Any glass designers here?

[lies and propaganda]

Fused glass, stained glass, etched glass, glass blowers, lampworkers, etc etc?
this list is limitless...

So do I have any kindred souls here? Besides the million I already knew about ;)

I fuse glass and it is the best craft ever, ask me anything.

[Hamlette]

1. I'm a lampworker

I'd love to to fuse. I'm a dicro maniac and its so hard to work in the flame. Seems easier to fuse with it.

I took a class last year on fusing at Sandberg. It was great fun but it seems it would take too much time away from my fire!

Glad to meet you.

[lies and propaganda]

3. hi Hamlette!

lampworking was my first obsession and then when i learned fusing and how isntant the gratification was, learning an ancient art could wait a minute ;)

Im pretty jealous of taking classes at Sandberg, thats like getting Van Gogh to teach you to paint! And youre right, dichro is easy, way too easy, to work with in fusing projects. Its a small (large)obsession.

Do you sell your work anywhere?

[Hamlette]

8. I don't sell anything

but every year I swear I'm going to...come Christmas. Maybe this year.

I do make jewelry for a few silent auctions for my favorite causes. I'm frantically trying to figure out what to make for the poverty lawyers. I need it done by March 6. Yikes.

I LOVE your "stuff". That milli heart is to die for.

Sandberg is a dream come true, meeting "the guy", getting to see how they make dichro and all the beautiful art glass pieces on display in their store. And of course, making a "few" purchases. I think the teacher was sort of famous too but I've forgotten her name.

Where do you buy your dichro? I found a great place near Sandberg which sells quarter sheets (about 50 square inches if my math is right) for what you pay for much smaller pieces on ebay. ($31.25 if I recall, premium colors were a bit more.)

[lies and propaganda]

11. you really should!

For the happy factor alone, I freak out everytime I sell anything. Love the thought of some random person states away wearing my designs! i love it! I would reccomend etsy.com if you wanted a really easy, cheap way to get your goods seen by tons.

I buy most of my dicro on ebay. Can be pricey, but sometimes you can also get the auction that no one has bid on. It works for me because i usually need an assortment of random dichroics, its almost impossible to sell pieces without it ive found.

and tahnks for the compliment! How great is millefori! I have a plate idea in mind, its going to look like candy is already in the dish!

[wovenpaint]

2. Do you use dichroic glass?

I used to do copper foil stained glass work but stopped when the market got flooded with the cheap crap.

I went back to textiles and now THAT's flooded with cheap crap...sigh.
But it's what I love, so now I teach too.

I love lampwork beads and incorporate them with felted pieces. Are you doing jewelry?

[lies and propaganda]

4. I use way too much dichro!

Or at least that is how I feel when i pay for it!

Yes, I make jewelry mostly, plates when I get orders for them or just want to make larger pieces. i just did a little experiment with stained glass and the kiln, just fusin it to pieces of itself but im still nervous/excited ow it may turn out.

You can view some of my work here:
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=57016

And what exactly do you do in textiles? Clothing?

[cmd]

5. Must bookmark for Christmas

You have created a lot of nice trinket.

[lies and propaganda]

14. thank you!

thats really nice of you!

[eridani]

9. Really nice work--

I particularly like "Inertia" and "Geodesic". Do you use a router on the glass pieces before wrapping them? Are you trying to make a living here, or just support your glass habit? (I haven't even come close to supporting my habit.)

[lies and propaganda]

15. thank you! Inertia is one of my faves as well..

I really like crafting the rainbow pieces, they sell really well and look great on clothes or skin. I do use a beveler on my pieces, it basically creates a 20g groove in the piece and as long as you do it fluidly (i never do) wire wrapping is a snap.

And like you, i have came no where near supporting my habit. Especially after I bought a boatload of molds and the Bullseye 45 lb Glass Class pack! i'd like to think that i suck every last drop out of my glass though. My new obsession is smashing pieces I dont like and making them into frit. I bought some different shaped molds to just pour my crazy frits into and Im very excited how they turn out!

I'd love to see some of your work!

[eridani]

16. Looks like you found it on the rat in the jewelry drawer thread.

I realize that one of these days I'm going to have to sell or trade stuff that I get attached to if I intend to keep making new stuff. Your idea of us artsy-craftsies trading stuff with each other is a good one.

Glad you liked the beach glass--here's another one with blue and stainless steel for wire wrapping.



And one with silver plate chain--

[Morgana LaFey]

6. DH and I are lampworkers

tho we've not been on the torch much the last several weeks for some reason.

[troubleinwinter]

7. Cool... I got a ridiculous question!

I used to do stained glass, so have SOME clue about glass.

About 8 or so years ago, I bought a book on some beading techniques, which included a small chapter on fusing glass. The book was pretty current, popular and mainstream at the time.

The book said that there was a product/item that could be put in your MICROWAVE to fuse/melt glass!!!??? I looked all over the 'net and found nothing. I emailed the author (or her publisher) and never heard anything.

Well, I honestly cannot believe there is or was such a thing. If there ever was, I betcha they took it off the market due to explosions of glass shards and microwave parts all over peoples' kitchens.

[lies and propaganda]

12. holy holy! microwaves!

Im picturing the apocalypse in that microwave!
I cant say for 100% sure, but figuring that my kiln takes 12 hours to get to 1700 degrees and another 12 to drop back down that it may not work ;)

would be a helluva lot easier though!

[gizmonic]

10. This is my one and only attempt at fused glass...

I took a class and made this pendant.



I was quite pleased at the results. I wanted to continue w/classes but life got in the way. :shrug:

Just another thing to add to my list of things to do before I die...

[lies and propaganda]

13. NICE!

very cute! i love fiberpaper holes, they allow the cabochon to hang really beautifully.
And did you shape your white stringers yourself? very nice!


its addictive as hell, so add it far down on the list so you can accomplish your other goals!

[gizmonic]

18. Thanks!

I did it all except for the firing -- the class instructor took our pieces back to the studio and a couple of days later, viola! a finished piece!

I took a peek at your etsy shop -- very lovely items!

I'm totally lusting after the Cabernet and Spaceage earrings! :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[Nite Owl]

17. I love glass

whether jewelry or stained glass. I can't resist buying it at craft shows! I took a class in stained glass, got the equipment, bought a bunch of glass a couple of years ago. The teacher stopped giving the classes and so it is all still sitting in the basement and I have forgotten most of what I did learn. It being a beginner course that wasn't much. Someday I'll try and teach myself to do it or find another class. I love the way it looks, there is something so clear and vibrant about the colors and designs.

Your work is beautiful!

[troubleinwinter]

19. Copper foil or lead came?

With a good book or two, you can do it yourself!

[kikiek]

21. I signed up for the local class again myself. But I was going to do as you suggested if they were

done for the winter. They don't run classes in the summer where I live. I saw promising looking instructional DVD's on E bay. Might get one anyways.

[diamidue]

20. I love glass

Tho, I have never tried anything too complicated. I'm limited to making this type of retro Japanese/Chinese wind chime. The photo below is similar to what I make, but it is not mine. I don't sell on eBay, but just make these for my friends. I haunt glass stores for unusual textured glass which I cut, paint, and attach to metal pieces specially cut for me.

One of these days I'd love to work with glass in other ways.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Style-Chinese-Glass-Windchimes-RED-FLOWER_W0QQitemZ320064657025QQihZ011QQcategoryZ20513QQcmdZViewItem

[stuntcat]

22. stained glass

I don't have a kiln yet though.
(scuse me for being late, I just found this group)

[Longhorn]

23. Welcome!

We're happy to have you! :hi:

[stuntcat]

24. ty!

:grouphug: :headbang: