Newsletter: Spring 2018
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Glass Tips and Tricks
Colored glass is encased by clear glass and drawn down to coarse lines by stretching the hot glass. These cooled rods of colored glass lines are cut to size and reheated.
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The rods are combined with molten glass and drawn down a 2nd time by stretching. During this 2nd stretching, the glass is twisted to created a helix of fine colored lines.
These glass rods are then used to create all kinds of glassware, from wine goblets to paperweights, Christmas ornaments as well as jewelry. An exhaustive list would be impossible: 500 years of craftspeople and designers have employed this technique." (You can see Chris' work at site #5 of Art In Bloom, Seattle's garden art and studio tour April 28-29)
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Whidbey artist/instructor Steph Mader sends this fusing tip:
"Want to contain the flow of a thick glass piece? Use a tile saw to cut an old kiln shelf into strips. Give them a good coat of kiln wash and set them in a pinwheel pattern around your piece. If you set them about 2mm away from the glass on all sides you'll get a beautiful, clean fired edge - no cold working!" 
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Fred Buxton, who teaches at his Raining Sunshine Studio in Port Orchard, recommends using plastic condiment cups to elevate the base glass when constructing a piece. This makes it easier to pick up the piece and transport it to the kiln. They stack well so they get out of your way when not in use.
He also suggests using condiment cups and lids to store leftover mixed frit. Label the lid with the mix and save for future use. (You can get these at kitchen supply stores like Dong Vinh next to Seattle Pottery Supply -- KS) |
Lael Bennett, instructor at Glass Expressions, shares that a convenient way to hold small pieces while soldering the edge is an old-fashioned wooden clothespin. It will keep your hands away from hot solder. It also holds small pieces upright while attaching rings.
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Robyn Johnson at Covenant Art Glass says she loves using Hakko Soldering Iron Tip Cleaner instead of Sal Ammoniac to clean and maintain her soldering iron tips. She also recommends using the "As seen on TV - Ear Wax Cleaner", a small vacuum (under $6.00) to clean up loose frit (Powder, Fine and Medium) off the kiln shelf before firing projects.
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From Matt Laitala at NW Art Glass: "People often wonder why their patina finish is not as dark and even as others they have seen or ask why their solder corrodes and oxidizes. The answer is often the same - they went cheap on the finish. Clean your soldered piece of glass art with a flux neutralizer like CJ's Flux Remover and your patina will apply much darker and much more even. Seal the finished piece with Clarity Finishing Compound and the entire project will be oxidation and mildew resistant!" (See coupon below for discount on these brands of finishing chemicals).
Also note that NW Art Glass has all of their books on sale at the moment. Books are another great source of tips and tricks. |
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Save glass, time, and money by checking out your glass manufacturer's website for tips:
Bullseye Glass Company's print section and video section are strong and still growing. Many tips are free. I still find the subscription videos well worth the $45 annual fee -- KS. Oceanside System 96 (the old Spectrum) info is found here. Wissmach glass also has some free info. Olympic Color Rods in Seattle has info for hot glass |
Taking a class or going to glass events like art shows, studio tours etc. and asking the artist questions is one of the best ways to pick up all those little tips that make things easier (many of our usual contributors have just come back from the annual glass convention in Las Vegas).
Joining an internet discussion group is another source of helpful tips. Share your favorite links on our Facebook page so we can compile a list. My list starts with Carol Evan's Pacific NW Glass Group and Barbara Shorty Watkins' Fusing 101 -- KS |
NEXT ISSUE: "Go for Glass". Get your 15 seconds of fame: By July 1st, send us images of your favorite glassy places (museums, galleries, classes...), no matter where they are, and why you like them. FriendsInGlass (you know what) gmail.com
Karen Seymour, Editor
What's New?
Athena Hornsby's birds flew out of the kiln for spring. See more of her work and/or take a class at Northwest Garden Bling in Concrete WA
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Chris Steffens just pulled these out of the annealer. He and several other glass blowers will be at site #5 of the ArtInBloomSeattle.com garden art & studio tour.
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Find Connie Munford's freshly
fused frog pole at site #1 of the ArtInBloomSeattle.com garden art & studio tour April 28-29 |
How'd They Do That?
Ann Cavanaugh builds multilayer fused landscapes (and teaches classes). This piece and several others will be unveiled at the Dragonfire Gallery during the Cannon Beach OR Spring Unveiling event May 4,5,6
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(mouse-over the image to play it)
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News For Fusers:
Bullseye Glass Company has just come out with their next catalog. It includes this Robin's Egg Blue and several other new blues and greens. Your usual Bullseye Glass supplier should have the new glass in stock now.
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Photo: Oceanside System 96 in stock at NW Art Glass.
Other suppliers I checked with (Roses Glassworks in Portland, Covenant Art Glass in Everett and Glass Expressions in Burien) report having some on hand and are looking forward to receiving more soon. Check with your favorite local supplier. |
Announcements & Events
April
5-30 Vetri Gallery "In Danger: Fragile Ecosystems", Seattle WA 27-29 Gathering of the Guilds, (including the Oregon Glass Guild), Portland OR (Still vendor spaces for members, anyone can join: see newsletter) 28-29 Art In Bloom Seattle's Garden Art & Studio Tour, Seattle WA (say hello to Karen Seymour, your FriendsInGlass.org editor, at site #4) May 2-4 & 6 Pilchuck Spring Tours, Stanwood WA 11-13 & 19-20 Camano Island Studio Tour, Camano Island WA June 8-10 Sorticulture, Everett WA 15-17 Edmonds Art Festival Edmonds WA 16 Whidbey Island Glass Guild one-day exhibition at Shorewood Meadow Barn, 800 E Bush Point Road, Freeland, WA (WIGG event is not extra but ticketed as part of Whidbey Garden Tour) July 10-14 Bullseye Resource Center, Portland OR summer sale 14-15 Wedgewood Arts Festival, Seattle WA 20-22 Salem Art Fair and Festival, Salem, OR 29 Museum of Glass' Glass Fest Northwest, Tacoma WA 27 Daniel Clayman artist's talk at Bullseye Resource center, Portland OR 27-29 See 3-in-1: BAM Arts Festival, Festival of the Arts and 6th St., Bellevue WA |
Two FREE glassy events end of April: Gathering of The Guilds, Portland; Art In Bloom, Seattle
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Your favorite glassy event isn't here? Send us a note or post it to our moderated Facebook page.
We've simplified the Classes/Resources page. If you offer classes (or want to help someone who does) please see if I have you listed/linked correctly. If you have a specific class coming up please post it to our moderated Facebook page.
You sell/teach glass art and you're not in our Gallery? It's free. Without you and your other glass friends our database isn't nearly as useful to the the Pacific NW glass community. We want a photo of yourself at work for the artist directory and 3 images of your art for the gallery plus a bit more info so prospective buyers, galleries, students etc. can contact you.
FriendsInGlass (you know the symbol) gmail.com or (206) 525-1577
Thanks!
Karen Seymour
FriendsInGlass (you know the symbol) gmail.com or (206) 525-1577
Thanks!
Karen Seymour
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Friends In Glass Spring 2018 Coupon
10% off * of full retail price on named items from any of these participating artists/organizations Expires May 31, 2018 NOT VALID WITHOUT SUBSCRIBER CODE NW Art Glass, Redmond WA: 10% off CJ's Flux Remover and Clarity Finishing Compound
Glass Expressions, Burien WA: 10% off sheet glass Karen Seymour, Seattle, WA: 10% off finished work at studio only Connie Munford, Seattle, WA: 10% off finished work at studio only |
Both Karen Seymour's and Connie Munford's studios will be on the ArtInBloomSeattle.com free garden art and studio tour April 28-29
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*The fine print: Coupon can be used only once with any given organization/artist. One size can’t possibly fit all: due to contracts, special agreements etc. the participating organization/artist reserves the right to exempt any particular item from the coupon. Please inquire before attempting to redeem the coupon. Coupon is not transferable, can not be combined with any other discount and has no monetary value.
Get your name and link in front of more than 250 local potential glass customers/students. It only costs you the 10% if it's effective and you sell something (the 10% goes to your customer, not FIG). FIG is free and all volunteer: the coupon is how we get folks to subscribe and open the newsletter.
Thank you to all those who have supported us in this way!
Get your name and link in front of more than 250 local potential glass customers/students. It only costs you the 10% if it's effective and you sell something (the 10% goes to your customer, not FIG). FIG is free and all volunteer: the coupon is how we get folks to subscribe and open the newsletter.
Thank you to all those who have supported us in this way!
Copyright Friends In Glass 2018 -- All Images are used by permission and those copyrights are retained by the artists