Delphi Glass | Blog

A Twisted Art Glass Fairytale

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 08:07:00 -0500

Once upon a time in a land far, far away…
Goldilocks grew up to become a glass artist. She heard tales of amazing works of art - fused and formed in magical kilns, and she decided she must try it. So she set out to find her very own kiln.
Now, we all know that Goldilocks was particular.
She didn’t want a kiln that was too big for her cottage, and she didn’t want one too small for her creative aspirations. She didn’t want one too complicated, but she didn’t want one too limiting.
So she went to Delphi – where she found the kiln that was “just right”, and she created happily ever after.
Check out our selection of sale kilns or our complete listing of kilns.
Do you ever get so lost in your art glass, you feel like you're living in a fairytale? Email your art glass fairytale to julie@delphiglass.com before February 10, 2012 for a chance to win a mystery fusing grab bag of goodies. We'll also publish your story here on our blog. The more creative, the better. Good luck!

13 Ways to Overcome Artist's Block

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 09:49:00 -0500

It's not just writers that suffer from writer's block. Artists fall victim to a similar condition.
You're sitting alone in your workspace looking around and...nothing. You've lost the ability to produce a new idea, much less a new work of art. Sometimes the "absence" is temporary - just a moment or two. Other times you mull around for weeks feeling lost.
What do you do to get your creative juices flowing again? We asked our Facebook fans to share their ideas. Here are a few of our favorites:

Play loud music. Cut and break glass. - Amy M.
Step away. Look for inspiration elsewhere. Go to a museum, watch a program about something unusual. Just do something new. - Jacque D.
Pinterest! - Dawn M.
Go for a walk. Look for nature to inspire you. -Shirley J.
Clean your workspace. Then get out and explore somwhere - even if it's only the mall or a local park. - Deanna A.
Look through a Delphi Catalog. - Marjie B.
Go to an art show or gallery. - Deborah S.
Color in a kid's coloring book. - Jude W.
Take a walk in the woods, sit and listen to the birds, walk down to the water and watch a sunset. - Debbie M.
Look at other people's work (Etsy is a great resource) - not to copy it, but to figure it out, and put your own spin on it. - Beth W.
Just work. Even if it's not particularly good work. It will eventually lead to something. - Jacquie M.
Ask your family or friends if you can make them something. - Sherry H.
Check the glass websites and go to art festivals. Put jazz on Pandora, breathe and maybe just sleep on it. - Robert F.

Exciting New Products from Uroboros

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 16:36:00 -0500

We are thrilled to share with you the Winter 2012 new products from Uroboros Glass. Each of these new products is based on Uroboros' unique manufacturing strengths, while adding depth to their most popular product groups.
Streamer Bits Glass (all offered in 90 and 96 COE)
White Streamer Bits on Clear
Cobalt Blue Streamer Bits on Clear
Red Opal Streamer Bits on Clear
Noodles and Stringers
Sprinkles (offered in 90 and 96 COE)
Glass Noodle Bits, Mardi Gras (offered in 90 and 96 COE)
Noodles and Stringer, Mardi Gras (offered in 90 and 96 COE)
Cobalt Blue Opal (offered in 90 COE)
Pastel Green Opal Noodles (offered in 96 COE)
Pastel Green Opal Stringer (offered in 96 COE)
Frit
Celadon Opal is now available in all grain and package sizes (offered in 96 COE)
View these and other NEW fusible glass products here.

Congratulations to our Bottle Art Kit Winners

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 15:07:00 -0500

Congratulations to the following winners who participated in our Bottle Art Kit Contest. Each of the winners will receive one of four new Bottle Art Kits from Diamond Tech Crafts.
We appreciate your feedback and enthusiasm regarding these awesome new products. Check back frequently for new contests and great prizes!
• Cynthia Massei
• Sandy Arbogast
• Mary Causey
• Johanna Cropley
Interested in Bottle Art? Get inspired with our free eBook, artist gallery and bottle cutting how-to videos.

Contest: Win the Fusing Mold Everyone is Talking About

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 08:28:00 -0500

We are so excited to introduce the new 7-Piece Flower and Foliage Mold by Craig Mitchell Smith. A few weeks ago we posted a couple of videos on Facebook to demonstrate how to use this mold to create several different projects (watch the videos here).
Now we want to hear your ideas on what to do with this versatile mold. You can create anything from hanging sconce lights to slumped frogs to jellyfish!
"The functionality of this mold is endless. Every other mold we sell has a finite application - i.e. make a bowl, make a necklace, etc. This is really endless but will require a thinking shift on the part of the consumer," said Delphi Executive Director Lisa Parks.
Tell us what you would create with the mold, Jan. 10 - Jan. 20, 2012 for a chance to win it!
Entries will be accepted starting at 8:30 a.m. EST on Jan. 10, 2012. The contest ends at 4:30 EST on Jan. 20, 2012. To qualify, fill out the entry form in its entirety. One winner will be chosen at random and notified before Jan. 30, 2012. Enter Here.
Who is Craig Mitchell Smith?

A Creative Resolution: How to Use Holey Molds

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 13:47:00 -0500

The holiday season is over. The ham has been eaten and all your resolutions have been made (and probably broken). The time for making and giving out all your large and time consuming presents has passed...now what? Creatively stunted? Need a change of pace or something that is easy, simple yet stunning?
I know around this time of the year, I sure do. I need an activity that has a fast turn around time and the oomph to push me to create more. Sometimes just the act of creating can push you kicking and screaming through a creative block. Enter the fun (and inexpensive) holey molds. What a perfect way to use up scrap glass AND to produce a baseline piece from which to creatively expand upon. The best part? As the name denotes...they fuse with the hold already MADE - no messy, time consuming drilling! (Which, in the dead of winter in Maine - for me - is a pain in my rear as I have to go out in my unheated barn to drill.)
Beware though...they are totally addictive. The minute I’m done with one kiln load...I immediately fill ‘em up for another go ‘round.
The process is very easy - spray molds with mold release, fill with frit (I use crushed scrap glass) and fuse. Viola, a wonderful piece of glass, complete with a hole for stringing, that is as amazing as the glass you add. Don’t just stick with one color either - mix it all up!
My suggestions for filling:
Use 90% cathedral glass so you can see through the piece. It’s no fun if you can’t see the wonderful accidental swirls and mixes of the different colors. The opaque pieces along with transparent give you a very interesting marble effect. Much like lampworked glass.
Bury bits of goodness in the middles for fun and unusual outcomes. I like to use small gears or lock washers. Bubble powder is fun to use as are little bits of aluminum foil that melt away leaving amazing shiny bubbles.
Make sure the top layer of glass is a large mix of clear - this way you have a clear “cap” in order to see all the fun mix of glass in the middle and bottom.
Mix in small bits of scrap dicro to add sparkle.
*A bit of warning. Don’t be tempted to fill the molds too full lest you will loose that wonderful curved edge. Using the principle that glass naturally wants to be 1/8” thick, only fill it as much as you need to achieve that outcome. It might take a few tries to gauge what is enough and what is too little/much - but those “testers” can always be crushed up and used again.
The hearts are perfect for Valentine’s Day. String up with a piece of ribbon as a stunning window ornament or an eye catching addition to a wrapped gift. You can also add a jump ring and throw it on a chain as a pendant.
Think of these little bits of molded glass as jumping off points. You can incorporate them in larger projects or use a bunch of them to make an intricate mobile for a loved one.
I think my point in all of this is to just KEEP MAKING things. As long as you are creating, your mind is being challenged. Don’t just look at these molds as a way to produce an end product...use them to create the building blocks of other projects.
I wish you all a creative New Year.

Don't Miss Delphi's Winter Open House

Wed, 28 Dec 2011 10:25:00 -0500

Delphi's Winter Open House is one of our most popular events of the year. Free to the public, visitors can attend previews of many of our most popular classes - even new classes! Don't miss this exciting chance to meet our fabulous instructors and network with other artists.
When: Saturday, January 14th 2012, 10am to 4pm
10:00 am - 11:15 am Free Flameworking Previews
Glass Bead Making / Beads on Minor / Intensive Bead Workshop / Intro to Boro/Boro Jewelry / Decorative Blown Glass Spheres / Marble Making
11:30 am - 12:30 pm Free Stained Glass Previews
Beginning Lead Came / Lead Came Construction / Cutting Art Glass / Soldering Made Easy Bandsaw Magic / Designing & Installing Kitchen Cabinets Beginning Stained Glass / Copper Foil Studio / Tiffany Lamps / Panel Lamps
12:45 pm - 1:15 pm Free Jewelry Previews
Beginning Metal Clay / Simply Soldered Jewelry
1:30 pm - 2:00 pm Free Mosaics Previews
Mosaic Home Décor / Mosaic Art Tables Architectural Mosaics / Mosaic Walls, Floors and Accents
2:00 pm - 2:30 pm Free Other Crafts Previews
Copper Enameling / Switch Plate / Copper Jewelry / Beginning Sandblasting / Enameling on Glass
2:45 pm- 4:00pm Free Fusing Previews
Fused Stringer Bowl /Kiln Cast Bowls / Textured Bowl / Fusing is Fun / Fusing: 201 / Fusing FUNdamentals / Fused Glass Plates / Glass Boxes / Fused Glass Flowers / Fused Glass Gems / Kiln Formed Bracelets / Photo Fusing / Combing in a Kiln / Vitrigraph Kiln
Sign up to take a class in the store on Saturday January 14 and get 20% off tuition! For more information, email us or give us a call at 517-394-4685.

Win a FREE Bottle Art Kit - Leave a Comment

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 16:08:00 -0500

We're excited to tell you about four new bottle art project kits from Diamond Tech Crafts. Each kit Includes instructions and supplies for one project. (Bottle and g2 Bottle Cutter not included.) The kits are an easy and afforable way to do something different with your old glass bottles.
Read a little about each kit below, and let us know what you think for a chance to win one of the new kits for FREE! Post a comment about the new kits to Twitter (use #bottleartkit) or post to Facebook (tag @DelphiGlass) or here on our blog. You may enter once per day, up to 3 chances to enter daily, four winners will be chosen to win a free kit. Now through Jan. 6, 2012.
Garden Treasure Kit
Create the ideal environment for growing and watering any type of plant with the 3-in-1 Plant Keeper. Use this kit in conjunction with the g2 Bottle cutter, to create this garden helper from recycled bottles.
Keepsake Box Kit
For all the keepsakes you treasure - a special photo, a dried flower, concert or theatre tickets, vacation trinkets, cards and letters keep them close at hand and inside this unique Keepsake Bottle.
Luminary Kit
Add a dancing glow and a warm ambience to any room or outdoor space with a glass luminary.
Windchime Kit
Create this colorful wind chime from recycled bottles and jars.
Want to learn how to cut a bottle? Watch our video here or read about how to troubleshoot bottle cutting problems.

How to Make a Suncatcher Ornament with Scrap Glass

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 14:37:00 -0500

As a "crafty" person, the holiday time can be rough. Not only are we lugging around 7.4 million pounds of "product" to various craft shows, we also have the expectation upon us that we will hand make everyone's holiday gift...because, we're crafty like that (plus, you and I both know that it would KILL us to buy gifts that we could otherwise make - it's in our DNA). So, at the end of the day - our backs and feet are killing us, we'd rather die than smile or make small talk with one more person, we have a car full of stuff to unload (which we also both know will stay there for another 3 weeks until we can't stand it much longer)...and I have to MAKE a present for your sister's husband's aunt's niece who is in college? Oy.
Enter the scrap glass suncatcher slash holiday ornament. This has been my go-to holiday gift, birthday present, housewarming trinket....the "oh-my-I-can't-believe-that-day-has-come-so-fast-and-I-have-nothing-made" gift. Not only is it eye catching and totally customizable (big/small/ornate/simple) it is a snap to make, a snap to fire and it digs into and uses some of that HUGE pile of scrap glass that stares at you every time you even THINK about buying more glass. It's "buying local" and "upcycling" all in one fair swoop!
The photos I have taken were for a batch of Chanukah ornaments I made for a show, but the concept (as you will see from the other photos) is the same.
1. Cut the skeleton of the star/triangle out of spare sheet glass in matching lengths (I personally like cathedral or clears).
2. Glue them together at the corners with super glue for easy transport to your kiln shelf. I swear by Gorilla Super Glue - it is the only glue I have found that burns away clean, leaving no residue between your layers
3. Arrange on a kiln shelf lined with kiln paper or kiln wash.
4. Fill the middle with crushed scrap glass in corresponding colorways. I also like to add pieces of scrap dicro as it adds an extra bit of sparkle. Since these are meant to let the light through, I suggest a mixture of cathedral scrap and clear. I also use a spoon to fill the middles with glass - I then clean up any glass that has fallen outside the "skeleton" with a small paintbrush.
5. Ramp up for a full fuse and check to make sure they reach your desired effect. Shut off the kiln and let it cool to room temp on it's own.
6. While the kiln is fusing or cooling (or both) - pour a nice glass of red wine and relax while staring at all the crap piled up in your car from the last weekend's craft show.
7. String the pieces up thru any holes that have been made by the fused glass (or drill a hole) with fishing wire(or whatever you'd like).
8. Fini! (commence oohing and ahhing from your gift recipient.)
Hope this last minute gift idea has eased your mind a bit - have a great time at that bridal shower/holiday party/birthday night out and eat your weight in cake. You deserve it.
Maggi Blue is a glass artisan, designer and writer. You can read more about her and her art on her website.
The views, opinions, positions or strategies expressed by the author and those providing comments are theirs alone, and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, positions or strategies of Delphi Glass. Delphi Glass makes no representations as to accuracy, completeness, currentness, suitability, or validity of any information in this article and will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or delays in this information or any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its display or use. Delphi Glass reserves the right to delete, edit, or alter in any manner it sees fit blog entries or comments that it, in its sole discretion, deems to be unacceptable.

7 Tips to Ease Bottle Separation Anxiety

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 13:04:00 -0500

Perhaps you've had a bad experience with bottle cutting in the past. Or perhaps you've never tried it because the process seems too daunting.
Fret no more. Dr. Lauren (Im not really a doctor, I just play one in this blog) is in the house.
Here are my 7 recommendations for relieving bottle cutter seperation anxiety.
1. Practice good bottle hygiene. Make sure that you remove the entire label from the bottle you want to cut. Even the smallest amount of sticky residue will interfere with the scoring process. We recommend using rubbing alcohol to get most labels off, but if you have a really stubborn label try nail polish remover with acetone.
2. Always keep your cutting wheel oiled this is a big one. The better you oil the wheel, the smoother your cut will be a lot of the separation issues I hear about are quickly resolved when the wheel is oiled bonus - the more you oil the wheel the longer the blade will last!
3. Remove stress. Remember a good cut doesnt require a lot of pressure. Most people think that the bottle will separate much better with a deep cut, but that is the opposite of what will happen. When you score deeply, the glass will splinter and run up and down the line you actually want. A light score is best when trying to separate a bottle bonus the less force you exert on the cutter the longer the tool will last a lot of crafters break their tools because they are simply using too much force.
4. Not all bottles are created equally! Keep this in mind when you are cutting. Some bottles, especially recycled ones, have an uneven wall thickness which can really ruin the separation process.
5. Textured bottles are really cool, but you just have to avoid them. They are really impossible to score and the uneven surface makes for a difficult separation.
6. When you are first starting out, practice on beer bottles. They are easy to cut and easier to come by.
7. I use and recommend the hot and cold water shock method to separate our bottles for a good reason- its the safest and most efficient way to separate the bottles. Please use this method before any other to get the best separation.
I prescribe a healthy dose of practice, practice, practice as often as you can. This should alleviate any further bottle separation anxiety symptoms!
P.S. I dont make house calls!
Be sure to read and comment on Diamond Tech's new g2 Bottle Art Kits for a chance to win one FREE.