Fantastic New Bottle Cutter

Below today's post there is a video showing a wine bottles being cut with the new bottle cutter from Delphi.  If interested you can check out the glass supplies at www.delphiglass.com.  I saw it offered this year online and later in their catalogue.  I know two people who have ordered it but, no reports yet about their success. I passed on buying one when it was offered at a special price and I probable will regret it.  I can always pay full price or wait for another sale.  If it is anywhere as good as the video this is even better and easier than using a wet saw and well worth the price.  I have used a wet saw and there is more glass loss and far far messier and wetter.  Using a wet saw is still more versatile when angled cut are desired.



Decorated wine bottle trays in front

 During the last few years I have used wine bottles to make trays, spoon rest, sushi and cheese platters.  I have added decorative features, handles and wire hooks to make them easier to use.  I still have many cases of clean bottles waiting to make vases, glasses and holders.  Between my wet saw and this cutter my summer project will be easier and faster.  Wow, here's a thought.  It would be a perfect demonstration to use for Open Studio in May.

Perfect Edge Bottle Cutter in 30 seconds

Silicon Valley Open Studio

It is official I am participating in this year's Open Studio.  Visitors will be coming by the first 2 weekends in May.  This will be my 4th time.  My work has changes so much.  In the beginning I offered collage work and decoupage boxes including Judaic theme Shabbat candle boxes.  Next time I painted and decorated metal chair planters along with Mah Jongg tile jewelry and Menorahs.  During this time I was taking classes learning the fundamentals of fused glass art.  The medium is such a complex and fascinating art form.

I finally offered for sale my fused glass at the 2008 Open Studio.  I waited until I felt my work was good enough and my studio was available  for viewing. We are asked to let visitors in our work space and be available to demonstrate what we do.  Having people around glass was problematic for me. I needed to find something to show without having a lot of cut glass around.  I decided to demonstrate the cold work needed to finish off a fused piece before the final fire polish firing. I turned out some people even asked to use the grinder to see what it was like to smooth out the piece.  I will probably to it again this year.

I focus on one or two major shows a year.  Last year was the To Life Jewish Festival and The Sun Gallery Boutique. I find the spacing is enough to produce enough fused glass without too much pressure. Also, I need space to store the completed pieces until the next show. This Open Studio will probably  be the last one at this house.  The next place I set up a glass studio will be planned to allow for work space and storage.  More to follow. See you in May.

Just Having Fun "smashing glass"

This is the time of year I just kick back and have fun in the studio.  The 2010 shows are over, the unsold merchandise is repacked and waiting for the new season to start. 

Since participating in the Sun Gallery Holiday Boutique, I joined ArtFire to sell online.  Ran into problems and have yet to set up my page.  I am better working with glass than I am with web sites.  I went to Half Moon Bay a while ago with friends and bought blown glass rocks by the pound.  I have used this type of glass used for glass blowing in the past to make unusual jewelry pieces.  The excess glass is junked on the hot glass floor and discarded.  It is often multi colored and when smashed with a hammer I clean and fire the smaller pieces. Some don't look good and I throw them away, but there are enough surprisingly lovely results to make it worth while. My  friends spent time in my studio and chose the glass they wanted to work with.  After a few hesitant blows with the hammer they smashed and then gathered the smaller pieces.  Using mini molds for specific shapes and firing without molds many cabochons were made. After firing , shaping and fire polishing my friends came back ready to make pins, earrings, and pendants.  If you ever have a chance try doing this. It is lots of fun.  I forgot to get photos before they took their art work home. Sorry.  Maybe I will post some of mine when I am finished.  Of course, I am the last one to work on this project.