Jester's Baubles

2012 Magless Exchange

2012-02-12T10:51:00.003-07:00

A finished magless

One of the on-line forums I participate in (www.warmglass.com) has had a "magless" exchange for the past 10 years. A magless is a small magnet that...uh...doesn't include the actual magnet. The rules for the magless exchange are simple: the piece must be made of glass, it can use any technique, and it should be a minimum size of 1"x1" but no larger than 2"x2". When finished, you package your creations and send them to a central coordinator, who then mails one of each magless to every participant. (The omission of the magnet helps to keep the weight/shipping costs down.)

When thinking about what to create for the exchange, I had three goals in mind. I wanted to try a new technique, I wanted an opportunity to use an Inland Swaptop hobby saw I recently purchased, and I wanted to create something that was representative of Utah. I decided to create my maglesses using a technique that I've been calling a "frit sandwich", incorporating the colors of the Utah desert landscape. My idea was to create a slab and cut it into appropriately-sized pieces for the maglesses. The frit sandwich (or sand painting with frit) is by no means a new technique -- you can find instructions by various people on-line -- but it is a technique that allowed me to accomplish my three goals.

Binder clips hold the glass securely and act as a stand

I decided to create two slabs so that I could test the technique and firing schedule with the first slab and adjust as necessary. I also knew a smaller slab would be easier to cut. I started with a 12" square piece of clear Spectrum System 96 glass and cut it in half. I then cut four narrow strips of clear (approx. 1/4"). Three narrow clear strips were glued along three edges of one of the 6x12" pieces with Elmers glue and then topped with the other 6x12" piece. It was all held in place along the three glued edges with binder clips and allowed to dry. The binder clips came in handy -- not only did they keep the glass sandwich securely together, but they also provided a nice way to stand the glass on edge when I was ready to fill it with frit.

Colorful frit & card stock "funnel"

I drew lines approximately 1.25" apart horizontally on the glass sandwich with a marker to indicate the height of each cab. In keeping with the desert landscape theme, I choose Uroboros System 96 fine frits in Bronze, Cherry Red, Orange, Yellow, and Sapphire. (In hindsight, the Sapphire was more subtle than I had in mind -- I was hoping for a "bluer blue".)

A piece of floral wire is used to manipulate the frit

I spooned frit onto a piece of card stock folded in half to act as a funnel for pouring the layers of frit into the glass. After I poured a layer of each of the colors, I used a piece of floral wire to manipulate the frit.I did this layer by layer until the sandwich was filled. I then capped it off with the remaining piece of narrow clear glued in place and allowed to dry.

Ready to cap and fuse

I used a fairly standard full fuse firing schedule for the slab (in degrees F):

500/hr to 1100; hold for 30
250/hr to 1425; hold until "done" (approx 20)
AFAP to 950; hold for 45
Cool down

Note that my kiln heats/cools conservatively (especially cooling). This schedule works well for most two-layer pieces I do. You may need to adjust.

Once fired, I used a ruler and 90 degree angle to mark horizontal and vertical lines on the slab with a permanent marker, to represent the approx 1.25 x 1.5" squares (give or take ;)). I smeared the lines with Vaseline to keep them from washing off while sawing. I then went to work sawing the squares. Once I had successfully sawed all the squares on the first slab, I repeated the process for a second slab (I needed at least 57 pieces for the exchange.)

In the kiln and ready to fire polish

Often as the cut got near the final edge of a square, it would shear off. Thus, I used a grinder to clean up the edges of any of the squares that were a little rough. To finish up the squares I placed them in the kiln on a piece of Bullseye Thinfire and fire polished. The schedule was:

400/hr to 1100; hold 30
800/hr to 1440, no hold
AFAP (venting to about 1150) to 950, hold 45
Cool down

Fire polished pieces

I love the look of the frit fired between the layers of the glass. I did get weary of sawing up those little squares, but the second slab went quicker than the first, and it did provide the practice I was seeking. I'm looking forward to using this technique for other pieces, and I hope that my magless experience might inspire someone else who's never tried the technique to give it a whirl!

Dana

62 shiny pieces ready to be packaged and shipped!

Cache Valley Winter Gift Market December 2 & 3

2011-10-23T10:00:00.001-06:00

Taylor's Creek Trail, Kolob Canyon, Zion NP

We're experiencing another spectacular Utah fall. The temperatures have remained mild, and the hills are on fire with the vibrant yellows of aspen and reds of the maples and scrub oak. With days like these it's hard to think that winter is just around the corner, and along with it the holiday season.

I've had a fun summer selling my fused glass designs at our local gardeners' market and participating in Art on the Lawn. Though the summer events are over, there's still one more event I'm participating in to wrap up the year -- the Winter Gift Market.

This day and a half art fair is being held December 2 and 3 at the Bullen Art Center. The market runs from 6 to 9 PM on Friday night, in conjunction with our Gallery Walk, and from 10 AM to 6 PM on Saturday. The market hosts a variety of artists, including potters, soap makers, wood workers, fiber artists, and of course, a "glasser" or two.

This market is a great place to find unique handcrafted items for yourself or for gift giving, created by the valley's local artists. I'm please to have been accepted into the market this year. For the next several weeks, you'll find me down in my studio after a full days work at my "day job" crafting functional and beautiful platters, small dishes for soap or sushi, and jewelry. Of course, I still plan on finding a little time to enjoy the last of our beautiful fall days!

Platter, Fall-Inspired Design

Dana

Spring's Winding Path

2011-05-30T08:03:00.003-06:00

Northern Utah's journey through the seasons can travel a winding path, and this year is no exception. Following a long and glorious fall, we've experienced 70 degree days in February, more precipitation than we'll soon know what to do with once the run-off starts in earnest, turbulent winds that toss garbage cans like toys, and snow on Memorial Day. Yes, snow on Memorial Day! As I look out my window the ground is blanketed with a thin layer of white, and I can only hope that my tender basil and tomato plants survive to bask in the sunlight that's promised to arrive later this week.

Despite the cool and rainy spring, we have managed to get outside and "enjoy nature". Spring and early summer are amazing in this high mountain desert. The valley's floor and benches are lush and green, and the mountains are capped in white. Yesterday we stole time before dinner guests arrived to walk up the gravel road to the north of our home and marvel at the display of early spring wildflowers.

We came across wild carrots, foothills death camus (well, it looks nice!), ballhead waterleaf, and other spring wildflowers that I couldn't identify. But the most notable bloomers were the balsamroot. Their brilliant yellow display covering the foothills is what drew us out for the walk to begin with.

When I started looking at the plants more closely, I noticed that, while all the flowers more or less looked the same, there were two distinct patterns of leaves on the plants. Later last night, I got out my plant books (and then resorted to "googling") to distinguish between the two plants. One is the arrowleaf balsamroot (the name I've always used for the plants) and the other is the cutleaf balsamroot.

Cutleaf balsamroot (Balsamorhiza macrophylla)

Arrowleaf balsamroot (Balsamorhiza sagittata)

Inspiration for my glass and other "artistic endeavors" abound in Northern Utah, and I always return from our forays into nature with one thousand ideas bouncing around my head. On what is sure to be a lazy and laid back Memorial Day, I'm planning to pull out my tools and get to work. Maybe the snow is not so bad after all!

Happy holiday,

Dana

Death Camus (Zigadenus paniculatus)

Ballhead Waterleaf (hydrophyllum capitatum)

Glass Craft & Bead Expo 2011 Review

2011-04-05T20:59:00.000-06:00

This was my first time attending the annual Glass and Bead Expo in Las Vegas. Ever since I registered for classes in January, I had been excited about spending a few days learning more about glass.

I arrived Thursday afternoon and had time for a quick dip in the pool and relaxing in the sun. After an Italian dinner in one of South Point’s restaurants (that was surprisingly good) I attended a slide show presentation by Peter McGrain (http://petermcgrain.com). Peter briefly covered a history of stained glass, reviewed work of both amateur and professional artists that he appreciated, and ended the evening by showing some of his work. His technique of glass painting is a unique style that brings a vibrant feel to his pieces. His presentation was light-hearted and engaging, and a great way to ease into the conference.

Friday morning was my first hands-on class. The class was entitled Mixed Metal Clay Bracelet and was taught by Arlene Mornick (http://lemordesigns.com). When I walked into the classroom, Arlene said, “Oh, you must be Dana!”

“Wow, how did you guess?” I asked. Arlene responded that I was the only one who had signed up for the class. I offered to give her the day off (I would have understood if she had wanted to cancel), but Arlene said it would be fun and it would give her time to work on some pieces of her own.

The class was called Mixed Metal Clay because Arlene was showing ways to combine copper and silver metal clay in a single piece of jewelry. Metal clays are typically 90-99% pure with clay filler that burns out during firing. The silver clay is very expensive, while the copper is comparatively inexpensive. There’s a challenge with combining them because the two clays are basically incompatible for firing – they will not sinter when fired and they are fired at significantly different temperatures (1200-1650 for the silver metal clay and 1778 for the copper).

The assembled bracelet.

The construction of the bracelet consisted of five copper clay rectangles, two silver rectangles and a two-piece bar clasp. With each rectangle, Arlene encouraged the use of different textures. Some pieces had holes that were used for incorporating silver clay embellishments later. The copper pieces were formed first and then the silver – I’m sure this was not by accident. The practice on the copper pieces was a good way to get the hang of it before starting on the more expensive silver.

While pieces were drying or firing, Arlene talked about how to set firable stones (which I did in my bracelet), and other tips for metal clay. All told, it was a great day which left me thinking of many ideas for future jewelry pieces. For those who considered taking the class and didn’t – they missed out on a fun and informative class.

Dinner was a quick chocolate malt before running to my evening class, Impressions in Glass, taught by Nicole Lozano (http://www.glasstouch.net). Like most people I met during the weekend, Nicole is passionate about her work and her passion shined through as she presented her technique for “kiln carving” using fiber paper. Nicole discussed positive and negative space in design, and showed different completed pieces using the fiber paper technique. She then went over how to transfer a design idea onto fiber paper. With that information in mind, we were given two sheets of iridized glass and some fiber paper, and were set loose with our imagination. It was an interesting and challenging exercise to create a design while considering the flow of glass into the empty, or cut-away, space and the recession of the glass in the fiber paper space.

Mountains with sun. The fiber-side-down side.

Opposite side.

The pieces were fired overnight, and we picked them up the next morning. I had left the class excited about the possibilities of using this technique, but was disappointed in the results of my finished pieces. I was hoping for beautiful test pieces that were full of reflected light from the iridized glass. Obviously, these were not destined to be Chilhulys, but the glass ended up cloudy and I would consider the experiment less than successful.

The following day at the exhibit hall, I ran into Nicole. She asked for my honest opinion and so we talked about the results. There were many factors at play that may have affected the end result, including the fact that the kilns were just-out-of-the-box and had never been fired, we were packing the pieces into the kilns as closely as we could, and fiber paper and thin fire (used for covering the shelves) have filler that will burn out and cause fumes in the kiln. I will try the technique at home and hopefully achieve better results in a more controlled firing environment.

The class I took on Saturday was on mold making with Kaiser-Lee board (http://kaiserlee.com), taught by Petra Kaiser. The class was called “Two for One”. It was called this because we completed two projects – a jewelry pendant and a dimensional piece of choice (light screen, small dish or bowl, etc.). Also, the pendant was designed to be two-sided.

I found Petra to be delightful, if not feisty. Again, she is passionate about what she is doing. I was delighted to find that Petra was the author of the book “Introduction to Glass Fusing” that I used as my how-to guide when I started fusing. There were no fused glass classes in my area, and I found this book invaluable for providing easy-to-follow projects with good solid firing schedules.

Notice the cracks on the left & right sides.

Kaiser-Lee board is a great medium to work with for creating molds. It’s easy to cut and carve with tools as simple as a putty knife and a spoon. As shown in another one of Petra’s books, “Glass Forming with the Mold Block System”, a few basic shapes can be combined in various ways to create different sizes and shapes of molds. The Kaiser-Lee board can also be used as a kiln shelf (at 1” thick it is lightweight yet sturdy). Since I was in the market for another kiln shelf and because the board offers so many possibilities for making molds, I left the class with a “six-pack” of 12x12” boards. Of course, the strength of this product – it’s “carvability” – is also its weakness. The molds are easily scratched so they have to be stored and handled carefully.

I’m still trying to figure out which of the glass gods I angered (perhaps it was my interest in metal clay), because the Kaiser-Lee board project was unsuccessful as well. When I arrived the next morning, again eager to pick up my treasure, I found that there had been a power outage the prior evening. Most of the pieces were fired only to a tack fuse, and a few of them – including mine – were not fired at all. While I was a little disappointed, I knew I could fire the piece at home. Unfortunately, when I pulled it out of the kiln today I found stress cracks. I assume they are the result of the aggressive firing schedule that Petra recommended. But, I’ll certainly give it another go (I have 6 pieces of expensive Kaiser Lee board!) and work with a more conservative schedule. And, I might sacrifice a chicken or something to the glass gods – or maybe my metal clay bracelet?

All-in-all it was a wonderful weekend that started my brain spinning in circles about the possibilities of new techniques for my glass and a new art form for jewelry. I only regret that I didn’t arrive earlier and take advantage of the full week of classes. I’m starting now to save my pennies for next year!

Happy fusing,

Pendant: side touching KLB.

Dana (aka, the Jester)

Glass Craft & Bead Expo 2011

2011-03-27T14:27:00.000-06:00

In less than a week I'll be heading to Las Vegas for the 2011 Glass Craft & Bead Expo. The expo consists of four full days of hands-on instruction in various glass, bead, and metal techniques and a trade show floor of over 130 vendors.

I'll be hitting the road on Thursday. It's an 8 hour drive from Logan to Vegas, so I should arrive at the hotel in the late afternoon. The weather forecast for the area shows temperatures in the 80s. Given that it snowed overnight here in Logan, the warmth and sunshine of the Las Vegas desert will be a welcome change. With any luck I'll have a chance to unwind from my drive by the hotel pool, reading a book and soaking up some rays. The next few days, however, I'll be soaking up as much information as I can about the wonderful craft of glass.

Friday at 8 AM I'll be heading to Ballroom A8 for a class called "Mixed Metal Bracelet". We'll be using copper and silver metal clay to create a one-of-a-kind piece of jewelry. For nearly a year now, I've had a package of silver clay in my supply drawer, but I've been too intimated to pull it out and start creating. The clay is 99% pure silver, and trial-and-error learning can result in some pretty expensive lessons. I'm looking forward to rolling up my sleeves and figuring it all out -- with the help of someone who knows what she's doing!

I've also scheduled a Friday evening class called "Impressions in Glass". The technique taught in this class uses fiber paper to introduce texture and relief into the glass. I'm sure I'll pick up some new ideas for the use of fiber paper.

Saturday's class is called "Two for One -- Mold Making with Kaiser Lee Board". Kaiser Lee Board is a rigid, carvable substance that comes in blocks. It can be used for building three dimensional forms and for making custom molds. The class is called "two for one" since the first half of the day will be used for making a pendant using the KLB and the second half of the day will be used for creating a stand-alone clock, light screen, or sculpture.

Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, the vendors will have their booths set up in the show hall. I'm interested in seeing the latest in fused glass supplies and equipment. I'm also hoping to pick up a show floor "deal" or two.

While Las Vegas itself is one of my least favorite places on the planet, I'm excited to be heading to the Glass Craft & Bead Expo. I'm hoping to learn new techniques, meet new friends, and come home with a head full of new ideas for my artwork. And who knows... I may even get adventurous and pull that silver clay out of the supply drawer!

Regards,

Dana (aka, The Jester)

Pendant, combining the techniques of fused glass, wire wrapping, and Chinese knotting.

Black Friday Jewelry Sale! Pendants and Earrings!

2010-11-25T08:16:00.000-07:00

These are just a few of the items in Jester's Baubles Black Friday sale

It's an old cliche, but I think it's true that nothing says "I love you" like a piece of jewelry. A hand-crafted item makes a gift of jewelry even more special. To help you with your holiday shopping for that Someone Special, Jester's Baubles is having a Black Friday sale.

All black pendants are marked at a special price of $10. I've also included some dark greens, purples, and blues in this Black Friday jewelry collection. Along with pendants, there are a few pairs of earrings in the mix. The original price of these jewelry items ranged from $15 to $24. To check out these great gifts, go to my on-line store and click the Black Friday link on the left-side navigation panel under Shop Sections.

While you're there, you may want to browse my selection of small dishes that can be used for sushi, soap, candles, or for holding your loose change, rings, or other trinkets.

Sushi, soap, or candle dishes at Jester's Baubles

And now it's time for me to think about pies, cranberries, and turkeys. It's also time to think about the things I have to be thankful for. I'm fortunate to be blessed with a loving husband, good health, wonderful friends, a "day job" I love, and a hobby that allows me to express myself in the beautiful medium of glass. As a special gift to thank you for reading my blog and spreading the word about Jester's Baubles, just mention this Black Friday blog post and I will include a silk cord necklace with the purchase of every pendant.

Happy Thanksgiving,
Dana

Holiday Gift Guide

2010-11-09T21:19:00.000-07:00

As the season changes and we near the end of the year, many people's thoughts turn to holiday gift buying. Whether you're looking for a Christmas or Hanukkah gift, a Yule offering, or an object of art to decorate your home for Kwanzaa, handmade items are an excellent choice. Fused glass creations are a delightful and unique alternative to more traditional gifts. Jester's Baubles specializes in fused glass pendants and home decor, and we have something for everyone -- and every budget -- on your holiday gift list.

Gifts for $10

These days, we have jewelry for everything. There's jewelry for your neck and jewelry for your ears. There's jewelry for your nose and jewelry for your toes. There's even Bling for your phone! So why not give a gift of jacket jewelry? Jester's Baubles offers fused glass baubles that can be hung on the zipper pull of a jacket or purse. What a great way to dress up last year's blazer!

Gifts for $20 or Less
For that Special Someone on your list, a fused glass pendant is the perfect stocking stuffer. Jester's Baubles offers a large selection of pendants priced at $20 or less. Designs range from the sophisticated to the playful and carefree. Whatever your gal's style, you'll find a pendant to match!

Gifts for $30 or Less

Gifts for the home are always appreciated. Jester's Baubles offers a selection of fused glass dishes which are sized perfectly for holding sushi, soap, or a candle. These dishes can also be set out and simply admired for their beauty! A stylish dish for holding spare change is a great gift for the man on your list. Note that all glass items are food-safe.

Gifts Under $40

If you're looking for that perfect gift for the "person who has everything", look no further! A one-of-a-kind wall-hanging is a unique and beautiful gift that will last throughout the years. These items are also suitable for hanging in a window to let the sun shine through.

I hope I've given you some ideas to help relieve the hassles of your holiday shopping. These are just a few of the items offered in Jester's Baubles on-line store -- stop by and browse around to see more of our fused glass pendants, earrings, dishes, and other treasures.

Here's to carefree gift giving!

Dana (aka, The Jester)

Capturing Fall

2010-10-17T22:17:00.001-06:00

This Autumn in Northern Utah has been nothing short of spectacular. September's blue skies and moderate temperatures have persisted into October, with the added bonus of fall color. Our mountains are ablaze with firey red scrub oaks, brilliant orange maples, and bright yellow aspens that sparkle in the breeze.

We're fortunate to have been granted this Indian summer. I keep wondering when our luck will run out, and I know that our first snowfall will soon blow in on the wind. That, and a tutorial on the Helios web site about the technique of fossil vitra (http://fusedglass.org/learn/project_tutorials) are what inspired me to capture some of this fall color in glass to enjoy all year long.

I started by cutting a few leaves from a Japanese maple in the front yard and from a ginkgo tree in a friend's yard.

I sprayed the leaves, one at a time, with an inexpensive brand of pump hairspray. Before the hairspray had a chance to dry, I generously sprinkled the leaves with powdered frit. The maple leaves were coated in bronze opal and the ginkgo in green opal.

Each leaf was placed one at a time on a Thinfire-lined kiln shelf and topped with a 4x4" square of clear glass.

I fired the pieces, 6 tiles at a time, according to the following schedule:

Ramp	Rate	Temp	Hold (minutes)
1	500/hr	1000	10
2	Full	1350	25
3	Full	960	30
4	500/hr	100	0

(The schedule is somewhat aggressive, since the pieces were small and single-layered.)

I'm excited about the possibilities of these leaf imprints in glass. As they are (or perhaps with another layer of glass), the small tiles can be used as coasters. The tiles can also be used as part of the design for a larger plate or bowl (I've got one cooking in the kiln as I type), or two or more tiles can be strung together for a sun catcher or wall hanging.

I intended the piece below to be added to my Etsy shop, but the moment I hung it on the wall to photograph it I knew the piece was going nowhere. It looks lovely hanging by my front door! I drilled holes in the corners of each tile with a Dremel fitted with a diamond bit (the glass was submerged in water to keep it cool). Large jump rings were used for the glass corners and smaller jump rings were used to connect the tiles. A length of brass chain was added for hanging.

I hope I've offered a little "food for thought" as you look around at what nature has to offer this fall. Perhaps you can capture a little fall of your own!

Dana
aka, The Jester

Easing into Fall

2010-09-26T15:28:00.000-06:00

The shorter days, longer shadows, and kitchen calendar show that fall has arrived. However, here in Northern Utah we're still enjoying mild temperatures and sunny skies. My only complaint is that the fall color-show will not be very interesting this year, but I'll take these 75 degree days any September.

Dana & Karl, Grand Teton National Park

The warmer days have me outside enjoying late season mountain bike rides and hikes. Two weekends ago we reveled in the fall splendor of Jackson, WY and Grand Teton National Park.Unfortunately, the glass side of things is suffering, but I'm trying to get back into the groove.

This afternoon I posted a few new seasonal items in my Etsy shop, and I've got glass "baking" in the kiln as I type. I've been dabbling with using glass powder on leaves to create a lasting imprint under clear glass, and so far I like the results. Once I get a few of the projects completed, I'll post some information on the technique and firing schedule.

If you're interested in a fun pendant for Halloween or something to complement your fall wardrobe, head on over to www.jestersbaubles.com.

Happy pumpkin picking!

Dana (aka, the Jester)

We Broke the Mold on this One!

2010-04-06T21:10:00.011-06:00

A few weeks ago, I purchased a new vase slumping form from Delphi Glass. This particular mold was ceramic, and I was a bit nervous going against the adage of "slump into ceramic and over stainless". But hey, they were selling it. And surely they wouldn't sell me something that wouldn't work! So I decided to give it a go.

After planning out a pattern on paper, I cut a clear circle that was 8.5 inches in diameter. I then cut strips of medium blue cathedral, medium green cathedral, and a nice white/blue/green Spirit glass. The green and blue strips were approximately 1.25 inches wide and the Spirit glass strips were 0.75 inches wide. I ground the outside edges to insure a nice even edge. I then arranged the strips on top of the clear glass and put them into my Paragon 14 kiln.

I followed a fairly standard fusing schedule of:

500 > 1000 hold 10
250 > 1450 hold 25
afap > 1100 hold 5
500 > 960 hold 45
300 to room temp

The result was a good full fuse with smooth edges.

At this point the piece was already a nice shiny object (my weakness), and it could have been used for a cheese platter I suppose, but it was time to take the plunge. The next step was to slump the disk over the kiln-washed ceramic mold. Into to the kiln it went!

The slumping schedule was similar to the schedule above, except my top temperature was 1250 rather than 1450.

Now the problem with slumping over ceramic molds is that glass and ceramic have different expansion coefficients. The end result is that when they cool down, the glass will contract more than the ceramic. The danger is that the glass will contract so tightly around the ceramic mold that the glass will break. I had been told that if the piece was carefully watched during the slumping phase, I could avoid problems with the glass breaking or being trapped in the mold by stopping the slump just before it draped enough to touch the sides.

Gravity and physics had other plans in mind, however. I suspect that because of the design and those nice straight lines I had (perfect bending points), two opposing sides slumped first (the left and right sides in the photo above). In fact, they slumped much more quickly that the other two sides. Since I was not going for the taco look, I did not stop the slumping process until the remaining two sides had draped.

I held my breathe and waited to see what happened. When I removed the vase from the kiln, the glass was still intact (whew!), but it was firmly surrounding the mold.

Uh, oh.

I headed to google, the oracle of all modern wisdom, looking for a solution to safely separate the two pieces. I tried soaking in water -- for two days! -- to no avail. I tried using fishing line as "floss" hoping I could remove enough of the kiln wash to give it just a little leeway to slip out. I also read advice ranging from dropping the piece from a table to the floor to jar it loose, whacking it with a hammer, or hanging it upside down and reheating it in the kiln hot enough to let the glass contract so the mold would fall out. I just wasn't brave enough to try any of this latter advice. I really wanted to save the vase if possible.

My final plan of attack was to use a Dremel with a cutting disk, to cut away just enough of the mold to free the glass. It sounded easy enough; unfortunately, that plan failed. But in the end, I decided that there was no obstacle that a hammer and screwdriver could not remove from my path.

I can safely say that this is a one of a kind piece. I broke the mold on this one -- literally!

With every creation, I think an artist learns something. This lesson in glass is not one I will forget, and I'll certainly be heeding the common wisdom the next time I decide to slump a piece of glass.

So for now, lesson learned. I'm off to look for stainless steel molds.

Dana (aka, The Jester)

Hello Sunshine!

2010-03-20T12:59:00.000-06:00

I like winter in the intermountain west. The snow in the mountains is beautiful, and I enjoy getting out to cross country ski. However, when winter turns to spring, my thoughts turn to sunshine! I'm ready for biking, hiking, gardening, and grilling on the patio -- all the little things that warmer weather brings. Each spring, I can hardly wait for the bulbs to emerge. I love the yellows of daffodils, the reds of tulips, and the yellows and whites of crocuses.

It's these thoughts of flowers and sunshine that inspired my latest fused glass creation, Bowl of Sunshine.

This little bowl is 5 inches across the top edge, and about 1.25 inches tall. It's the perfect size for serving dip or nuts, can be used as a votive or knick-knack holder, or can be placed on your table to look at "just because". If you're interested in how the piece was created, read on.

Technique: The first part that I made was the sun that sits in the bottom of the bowl. I used a Taurus ring saw to cut two star shapes from an orange/red/white opal swirl. The two pieces were then tack-fused together with the "arms" offset to create a sun. Three small red "blobs" (that's a technical term) were also placed atop the glass.

Next, I cut a circle from clear glass (using the ring saw again -- I'm terrible at cutting circles with the glass cutter!). I also cut twelve 3/4" squares from an orange/red/yellow/white swirl cathedral. The sun was placed in the middle of the circle, and the squares were placed along the outside edge (the idea was, during the fuse, these squares would produce a slightly scalloped edge for the bowl). To finish off the design, I sprinkled a red coarse frit on the remaining areas of clear glass. The glass was then full-fused to produce the round disk. The final step was placing the disk on a small mold, and firing the glass to slump it into the mold.

I love the finished piece! The colors are bright and cheery, and the clear base glass allows the sun to shine through, leaving a pretty pattern in the bowl's shadow. And because I can't keep everything, this piece is now offered for sale in my Etsy shop.

I hope this first day of Spring finds you as sunny and cheerful as this bowl full of sunshine!

Dana (aka, The Jester)

Getting back into the Groove

2010-01-31T12:03:00.019-07:00

It was a busy holiday season at both work and play. I enjoyed parties with friends and family, and many cross-country ski outings despite the fact we're experiencing a lighter than usual snow year. But it's time get get back in the basement, dig out the glass and oil cutter, and begin work on some new glass treasures.

One of the nice things I received during the holidays was a gift certificate to Delphi Glass. I had been wanting more slumping molds so this was the perfect gift. I picked up molds for a bowl, a vase, a triangular-shaped dish, a fluted sushi/soap plate, a drop ring, and some additional kiln posts. I'm excited to get started with these. In fact, I applied kiln wash this morning and the molds are in front of the fireplace drying as I type.

Another thing I had been interested in trying were gold decals for firing on the surface of glass. If you are a glass fuser and haven't tried these, I'll share some of my thoughts here. The instructions that came with the decals were rather vague so perhaps some of my comments will help.

Since this was my first experience with decals, I thought I would pick up the sampler pack. The description read there were approximately 40 decals per sheet. I got weird and counted mine and, if you count each dragonfly individually, there are 54 pieces.

The instructions said to cut the decals to size and soak in warm water "until they slide off easily". They also cautioned about soaking too long. I wasn't certain if "easily" equated to 15 minutes or 5 seconds. Ultimately, it was closer to the 5 second range. A short float was all that was required. The first decal went floating away in the water when I did a test to see if it was ready. Despite what the instructions said, I was able to retrieve the decal by hand. No need for the tweezers they suggested!

I chose seven previously fired cabs to apply the decals to. The whole process went quicker and was much less complicated than I anticipated. Perhaps I am just intimated by new experiences :). I placed all the decals on the cabs and let them dry overnight as suggested.

Another vague area was the information on firing. The instructions read to heat the kiln "slowly". Again, I was a bit uncertain what "slowly" meant. I figured 1000 degrees per hour was slow enough for me (I'm impatient, after all), so I set the kiln to ramp up to 1000 at 1000/hour, hold for one minute, and then ramp AFAP to 1275 (the instructions recommended 1250-1425). I used a 10 minute hold at 1275, turned the kiln off, and flash cooled to 950. I then left the kiln to cool on its own for the next few hours.

One note here: The instructions recommended keeping the kiln lid open so that the burn-off from the decals would not contaminate the finished product. I did not do this. I left the vent out of the kiln and called it good.

The results were lovely :)

I used a combination of lighter- and darker-colored cabs. When I was placing the decals, the gold showed up well on the lighter cabs. On the darker cabs, it really didn't show up at all. It was hard to determine placement on these darker colors, especially on the dark blue aventurine (lower left) and the iridescent black crackle (upper left). When the pieces were fired, however, the results were just the opposite. The gold shows up clearly on the darker cabs, and is much more subtle on lighter ones. I guess that's a Duh moment for me ;) In the future, I'll stick with the darker glass colors for decals.

I'll finish these off with some nice gold bails. The red dragonfly is just begging for a drilled gold-toned lattice bail (the ones I have in stock at the moment came from Kaiser Glass). It's also begging for me to keep it :) Look for these items to appear in my on-line store soon!

Until next time, Dana (aka, The Jester)

Holiday Giveaway Winner!

2009-12-02T12:28:00.004-07:00

Congratulations to "Char" -- winner of Jester's Baubles November Holiday giveaway. Char chose the following pendant as her favorite:

To create the pendant, two pieces of Spirit glass with mostly parallel lines were stacked with the lines set in a diagonal to each other and then fused. The piece was finished off with a quality silver-toned Aanraku bail. And I have to agree with Char -- it is one of my favorites, too.

Thank you to all who participated. (OK there were only three of you, but, hey, your chances for winning were very good!)

I've added new pendants and a sushi/soap dish or two to my etsy store. If you get a chance, "drop by" and take a look! (www.jestersbaubles.etsy.com)

Happy Holidays, Dana (aka, the Jester)

Life's Lessons In Glass

2009-11-09T21:01:00.005-07:00

I spent a fair amount of time this weekend working on a small sushi plate that I intended as a gift, using a glass weaving technique. Strips of glass are carefully cut to size, placed on a clear glass base, and then tack fused -- the pieces of glass are fused together but they retain their individual shapes. The process takes several hours in the kiln. The following day I slumped the woven glass into a flared mold. This process, too, takes time. The glass is slowly brought to 1000 degrees, the temperature is held to let the glass "soak", and then it's raised to slumping temperature. The glass has to be watched at this stage to ensure that it slumps adequately into the mold without over-slumping. Once slumped, the temperature is dropped quickly to 950-1000 degrees (by fanning the door!), held for an hour to anneal, and then slowly brought once again to room temperature.

It was a busy day yesterday. While slumping the glass I vacuumed the house, did some laundry, paid bills, worked on another idea for a design, went to the grocery, got dinner in the oven, and planted some daffodils (a last gardening effort before the snow flies). Just before dinner was ready I made a final check on the sushi dish. The temperature was down to about 200 degrees and I felt I could safely remove it from the kiln. I am always impatient to hold the final product in my hands. The glass and mold were still fairly hot (duh, 200 degrees!). I placed them on the table and started to walk away to finish dinner and let them cool. But I was impatient. I wanted to get the piece cleaned up and look at it -- really look at it. In the mold, the dish looked near perfect. The piece had slumped evenly and cleanly with no rough edges that I could see. I decided I would put it in my bucket and take it to the sink for cleaning. It was still warm, but I thought I would get the tap water as hot as I could and then fill the bucket, slowly bringing the glass to room temperature.

So I did. I knew I shouldn't have. I knew the moment I ran the water into the bucket that I had made a mistake. I heard the run of the crack in the glass -- a satisfying sound when you are breaking a score, but a sound that makes you feel slightly ill when you're looking at a finished piece.

I held the glass up to the light. On the outside, the glass was still intact. However, on the inside there were several hairline cracks. The piece I had worked so hard on -- for two days! -- was ruined.

I've always tried to look at my mistakes as learning experiences. With this experience, the glass reminded me of a couple of life's lessons that I should know by now (but apparently don't). The first lesson is patience. A lack of patience can ultimately lead to disappointment and failure. The other lesson is that even when things look cool on the outside, often they are still volatile on the inside and if stressed, will crack.

So I tried not to feel too sick about my failure and appreciate it for the lessons I'd learned. You can bet I'll be keeping that piece around for awhile as a reminder, in case I have the urge to let impatience take over again!

~A handful of patience is worth more than a bushel of brains. ~ Dutch Proverb (or a half-bushel, in my case!)

Shiny Objects

2009-11-05T20:46:00.014-07:00

Occasionally when I open the kiln, I come across a fused glass cabochon that I love. Well, let me rephrase that. Every time I open the kiln, I love all the beautiful sparkly objects that shine back at me. But every once in a while I come across a piece that I really, really love.

A few weeks ago I opened the kiln to find just such a piece. It was actually one of the pieces in a picture from a previous blog post. I've circled it below (lower left):

Going into the kiln, it didn't look like much - a triangle cut from a piece of muted mauve and pink opal swirl glass, topped with a piece of dichroic. But after fusing and annealing in the kiln, to my eyes it was transformed into a thing of beauty. I decided the moment I picked it off the kiln shelf that it was "mine".

This evening I had a chance to finish off the piece into a choker length necklace. I purchased some coordinating amethyst-colored glass beads at Beadles, our local bead shop, and added two clear Swarovski crystals for a touch of sparkle. I love the finished piece. The colors remind me of a late spring sunset, radiating with gentle hues of dusty mauve, pink, and purple.

While you're here, make sure to read my post below about my upcoming Holiday Giveaway for November. Leave me a comment and I'll add your name to the drawing for a pendant of your choice (but not this one! It's MINE!).

November Holiday Giveaway!

2009-10-29T21:00:00.010-06:00

The holiday season is quickly approaching (when I think of it in terms of "how many paychecks til Christmas" it is scary). It's a time for reflection, a time for gathering with friends, and a time for letting those we care about know how special they are.

In celebration of this holiday season, Jester's Baubles is having a holiday giveaway. Visit my shop at www.jestersbaubles.etsy.com and look around at my fused glass creations. Then leave a comment* below and let me know which one of the items strikes your fancy and why (limited to pendants and earrings - sushi dishes not included in giveaway). You can copy the URL for the item or reference the item by name.

On November 30 I will drop all names into a hat and pick one who will receive the item they commented on (caveat -- if the item is sold between now and then, you'll have your choice of a substitute item). Check back the first week in December, where I will post the winner (most of you I will have an on-line contact for and will be able to contact you right away).

I'm looking forward to your comments. Happy Holidays and Good Luck!

*NOTE: People have said they have been unable to leave a comment on the blog to be entered for the giveaway. The text "comment" is not a live link. However, the number after the comment is. Click on this number and the comment box should open. Sorry for the confusion (Blogger? The template I'm using?)! If you still are unable to comment, drop me an email at jestersbaubles at gmail.

The Jester Has been Busy in the Basement

2009-10-11T14:29:00.009-06:00

It's been a busy but productive weekend, at least on the gardening and glassing side of things. Yesterday, I planted a boatload (yes, that's a valid number) of irises. Five were special orders from High Country Garden, and the rest were ones I received from generous friends.

For me, gardening leads to introspection. Yesterday I reflected on the previous truckload (yes, another finite quantity) of irises I had planted in the spring. It was Mother's Day, and I planted them in memory of my mother. This weekend, I planted for those I know who have lost someone in their lives recently -- a dear friend's aunt, a friend's 20-something YO son, mothers and fathers, and a couple of four-legged family members whose loss is felt just as greatly as the two-legged kind. When spring rolls around next year, my garden will be full of beautiful irises celebrating the memory of those who are no longer with us.

Between scoops of dirt and doing laundry, I found time to cut some glass and finish a few pieces. Here's a look at what went in the kiln yesterday morning:

And these are the transformed pieces several hours later:

One of my favorites is the one on the middle row, second from the left. Three pieces of glass are layered in this pendant -- a sky blue piece on the bottom and a slightly smaller swirled blue and teal piece, topped with a clear dichroic piece. The results are beautiful! I'm saving it for a friend. I'm also partial to the pink-ish piece on the bottom row, first left. My least favorite is the big ugly one on the top row, first left. I have this lovely medium purple glass, that just does not fire with the results I envision. And of course, I have LOTS of this glass.

A few pieces that I fired earlier and finally finished off this weekend will be donated for our annual Stokes Nature Center dinner and auction. Stokes Nature Center is located in beautiful Logan Canyon and they offer educational programs for nature lovers of all ages. Here's what I've chosen for auction:

The theme of the auction this year is "Flower Power" and I thought the middle pendant would fit that theme nicely. I still want to string together a beaded "chain" for it, with turquoise, yellow, and mauve beads. Perhaps after I finished this post :)

If you are beginning to think about Christmas or are looking for a handmade gift for that "special someone" (even if it's yourself), don't forget to take a browse around my shop at www.jestersbaubles.etsy.com.

The Beginning

2009-10-05T21:19:00.004-06:00

I suspect people think it's a little weird when you tell them you've been in the basement all day melting glass. Especially when you tell them you were having fun doing it.

I have always enjoyed a variety of "crafts". (I don't really like that word. It conjures up images of gingham, ducks, and tole painting.) Even as a small child I was begging my mom to puh-lease let me use the sewing machine so I could make clothes for Barbie. Over the years I continued to expand my interests -- crocheting, embroidery, cross stitch, quilting, paper making, stained glass, bead weaving, and bead "stringing".

I liked creating jewelry with beads, but somehow, it felt like I was cheating. All I was doing was buying beads and stringing them on a wire -- anyone could do that. So I decided I wanted to begin making my own beads. At my request the darling husband (hereafter referred to as DH), bought me a lampworking kit for my birthday. So one afternoon, armed with tools of the trade as well as a fire extinguisher, carbon monoxide detector, and flame retardant suit, I began.

The kit provided fiber blankets in which to place the beads for cooling (to prevent thermal shock). I successfully created several blobs and one beautifully round bead. It was a miracle! I carefully placed each creation, still on the metal mandrel, into the fiber blanket. Imagine my dismay when I later found that all my carefully crafted blobs and one beautifully round bead had cracked!

Those fiber blankets weren't going to cut it, and I wasn't too convinced by the google searches that turned up flower pots of vermiculite and other cooling methods. I knew at this point that a kiln was in order to properly cool and anneal the pieces.

Once my kiln arrived, I got excited about all the possibilities. Not only could I anneal lampworked beads, but I could fuse glass! And I could fire metal clay! I knew that to calm my excitement, a trip to the Hobby Lobby was in order for just one small piece or two of glass for fusing.

Thus began my journey with fused glass.