Vase

My new vase warm from the kiln -

This piece was very difficult to photograph.

I am pleased with my successful drop vase.

This isn't my first attempt at this project, but it is my most successful attempt:)

Red (my fav. color) & white.

Yum.

My experiment with the etching in glass was successful, 

but I am not sure that I like the quality of the writing.

I need to figure out a way to do this project and make the script neater.

My kiln is heating up tonight with three more blanks for drop vases.

And it was a great Spring day today. Filled with sun and mild weather.

I like that.

Happy Spring!

~ Julz

Glass Quilt

I really like the concept of creating a glass quilt. 

The finished product not only looks cool w/ the sun shining through it, it also is very tactile and I find myself drawn to touching it often.

I want to repeat this project w/ a bit more color and texture planning.

I placed a new glass and tools order last night.

It should get here in the next few days. 

:-)

I can't wait.

Spring, is not here. 

It was cold and cloudy on this Monday.

A very difficult day to stay optimistic and moving in a positive direction.

I really want to work outside and plant some things in the garden.

Even my spring bulbs are not blooming yet.

Working with glass helps.

A project in the works - 

My goal is to etch John Lennon's 'Imagine' lyrics into a glass panel. 

I will then rub black glass powder suspended in oil into the etched letters - 

removing any extra black glass.

After firing, the words should stand out 

and the panel should be able to be displayed on a wall or in a window.

I hope my plan works. 

I started etching the lyrics and then I thought. . . 

I better move a bit slower.

I created a one word test.

'Imagine' on a scrap of glass is in the kiln tonight.

Determining if this is going to work prior to putting in many etching hours.

This is the choice I made for tonight.

My 'Imagine' test fit in the kiln along side my first fuse of a white bowl with red dots.

~ Julz

Black Dish

Black dish w/ multi-colored stripe and yellow back - -

front

back

On display - 

New work in the kiln - a bit of experimenting. . . 

This is a project that I have wanted to try ever since reading about it on Cynthia Morgan's blog.

Here is my pre-fire picture of my 1st attempt at a glass quilt.

:-)

~ Julz

New Garden Stake

One new garden stake finished!

Yesterday we had a beautiful spring day. My daffodils are finally starting to bloom.

This year's spring has been non-existent. We still have a pile of snow at the end of our road. Getting the kiln running again and successfully completing a new garden stake feels very good.

I am optimistic that May will bring better weather.

Garden stake resting on the ground.

Garden stake with light shining through it.

This garden stake has been donated to a charity auction to benefit special needs students.

Fusing - this morning in the kiln . . .

Black w/ a yellow bottom and multi-colored detail.

:-) Happy Saturday.

~ Julz

tentative steps w/ kiln

My first tentative steps with a fixed kiln . . .

Some new glass for plant stakes with glass scrap.

I 

re-thought,

re-programmed,

and had success.

Small steps.

Now I'm feeling better.

~Julz

Kiln problems continue

I arrived home, made supper and ate with the family.

~ then ~

I checked the kiln.

Yes, I am still having kiln problems as evidenced by a fatal error on the kiln's controller display.

I didn't cook anything (like expensive glass) that I might have destroyed

if the repaced relay didn't solve the problem, 

but this is frustrating.

I have been doing some stained glass work. Shown above and below is my current tulip project - another leaded piece to practice my new skills.

darn!

~ Julz

Excited for the day job to be done

Okay.

My kiln has been on the fritz.

A new relay was installed yesterday.

Kiln fired over night w/ the new relay.

- to do -
1. Day job.
2. Board meeting.
3. Grocery shopping for supper.
4. Home to check the kiln. . . can't wait!!


~ Julz

Ready to Solder