final page on the Casting Glass methods page.

KLB - Kaiser Lee Board

08/30/09 - Kaiser Lee Board - Fiber board mold material generally takes a lot of preparation before it can ever be use for glass fusing. However, the Kaiser Lee Board is ready to use right out of the package. It does need to be cut and shaped to your particular specifications, but the preparation is simple and easy to complete. These boards are very durable and will not chip or break. It is also resistant to glass sticking and therefore primer or shelf paper is not necessary.

Lost Wax

08/29/09 - Lost Wax Method - In the lost wax method, any type of moldable wax is used to create a positive form. Plaster is added to the wax to encase it and then the wax is melted out. The empty form is prepared for receiving molten glass.

Sand Casting

08/28/09 - Sand Casting - Sand casting is still another variety of casting glass. In this process sand is used to create a form and then hot liquid glass is transferred into the prepared mold. It does require observing a few safety precautions when handing and viewing the molten glass.

Pate de Verre

08/26/09 - Pate de Verre - Pate de Verre is yet another type of casting glass. In this procedure glass frit or powder or is mixed with a glue or binder and then the combination is painted into a kiln washed mold. It is a great way of adding layers of various colors to a mold and to keeping the glass from shifting during the fusing process.

Frit Casting

08/25/09 - Frit Casting - Frit casting is one of the various ways you can do glass casting. This particular method is fairly simple to accomplish. This page discusses the various ways to achieve this method.

Glass Casting

08/24/09 - Casting Glass - Casting glass can be an extremely effortless procedure to complete, or a very complex process that entails some safety measures and exclusive equipment. This specific page talks about the numerous methods and how they are accomplished. Later pages that specifically discuss each technique will be added to the web site.

Safety Goggles

08/22/09 - Goggles - Safety goggles are clear plastic eye wear that is worn to protect your eyes from spraying or flying glass during the cutting procedure. These do not have the UV/IR protection, so they can not be used during the fusing procedure.

I am continuing to update the site with more information to help those individuals who are beginning their glass fusing journey. A link to this page can be found on the blog pare, home page, and the Tools and Supplies page.

Fusing Pens

08/20/09 - Glass Fusing Pens - From the beginning to then end of your fusing there are various glass fusing pens that will assist you with the final product. This help can be in the form of helping you to retain a pattern on the glass to adding some embellishments to a final piece.

This page has been linked to from the Embellishments page. It is a useful reference page for the different types of pens used in glass fusing.

Safety Glasses for Glass Fusing

08/17/09 - Firing Safety Glasses - If doing any viewing inside a kiln, firing safety glass are an essential part of your glass fusing supplies. Although there are quite a variety of brands and styles, be sure to purchase ones that will keep your eyes safe. Before making your purchase, find out what is needed in safety glasses.

More of the basic information to update the site to assist individuals new to glass fusing. Linked to the Embellishments page, it can also be found in the site map.

Noodles

08/12/09 - Noodles - Noodles are thin pieces of glass that are used for embellishing your glass fused pieces or for weaving glass. Not to be confused with the round and fat pencil shaped glass. These are called rods. Noodles however are thinner flat pieces of glass. Noodles are named after fettuccine noodles not only because of their look, but because of the way they are formed.

I am slowly continuing to update the web site with more of the minute details that should be here to help those learning the glass fusing processes. This page is linked from the Embellishments main page. This page is almost completely updated with helpful links.

Glassline Chalk

07/30/09 - Glassline Chalk - Chalk is a simple and great way to add an embellishment to your fused glass pieces. Some people enjoy using the chalk and then outlining the area with Glassline paints. Since glass is a slick surface, the surface to be covered needs to be rougher. A rough area will allow the chalk to grip the surface.

This page is linked from the Embellishments page. There are many items that can be used as embellishments in glass fusing, check out the page.

Kiln Furniture

07/28/09 - Kiln Furniture - Prepared from alumina, silicon carbide, sillimanite and zirconium silicate, kiln furniture is all the refractory objects created to prop up fusing pieces inside a hot kiln. Kiln shelves and posts are usually the items referred to as kiln furniture. They require a several coatings of a kiln wash to shield them all through the firing progression. Covering them with a shelf primer or kiln wash helps to protect them from any glass that could get touch and stick to them.

This is yet another page that has been added to the site to assist individuals new to glass fusing. It is linked from the Tools and Materials and the Technical Terms pages .

Jewelry Findings

07/27/09 - Jewelry Findings - Jewelry findings are the small extra items that allow a fused glass art piece to be turned into a piece of jewelry. These pieces can range from clasps to pin backs. These are usually purchased and added to your piece, but some items can actually be made inside the kiln.

This is another page added to the site to update the Technical Terms and Tools and Materials pages .

High-Temp Wire

07/20/09 - High Temperature Wire - Another page added to the website to update the Tools and Materials page. This Hi-Temp Wire can endure the scorching heat of a kiln. There are many usages for this wire in glass fusing. Even though it can hold up against the high heat, it doesn’t stay bright and shiny after firing.

Haik Brush

07/16/09 - Haik Brush - Continuing to fine-tune the website. I am adding helpful pages to answer any questions beginners might have about all the diverse supplies and tools and that are useful in accomplishing glass fusing. The haik brush is used to put on kiln wash. The wash is applied to pertinent items that might come into contact with glass during the firing process. It has very fine wispy bristles with a bamboo handle. It allows the kiln wash to go on with only a few brush stroke marks.