On February 19th, 2020, we start our 3rd session of Independent Glass Fusing and Glass Bead Making on Friday, February 21st.   Once you've done it, you're hooked! This session will go for 5 weeks through April 1st. Whether you're a beginner or a return artist, there is so much satisfaction in seeing what you've accomplished.  Hands on help is always available.  This is a new artist in my fusing class who did her very first project.   Amazing work! 

When glass alone, just doesn't give you enough pizazz and patterning, I chose to use glass powders.  The gradual blend of one color into another, is a technique that can't be achieved, with just cut glass pieces.  Powders make a great background, where other glass elements can be added for  a unique look. 

What I have learned over the years, is the unpredictability of firing in a kiln.  Here are some pics of a piece that I started on this past summer.  I made a 20" round "blank", about 1/4" thick with a  combination of glass powders and frit.  The initial firing was perfect but when it was fired on the mold, ..... well you can see what happened.  I knew the damage had happened in the annealing stage due to the razor sharp edges.  Smooth edges would indicate that the cracking happened in the beginning of the firing and the glass still heated.  Really, that was a good find.  What I determined was that my very old, big kiln relays were just tired and needed to be replaced.  They shut down completely in the annealing stage which caused the glass to cool too quickly and thermal shock.  So onto replacing the relays  breaking all the pieces, adding more frit and re-firing again into a 20" round.  Never give up!

Check out the new schedule for the Center of the Arts Bonita Springs.  I'm so excited to be teaching three classes this year and sharing some new techniques.  Call to reserve your space as soon as possible.

After an amazing winter teaching at the Center for the Arts in Bonita Springs, FL, I'm now back at the River in Upstate NY. I came back to extremely high water levels in the upper St. Lawrence which curtails recreational activities for most of us. More time for glass work! I will be showing my new technique in crackle glass, glass bead jewelry and wire wrapping this year at the River Muse Gallery & Studio in Clayton NY. Come by and see all of our amazing artists!

HAPPY NEW YEAR! 
 
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The Art Center is ramping up for the Spring session.  Beautiful Moretti glass rods have been ordered and participants will be using NEW didymium glasses for the beadworking class.  I'm anxious to work with the intermediate fusing class and I'm sure they can teach me a few things.  Again, if you're in the SWFL area, check out the Center for the Arts in Bonita Springs.  

I will be teaching two sessions of bead making this winter
at the Center for the Arts in Bonita Springs Florida.
​If you're in the  SWFL area, come join a class! 
http://www.artcenterbonita.org/adulted/index.html

I knew better, but it was after the start of firing when I realized what was going to happen to this piece. I fused these colors on a small, sample piece last year and loved how it looked, so I decided to duplicate it on a 16" round blank to slump in a bowl mold.  The frit was layered between two clear pieces of glass and the frit was too thick and the air bubbles got trapped in between the layers.  Even though I used the 3 layer firing schedule, there were other things I  could have  done to prevent these air bubbles.  Back to the drawing board.