Boiling Glass

04/17/10 - Boiled Glass - Boiled glass, also called boiling glass is one of the high fire procedures preformed inside a kiln. Unlike the manner that water boils, glass when heated up to a extremely high temperature will bubble. This process is caused by the elements losing its composure and vaporizing. This method was one of Klaus Moje's processes.

The TechNotes #4 by Bullseye gives us the best information about this procedure. It is called "Heat and Glass" and describes what transpires as glass is heated up. In the area of around 1600-1700 degrees Fahrenheit this bubbling process appears. As the glass is continued to be heated, the rising bubbles hit the surface of the glass and pop. Glass when heated at advanced temperatures goes through chemical changes and becomes more molten. As these bubbles rise to the top surface, they pull up colors from all the layers along with the bubbles.

The amount and placement of these bubbles is very unpredictable. Try using some bubble powder or stacking glass to trap air to achieve the same appearance.

Earth Day Inspirations

04/16/10 - Earth Day Inspirations - Earth Day is right around the corner and what a fantastic way to fuse some designs to help make others aware of this critical day. World Environment Day and Earth Day are very similar. Both days are fashioned to awaken our regard and gratitude to the Earth. The idea of protecting the earth and how we treat our planet actually became an occurrence during the 1960’s. Individuals were becoming aware of the hazards we were causing the planet and our environment.

April 22 was selected for this celebration. It is the beginning day of Spring in the Northern hemisphere and also the first day of Fall in the Southern hemisphere. It was selected so that people worldwide would become aware and mindful of the importance of taking care of the earth.

Even though the celebration has been around for quite a while, it is still important to remind others of this cause. Creating and wearing a design with this event in mind will assist in others being aware and recognizing the importance of this day.

On the Earth Day page, I will be adding patterns and instructions each year. So check back to view the newest additions.

This year, I have added the Plant a Tree Design - It is a very basic pattern that can be created in no time at all. Fill up your kiln shelf with plenty to share with everyone you know.

Puffy Glass

04/11/10 - Puffy Glass - This dark green piece of glass has puffy lighter green leaves that seem to emerge in a 3-D effect. Cutting and layering glass first, fiber board is then added to add the puffed up effect. Although it looks complicated, in actuality it is very simplistic to achieve.

First decide on your glass and the pattern you want to use. I have chosen a dark green for the top layer with a transparent light green as the lower layer. Since I chose the greens, I decided to make the puffs leaves. The pattern for this leaf design is included on the instruction page.

The last step is to cut the leaf designs out of fiber board. I cut them in three different size layers so that it had more of a gradual raised effect. You can design other items to hang from either branches or strings. They need to be hanging so that they can be cut using the glass saw. Hang items such as blossoms, circles, stars, hearts or any other design you desire. Using at least three different sizes adds interest to the piece.

Once you have your pattern, determine what parts you want puffing out. All of your items can bulge if you desire, but I have decided only to puff out three of the leaves.

Fiber board is the important addition to this design. It allows just certain parts of the pattern to puff, while the other parts remain flat. For more instructions, please visit the site.

Glass Stringer Bowl

04/08/10 - Glass Stringer Bowl - Interweave glass stringers to create a glass stringer bowl. This project calls for lots of time and patience. You'll need to purchase several tubes of glass stringers, as well as have some glass glue and a slumping mold.

Determine what colors you want to use in your project. Since stringers come in such an array of colors, the choice is easy. You are going to want to pick out one or two darker colors and then the rest should be transparent. This would include at least one tube of completely clear stringers. The glass needs to be arranged so that you can somewhat see through the top layer and visualize the bottom layer.

Watch the video below or visit the website for more information about this project.

Comb Honey

04/05/10 - Comb Honey - This Comb Honey project will allow you to give your glass the look of a Swiss cheese or a honeycomb. It is a really simple project that takes only a couple of firings to accomplish a finished slumped bowl. I have included a video on the page that will show you the various steps necessary to arrive at the final project.

I have been learning how to make videos for the site and this particular video gives you step-by-step instructions. I will put it here for those interested in just viewing the movie.

Fancy Egg

04/04/10 - Fancy Egg - What about making a fancy egg for the Easter season. This is a very large full egg shape. Embellish the design with items such as frit, Glassline paints, stringers, etc. The design can be embellished with the large and boastful bow pattern that is included with the egg pattern below.

Adorn this design yourself, or make them for all your Easter friends. Everyone will want to wear this simply elegant pin.

Duck Egg

04/03/10 - Duck Egg - Well Easter is almost here and I am finishing up the patterns for this year. The newest pattern that has been added is this sweet little duck egg design. This pattern is for a cracked egg with a baby duck peeking out of his shell. He looks like he has a quizzical express on his face.

He has two dot eyes and a large orange bill. The eyes are made using pre-fused dots.

The eggshell can be cut out of any color of glass. Adorn the shell with accents such as: Glassline paints, stringer, frit, scrap glass, etc.

Duckface Easter Design

04/02/10 - Duckface - Everybody will go quackie over this new Duckface project. Spring is in the air and it is time for all the sweet infant animals to be born. And then along comes this wacky duck face design. The spring theme seems to be baby ducks and chicks.

This Easter duck is a very basic and simple design to create. The yellow duck head boasts an enormously large platypus type of bill placed in the middle of his ample head. Two dots are use for the eyeballs or cut them out of the pattern below. Uses some Glassline paints to add all the details to the face.

Easter Egg Chicken

04/01/10 - Easter Egg Chicken - This teeny-tiny Easter egg chicken has a brilliant little orange snout, long looney legs, adorned egg body and a couple of suspension orange feet. An Easter egger that is all dressed up for the holiday.

There is a center piece around his abdomen that can be decorate with paints, frit, etc. Apply a few bowed and bent stringers, dots, frit, etc. to adorn and decorate the piece.

I have used pipe cleaners to make the legs on my egger. These were added after firing the piece inside the kiln. They could be made out of curved rods or cut out of glass if preferred.