Growing a Forest

In past years I have created small trees for gift decorations and ornaments using stained glass.

Here is an example - 

This year I have decided to fuse a forest of trees for the holiday.

These trees are wrapped in copper wire and then fused.

I love that each one is unique.

Some even have snow:)

They will look festive in a window, on a tree, or decorating a gift.

I have started the season by composting the pumpkins and displaying some greens outside, but no decorations inside the house yet . . . except for my small, fused forest.

~ Julz

More Cabs

I had the time recently to drill more cabachons from my mesh melts and get them polished.

Fresh from the kiln this morning- not even cleaned.
I am so excited with the results.

I tried to get a good picture in the sun.
Too much shadow, but it shows some of the detail I am not able to get in other pictures.

Another picture of the cab group before I glued on the bails.

A close-up of one cabachon.

~ Julz

Cabs

The cabachons took an extra day in the kiln. The first fire polish didn't polish them quite enough, so I changed the schedule to go a bit hotter and a bit longer.

Now they are nice and shiny.

 - here is my drill on the drill press. This is one of my better auction buys for just $7 a few years ago. It works great.

And here is the mesh melt - or what's left of it after cutting out the cabs.

~ Julz

red bird

One of my favorite birds is the Cardinal.
This bird brings such a bright spot to our Wisconsin winters. I love seeing and hearing this bird in my yard.

My goal was to create one that would also catch the sun and sparkle.

~ Julz

new window flowers

Lately I have been creating and changing the flowers that will catch sun while hanging in windows.

I thought they would work great as stocking stuffers or added to gift wrapping as decorations.

Tonight the kiln holds some cabachons made from the mesh melts that I made a few weeks ago.

I ordered and just received a new core drill bit that will drill a circle that is bit larger than an inch. I was so excited as I drilled circles from my melt.

I then cleaned up the circles and put them back into the kiln for a polish.

I can't wait to see them.

~ Julz

Flower sun catchers

A new picture in the sunlight of the flower from yesterday. 

Plus a few new flowers fresh from the kiln.

Happy Monday.

~ Julz

New toy

A diamond drill bit for my dremel; using it I can make holes in glass.

 ;-)

I have had this piece for a while with no good way to display it.

Now it can hang in a window.

This tack fused glass was made in the event 

that I ever create a display at a show.

This is a new piece, but a poor picture.

I have it hanging in my window and will try to get a better picture in the sunlight tomorrow.

I really like the wispy quality of the flower and I have some glass similar to this in the kiln tonight.

~ Julz

Copper mesh inclusion

A bit of copper mesh inclusion.

I like that there wasn't too much trapped air around the inclusions.

I think next time - I will try to have more of a pattern to the inclusions. This seems too random, but I like the glass color w/ the copper mesh.

Halloween is around the corner - 

My daughter as Rosie the Riveter.

~ Julz