Summer Experiment – Kiln Forming Without Kiln Marks!

Summer Experiment – Kiln Forming Without Kiln Marks!

This summer is dedicated to glass experiments. Every year I think I have a lot of time in the summer to experiment. But with all the traveling and teaching the summer is always over so quickly. So this year we took a break and are enjoying the time in our studio.

Here is a fun experiment I am so excited about that I want to share it with you. Inspired by Marcia Bernadette’s eBook and a technique Toni Glander explained in an article many years ago, I wanted to stretch a piece of glass without any mold or shelf marks. Marcia said in her book that she wanted to achieve a blown glass look in kiln formed glass. That brought back Tony’s idea of suspending the glass with fused in wires.

Since weeks I have done several experiments to stretch glass for thin glass shards, also known as confetti.  So when I started  this experiment I still had shards on my mind.

I also wanted to see if I could make opal glass look a bit more translucent by adding lots of clear. Since it was an experiment that I thought might end up in a big mess (like several others) I did not give the design a lot of consideration. Just wanted to use some nice Wissmach 96 colors that together would make a good color combination, stretch it thin and later use it as design elements in other pieces. But since I also wanted to dilute the opaque glass, I ended up with 3 layers and they won’t stretch thin in a 5” deep set up.

The long wires are fused into each corner and wrapped around the mandrel. The next thought was – “How could I secure the whole setup from collapsing onto the kiln floor?” The third mandrel was the solution and it won’t get stuck on the glass, I wrapped it with a few rounds of Papyros Paper.

Sorry, this is not a full “How To” article, since I have to do some more experimenting before I can publish a tutorial on this subject.

Bubbles – never again!

Bubbles – never again!

Yesterday, one of our new customers sent me this picture. Have you experienced this bubble problem? I did! Nearly 20 years ago, before I started using Kaiser Lee Board as a kiln shelf.

Here is my reasoning behind the bubble issue. Glass is a very slow heat conductor, while clay is a very good heat conductor. For example, you can hold a 3″ long glass stringer into a candle flame and it won’t get hot at the end of the stringer, even after softening in the front. With a clay piece, you would burn your fingers in no time. (If you want to try the clay part of this experiment, please have some Pepto Bismol next to you, to treat your burn marks).

When you place your glass on a clay shelf, there is always some air between the glass and the shelf and while the kiln heats up, the air gets hot and since it can’t escape will blow a bubble into the soft glass. Kaiser Lee Board, on the other hand, does not conduct heat any faster than your glass. In addition, it is also porous and any trapped air can escape easily. Another advantage of fusing with Kaiser Lee Board is that you can fire a lot faster than with clay type kiln furniture.  Oh yes, I have read about all the tricks and hoops you have to go through to avoid those bubbles and Kaiser Lee Board.

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Free Standing Clock

Free Standing Clock

This beautiful clock was created by my friend Jane Saghir. She used the on edge design technique to fuse this unusual shape and then we used some pieces of Kaiser Lee Board to bend the shape to create the free standing clock.

Yes, you can bend over Kaiser Lee Board without any expansion and contraction problems, as long as you make sure to use two pieces of board side by side.

A Different Way of Drape!

A Different Way of Drape!

Draped Double Glass Vase by M. P.
Tall Kaiser Lee Board Triangles Set Up

Tall Drape Set

This tall drape set up was inspired by one of our students, Marshall Paisner. Yes, Kaiser Lee Board is sturdy enough to support molds like this. As with our other “Drape Tringles” you can use them in a variety of ways.

All you need is a kiln high enough to support them. My kiln is about 14″ high.

For more ideas check out our Drape Kit. You can purchase it in our Square Store.  (on some devises it will take some time to pop up.

 

Having fun with Multi Pens

Having fun with Multi Pens

Multi Pens are a form of glass enamel that we have added to our line of products, since they are easy to work with and fire absolutely shiny. 

This dragon was painted on very patiently with a fine brush and then fired into the Wissmach luminescent 90-07 Light Grey transparent at only 1410°F (765°C) for 10 minutes. 

 

Dragon painted with Multi Pen Black on Wissmach Luminescent

Dragon painted with Multi Pen Black on Wissmach Luminescent

 

Dragon after firing.

Dragon after firing.

Just in case you want to know, where to get the Multi Pens or the Wissmach Glass. Please visit our Square Market and check out our products. 

Fused Glass “Happy Stone” Pendants with a Stainless Steel Wire Finish

Fused Glass “Happy Stone” Pendants with a Stainless Steel Wire Finish

20 Years ago I took my first class in glass fusing with Jaunita (no this is not a typo) Deck at the Art Studio in Cape Coral. One of my friends in class, Lucille S. played with stacking glass – fused it  – cut it apart and fused it again standing on edge. Whenever I see this technique shown online, I remember our beautiful stones we created. Lucille also was an avid wire wrapper and tried to teach me some wire wrapping. But back then the traditional style of wire wrapping was too ornate for my taste.


Now 20 years later – and 20 years older – sorry I meant wiser – I see myself adding more and more wire to my glass. Finally I found a way to use those stones in Jewelry.  Since we can not predict their outcome, I like to call them:

“Happy Stones”

 

 

Happy Stone fused glass pendant by Petra Kaiser

It took me only 50 yards of stainless steel wire of trial and error. 

Happy Stone fused glass pendant by Petra Kaiser

But I think I found a way that holds the stone.

Happy Stone fused glass pendant by Petra Kaiser

And also adds interest to the piece without taking away from the beauty of the “Happy Stone”. 

Happy Stone fused glass pendant by Petra Kaiser

And yes, I will show the how to technique in any of my classes. Just ask for the

“Happy Stone” technique and wire finish.