Fusing with Frit
I’ve been working on a new series of chipbowls and salsa dishes, using window glass which is (usually, almost) free around here, left over at construction sites – Thank-you, Kristina.
People have been curious about the process so here is what I do. I like the philosophy of recycling glass but the material is not as forgiving as System 96 glass which is made specifically for fusing. The learning curve has been steep.
After cutting the ¼” thick glass to the size I want, I mix up a paste of glass frit powder with an organic fusible gel.
The paste is spread across the glass and left to air dry in the sun.
Then, with a soft pencil, I draw a design on the dry glass powder.
The design is carved away with a drummel tool.
The negative spaces are then refilled with a different color of glass powder.
When the design is complete, the piece is fired at full fuse (1535F for float glass).
Before molding the piece in a second or third kiln firing, the edges are hand sanded with 80 and 220 grit.
All in all, it takes me nearly a week to finish a piece.
I’ve also been using fusible System 96 glass as well, which is more expensive but produces more consistent results.
Seven new pieces
I’ve been having a lot of fun recently making these wire-wrapped pendants.
I’ve enhanced them with beaded ropes.
I recently selected a few for gifts for the girls and women in my family. When I laid them out on the table so each one could choose her favorite, my 16 year-old grandson swooped in, made his own selection, and wore his pendant the rest of the weekend. So, you see, these designs are unisex.
These earrings are using a new technique with a new material. I hope you like them.
All of this jewelry is for sale at Samara Organics at the Natural Center.
Enhancements
Lately, I’ve been doing a lot of wire-wrapping over glass “puddles”.
When I make mistakes in fused glass pieces, I break them up and re-fire them into “puddles”.
Sometimes, I use these puddles in other fused glass pieces – see if you can find some in my portfolio – but often, I turn them into jewelry.
Lately, I’ve been wire-wrapping them as earrings and pendants.
I started with the “Tree of Life” – I love this simple motif – and then branched out into some more abstract designs. 
My friend, Connie – she is great with beads and beading – helped me enhance these pendants with beaded ropes for necklaces.
Some of these pendants will be shown in Samara Organics soon.
Sold
Thank-you to my good friend and patron (through all my careers), Lynne Alexander.
These two 7″ square plates are ready for shipment to Seattle. Lynne says she’ll use them for candles.
Birds of Paradise
A new series – The Birds of Costa Rica. (We have seen all of these from my house.)
Black-headed Trogon
Hoffmann’s Woodpecker
I “paint” with powdered glass and frit onto float glass.
Long-tailed Manakin – Toledo
Some I put on bottle glass. Here is a Bombay Gin bottle, repurposed.
- Great Kiskadee
Scarlet Macaw
You can buy these birds in their wooden display stands at Samara Organics, in Playa Samara – c15,000 ($30.00)
A New Year’s Eve wedding gift
I was commissioned to make a wedding gift for Jim and Evelyn, who tied the knot on New Year’s Eve. We shared a lovely evening and sent them into their new life together with an amazing fireworks display over the ocean. I hope this 14″ platter will remind them. Best wishes to a great couple.
Results are in
Here are the light catchers we made last week in the kids’ class.
If you’d like to schedule a kids’ class for a birthday party or special day, call or email for information.
ETSY SHOP for purchase of smaller pieces and jewelry
MY WEBSITE – for full portfolio of artwork
