The Delphi Blog

I know it’s only March, however, I can’t help but think about summer. Maybe that’s because here in Michigan the snow seems never-ending and just thinking about summer makes me feel better. Hard to say. Anyway, have you given your summer much thought yet? We have a genius idea! Two words. Glass Getaway! Sounds amazing right? Okay, this is new so let me explain. As some of you may know we have 3 classrooms, however, we don’t typically run classes every day but that is about to change. June 22nd - June 30th we will have an event, class, or demo running in every classroom. For a total of 4 stained glass, 9 fusing, 6 flameworking, 3 mosaic classes and more. Now let’s talk details, shall we? June 22nd we kick off Glass Getaway with our FREE Fusing Forum Event. Then, starting Sunday, June 23rd we will have 25 class options and 5 guest instructors - don't miss Joy Munshower, Cathy Claycomb, Kent Lauer, Tim Drier and John Ferrando. Have I convinced you yet? If that wasn’t enough the nice people at Best Western of Okemos have agreed to drop their standard room rate of $147 down to $86 a night! Plus that includes a FREE shuttle ri

Finding your perfect match can seem daunting, let us help play matchmaker by highlighting the traits that will help you fall head-over-heels for a kiln – then stay happy together for years to come. Here’s the short list of questions to ask when you’re looking for that special kiln. What size of projects do you want to make? (Leave room to grow together!) How much space do you have for a kiln? What are the electric requirements (plug type, wire gauge)? What features are important to you? What is your budget? Let’s face it – sometimes size really does matter. We’re talking kilns here people! It’s important to know where your kiln will fit in your life, creative pursuits, and space. The heartbreak of outgrowing your kiln is something we see all too often. While it’s hard to know exactly what you’ll be into a year or more down the road, it’s best to consider all your options now. Do you see something that excites you? Choose a kiln with enough room to fit the biggest mold you’re interested in, plus a few inches to spare. The next consideration is space – how will you

If you mention Thanksgiving to someone, it almost certainly evokes immediate and specific memories and imagery. The themes surrounding Thanksgiving are often tied to autumn colors, bountiful harvests, the iconic turkey, as well as feelings of gratitude and togetherness. And football, let’s not forget the football (Go team!). Decorating for the holidays is a wonderful way to slow down, build the sense of anticipation, and honor traditions. Whether you make a special fused glass serving dish, a glass art garland, swag or wreath to dress your home for the occasion, or a unique centerpiece for your table, glass art lends itself to capturing the imagery of the season in a way that can be enjoyed for years to come. Check out our Pinterest Board to find more examples of art that’s perfect for Thanksgiving, and be sure to share your projects in the Online Artist Gallery . Looking for a free project idea? Try creating your own Indian Corn Fused Dish with our Project Guide.

Do you want to have a girls’ night but you don’t want to shout over the din at the bars? Perhaps your birthday is coming up and you want to do something special. Or, maybe you’re looking for a unique date-night idea for you and your love. While Delphi Glass always has a full class schedule , you can also make reservations for your own private Delphi Glass class or party.   If you learn better one-on-one, this is a fantastic new option for you. If you’d prefer to learn a new craft in the company of your favorite friends, it makes for the perfect bonding experience. While all Delphi Glass classes require you to sign up for them and can fill up fast, when you create your own private party class, it’s your call from a choice of available dates. Simply call us at 800-248-2048 to speak to our friendly team about scheduling a party today.   Birthdays, engagements, anniversaries, bachelorette parties, church or work groups, or for any special occasion, even making it a surprise for a friend or loved one, these private parties at Delphi Glass make being creative even more fun and exciting. Choose from reserving a private a la car

If you have a kiln, you need kiln wash to serve as a protective layer between whatever you’re firing up in the kiln and the kiln shelves. It helps to prevent glaze from sticking to your shelves, and keep your art from sticking too. At Delphi Glass, we have kiln wash to help keep you and your kiln happy. If you’re new to glass art and haven’t used your kiln much yet, you might be wondering how and when to use kiln wash though.   Firstly, you’ll need to choose the right kiln wash for your needs. They’re made with high melting points but you’ll want to adjust the formula based on the temperatures you’ll be firing at. When in doubt, a higher temperature formula will always serve your needs and prevent problems.   Because kiln shelves are usually made of ceramic, melted glaze spilling, spitting or tipping over onto your shelf can be a disaster. That’s where kiln wash comes in, to help protect against unforeseen circumstances and stop messes before they start. Mixing it up, it should have a watery consistency, a bit like milk. Apply it in several thinly-layered coats and let it dry completely between each ap

It’s the moment you’ve been waiting for! Delphi Glass is proud to announce our new class schedule for summer and fall 2018. It’s your chance to perfect your skills, learn a new way to make glass art, and make new friends while you do it.   No matter what your glass art skill level or interest, we have something you’re sure to love. You’ll find classes for 3D mosaics, realism techniques for stained glass, the basics of screen printing, how to make tempered glass bowls and much more. Plus, in addition to our classes that cover everything from basic to advanced, you’ll find other class offerings taught by some of the most revered glass artists as our guest instructors! If you’ve ever dreamed of working with Liz Haas, Joy Munshower, Wesley Wong, Carol Shelkin, or Tony Glander, this is your chance!   Many of these classes are one-day or two-day offerings, but if you don’t have the time to stay all day, Delphi Glass also offers a la carte classes that last 2 hours in the evenings with fun ways to make memories and art. From fused glass jewelry to sandblasted glassware, all you need to bring is your favorite

Even the savviest glass artist will often find random bits of lead came around their studio. Some can be used in new glass art pieces but others are simply unusable. When you have unwanted scrap came, there comes a time when you’ve got to dispose of it.   But lead is a heavy metal. Throwing it into your garbage can create a dangerous situation. In certain exposure levels, lead can be poisonous to people and animals too. Lead poisoning can lead to severe symptoms that damage the nervous system and even cause blood or brain disorders.   If this sounds scary, that’s because it is. So many people throw old batteries and other items into their trash without a second thought. At Delphi Glass, we urge you to do the responsible thing for lead came scraps and dispose of them properly, not just for your health but also for the health of others around you.   When lead came makes its way to your local landfill, it can penetrate the ground and into groundwater, tainting the water supply. Without responsible disposal, lead poisoning can affect countless people through the water supply. Flint, Michigan is just one example of a place in our

Have you taken your summer vacation yet? Most people are just starting to pack their bags. Whether you’re coming or going though, you can take those cool little vacation keepsakes you come home with and turn them into glass art that will help you commemorate your amazing summer trip.   Need some inspiration? Here are our best ideas from Delphi Glass to get you started!   Create a KraftyBlok shadow-box display KraftyBlok is an amazing crafting item because you can do so much with it. From turning your best photos into a lit-up lamp to creating an epic beach scene with shells and sand from the beach you vacationed at, there is no end to how creative you can get with your display. Even souvenirs you purchase from places like Disney World can be worked into a KraftyBlok project!   Make a mosaic frame A mosaic frame is another beautiful way to display your favorite souvenir items. You can also use it to make a frame for your best vacation photos that you can keep up on the wall or shelf year-round. You can find mosaic supplies at Delphi Glass.   Turn your favorite photos into a stained glass panel

You probably already know that Delphi Glass has an amazing selection of glass to buy for your glass art projects. From stained glass to mosaics to fused glass and beyond, you’ll find everything you need here.   But sometimes, your projects will require specific colors, transparencies and thicknesses. Or perhaps you’re just brand loyal and want to buy glass manufactured by Bullseye, Spectrum, Van Gogh, or others. Whatever the case, you can minimize your sleuthing for just the right glass by using the Delphi Glass Glass Finder Tool .   The dropdown menu selections make it easy to choose exactly what you want so you can place your order faster. Find your fusing COE in seconds. New to glass art and not sure what that means? It’s the Coefficient of Expansion that measures the rate of how that glass will expand and contract when it is heated or cooled. You need to make sure your glass is compatible if you’re fusing it together. The main COEs for fusible glass are 90 and 96, but whichever you choose to work with, Delphi Glass offers an incredible selection of colors to work with. Newer glass fusing artists will do best with 96. As al

You’ve probably walked past a dreamcatcher before, perhaps in a souvenir shop or at friend’s home, but have you ever wondered what they’re for? They are more than just a beautiful decoration to adorn your home with.   Dreamcatchers were originally created by Native American Indians. The original versions were usually made of wooden hoops covered in a woven web of natural fibers with sacred and meaningful items attached to them. These would include beads and feathers that would hang from the bottom of the dreamcatcher.   They were used to protect sleeping children from evil spirits and bad dreams. Hanging above their beds, the legend was that the dreamcatcher would let good dreams pass through the web of the dreamcatcher while catching the bad dreams. When the sun’s first rays would hit the dreamcatcher in the morning, the negative energy would be destroyed.   Dreamcatchers serve a protective purpose, and they’re also very beautiful. You can make one yourself with stained glass and feathers and incorporate the native elements to make a glass art piece with traditional items used as well. You can even cre

Sometimes when we’re creating glass art, we have an idea and we go for it. Other times, we look around us to find inspiration that speaks to our soul. That inspiration can come from looking out the window and spying a beautiful natural scene. It can come from an experience and the depiction of our feelings about it. It can also come from looking at famous artwork.   When we use great works of art to inspire our creativity in glass art, it allows us to incorporate something particularly stunning into our own translations of it. At Delphi Glass, we often see submissions in our Delphi Glass Artist Gallery of glass art that is inspired by great works like Van Gogh’s Starry Night or Sunflowers, Waterlilies by Monet, Munch’s The Scream, and The Kiss and The Tree of Life by Klimt.   Finding inspiration for your own beautiful glass art creations may be as simple as visiting your local art museum to behold classical pieces or even viewing them from the comfort of your own home while online. As glass artists, we know that beauty is in the eye of the beholder and looking at pieces that are either incredibly famous like the ones mentioned abov

At Delphi Glass, we’re always excited about Pantone’s Color of the Year. This year, Ultra Violet is the winner. It’s an intriguing color, chosen for its infinite possibilities for inspiration.   Purples tend to be more enigmatic and symbolize brilliance and creativity. At Delphi Glass, being creative is just what we do and we think this color selection couldn’t be more fitting for 2018. When you look at the color purple through history, it has always been a part of mystic and spiritual harmony. It’s a peaceful color that brings about a feeling of calm. This deep shade of purple is a symbol of the spectrum of emotions swirling around the world today with a reflection of positive light for hopeful and peaceful days ahead.   Expect to see a lot of Ultra Violet around, from glass and fabric to lighting and furnishings. Rich in color, it evokes images of royalty, creativity, and serenity, making it a prime choice for your glass art creations. Check out our gorgeous Ultra Violet selection of products and dream up all the amazing possibilities you can create using this color. It’s such a beautiful choice! You can see the

At Delphi Glass, we firmly believe that glass art does us all so much good. From fueling our creativity to busting stress, it’s a necessary action that we must make both time and space for. Most people start off making glass art as a hobby before they decide it’s what they want to do as their life’s work.   Even if you don’t pursue glass art as a profession though, it’s still wise to invest the time and space needed to unleash your creative potential. To find creative space to work in even in the smallest quarters. A seldom-used coat closet can easily be converted into an amazing workspace. You don’t need a huge workshop in order to bring your creativity to life with glass art. Even a small space devoted to creating will have a big impact on your happiness and health. Delphi Glass has all the tools and equipment you need to outfit any studio, from the really big to the truly tiny. Find space to make your own creative oasis by thinking outside the box.   Speaking of thinking outside the box, another way to bring about wellness through creativity is to challenge yourself with learning something new. Maybe you’

Photo credit: Green Earth Glass   We all know that making something beautiful feels good, but did you know that there are health perks too? It’s true! The creative process of planning your projects while overcoming the obstacles you face when bringing your glass art ideas to life is stimulating for the brain on so many levels. While it may be challenging to try a new technique or even a new form of glass art, the entire process is actually more relaxing for your brain than you think, all the while stimulating it for growth.   The end result is a gorgeous piece of glass art and a refreshed mind. You really need to do this for yourself to bring more peace and harmony into your world. At Delphi Glass, we completely agree with this which is why we offer our classes year-round. Sign up for one of them to expand your creativity and feel well through your glass art creations.   Dan Daniels feels this is one of the cornerstones of Delphi Glass. “In a world where you can access everything instantly from your hand with smartphones, we’re constantly flooded with bad news. It is so essential to unplug from that, and that&rsquo

When it comes to the holidays, creating traditions is the best way to be creative. Traditions are certainly steeped in history, but every family has their own unique take on it, making it all the more special and beautiful.   At Delphi Glass, we introduced our iconic series of Holiday Village Molds back in 2015. We modeled them after the stunning and charming town of Harbor Springs, Michigan, a very historic place with quaint architecture that can still be seen in the quiet streets there. It makes for the perfect setting of a Christmas Village that you can create from cast glass.   Even though it comes as a mold, you can customize it the way you want it. The little details can have your own exclusive touch to them. Choose the colors you like and even try different finishes in the same mold. You can also give it a snowy look so it has that winter wonderland-feeling to it. We took care to design all the little homey touches for each mold from cobblestones to intricate old-fashioned windows so you can create a classic look that endures for all of time.   These Holiday Village Molds are made from the highest quality ceramic so that they c

It’s not yet Thanksgiving, but that doesn’t mean you haven’t been thinking about what gifts you’ll be giving for the holidays this year. One of the brands Delphi Glass has available for your glass art needs is Aanraku , which has a fantastic selection of products to make creating glass art jewelry and other precious things absolutely perfect.   Here are some ideas for you to craft the best gifts for everyone on your list.   For the bookworm Is someone on your list an avid page-turner? Instead of chancing buying them a book they already own, get them something they can keep on using no matter how many pages they turn. You can make them their very own fused glass bookmarks.   For the home improvement enthusiast Add a touch of class and a touch of glass to any home by making these stunning glass art cabinet door knobs . Nothing could make a home look more unique!   For the jewelry lover Who doesn’t love getting jewelry for the holidays? It’s sparkly and shiny, and is sure to make them feel merry and bright. There are options for fused glass rings, necklaces, pendan

When creating stained glass art, the size and type of foil can be tricky. For newcomers to this type of glass art, many questions arise as to which copper foil is the right one to use. Fortunately, Delphi Glass has some handy tips to help you make the right choice every time.   1. Foil width You might be inclined to select foil that creates skinny lines, however they are not as strong. That’s because you can’t apply as much solder. For most projects, you’ll find 7/32” copper foil will be suitable, however if you vary the width of the foil it will add more depth. If you’re using thicker glass, 1/4" foil will create a seam of normal width. But if you want special effects, take a razor knife and trim the copper foil after you apply it to the glass. Creating distance in your piece can be done by making the foil lines thinner in a gradual way. For that, you’ll want 3/16” or 5/32” copper foil used sparingly to add these touches of details. So long as you’re not using thinner bits of solder lines on the entire project, it will stay strong.   2. Foil thickness Foil is measured in mils. T

Looking for new ways to Be Creative as we roll into fall and winter? The holidays are just around the corner. Halloween will be here before we know it. Then it’s on to Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah and more. Get all the holiday inspiration you need for making your most stunning glass art projects to make the season truly shine with The Fall 2017 Glass Patterns Quarterly Holiday Issue.   Inside, you’ll discover a wide variety of projects designed for glass enthusiasts of all levels from beginner to advanced to find the perfect way to celebrate the upcoming holiday season. Halloween projects, Christmas panels and ornaments, and a fused glass snow scene candle cover are just a few of the fabulous offerings you’ll find in this exciting issue. You’ll also find ways to spruce up a purchased lantern with new glass panels and agate accents. The “What’s New” section features the latest and best ways to make creating memorable works of art with glass even more enjoyable, plus the 16-Page Pattern Sheet give you even more ways to create new and beautiful décor for inside and outside your home or to make gorgeous gifts every

First it was Texas with Hurricane Harvey. Then just a couple weeks later, the entire state of Florida was engulfed with vicious Hurricane Irma. Both hurricanes left devastation in their wake with total destruction of property, flooding, and even claiming lives.   It’s been a rough few weeks for the south of the country, but the spirit of the people affected is strong, even if many areas are still without electricity while the outside temperatures continue to climb. For those affected, hurricanes can be traumatic even if no loss of lives or property has taken place. It hammers away at the spirit and brings about more stress. Plus for many, it keeps them out of work with no way to make up the losses.   For those that weren’t in the path of either hurricane though, it gives the opportunity to lend a helping hand. One great way to make that happen is to use your talent as a glass artist to raise money for disaster relief. Famously in Austin in 2015, the Armadillo Art Glass Initiative held a Main Event with live glass blowing demonstrations as well as other arts, music and food to raise money for Meals On Wheels. It worked too. They raised ov

Take your flameworking skills to the next level with Delphi Glass. We’re excited to offer classes that teach you how to create hollow functional glass art. Hollow functional glass art involves the creation of different vessels that you can use in different ways. In these classes, you’ll become familiar with using Borosilicate glass, COE 33, to design your own unique hollow glass art creations including cups, shot glasses, vases, and pipes.   Instructor Val Oswalt-De Waard shows you how to become a master at this technique. You’ll learn how to use basic borosilicate tubing techniques to heat and shape hollow forms into functioning glass sculptures. See it done and then get a hands-on experience to blow hollow forms, open cups and flame open-air holes. You’ll also learn how to introduce some color into these hollow forms.   One-day classes on hollow functional glass art allow for enough time for every attendee to have the chance to make a shot glass, a hollow pendant, and two pipes. If you have some experience with flameworking, this is an amazing class to help you grow and expand your skill set. However, if you’ve never do

As with many things, we have Japan to thank for metal clay art. It first started there in 1990, allowing crafty jewelry makers to create gorgeous and sophisticated pieces without the involved study required to make jewelry out of precious metals.   This crafting medium binds small particles of metal like silver, gold, copper or bronze to make into jewelry, beads, or even small sculptures. It’s easy to shape into any form, just like soft clay. You can shape it by hand or with the use of molds. Once it’s dry, it can be fired by kiln, with a handheld torch, or even on your gas stove, though much of it depends on the type of clay as well as the metal that’s mixed into it. As it’s heated, the binder burns off leaving only the metal behind and revealing your beautiful artistic creation.   If you’re looking to explore a new glass art technique, Delphi Glass has everything you need to get started with metal clay art. There are books about metal clay art to provide you with creative inspiration and techniques. Plus, Delphi Glass has a huge selection of all the materials needed to start making your own metal clay art pieces. F

Every year, Delphi Glass holds a special one-day only Sidewalk Sale at Delphi’s Lansing Creativity Center. This year, save the date for Saturday, July 29, 2017. From 10am to 5pm, you can come in and get incredible savings in-store only.   Visit Delphi Glass in Lansing to save 50% or even more on the power tools you need to bring your creative glass art ideas to life. Kilns, grinders, ring saws, band saws, and just about every other tool you use will all be marked with the best savings of the year.   The savings are only available by coming into the Lansing location so it’s worth the trip to save on one-of-a-kind items, closeouts, discontinued products, and a selection of sheet glass too. You can get everything you need to be creative for even less than before which means you’ll be able to create more than you can imagine.   Stock up your studio by visiting the studio at Delphi Glass. While you’re there, you can find out about upcoming classes and sign up too. There is always something new to learn and discover. Delphi Glass offers classes with special guest instructors as well as classes for beginners, intermed

Summer is officially here and with the longest day of the year already in the books, now we can look forward to celebrating America’s birthday on July 4th. No doubt you’ve got big plans to have everyone over to celebrate with a big backyard barbecue or pool party.   As you’re busily buying up hotdogs, buns, condiments, chips, burgers and other tasty July 4th food staples, don’t forget about using your creativity to make some spectacular star-spangled 4th of July glass art to show off to family and friends when they come over.   Delphi Glass has 2 fantastic free guides to help you bring out the freedom in your creativity for 4th of July. One of them is the Free Eagle Stepping Stone Project Guide . Ideal for those with intermediate stained glass skills, the hexagonal shape of the stone will be a welcome addition to any backyard, or can even serve duty in the front of your home leading up to your front door. Make one for a simple accent, or make a bunch of them to let your love for America truly shine.   The other free project guide Delphi Glass has for you is the Stars and Stripes Wind Chime Guide . Designed by V

Mosaics are one of the most beautiful ways to add a unique touch to your garden or home. They can be crafted to form stunning pictures or patterns. You can also use mosaics to take something ordinary and make it into an extraordinary one-of-a-kind item for your home.   Candle holders, bordered mirrors, vases, coasters, and wall hangings are just some of the things you can create with mosaics to make the décor in your home really stand out. You’re really only limited by your imagination as to what you can create when you make mosaic art.   Mosaics can be done in a variety of ways, incorporating different materials to create your own distinctive pieces. From tiles and glass which are by far easier to cut and shape to making use of broken bits from bottles or other recyclable materials, mosaics take small pieces and incorporate them together to result in the creation of a stunning masterpiece.   A quick look through the Delphi Glass artist gallery is sure to take your breath away while giving you inspiration for your own mosaic art creations. You’ll see beautiful mosaic pendants, abstracts, stained glass mosaics, and m

Tiffany lamps are a beautiful way to bring a classic touch to any room. They not only light up a room but they also serve as a work of art that can change any space from ordinary to extraordinary. Reflecting more than light, they shine with the expert craftsmanship from the artists who painstakingly hand make each one.   In the 1890s, the first Tiffany lamp was created. It was named as such because it was supposed that Louis Comfort Tiffany had been the first designer of this lamp, but it would later be revealed that Clara Driscoll was the original creator of this gorgeous style of lighting. The Tiffany lamp grew in popularity in 1893 thanks to the Worlds Columbian Exposition in Chicago. Tiffany had displayed his lamps there and it became one of the most sought-after items of that time period.    The inspiration of course came from the invention of the light bulb by Thomas Edison in 1879. Tiffany wanted to make glass lampshades utilizing his experiences with stained glass to create spectacular floral designs. Using the same methods he employed for making glass windows, he made paper patterns of the designs and then used the patterns to cut his gl

Mother’s Day is quickly approaching. But don’t panic if you don’t have anything for her just yet. Delphi Glass has some great ideas for what to get Mom this year. If you’re looking to do something different than flowers and chocolates, here are some fantastic last-minute ideas that are sure to make Mom feel special.   1. Cook and clean for her Mom works so hard all the time caring for everyone else. Show her how much you appreciate everything she does by making her favorite meal. Don’t forget to clean up afterward! You can also opt to take her out to eat, but make sure you make reservations or else you might be waiting a long time to get seated.   2. Make her a photo frame Nothing is more unique than creating a beautiful frame with a photo of you with Mom. This free photo frame project guide will help you make a one-of-a-kind frame that she’ll love.   3. Give her a good book Reading enriches the soul. Let Mom relax with a good book. Delphi Glass has many books on how to be creative with mosaics, stained glass, patterns and guides, lamp books, and much more. There’s somet

Delphi Glass offers supplies and instruction for a myriad of art glass and other crafts, from the very simplest for the beginner hobbyist all the way to the most complex for the experienced artist, including glass fusing, wire wrapping, metal embossing, etching, carving, jewelry making, copper foil, sandblasting, glass sculpture, glass casting, copper enameling, beading, glass blowing, mosaics, ceramics, and others—a seemingly endless list of creative opportunities. In our Lansing, Michigan facility, Delphi offers a full schedule of classes and events. Utilizing four on-site, fully-equipped classrooms, more than 100 different courses are offered for beginners, intermediate and advanced students. Some classes last just a few hours while others may meet for several days. Classes are taught by popular guest artists or in-house experts. We believe in helping people be creative and making the glass arts enjoyable and rewarding. Delphi Glass fulfills its commitment to the arts by assisting creative projects of individuals, and supporting the development of educational programs in communities. Throughout its history, Delphi Glass has worked towards these goals of fosterin

It’s time for America’s largest glass and bead expo once again! The 2017 Glass Craft & Bead Expo will be held at the South Point Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. You can join in on classes there from Wednesday, March 29th through Sunday, April 2nd. Exhibits are available for viewing from Friday, March 31st through Sunday, April 2nd.   Delphi Glass is excited to be an exhibitor at this incredible event. It’s a great opportunity for all glass artists to explore the latest innovations in products and services for glass art from kilns to tools to glass types and colors. People travel from all over the world to attend this famous expo where they can view the exhibits and take exciting classes that include things like painting with frit, frit slurry flowers, advanced fused bowls & techniques, and many more. In total, there are over 250 classes you can take at the Glass Craft & Bead Expo. Additionally, there is a “Bead Bazaar” which showcases a stunning array of handmade beads, gorgeous jewelry, and unique specialty creations designed by the most prestigious artists in America.   This is the eleventh year the

For many beginners, getting into glass fusing can be a little intimidating, especially if you’re completely new to any kind of glass art. But fusing glass as a way to express your creativity is a fantastic outlet. It’s one you’ll really enjoy and really surprise yourself with once you give it a try.   Here are some simple tips for glass fusing for the first time.   1. Just go with it So you’ve never fired glass before. No big deal. There are lots of firsts in our lives. Don’t expect the first thing you create to be the world’s next greatest masterpiece. Just let it happen and you’ll get a feel for the craft.   2. Start simple This is not the time to pick some ornate design to create. Stick with a simple and small-sized piece. Once you get the hang of glass fusing, you can make anything you dream up into a glass art reality.   3. Prepare your kiln Glass fusing requires a kiln, and Delphi has a great selection of kilns . Before you begin, you’ve got to get your kiln and shelves ready with kiln wash. You need to run the kiln empty once to burn off any resi

No matter what you’re into – mosaics, stained glass, glass fusing, or glass jewelry – Delphi always has the tools you need to be creative. Without your tools, it would be impossible to bring to life all the incredible ideas that you dream up. As our 26th Annual Art Glass Festival quickly approaches, we know our glass artists are busy fusing, firing, and cutting to create their best pieces ever by using their favorite tools.   So what are your favorite tools? Let’s explore some of our most popular tools.   Toyo Dry Wheel Supercutter Everyone loves this oil-free cutter because it’s easy to use and makes great cuts without all the clean-up. Plus, it’s very durable and the cutter head is replaceable, making this tool a prime choice for glass artists.   Creators Premium Bottle Cutter Glass artists that love to upcycle love this tool that makes cutting bottles a cinch. The rings isolate your score to make it easier to separate bottles. It even works on those thick champagne bottles. Some amazing bottle art has been created using this fantastic tool.   Frit Sifter On

While it’s true that the groundhog predicted 6 more weeks of winter and most of the country is blanketed in snow, you can cheer up knowing that spring is right around the corner. When you find yourself trapped indoors due to the freezing temperatures and piles of snow, you can warm up with toasty thoughts of the upcoming spring season.   Let those spring thoughts fuel your creativity and passion for art glass. There’s no limit to what you can create with fused glass, stained glass, mosaics, and glass jewelry. Let the world of spring be your inspiration.   Spring is when the land wakes up again, with blooming flowers and trees that grow back their leaves and show their first signs of fruit. Spring is when animals come out from the hollows and explore the world anew. It’s a tremendous time of rebirth from the ground up.   Don’t just sit and stare out the windows into the snow wishing for spring to come. While you wait, keep busy by honing in on your craft. Snowed in? Hunker down in your studio to create your best pieces yet. From birds to butterflies, embrace the essence of spring and capture it in your work.

Behind the innovative molds we’ve all come to love from Creative Paradise is an intensely creative artist, Stephanie O’Toole. She recently sat down for a fascinating interview with Delphi.   Creative Paradise – where creativity takes shape – is the kind of place that doesn’t sound like work. Stephanie let us in on her creative process regarding how she came to design molds to make complex artwork more accessible for everyone to enjoy.   She draws her inspiration from all over. Whether it’s from surfing around the internet or while out shopping at stores, Stephanie looks for interesting shapes and ways to constantly change things up. Some of the amazing creations from Creative Paradise include drop and drape molds that allow for more elevation in fusing. Stand-up molds were another idea that Stephanie pioneered, making it easy to achieve vertical heights with fused glass. Her ideas also come from talking with friends, family, and even the customers she chats with when they visit Creative Paradise.   Stephanie believes creativity should be a vital part of everyone’s life. “It’s good th

Now that we’re into the New Year, perhaps you’ve made a few resolutions regarding your glass art. Maybe you’ve vowed to learn a new technique or delve deeper into the glass art of your choice. Whatever the case may be, Delphi has many classes scheduled for this year and you can be a part of them!   Not sure how to sign up for a class at Delphi? Just click here to get right to our classes home page . Once there, you can browse classes by craft. There are classes for stained glass , mosaics , fusing , jewelry and flameworking . In this section, you can also look up special store events to see what’s happening at Delphi or you can choose to search by guest instructor if there’s an artist you’d most like to have the chance to learn from.   One of the best tools is the class calendar . It gives you an overview of what classes are coming up soon. You can also use the calendar on the left side of the page to select a month and date. Once you find a class you want to join, simply click on it. It will give you all the information you need for taking the class including the dates and times, the cost, and what mate

As 2017 fast approaches, you’re probably thinking of what resolutions you’re going to make (and hopefully stick to) in the New Year. Perhaps it’s getting more exercise or eating more healthfully, the two most common resolutions people make every year. Those are great resolutions to make, but it’s also good to think outside the box when making your resolutions. Here are some suggestions for glass art resolutions to make.   1. Organize your creative space By taking a little time to organize and arrange your art glass tools and supplies, you’ll be saving yourself time in the long run. That means you’ll have more time to focus on what really matters: being creative. Plus, when you keep things organized, you’ll know what supplies you need to stock up on. Nothing is more frustrating than being in the middle of a project only to realize you’re out of something you need.   2. Try something new So you’re amazing when it comes to fusing glass, but why not give another type of glass art a try? You can attempt a mosaic or even try a new technique in fusing that you’ve never tried before. At Delphi, there are

‘Tis the season for shopping. Have you found something for everyone on your list? If not, we’ve got some fantastic suggestions for gifts they’ll be sure to love! Michigan Cast Iron Skillet For the chef that lives in and loves Michigan, there’s no better cookware than a cast iron skillet shaped just like the mitten state! But fear not if you’re not gifting to someone in Michigan. They make skillets in the shapes of other states like Texas and New York. There’s also one in the shape of America for the ultimate patriot. Karaoke Party Light-Up Music Ball This Bluetooth-controlled karaoke ball is loads of fun for anyone who is the life of the party. Light up the living room and belt out your favorite tunes. It works with all music players too. Foodie Dice If you know someone who always has trouble figuring out what to cook for dinner, these Foodie Dice are just the solution. With a roll of the dice, it will really shake up their cooking routine and help them break out of their mealtime rut. Pocket Wine Aerator For your favorite wine enthusiast, this pocket wine aerator can decant any glass of wine on the g

There are only 52 days left until Christmas! Have you started your holiday shopping yet? If not, Delphi has you covered with some bright and shiny ideas for the stained glass artist in your life. Here are some we think will be very well received if you tuck them under your tree!   1. Stained Glass A stained glass artist can never have too much glass to work with. We carry a huge selection of stained glass . Why not order some new and exciting colors for your favorite stained glass artist? Try something different like the Van Gogh glass that is almost too pretty to cut. Plus with glass packs and sample sets, your recipient will get a gorgeous array of glass to work with in one fabulous package.   2. Studio Pro Caddy If you’re stained glass artist has tools all over the place in their studio, perhaps a Studio Pro Caddy will be useful. It keeps all essential tools within easy reach and has them ready to use. Plus, the bottle holder and the iron stand keep chemicals and the hot iron safe.   3. Finishing Compound For the stained glass artist, that has everything, finishing compound is always a nice gift because it’s something tha

There are only 52 days left until Christmas! Have you started your holiday shopping yet? If not, Delphi has you covered with some bright and shiny ideas for the stained glass artist in your life. Here are some we think will be very well received if you tuck them under your tree!   1. Stained Glass A stained glass artist can never have too much glass to work with. We carry a huge selection of stained glass . Why not order some new and exciting colors for your favorite stained glass artist? Try something different like the Van Gogh glass that is almost too pretty to cut. Plus with glass packs and sample sets, your recipient will get a gorgeous array of glass to work with in one fabulous package.   2. Studio Pro Caddy If you’re stained glass artist has tools all over the place in their studio, perhaps a Studio Pro Caddy will be useful. It keeps all essential tools within easy reach and has them ready to use. Plus, the bottle holder and the iron stand keep chemicals and the hot iron safe.   3. Finishing Compound For the stained glass artist, that has everything, finishing compound is always a nice gift because it’s something tha

At Delphi, we often get messages on Facebook and through customer service about package tracking. We’re always so happy to help assist you, though we hope this little tip will help you find the package you’re looking for.   It’s very easy to locate your package using our Order Tracker. To find it, you can look at the bottom of our home page, where it says Track Your Order . Once you click on that, it will ask you to fill in your order number or your confirmation number. Next, simply click the button to the right of it that says “get tracking.”   You also have the option of viewing a list of your orders placed online. However you choose to use the Order Tracker feature, it should help you to determine when your packages will arrive.   What if there’s a problem or your number is not found? If you run into any problems at all, you can visit our Customer Service page. There you can find more information including how to contact us . There’s a quick answer reference there too where you can check to see if there’s an easy answer to your question.   If you don’t find what you’re looking for

Something better than pumpkin spice is coming…Michael Dupille will soon be at Delphi’s Lansing location for a 3-day class on frit fusing . Micahel Dupille, making Seattle frit and fabulous since the 1970s, brings with him his expertise, charmingly referring to his technique of painting with glass from crushed glass bits or frit as we know them along with firing methods as fritography.   Considered a pioneer in the field of kiln-formed glass, Michael’s sold out class will be held for those who seek to garner his wisdom at any level from beginner to pro. The 3-day event will begin with a class on Beginning Fritography. Those in attendance will get the special chance to learn and explore new techniques that will help them design on a completely new level and add more sophistication to their pieces.   Michael will also show how to create distinct shapes, give surfaces unusual finishes, the proper firing schedules, and how to make murals. A variety of frit sizes will be incorporated, resulting in unbelievable effects.   Spending 3 days with Michael is a treat for many new and avid glass artists. He’ll be sharing his thoughts on color

It’s official. Everywhere across the country, millions of young adults have flown the nest with bags packed, ready to begin a new adventure at college. It’s a great time for them to learn more about their studies, the world and themselves.   College is also a place to make friends and develop a lifelong loyalty to a mascot that they will likely pay homage to in many ways. Some of those ways might not be so creative, like shouting out the window to a neighboring car with stickers from the same school. Or worse, shouting at someone from a rival university.   Team spirit ignites such a passion in all of us who have attended school. Even many years later, you probably still cheer for your team. Passion is what fuels creativity. One of the best ways to express creativity is to use art as your outlet. Stained glass projects, mosaic patterns, fused glass projects, and even glass jewelry are all great mediums for which to show your support for your favorite college team.   Take a look over in the Delphi artist gallery to get some creative inspiration for making your own team-inspired works of art. When it comes time for game day, you can proudly dis

Brace yourselves…fall is coming. And so are about a million different memes about pumpkin spice lattes and apple everything. So why not use that to fuel your fall inspirations with stained glass projects, glass fusing, mosaic designs, and glass jewelry?   Fall leaves are one of the most spectacular sights to behold. As the leaves change from green to red, orange, yellow and brown, why not use that as your next stained glass design? Or create a fused glass bowl that looks like a fall leaf? It could be the perfect centerpiece for your coffee table. Be sure to fill it up with some apple or pumpkin spice-flavored candy of course!   Cooler temperatures are coming as well. How about making some cool fused glass jewelry to go with your new sweater? Whatever fall glass art project you’re designing, we’ve got the supplies you need . Fall inspirations are all around you, even in our own Delphi artist gallery . Add yours to our gallery with the tag “fall.”   And let’s not forget that one of the best holidays will soon be upon us…Halloween! See if you can totally outdo the neighbors this year by making some spooktacular c

Header image courtesy of Chihuly Collection - St. Petersburg, Florida As glass artists, fueling our own imagination comes from being inspired by the creativity of others. Observing the beauty of glass art pieces that have been unleashed from another artist’s dreams, means we are that much closer to displaying our own for the world to see.   Visiting museums with glass art displays can give us more insight into what we can skillfully create and drive our dreams of becoming beloved artists. It can also be a beautiful way to spend a day. Here are some of the best museums in America to view stunning glass art collections and become inspired.   Macklowe Gallery – New York, New York You don’t need to travel the world to see the very best glass art because this gallery displays some of the finest pieces from all over the globe. You’ll find Tiffany lamps and Tiffany glass, French cameo glass by Argy-Rousseau, and much more.   Museum of Glass   (MOG) – Tacoma, Washington Founded in 2002, this museum commits itself to celebrating the movement of studio glass art. While it often features special collections, amon

If you love making stained glass projects, then you’ll love the cool effects that painting on stained glass can have. It gives you more of a chance to be creative, allowing for more of a flow of ideas without having to worry about cutting or other processes that need your complete accuracy to ensure a beautiful outcome.   The paints used for stained glass painting are made by taking ground glass and mixing it with a variety of colored pigments and a flux. They can be applied in any number of ways and then they get permanently affixed by being fired in a kiln. These paints may be transparent or opaque, and you can mix them together though it is advised that you stick to the same manufacturer when mixing paints for consistency reasons.   While stained glass painting is a wonderful way to experiment with a broad range of vibrant colors, you’ll need to make sure you keep exact records of your paint color tests to see what you mixed and what temperatures you used or it will all be for nothing.   When you buy paints for stained glass painting, you’ll need to find out which ones are low or high firing. Low firing paint is better suited to stain

Kaleidoscopes are a fun tool to use to enjoy optical illusions. With some mirrors, glass and colorful tidbits, you can create your own kaleidoscope that takes you to a world of beautiful images thanks to the items inside of it rotating along with the light coming in from the opposite end. The result is magical and can awe both children and adults.   Glass kaleidoscopes are particularly beautiful. They often look impressive on the outside as well. Magic on the inside and out, glass kaleidoscopes are an ideal summer stained glass project. Here’s how to make one of your own!   In addition to all your glass cutting tools, you’ll need: clear glass colored glass in the colors of your choosing copper foil brass rod solder (to use in your soldering iron) flux mirror kit disc kit faceted beads decorative copper or brass elements for adornments and leg supports patina solution felt circles Instructions: 1. First, line up your colored glass with your straightedge to make three strips that are 1x8 inches and mark them with a permanent marker.   2. Score the marked lines using your glass cutter, mak

Summer is a great time to unleash your creativity. It’s also a great time to grab a KraftyBlok or two from Delphi and bring your ideas to life. KraftyBlok is a multifaceted glass block that you can turn into pretty much anything you can dream up. Think of it as a blank canvas in glass block form .   Its smooth and clear surface is the perfect base for mosaics, etching, painting and plenty more. Plus, it has an opening where you can easily add embellishments or even lights to really make your KraftyBlok project shine. You can purchase KraftyBlok stands to display your KraftyBlok creation too.   There are endless possibilities to bring your KraftyBlok project to life on so many levels. Turn it into a piggy bank for your children or grandchildren. Make it into a stunning vase to hold your fresh-cut flowers. Night lights, picture boxes, bookends and more can all be easily made by using a KraftyBlok.   If you still need inspiration, get our free KraftyBlok eBook . There are step-by-step instructions and templates so you can recreate the projects featured in it. This free 48-page eBook brings you ideas for every season too, so you can find some in

Summer is a great time to unleash your creativity. It’s also a great time to grab a KraftyBlok or two from Delphi and bring your ideas to life. KraftyBlok is a multifaceted glass block that you can turn into pretty much anything you can dream up. Think of it as a blank canvas in glass block form .   Its smooth and clear surface is the perfect base for mosaics, etching, painting and plenty more. Plus, it has an opening where you can easily add embellishments or even lights to really make your KraftyBlok project shine. You can purchase KraftyBlok stands to display your KraftyBlok creation too.   There are endless possibilities to bring your KraftyBlok project to life on so many levels. Turn it into a piggy bank for your children or grandchildren. Make it into a stunning vase to hold your fresh-cut flowers. Night lights, picture boxes, bookends and more can all be easily made by using a KraftyBlok.   If you still need inspiration, get our free KraftyBlok eBook . There are step-by-step instructions and templates so you can recreate the projects featured in it. This free 48-page eBook brings you ideas for every season too, so you can find some in

With Armed Forces Day and Memorial Day coming up (May 21st and May 30th, respectively), Delphi Glass has those who have served our great country on our mind. Everyone knows someone who has served, whether it’s a grandparent, parent, sibling, spouse or friend. Being part of the armed forces takes a lot of dedication and leaves an indelible mark on those that serve forever.   Our veterans have learned powerful lessons in their lives that have shaped the way they are, but they also have to cope with the negative aspects of their experiences. Some of these brave men and women have seen things more horrible than we could ever fathom. Our veterans looked after us and kept our country safe. Now it’s time for us to return the favor and look after them.   If you’re looking for ways to support our great veterans, first and foremost, thank a veteran for their hard work when you pass them in the aisle at the supermarket or are waiting on line at the post office or bank. Secondly, try to find ways to give back and honor these courageous patriots. At Delphi Glass, we contribute to Operation Family Fund (OFF) an organization that was started by relations

The biggest names in glass are coming to Delphi Glass and you don’t want to miss out on joining a class!   As glass artists, we’re always looking for ways to improve our techniques. Every day that we create something, we learn something new. But when we’re presented with an incredible opportunity to work with award-winning artists, we’ve just got to get in on it before our chance to learn from one of the greats is gone.   This summer, Delphi Glass is excited to present you with the opportunity to join in on classes from some very special guest instructors. You don’t want to miss your chance to sign up with these talented folks. Class space is limited to ensure you have the best and most intimate learning experience.   Coming up in June, there’s still some room left to join in on Joseph Cavalieri’s class for stained glass painting. If you’re not familiar with Cavalieri’s work , he owns and runs the CAVAglass Studios in New York City. His projects are amazing, showcasing his expertise in hand-painted, silk-screened and airbrushed stained glass. It’s amazingly unique and if you sign up now, you&rsq

The biggest names in glass are coming to Delphi Glass and you don’t want to miss out on joining a class!   As glass artists, we’re always looking for ways to improve our techniques. Every day that we create something, we learn something new. But when we’re presented with an incredible opportunity to work with award-winning artists, we’ve just got to get in on it before our chance to learn from one of the greats is gone.   This summer, Delphi Glass is excited to present you with the opportunity to join in on classes from some very special guest instructors. You don’t want to miss your chance to sign up with these talented folks. Class space is limited to ensure you have the best and most intimate learning experience.   Coming up in June, there’s still some room left to join in on Joseph Cavalieri’s class for stained glass painting. If you’re not familiar with Cavalieri’s work , he owns and runs the CAVAglass Studios in New York City. His projects are amazing, showcasing his expertise in hand-painted, silk-screened and airbrushed stained glass. It’s amazingly unique and if you sign up now, you&rsq

Saws are great for cutting glass, but sometimes, it’s a more precise cut we need for an obscurely-shaped piece. When you want to make circles with glass or cut out unusual shapes for your stained glass project, what should you use?   Many glass artists loathe cutting circles because it is so difficult to make it just right. Fortunately, you don’t need to scrap any glass project that contains circles anymore because the Silberschnitt Pro Circle Cutter is just what you need.   This German-engineered product uses a strong suction cup to hold onto the glass. You’ll need to make sure the glass is stationary on your cutting area so that it doesn’t move. Then you can set the Silberschnitt Pro Circle Cutter to the width of your desires.   To make that perfect circle, you’ll need to apply continuous pressure as you cut. The 6-wheel cutting turret is designed to make flawless scores. You can avoid dullness by rotating the wheels. The cutting ruler on the Silberschnitt Pro Circle Cutter can measure in inches and centimeters too. It’s ideal for any project that requires circles in sizes of 2 ½ inches on up to 24 inches in di

As the weather starts to warm up, everything around us begins to blossom again. The flowers bloom, the trees start to turn green again and the birds come back to sing for us. It all means that spring is here. Now is the time to embrace this beautiful season where nature seems to be calling us back out into the wild.   When you think of spring, what comes to mind first? Is it flowers? Or birds? Perhaps it is a beautiful landscape that’s lit up by the lingering sun that now sets later in the evening. Whatever it is, all you need to do to find inspiration to create something spectacular is open your door and walk out into the world.   But if birds and flowers aren’t your idea of the perfect theme for your next stained glass, fused glass, mosaic or glass jewelry project, you’ll have to dig deeper. Sure, all of it has been done before but no one has seen what you have through your eyes, and isn’t that what it means to create art?   Butterflies are a great spring theme and you can make them your own by creating them in the way you see them. You can also imagine yourself somewhere else, where the world might look different during spring t

Ask anyone what the most wonderful time of the year is and you’re bound to get a lot of responses about the winter holidays. But here at Delphi Glass, our favorite time of the year has to be during National Art Glass month when we host our Annual Art Glass Festival.   We love it because we truly have some of the most talented customers around. Every year, it seems the entries get more and more incredible. Click here to visit the gallery of our previous Art Glass Festival winners. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned pro at creating glass art projects, we encourage you to enter for a chance to win great prizes ranging in value from $100 to $400. We have a wonderful variety of categories that you can enter your work under. Some of them include beads & jewelry, blown glass, flameworked glass, kiln formed glass, lamps, large panels (entries for this category must be larger than 2 square feet), mosaics and small panels (less than 2 square feet).   You don’t need to be in Lansing, Michigan either to participate. You can enter from anywhere online until March 31, 2016. If you’re going to bring your entries to the Lansing location, make su

Whether you’re making a fused glass project or a unique piece of glass jewelry, why not let it really shine by adding some glowing pigment? CBS Aqua Glow is a powder that works well with glass fusing as well as fused glass jewelry. While it appears yellowish in color, once exposed to a prolonged light source such as a lamp or the sun, it illuminates in an illustrious aqua color in the darkness.   What’s neat about this pigment is that it reflects a gentle color to the art you create when you see it in the light. But once the lights go out, it becomes even more spectacular. CBS Aqua Glow is compatible with all COEs too and that makes it an excellent pigment to use when creating anything from glass beads to lampworking and beyond.   If you’d like to use this pigment in your next glass project, you’ll want to get the ratio just right. Glow pigment mixed with glass powder uses a ratio of 1:4, with the smaller portion being for the glow powder. You’ll also want to cap, or encase, your glow powder inside layers of glass so that you’ll get a smooth texture when creating your pieces and keep the glow pigment from wearing away, which w

If you’re looking for some inspiration so you can ring in spring with a festive seasonal piece, get your copy of Delphi’s free Easter eBook . Did I mention it’s free? Easter is on March 27th this year and wouldn’t it be great to make something beautiful to display for Easter dinner? You’ll definitely want to take a look at the projects featured in the free Easter eBook, where every artist can find creative motivation from stained glass to glass fusing to mosaics to glass jewelry. If you’re looking for fused glass ideas, the fused glass bunny dish would be an adorable addition to your Easter table. You can let it just be art or you can give it some jellybeans to hold for the kids. For a grand Easter decoration that you can put up in the window, try the stained glass cross panel. When the light from the spring sun hits it, it will light up your room and your heart with love. If you like using recyclables to create your works of art, try making the mosaic bunny vase using a recycled bottle. You can use our included mosaic pattern or you can let your own imagination run wild. Either way, it will make such a beautiful centerpiece

Every artist that works with glass knows how important it is to have the right tools. Without them, we’d never be able to bring our visions to life. When cutting glass for a project, a quality cutter is essential.   Gemini Saw Company has thought of what we need when cutting glass with the Taurus 3 Ring Saw . Improving on former models, this ring saw has a 1/5 HP motor and is so lightweight at just 14 lbs., you can take it anywhere. Plus, the saw part snap outs of the water bath, turning it into a hand-held saw. It has its own water so it can easily be used as a portable saw.   But perhaps the best feature of all is the round diamond bit blade. It’s a 5-3/4” multi-directional blade which means you can cut seamlessly in any direction you choose. The greater blade exposure means more precise cuts. As you begin to cut your glass piece, the working area illuminates with a built-in bright white light to make it easier to see what you’re doing.   Another upgrade from the previous model is the larger work surface. It’s 25% larger at 17-3/4” x 16” with a 5-5/8” depth. It also makes much less noise than older models

Each month at Delphi Glass, we’d like to put the spotlight on one of the many talented artists we see daily in our Artist Gallery. For the month of February, we’re delighted to introduce Stephanie Murphy, who goes by the name aMosaicist in our gallery. Stephanie was born and raised in Palmerton, Pennsylvania, and now lives just south of there in a town called Schnecksville. After earning her nursing degree in college, she became a critical care nurse for 10 years. But in order to care for her autistic son, Patrick, she had to leave her career behind. Throughout college and beyond, Stephanie began using art as a coping mechanism for the stresses in her life, especially when it came to raising her autistic son. “In college, I filled my electives with art classes, drawing and ceramics, to give my brain a respite from the vigorous nursing courses. Creating art gives my left brain some rest and my right brain some much needed exercise. I can go on vacation without ever leaving home. Creating mosaic and fused glass art is something I do for me.” Stephanie has been creating mosaics for 13 years and fused glass for about 4 years. She got her start by

The art of assembling small fragments of glass, stone and other materials to form a larger image is known as mosaics. What is much less known is that this practice is about 4,000 years old or so. Some of the most famous pieces of the world’s artistic history were mosaics, like this Roman piece found in Turkey of a gypsy girl, estimated to be from the 2nd Century CE. If you’re looking to make your own bigger picture, you’ll need to choose your mosaic pattern and round up your mosaic supplies, which will include making sure you have enough mosaic tiles to get the job done. That might seem obvious, but if you’re new to the artful world of mosaics, here are some little tips that will help you create a mosaic you’ll be able to brag about:   1. Start small and simple Don’t even think about trying to tackle a mosaic wall or flooring project first! Start with something small and simple so you can get your technique worked out. Coasters or picture frames make for great practice mosaic projects!   2. Get sketchy Choose a mosaic template you like from an image you find in a book, online or even from a photo you’ve

Frit Molds are becoming increasingly more popular, especially with all the new styles of jewelry molds coming out. Getting a beautiful finished project can be tricky at times. Issue #1: Glass tends to stick; and create sharp daggers on the sides of the glass project. This can happen when the glass separator is getting thin or worn away. Boron Nitride MR-97 is the answer. It is a versatile product that can also be used on stainless steel molds as well. Think of it like teflon on your frying pan. It will not allow the glass to stick to the mold. Projects pop right out and are ready to wear. You do have to follow the instructions and reapply as directed. Watch a video on how to use Boron Nitride MR-97. However if you do get spurs on the sides of your project, simply use a wet hand sanding pad to clean up the edges. Issue#2: The frit is trapping a lot of air bubbles that you can see in the finished project. Thats frit for you. Air bubbles will happen, however if you change the soak or hold time based on the size frit you used, you may have better luck. For example, if the mold calls for a 10-minute hold for fine frit, then it might be 25-3

Winter is a wonderful time for projects that warm us up. Whether we’re making something that depicts the chilly winter weather or creating something sunny and tropical to help us think warm thoughts, any of the winter variety glass packs are a fabulous choice.   When it comes to stained glass supplies, these sets of eight sheets of 8”x8” glass in assorted color schemes including blue and white hues as well as creamy whites with touches of warm color will bring your next stained glass project to life. Whether you use it to create lamps, panels, doors, or décor, there are no limits to what your imagination can dream up.   These winter glass packs of stained glass are a lot like how we look at life. It all depends on how we look at life. Some of us will look at these sets of colors and instantly think of windy, blustery snow-filled days. Some will look at that cold and depict it in a positive way, embracing the art that winter burns into us with her frigid blasts of air to create stained glass projects that celebrate winter. Meanwhile, others will feel inspired to lament the colder temperatures and endless snow, and perhaps showcase this in

Late Summer and Fall 2015 provides an opportunity to expand your artistic horizons. Delphi's Creativity Center in Lansing, MI presents new techniques introduced by Guest Instructors on the cutting edge of art glass innovation. This season renowned glass artists Wesley Wong, Margaret Zinser and Tim Drier impart their innovative new ideas and techniques to student glassworkers at Delphi. Get to know each artist and their work, then see which class is right for you! Class sizes are limited so register now to ensure your opportunity to work with these amazing artists. Wesley Wong Wesley Wong is an award-winning artist who designs and produces custom glass art from his studio in San Jose, California. His passion for glass started in 1981 with stained glass, which eventually lead him into mosaics and fused glass. His work features lots of bright colors and intricate patterns and has been exhibited in many juried glass and mosaic shows throughout the United States. Receive a 10% discount on any 2 of Wesleys September classes. Receive a 20% discount on all 3 of Wesleys September classes. Please call Delphi Creativity C

The Summer 2015 session of art glass classes at Delphi's Creativity Center in Lansing, MI is gearing up to start soon. This season renowned glass artists Peter McGrain and Deb Crowley impart their innovative new ideas and techniques to student glassworkers at Delphi. Get to know each artist and their work, then see which class is right for you! Class sizes are limited so register now to ensure your opportunity to work with these amazing artists. Peter McGrain Award winning artist/designer Peter McGrain has been working with stained glass for over 30 years. During this time he has handled every type of stained glass project imaginable; ranging in scope from intimate experimental panels to large-scale architectural installations. In all, it is his attention to composition and technique that make his imagery so successful. Check out Peter's work on his website or our Pinterest board. Class: Introduction to Traditional Glass Painting Friday, June 5, 2015 9:00 am - 5:00 pm Register Now Description Painting on glass is by far the

The Spring 2015 session of art glass classes at Delphi's Creativity Center in Lansing, MI is all set to start. This season renowned glass artists Cathy Claycomb and Margaret Zinser join Tim Drier and Carol Shelkin to help expand the scope of your glassworking skills. Get to know each artist and their work, then see which class is right for you! Class sizes are limited so register now to ensure your opportunity to work with these amazing artists. Tim Drier Tim Drier has been a glassblower for 25 years, and applies his scientific glassblowing expertise to artistic flameworking. He concentrates on creating decanters, goblets, vases, and human sculptural forms. Drier has taught flameworking courses at The Studio and the Pittsburgh Glass Center, and has demonstrated at the International Flameworkers Conference at Salem Community College. Check out Tim's work on his Corning Museum of Glass page or his Pinterest Board . Class: Introduction to Hollow Forms Friday-Saturday, April 17-18, 2015 10:00 am - 4:00 pm Register Now! Description Tims two day c

Glass artists have the unique opportunity to celebrate holidays by creating art to honor traditions. Passover is no exception. This eight day festival is celebrated in spring, commemorating the emancipation of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. The highlight of celebration is the Seder, a 15-step family tradition and ritual-infused feast that is served on a special Seder Plate. Designing a custom Seder Plate is a perfect way to honor the tradition. Incorporate favorite colors, create a modern square version, or add dazzling dichroic accents to dress up your design. Shop Seder Plate Molds to get started creating your own. Below are some beautiful variations on Seder Plates from glass artists that are fantastic examples of some of the ways you can personalize projects. This modern take on the Seder Plate features iridized glass and hand painted gold lettering, by Art Glass. Glassdesign dresses up the traditional round Seder Plate shape with dichroic accents. Yafit Glass brings a lively color pallet to this Seder Plate with vibrant transparent glass and gold hand-lettering. Artist Kerry Silver of Silver Fusion Art Glass uses vibrant color a

If you've ever stumbled across a project you love on DelphiGlass.com or read an Artist Spotlight in our catalog and wondered where we get all the project images the answer is simple. Most of them come from people like you - our customers - and at Delphi we love to show off your work. We regularly browse the Delphi Online Artist Gallery for projects and artists that inspire us to share. Open your own Delphi Artist Gallery and upload your projects . You could find your art features in a Delphi email, on our Pinterest boards or in an upcoming Delphi catalog. Delphi's Pinterest boards are a great place to find inspiration and get fresh ideas for your next project. If you want to get creative promote your studio or gallery or just show off your art - let Delphi help. Follow us on Pinterest to keep up on the latest trends, find beautiful projects and favorite supplies organized by season, theme or color to make it easy to browse. Get inspired to be creative this year. Have a look back at Delphi's most popular Pinterest boards, as well as our most liked and re-pinned pins from 2014: In 201

We are gearing up for the Winter/Spring 2015 session of art glass classes at Delphi's Creativity Center in Lansing, MI. This year accomplished glass artists Tim Drier and Carol Shelkin will bring their talent and expertise to Delphi to help students upgrade their skills. Get to know each artist and their work, then see which class is right for you! Class sizes are limited so register now to ensure your opportunity to work with these amazing artists. Tim Drier Tim Drier has been a glassblower for 25 years, and applies his scientific glassblowing expertise to artistic flameworking. He concentrates on creating decanters, goblets, vases, and human sculptural forms. Drier has taught flameworking courses at The Studio and the Pittsburgh Glass Center, and has demonstrated at the International Flameworkers Conference at Salem Community College. Check out Tim's work on his Corning Museum of Glass page or his Pinterest Board . Class: Introduction to Hollow Forms Friday-Saturday, April 17-18, 2015 10:00am-4:00pm Register Now! Description Tims two day

This Spring Delphi is excited to host two amazing glass artists at the Delphi Creativity Center in Lansing, MI. Mosaic artist Carol Shelkin and master of beveling, Kent Lauer, will both be teaching this Spring at Delphi. Each artist brings their own unique skill set and techniques that any student from beginner to professional artist would enjoy. Get to know each artist and their work, then see which class is right for you! Class sizes are limited so register now to ensure your opportunity to work with these amazing artists. Carol Shelkin Carol Shelkin creates contemporary fine art and intricate mosaic designs that feature eminent care and attention to detail using hand-cut, high-quality stained glass. Her life-long passion for art has been honed through studies at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art and under the tutelage of mosaic masters in Italy. Her one-of-a-kind works can be found in galleries, community centers, libraries and private collections. Explore Carol's work on our Pinterest board or on her website .

We are excited about the Spring 2014 lineup of talented glass art experts teaching classes at Delphi's Creativity Center in Lansing, MI. Each artist brings their own unique skill set and techniques that any student from beginner to professional artist would enjoy. First up is cast and kiln formed glass artist, Gloria Badiner. Badiner is a former scientist and studio artist living and working in rural Southwest Michigan. Her studio, Arts & Artifacts, makes commissioned and custom kiln formed glass for architects, designers and furniture makers. Commissioned work includes cast panels, high relief tiles and sculptures as site-specific installations in businesses and residences. Her sculptures include fused, kiln cast, sand cast and dalle de verre works mostly on an intimate scale and are often mixed with copper, silver, stone, bone and found elements. The themes of night and day, nature and human ritual are strong themes woven into her work. For those interested in attending Badiner's class at Delphi this Spring, check out the details below. Hurry, as seats are limited and filling fast! Class: Kiln Formi

Like all glass artists, I love color. Any color, every color but one color in particular. Purple. So, when Radiant Orchid was named the 2014 Color of the Year in the spring Pantone color report, I will admit I was pretty excited. Radiant Orchid manages to combine the luxurious richness of purple with the light-hearted fun of pink. Drawing from both the purple and pink color families, orchid elicits feelings of passion and energy it is associated with insight, mystery, magic and ambition as well as hope, peace and good judgement. Plus, being in the purple family, it is considered a royal color; who doesn't love that? From flowers to dusky sky scenes, this surprising shade can really make a project pop! Explore Passionate Purple projects on our Pinterest board . Artist: Cheryl Smith, from Delphi's Artist Gallery Artist: W.K. van't Land, from Delphi's Artist Gallery Artist: Kevin Saxo, from Delphi's Artist Gallery Shop glass in Radian

Here's our list of 5 Favorite New Items from the November 2013 edition of Stained Glass News. In addition to information packed articles, every issue of Stained Glass News features the newest items for glass artists. Read on to learn more about these exciting supplies. 1. Papyros Kiln Shelf Release Paper in Precut 13" Rounds Time seems to be in short supply these days, especially during the busy holiday season. Save time and say goodbye to wasted shelf paper with Papyros Precuts. The convenient 13" round pieces are die-cut to fit your 14" 16 kiln, so you'll never be stuck trimming shelf paper when you'd rather be cutting glass and creating. Each piece offers the full benefits of this favorite kiln liner it holds up, often for several firings, and clean up is a snap! At Delphi, you can find Papyros Precuts in 4 convenient pack sizes, so you'll always have the right amount on hand choose single pieces, a pack of 25, 50, or 100. 2. Studio Pro Tools The Studio Pro Tool Caddy offe

2013 Has been a banner year for fusers with the introduction of so many new molds . It's almost impossible not to be giddy about all the fantastic ways your glass art can take shape. From large to small, there are molds to fit every kiln size and artist's style on offer. Make exciting home decor, jewelry, and unforgettable gifts. The only hard part is deciding which new molds to add to your collection first. Highlighted here are just a handful of our favorite new molds: 1. Bottle Molds The Spoon Rest Bottle Sagger offers up a fresh way to turn trash to treasure by turning discarded bottles into functional art. Create a stylish and useful spoon rest to keep your stovetop or dining table tidy. Browse all new Bottle Molds 2. Texture Molds Designing a show-stopping serving plate or centerpiece for the holiday season is easier than ever with

Nothing says classic winter beauty like the wonder of snowflakes. First captured on film by Wilson Bentley in 1885, these hexagonal crystalline forms fall by the millions every winter covering the landscape in delicate white blankets of snow. Just like us, every snowflake that falls to earth is a one-of-a-kind form. This unique beauty has inspired art and artists for decades. Although it seems a bit odd that you would be capturing ice with fire, snowflakes make excellent glass projects. Capturing them in a medium such as glass allows you to enjoy their beauty without ever having to worry about finding your mittens, Kevlar gloves maybe, but no mittens. As a child, one of my favorite winter pastimes was cutting paper snowflakes. Just like the real thing, each snowflake I made was different and as an adult, I still enjoy this craft as much as I did when I was 7. Now I can imagine you are already shaking your head at me saying: "Are you suggesting I put paper snowflakes in my kiln?!?" And my answer is, Yes. Yes, I am. By creating paper snowflakes from fusible kiln paper, you can create these timeless decorations out of paper and capture them permanently in glass. This is a g

As some pick out costumes and prepare for annual Halloween festivities, in Mexico people begin preparing to celebrate Da de los Muertos, the day of the dead. This three day event spans October 31st through November 2nd. Traditions vary from town to town. However, most families spend these three days honoring and remembering the lives of the dead with flowers, decorations, traditional foods and brightly decorated skulls. These are commonly known and referred to as Sugar Skulls. While both Halloween and Da de los Muertos embrace skulls, the scary skulls that are sometimes associated with Halloween don't compare to the ornate and sometimes tasty sugar skulls displayed proudly during this Mexican holiday. Sugar Skulls are funky, festive and a huge trend these days! In honor of Da de los Muertos we encourage everyone to celebrate other cultures and have fun getting creative with an icon ofthis traditional Mexican holiday, the Sugar Skull. In pop-culture Sugar Skulls are often adorned withhearts, crosses, flowers and filigree. The possibilities are endless so enjoy! Check out all of the ama

Here's our list of 5 Favorite New Items from the September 2013 edition of Stained Glass News: As always we look forward to receiving our quarterly issue of Stained Glass News. It is always packed with inspiration and highlights of the newest items available for art glass creations. Let us walk you through these exciting new items and see how they can add new dimension and style to your work today! 1. Dichroic Extract It's like glitter, all grown up! Add dichroic to your projects in ways you've previously only dreamed of with this fantastic new product. It's all the dazzle of dichroic, without a backing to limit your applications. With no COE, you can paint it on, sprinkle it, even pick it up in flameworked and blown glass projects. Dichroic Extract is available in all your favorite colors, plus fun sample sets to get started. 2. Fuseworks Gift Findings for Glass Creating fun, thoughtful gifts or glass accents you'll love to use is a breeze with these fantastic flat Fuseworks Gift Findings . Each comes with simple instructions to make finishing your projects easy. The perfect way to display your glass art cre

We are excited about the Fall 2013 line up of talented glass art experts teaching classes at Delphi's Creativity Center in Lansing, MI. Each artist brings their own unique skill set and techniques that any student from beginner to professional artist would enjoy. Tim Driers intricate hollow forms will amaze flameworking fans. Learn valuable new skills from this master glass blower. Gain fusing expertise in Janet Schraders classes. Janet has many special tricks to impart that will take your fusing knowledge to a new level. Kent Lauers glass magic will enthrall coldworking enthusiasts. Youll also learn glass gem making from this master of beveling. One look at Patty Grays fantastic glass art will have fusers thirsting to learn her secrets. Patty will share some of her unique methods during her Advanced Fusing class. Get to know each artist and their work, then see which class is right for you! Class sizes are limited so register now to ensure your opportunity to work with these amazing artists. Tim Drier Michigan native Tim Drier has worked as a scientific glass blower for more than 25 years. His e

August 26th might just be another Dog Day of Summer for some people, but here at Delphi we are looking forward to this day. Why you ask....well because it is National Dog Day. This year we have decided to do something special to celebrate not just dogs, but all our favorite furry, feathered and scaly friends. For the remainder of August, we're putting our favorite pet inspired glass art supplies on sale. Delphi will be donating 5% of the proceeds on all sale items to the Humane Society to help pets in need. We encourage everyone who loves animals or just loves using them as inspiration for their art to join us in supporting a good cause, now through August 31st. Here are some of our favorite supplies: Cat Designs Pattern Book Paw Bail Fat Cats Color Enamel Decals Pre-cut Paw Prints Available in 90 96 COE In previous years, we've hosted The Animal Creations Contest to shine a spotlight on fantastic projects depicting the creatures large and small that ste

National Book Lover's Day is a lesser known holiday - much to my disappointment. It's celebrated on August 9th every year. I love books. I love books so much that in my house, every day is Book Lover's Day. I'm hoping you'll join me in celebrating for this one day at least though. "A book is a gift you can open again and again." Garrison Keillor A home without books is like a room without windows. Horace Mann Books have always held a special place in my heart. They open up a world of new possibilities to me. Each time I come back to a book, I bring fresh experiences and perspective to it, which lets me take something new away from it. Art books are no different. In addition to the bones of the process, the invaluable instruction that they present, they offer an opportunity to dream and create. The project ideas and instruction allow me to gain a greater understanding of the process, and how to use the process as part of the art. I get a new jumping-off point for creativity. I believe that books are as fundamental to an artists' workshop as the raw materials they'll use to complete a project. Without one or the other, no artistic vision can be executed successful

Delphi is pleased to welcome glass artists Kaori and Keiji Okushima, from Shiga Prefecture in Japan, to our Lansing Creativity Center on Saturday Aug. 10th, from 3:30pm - 4:30pm. Come to Delphi for a chance to see Kaori create her glass jewelry and hear Keiji explain his creative process. Kaori and Keiji are both part of the Art from the Lakes program . Art from the Lakes is a special artists exchange project between the sister states of Michigan in the United States and Shiga Prefecture in Japan. Named to recognize the importance of Lake Biwa in Shiga Prefecture and the Great Lakes which surround Michigan, the 2013 exhibition and residency brings seven extraordinary artists to Michigans capitol city of Lansing to exhibit their works. As part of the exchange artists from Michigan will be invited and hold an exhibition in Shiga in the fall of 2014. Kaori Okushima, Glassworker The Art from the Lakes Exhibit is held at the Lansing Art Gallery, August 1st - September 28th, 2013. All are invited to attend the opening reception on F

With the end of our very first ever Pinterest contest, we are thrilled to welcome over 1,000 new followers to our Pinterest boards . We hope that everyone found inspiration to create glass garden art projects of their own from our Glass Garden Art board and our Garden Center . Congratulations to the winner, Cindy Pilat, who was randomly selected. Cindy's board has an inspiring collection of glass garden art. As the winner Cindy will receive an assorted mix of flameworking and jewelry supplies - plus a few fun mosaic supplies, a $100 value. Want to participate in future contests? Delphi announces all special events and contests through our email newsletters, sign up today! Also like us on Facebook to stay connected to all things Delphi. Thanks to all who participated in this contest.

"Well, hello there Carlise, my name is Cere. It's nice to meet you!" As a flameworker, the most powerful tool at our disposal is the torch. From raw gas to burning flame, the torch provides the energy needed to take glass from solid state to molten magic. As someone that typically works with Borosillicate glass (32 or 33 COE), I tend to work towards the hotter parts of the flame, however, if you work with Moretti (104 COE), or soft glass, you may find the cooler areas beneficial to you. No matter what kind of glass you are melting in your torch, when properly familiar with the parts and type of the flame, you can bring your work to new levels. Q: Oxidizing, Reducing and Neutral: What kind of flame do I have, and what does that mean to me? A: When being worked, many glass colors are sensitive to the atmosphere or the ratio of mixed gases in the flame. Different atmospheres can produce a diverse array of effects, some desirable and some not as much. It's important to know what kind of flame you are working with and what kind of flame your glass desires. When in doubt, start with a neutral flame and adjust your settings from there. Reducing Flame - a flame

Here's our list of 5 Favorite New Items from the May 2013 edition of Stained Glass News, also in this issue Stained Glass News 25th Anniversary Contest winners announced! 1. Button Molds from Creative Paradise What better way to show off your art, than to wear it! These fantastic new molds from Creative Paradise are available in three different styles, Small Round, Large Round, and Square giving you the freedom to create buttons for any apparel in your closet. We love creating glass art and what a bonus when it is practical too! 2. Getting the Blues can be Great - 2 Exciting New Colors from Spectrum Glass Expand your creative pallet with the latest hues from our friends at Spectrum Glass! Blue Topaz and Hydrangea Opal bring to life two of our favorite shades from nature, perfect for portraying bright ocean blues and subtle floral hues. These colors are aptly named for the gem stone and flower they represent. Blue Topaz is a copper bearing color, making this an excellent addition to the Reactive Color pallet. Hydrangea Opal is the lightest shade in the System 96 Blue Opal Line. Try these fun new project ideas from System 96 centered around t

Art Glass Festival is the most anticipated event of the year at Delphi, and it's no secret why. We get a chance to see all the fantastic glass art that talented artists like you have been making! We would like to say thank you to everyone that participated in Art Glass Festival 2013 - and a special thanks to our contributors , their generous support makes this event a success. Our contributors provide all of the amazing prizes that are handed out to the winners of both the store contest as well as online. During the month of April, the Lansing Creativity Center comes alive with inspiring art as it plays host to the Art Glass Festival gallery. The exhibit opens with an Artists' Reception where artists from near and far share their discoveries and achievements in glass art. Check out all of the exciting photos from this year's reception on Facebook. May brings the inevitable end of the Art Glass Festival exhibit at the Lansing Creativity Center, but it also gives us the much anticipated results of the People's Choice Award voting. We would like to congratulate this years' winner, Carol Santoro, shown here with her winning Blue Heron mosaic entry. Ar

Delphi Glass is pleased to welcome guest instructor Michael Dupille. Michael will be teaching two classes this May and June at the Delphi Creativity Center in Lansing, MI . Get to know this innovative glass artist and be inspired by his techniques. See a collection of his works on our Pinterest board . Michael is considered a pioneer in the field of kiln formed glass and has created many of the working processes and techniques which are considered standard in the warm glass industry today. Artist Bio A Seattle resident, he has worked in art his entire career as both creator and educator. Experienced in a variety of media including animation, illustration, print and textile design, he continues to challenge himself through invention and innovation. Michael was part of the glass blowing program at Central Washington University in the early 70s. Since the late 1980's he has worked extensively with glass, having developed and refined a technique for 'painting with glass' that uses crushed glass (frit) in combination with kiln fired methods. He refers to this process as fritography. Michael pioneered many kiln forming processes, especially in the area of mold maki

Did you know that April is National Earth month? Thats right, a month-long event scheduled for April 1 through April 30 in Washington, DC, featuring interactive, eco-friendly experiences to raise awareness of environmental issues and encourage sustainability. Earth Month 2013 represents a significant expansion of Earth Day festivities normally celebrated April 22. Join millions of people around the world and unite with the sole purpose of celebrating National Earth Month by looking for your communitys local efforts and meaningful programs. In the meantime, why not start the celebration at home with crafting projects that recycle, re-purpose and reuse. Responsible manufactures such as Diamond Tech are coming up with alternative crafting projects that provide a value proposition as well as social, emotional, and therapeutic benefits that balance in perfect harmony with any Earth Day celebration. For example, last year Diamond Tech introduced the Generation Green Bottle Cutter and Kits. These eco-friendly products allow craft enthusiasts to recycle and reuse glass bottle and jars otherwise bound for the trash.   Bottle Art Kits make it easy to cr

This spring, both System 96 and Bullseye have announced the expansion of their color palettes, and both have offered up some inspired (and inspiring) new hues for your glass art. The colors capture some of the more subtle shades that appear in nature when the lighting is just right - those magic moments when the world takes your breath away. They are also the colors that appear in tremendous works of art, from memorable paintings to your next project. Let these fresh colors inspire your designs. We're proud to introduce the latest hues here: NEW System 96 Blue Topaz Transparent Apple Jade Opal Hydrangea Opal Chambray Opal Payne's Gray Opal Blue Topaz Transparent mimics both the clarity and color of its namesake gemstone. Rounding out the selection between Sky Blue and Deep Aqua, this color blends beautifully with all the blues you already love. In addition,

Here's our list of the 5 hottest new and featured items from the March 2013 of Stained Glass News: 1. Creator's Premium Bottle Cutter What can the makers of the popular Cutter's Mate and Beetle Bits Cutting Systems do with a bottle cutter? It turns out - A LOT! They have designed a premium, top-of-the-line bottle cutter that is sturdy, easy to use and gives superior results. We love the special features on the Creator's Bottle Cutter, especially the aluminum slide bar ruler which makes cutting precise sizes a cinch, and the adjustable carbide cutting wheel so getting perfect pressure for an even score is a breeze. Want to learn more? See how it works with step-by-step photos and instruction . 2. Once You Try an Electric Mandrel Spinner , You Will Wonder How You Ever Created Beads Without One! With the Electric Mandrel Spinner, you will free yourself from arm and shoulder strain while creating beads faster and more consistently. The trick? This ingenious tool provides continuous rotation to your mandrel, so winding glass evenly is easier, heat is dispersed throughout the bead, and you can focus on the creative details. In a nut shell - it's an a

Here's our list of 5 Favorite New Items from the February 2013 edition of Stained Glass News. 1. Snowflake Casting Molds from Colour de Verre With the new premium mold from Colour de Verre you can make incredibly detailed, beautiful snowflakes. There are so many ways you can use these snowflakes. Hang them on their own (they are light) or incorporate them into projects. Were excited about how creative you can get making the snowflakes depending on the size of frit and firing temperature. LOVE them with dichroic! Check out the mold and free project sheets posted on our website. You wont believe the gallery quality of the pieces you can create. 2. Barefoot Tools are Back and Better Than Ever! Powder Vibe Electric Mandrel Spinner The Bearfoot Tools line has some of our customer's favorite tool; and we would have to agree! After recently not being available in glass art, the tools are now back with extra features and available in money-saving kits. Have the popular tools? Now there are tons of convenient accessories to get th

Extra! Extra! Read All About It Stained Glass News has Extended the Deadline to Enter the 25th Anniversary Contest Creating glass art is rewarding. Designing glass art that is stylish and functional is even better. What could make it even more amazing? Winning huge prizes just for sharing your project! Stained Glass News has just announced that the entry deadline for their 25th Anniversary Contest has been extended through February 28th, 2013. You get 8 incredible extra weeks to dream up new designs and send your submissions! Get more details about this contest in our Contest Announcement blog post, or get the contest rules and entry form to enter today.

If you're like most fusing artists, you like to try new things all the time. Pot melts fantastic! Raking amazing! Boiled glass stunning! Wait....what's boiled glass? Boiled glass is the hottest new way to get a stunning organic looking design in your fused art. Each piece will be completely unique, and is effortless to achieve. 1. Select several (3-4) pieces of tested compatible fusible glass to use. Both 90 COE and System 96 work well. We recommend using strong, contrasting colors with a layer of white or clear to help keep colors bright. 2. Cut glass pieces to size. Important note: Glass likes to be thick when fused. Because your project will be stacked more than thick, it will spread out during firing. Either dam the glass to prevent it from reaching the edges of your shelf, or cut glass small enough to ensure a safe fit. 3. On a kiln shelf lined with shelf paper, position the bottom layer of glass. Spoon Bubble Powder onto the surface of the glass and spread it out. 4. Stack additional layers of glass onto the base. Depending on the intensity of bubbles and boiled results desired, you can opt to simply add the glass, or to alternate l

Here's our list of 5 Favorite New Items from the November 2012 edition of Stained Glass News. 1. Realistic Leaf Casting Molds from Colour de Verre We always flip for the latest new molds from Colour de Verre, and these premium leaf molds are fantastic. They allow you to make gallery quality, detailed glass art pieces. You can create with Kiwi, Rain Forest, and Aralia leaf molds. Check out the molds and free project sheets posted on our website. You wont believe what you can create. Kiwi Mold Rain Forest Mold Aralia Mold FREE Kiwi Project Sheet FREE Rain Forest Project Sheet FREE Aralia Project Sheet 2. Our Favorite New Glass is Making us Twizzle! CBS Dichroics newest pattern, Twizzle, features a fun zig-zag design that has our creative juices flowing. Offered in Rainbow Mixture and Green/Magenta Blue on thin black and thin clear in both 90 and 96 COE. 3. Bea

Giving an incredible handmade gift can be easy, and doesn't have to take much time from your busy holiday schedule. This season, design a keepsake plate and take advantage of the firing time to whip up some cookies in the kitchen for a special gift that will last beyond the last scrumptious bite. 5 tips for creating quick plates: 1. Apply wash to your mold before getting started on your fused design. This will allow plenty of time for multiple coats to dry before it is time to slump. 2. Using two pre-cut circles (available in 90 COE or 96 COE ) as the base of your plate makes it the right thickness for a full fuse, so you can focus on adding details instead of cutting glass. 3. Fusible pre-cut shapes (available in 90 COE or 96 COE ) and millefiori (available in 90 COE or 96 COE ) make creating fast. Fun designs will add color and personality; all you have to do is arrange them! Note: Don't forget to match your COE. 4. Add details or holiday greetings with Glassline Pens. Looking for an easier way to apply it? Write your message on paper with black marker; place your base glass on top and trace. If it's hard to see, a light box can

Congratulations to the winner of Delphi's 3rd Annual Animal Creations Contest! The entry with the most votes was submitted by Kaitlyn K. The name of the piece is The Bengal Tiger and according to the description it was Kaitlyn's first mosaic piece standing about three and a half feet tall. Great job Kaitlyn, and congratulations! As the winner Kaitlyn will receive a Delphi Tote Bag filled with assorted animal pattern books, a golden honey stained wooden display box with a 6 inch square opening for your glass art, as well as other assorted goodies! Total retail value of over $85.00. We had over 200 entries in this contest spanning all of the glass art mediums and features animals of all sorts. Check some of them out in the slideshow of entries. Want to participate in future contest? Delphi announces all special events and contests through our email newsletters, sign up today!

In 1979, a journey began. That's the year Janet Schrader began working with glass, and she was immediately hooked. "Color is a very important part of who I am, so finding all the properties of changing color in glass has held my interest for many years. I love how glass changes color depending not only on the light source but also that it changes from morning to night as the light quality changes." Around 1988, Janet encountered dichroic glass for the first time, and fusing became the new focus of her glass art launching her successful line of handmade jewelry which she sold nation-wide. Janet's one-of-a-kind stained glass, jewelry and fused art have been met with enthusiasm, and winning awards including 1st and 2nd prize in the professional artist category for Fusion/Cast/Kiln work at the 2012 Glass Craft and Bead Expo in Las Vegas. Her love of learning and trying new things has kept her engaged in creating with glass as a medium. She is continuously seeking out opportunities to study new techniques. Janet shares this wealth of learning and experimentation in the many warm glass classes sh

The Holiday Season offers the perfect opportunity to create custom glass art celebrating traditions. Unique decorations and dishware featuring iconic designs are sure to become favorite centerpieces of your holiday decorations. Hanukkah is no exception - the Festival of Lights immediately conjures up images of dreidels and Hanukkah menorahs. Find a fresh take on the menorah and design your own in fused glass following step-by-step instructions courtesy of Aanraku Glass Studios, or make festive gift tags, plates or candle ornaments for Hanukkah with Free Project Guides. Looking for more ideas to create glass art projects for Hanukkah? Browse glass art Judaica supplies.

Contest Details: Submit any animal themed project done in art glass, mosaics, or jewelry. This is an online contest open to everyone. All skill levels, from beginning crafters to studio artists, are encouraged to participate. Submission Period: October 16, 2012 - October 30, 2012 (11:59 pm EST) Voting Period: October 31, 2012 - November 14, 2012 (11:59 pm EST) Winner Announced: November 15, 2012 Prize: There will be one grand prize given based on the entry with the most votes. The winner will receive a Delphi Tote Bag filled with assorted animal pattern books, a golden honey stained wooden display box with a 6 inch square opening for your glass art, as well as other assorted goodies! Total retail value of over $85.00 . Get Started: Enter for your chance to win. Visit Delphi's online Artist Gallery to submit your artwork. Need some inspiration? See some of our favorite Pet Project Supplies. Contest Rules: Entry can be an original design or from a published book or pattern. All entries to the Animal Art Contest must be submitted electronically through the Artist Gallery. Entries accepted October 16-October 30, 2012. Entr

Congratulations to our two winners of the Fused Glass Frit Art Contest! These two winners received the most votes in the categories of 90 COEand 96 COE and will receive the following prizes: 90 COE Prize - 12 medium 5 oz jars of frit in various colors and transparencies and a Bullseye waist apron, a $100 Retail value.Donated by Bullseye Glass Co. 96 COE Prize- Frit Sampler mini kit and an Iridescent Variety Pack, a $100 Retail value. Donated by Uroboros Glass Studios, Inc. Check out a slideshow of the 100+ entries in this contest. Thank you to all who participated. 90 COEWinner Title: Winter Artist: Kelly Crosser 96 COEWinner Title: Mesa Artist: Shaboom Art Glass

Here at Delphi, we love a good reason to celebrate. With the Holiday Season still looming weeks away, we were feeling anxious for a bit of excitement now. The good news? There are lots of lesser known holidays scattered throughout the year if you only look for them. (September includes a favorite of ours; National Talk Like a Pirate Day.) We needed another zany mood boost to get us through Thats how we found this gem: Its National Pet Peeve Week! In honor of this holiday we thought long and hard about what really gets under our skin and pushes our buttons while working on projects. Check out our top glass art pet peeves, and the simple solutions sure to put a smile back on your face! Pet Peeve : Disappearing Marker Lines Solution: Mark Stay II saves the day! Just wipe a little over marker lines for stay-put patterns while grinding or using a saw. Pet Peeve: All Tangled Up Solution: A Foil Dispenser keeps rolls tidy and ready to use. No more fighting with unruly rolls!

Where do I sell my work and how do I get there? Isn't that the question that is at the top of all of our lists? As John and I have plowed through what seemed at times to be an unknown and vast dessert with too few or too many direction signs, we eventually learned what worked for us. We've spent time investigating shows, galleries, commissions, advertising, contests and classes. All of these have been fruitful in one way or another, but some worked better for us than others. There are three that have impacted our business the most, and I will share those first. Early in 2010, I was sent an email by Delphi concerning the Spring Art Glass Festival Contest. I remember saying to John, "Wouldn't it be great if they chose one of our pictures to put in their catalog? That would be great advertising for us, and it would be Free!" All I had to do was load up pictures on the site. Sounds easy, but when you are technologically handicapped, it is not so easy. So I began to work through the process, and the first hurdle that had to be conquered was to take decent photographs. I found a digital camera on sale, John built me a closet-sized photo booth out of PVC, and we went

Contest Details: Submit any project done in art glass using frit. This is an online contest open to everyone. All skill levels, from beginning crafters to studio artists, are encouraged to participate. Entry must indicate which COE was used to create the piece, 90 or 96. Submission Period: September 19, 2012 - October 7, 2012 (11:59 pm EST) Voting Period: October 8, 2012 - October 14, 2012 (11:59 pm EST) Winners Announced: October 15, 2012 Prizes: There will be two prizes given based on the entry with the most votes within each COE, 90 96 as follows: 90 COE Prize - 12 medium 5 oz jars of frit in various colors and transparencies and a Bullseye waist apron, a $100 Retail value.Donated by Bullseye Glass Co. 96 COE Prize- Frit Sampler mini kit and an Iridescent Variety Pack, a $100 Retail value.Donated by Uroboros Glass Studios, Inc. Get Started: Enter for your chance to win. Visit Delphi's online Artist Gallery to submit your artwork. Need some inspiration? See our expanded product line for both 90 COE and 96 COE . Contest Rules : Entry can be an original design or from a published book or pat

Raise your hands if you are totally psyched about what is happening in todays arts and crafts world! In true Arnold Horshack form OOOOOOHHHHH! OOOOOOHHHHH! OOOOOOHHHHH! What has gotten me so excited - the rise of Mixed Media Collage! I have a confession to make, even though I work mainly in the art glass world - I am so the closet Mixed Media Collage junkie ! No wonder, my love of combining tiny pieces of tesserae to create mosaics translates perfectly to combining layers of mixed media to create a similar effect. Mixed Media Collage brings so many techniques together to create wonderful masterpieces. Its all about the layering and composition. And it teaches us so much about what looks right and what doesnt. Now mind you, I said I was a junkie, not an expert! But I would like to share with you my addiction and the method to my madness or the madness to my method. To begin creating a collage you usually start with a sturdy backing, or substrate to create the foundation for your work. For a mixed media art collage, this may be a canvas, a piece of cardboard, a piece of wood, a page of an altered book or my favorite - a sheet of metal. Just mak

Check out these Project Ideas Now for some news from Stained Glass News SGN, in conjunction with Aanraku Glass Studios and Spectrum Glass, has announced details of their their 25th Anniversary Contest. Nine winners will be chosen to receive cash prizes as well as glass and supplies from Spectrum Glass Studios. To enter the contest make one of three new Aanraku projects using Spectrum Glass - either art glass or System96 - and send a photo of your work to Stained Glass News in Newaygo, MI. You can use any glass crafting technique and enter as many projects as you like. Buy your supplies from Delphi Glass or your favorite local glass retailer, then visit stainedglassnews.com/contest for complete rules and entry form. You have until December 31st to mail in your project. Winners will be announced in the March 2013 issue of Stained Glass News . Project Categories Cash and prizes will be awarded for first, second and third place in each of these three categories: 1.) Aanraku Square Wooden Box (9 or 7) 2.) Aanraku Set of Bookends 3.) Aanraku Tea Tray Server (you must use 2 tiers or more)

Whats behind Delphis new line of Premium Wrought Iron Stands ?An American manufacturing company, Professional Metal Works, Inc (PMW). We sit down with Jim Rice of PMW to ask him a few questions about the quality products his company produces. Delphi: How did your company get started? Jim Rice: Professional Metal Works, PMW for short, was established in 2000 by Fred Boling who had over 25 years in the metal fabrication industry.Shortly thereafter in 2001 Fred was joined by a partner, Jerry McKenna who had worked with Fred previously and himself had over 25 years of experience in metal fabrication as well. Delphi: What makes your company unique? Jim Rice: Both Fred and Jerry capitalized on their experiences and knowledge that their business can be very successful by providing customers what they need and want high quality precision metal fabrications delivered on time and at a fair price.At PMW we take our delivery commitments very seriously and are also extremely responsive to our customers to make sure that they are getting the quality in the parts that they need and expect. Delphi: Why is it important for companies like Delphi to buy produc

Think of it this way: you're attempting to capture something that doesn't actually exist. A mythical creature that can change shape, even meaning at any given time; and you're expected to do it, again and again, over and over, til the end of time. Sounds all kinds of easy, right? It's actually about as easy as it sounds. Creativity is the mythical creature, I'm the person that's supposed to capture it. That's my life as an artist. More specifically, a stained glass artist. My love of glass started at a very young age--the exact age doesn't matter--but I know I was short enough to be patted on the top of my curly head by hundreds of people while they called me small boy since I was too painfully shy to introduce myself. I was dragged through hundreds of cathedrals and museums here and abroad. I saw the works of the masters in every gallery but no Picasso or Giacometti or Degas ever related to me the way stained glass did. There was just something about the interaction of the windows with their environment and the way it played with light and its surroundings that made me fall in love. So, how does one capture creativity? Patience is a great starting point. Noticing eve

"Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration." - Thomas A. Edison Along the way, I've had some wonderful artists and friends share tips on how to make our endeavor successful, and these that I've chosen to pass on below may be the ones that have made the most difference. 1. Pick a path and focus. There are so many wonderful avenues that can be explored with fused glass.... or other glass mediums.... that for many of us, it is difficult to choose and focus on one area. Of course it may be necessary to take several classes to learn a variety of techniques in the beginning. I loved jewelry, contemporary design w/stringer and sizzle sticks, pattern bars, rod making, etc., but sooner or later, it is wise to pare down the list and focus on work that when viewed by others has a theme. In time, you can create a body of work that will become your signature. Spend some time looking at art of all types. Think about what it is in those particular pieces that just speaks to you, and begin moving in that direction. Georgia O'Keefe, Monet, and Klimt are especially exciting to me visually. Bold, beautiful, bright colors are my f

Delphis 40 th Year Anniversary is quickly approaching, which will be commemorated with the release of the 2012 Annual Catalog.Our constant commitment to making art glass accessible to everyone by providing the largest selection of supplies and art glass has truly made us innovators. One of the ways we stay on the cutting edge is to bring tools and products that enable the process of creating to become enjoyable and rewarding for everyone. This month we are featuring two of our vendors whose products support the mission of Delphi and embody innovation. We recently caught up with the President of Creator's Stained Glass, Inc. and Inventor of the Cutters Mate, CirclePro and Strip Pro, Ray Nicholas. He told us the story of what sparked his creation of these tools.He began creating stained glass in 1992.His services become so in demand that by 1996 he had developed the Cutters Mate to create efficiencies in cutting glass through the cutting systems four key features crucial to the perfect cut: CSG-10 carbide cutting head Oil-fed cutting head Constant Pressure built into the weighted handle Most importantly, the cutting head remains at a 90 degr

Part 2 of a 2 part series on the basics of glass fusing. In this week's article Donna gives advice on indispensable tools for beginner glass fusers. In the beginning, I used one larger tool, and that was a Super Star Grinder . It is still running, running, running! Others have come, and some have gone, but this one is still here. For smaller cold working projects, diamond hand pads do a nice job. The next cutting tool that I bought was a saw. My Taurus 3 Ring Saw has worked extremely well for me, and I love what I can do with it that I couldn't do before, but I worked for 2 years before I purchased this nifty item. As for cutters and breakers, I have many, but for me, the Silberschnitt breaker pliers are a must for small (1/4") strip breaking.....saves so much glass. I use both plastic and metal breakers, and they are not expensive. Toyo is my favorite brand for cutters, but there are others that I understand are wonderful. The pencil cutter is great for my hand, but you need to handle several yourself to see which is the best fit for you. I do love the Morton cutting system ....especially the crates! They are wonderful for catching the shards that eat the s

Your studio is your haven, your cave of creativity, your "me" space! It is as personal as the work that comes out of it. One thing that studios everywhere could probably use is some ORGANIZATION , and thanks to Delphi's second annual studio contest we can all learn some secrets to keeping it clean. In 2011, we featured those of you who had the Messiest Studios. We had 50 photo entries in that contest, and boy we really enjoyed seeing the functioning chaos. This year we explored the opposite end of the spectrum, hoping to gain some insights, tips, and methods to keeping an art glass studio neat and tidy. Whether you have a large dedicated space for your studio, or like most you are repurposing a section of your home to accommodate your ever growing passion for glass, these tips will help you get organized. Tips from the Contest Participants Clean up before you start a project. Use reclaimed building materials or upcycle old kitchen cabinets. Repurpose vintage display or office furniture found at thrift stores. Example record album rack converted for glass storage or commercial baking racks for storage of slumping molds. Use labele

Did you know that Friendship Day and Sister Day are both on the first Sunday in August? Want to do something special for a couple of those special friends or family members in your life. How about making a friendship bracelet that you and your friends will love and cherish for years to come? Each person will get the same or similar bracelet, signifying the unity of people represented. This special friendship bracelet uses fusible glass to create beautiful 'lifesaver candy' beads from glass frit. Supplies you'll need: System96 Medium Frit - Clear, plus any other transparent or opaque colors you might like Nano Beads casting mold Here's how to make your bracelets: 1. Select a colored frit to represent each friend or family member(don't forget yourself) - the number of colors represents how many 'lifesaver beads' you'll make per color. For example, 5 people = 5colors of frit, and five bracelets will ultimately be made. 2. Prep the mold first by spraying with Boron Nitride ( see video ). 3. When using frit molds, it is very important to follow the suggested fill levels to get the best bead. With the Nan

Part 1 of a 2 part blog on the basics of glass fusing. In this week's article Donna will tell us how to set up your work area and gives suggestions on finding the perfect kiln. Often potential fusers ask about the cost of getting started in glass. I found that it isn't as expensive as one might think because the list of necessities for the beginner is not too long. So what would the list look like for someone who had NO experience at all? Well, this is what I began with, and I think you might find these ideas helpful. Space to Work - A place to cut glass can be fairly small. The most important detail is a floor surface such as concrete that will be easy to clean. I tried commercial tile in my first studio, and the shards were soon embedded under the work area. Obviously, you want to keep the surface as clean as possible so that small glass shards are not tracked into other areas. I've found that a pair of shoes dedicated to the glass area is very wise....voice of experience. Where do I put a kiln? - If you live in the south as I do, a hot kiln can make the work area dreadfully hot if it is in the same room. On the other hand, it is great for heating in the wint

After the fun and success of last years Messiest Art Glass Studio Contest , Delphi is looking to reward the glass artist with the Most Organized Art Glass Studio. It just might be you! Is your studio full of custom made shelving and labeled containers, with a place for everything and everything in its place? Have you devised an ingenious method for organizing art glass supplies? Then Delphi wants you to share photos of your art glass studio. The entry with the most votes will win a $200 Delphi Glass gift card. Contest Details - Like Us on Facebook to get access to this contest. Then submit photo(s) of your organized art glass studio and provide a 30-100 word description of your favorite organizational methods and products! Submission Dates - July 6-18, 2012 Public Voting Period - July 19-28, 2012 Winner Announced - July 30, 2012 Prize Details - $200 Delphi Glass gift card. Gift cards are non-refundable and may not be redeemed for cash value. Gift cards are redeemable online, by phone, or at Delphi's Lansing Creativity Center in Lansing, MI. An organized studio ultimately results in efficiency and more time to Be Creative! So stay

Amy Ferber from Bullseye Glass visited Delphi last week, and the Reactions were fantastic! She was here to give a free presentation about using Bullseye Reactive Glass. The two hour interactive presentation included a video, and a chance to look at samples of reactions that were created using a variety of techniques and different materials and what class would be complete without a pop quiz? Attendees were asked to review the samples and identify what was used to make them. Everyone had a fantastic time. After the presentations I was able to sit down with Amy for a few minutes and talk. Here are a few of the questions I managed to sneak into her whirlwind vist: Q: What is the COE of Bullseye? A: Although many people like to categorize glass neatly by a COE number, compatibility is actually more complex than that. Bullseye kiln glass is around 90 COE, and is Bullseye Compatible, meaning that it is all extensively tested for reliability within the Bullseye product line. What this means for the user is that youll consistently get good results when fusing Bullseye products together. Bullseye TechNotes 3 has more information about compatibility if youd like to read

Loving glass and loving to talk about glass and art are two of my favorite things to do. What I will be sharing with others and what others ask me about most often will be the subjects of my blogs for Delphi. But my first thought is always to one issue that I believe causes crafters, artists, and those who wish they could make something beautiful to stay on the side lines and possibly never take a class or open a book. It is this issue that often defeats us before we even start. It is a belief that we have no talent which often brings on a fear of failure. I have heard over and over again, I'm just not artistic (artsy, crafty, talented, gifted, good at). If you have ever felt that way, then you need to hear this. At one time, I felt the same way. Oh yeah! I could copy things when I was young, but I could never do anything ORIGINAL. I did paint by numbers, not REAL painting. I'm just a Mom, and I do crafty stuff. No one would PAY MONEY for my things. Have you heard these same or near same voices running around your head before? Well, you are in good company because most of us suffer from the nagging feelings that we are probably not a Renoir, and in reality,

It is with great pleasure that I introduce myself to the Delphi glass community of creative thinkers and doers. It is also my honor to take over the Social Media Manager role from Julie Bedford, the mind behind Delphi's Social Media Marketing. Julie has progressed in her career and she will be greatly missed by all. As always she is still just a few clicks away....stay tuned in please Julie! The path that led me here is a story of inspiration indeed. Just a few weeks ago I was working as COOfor a health education media company and closing in on my ninth year of employment. While I earned a degree in Visual Art with a concentration in stained glass, it had been a hobby at best over those years. Having the ability to combine my love of glass with day to day work seemed more like a dream than reality. All that changed when a former co-worker referred me to Delphi. Now my day's work supports the overall goals of inspiring creativity and providing education to fellow artists and hobbyist, who in turn have already returned the favor to me. So I would like to thank everyone for welcoming me and let me also pledge my dedication to bringing you the most relevant art glass content ava

For the last several months, Delphi has been collecting feedback from its fans in preparation for shooting a new series of How-To videos. Topics include everything from How to Remove the Blow Pipe from a Glaskolben Ornament to How to Do Easy Decorative Soldering Techniques . Nineteen videos were shot in total, at the Lansing Creativity Center , with the help of Delphi's expert instructors. The videos are now part of Delphi's ever-expanding video library of more than 155 videos. They can be viewed on Delphi's YouTube channel or on Delphi's Art Glass TV video section of the website. View complete video library , sort by crafts or search for specific topics to play, watch and learn today! Do you have ideas for future Delphi videos? Let us know in the comments section below.

Creating a page for your business in Facebook is easy! Follow these steps to set it up. Then remember to update your page frequently with engaging content like photos, business tips, event information, etc. 1. Click on "Create a Page" in the bottom right-hand corner of Facebook.com 2. Choose whether youre creating a page for a brand, a public figure, a charity cause, etc. 3. Follow prompts and fill out information - youll have to attach the fan page to a personal account. Note: Facebook prohibits creating duplicate personal accounts like having a work account and a personal account, so make sure you adjust the privacy settings on your personal page before you link it to your business page . 4. Once your page is set up, youll want to secure a username like www.facebook.com/delphiglass, to do this, go to http://www.facebook.com/usernam e. Choose wisely, you cant change the username once selected. Once your page is created, you can work on the aesthetics. Upload a cover photo (this is the large main image across the top of your page) and a profile picture. Make sure to update the About section with your studio hours, address, website, etc. Now you're ready

New Media Mail delivery is now available. Now, when you order books, DVDs and CDs, you can select Media Mail Delivery to save on shipping. At a reduced rate, the postal service provides delivery in approximately 5-10 days for packages up to 70 pounds containing only published educational materials. Save up to 50% off regular shipping rates when you select this shipping option for eligible orders. If your order includes any item that is not a book, DVD or CD, this shipping option will not be available and will not be shown.

Here's our list of 5 Favorite New Items from the May 2012 edition of Stained Glass News. 1. Hot, Hot, Hot by Christine Stewart Celebrated glass artist Christine Stewart brings us a long-anticipated new title. In her signature mosaic style she serves up 18 projects ranging from fused glass dinnerware to stunning mosaic wall art created with fused inclusions. 2. Inspired by Frankye Cartner and Suzy Huber This stained glass pattern portfolio contains 16 designs for panels in a variety of themes. Each project includes recommendations for using wire, bevels or other accents, and a suggested enlargement size. Projects are certain to provide a fun challenge for beginners and intermediate artists alike. 3. Assembling 3D art just got easier with Handy Wedges These simple non-slip foam rubber blocks offer the perfect solution when you find yourself in need of another set of hands. The triangular shape lends itself to supporting boxes, panels, or nearly any shape as you assemble and solder your projects, all by simply aligning the wedges in different configurations. 4. New Fusible System 96 Glass Colors #X21176 Chocolate Opal #X226

To celebrate the end of the year for Boy Scout Den 41 in Tampa, Florida, the kids had a Mosaic in the Park party. Using stained glass chips nipped into triangles, each boy made a mosaic picture frame for his mom for Mother's Day. The boys wrote personal messages to their mothers on the back of the frames. Their troop leader grouted the frames, and each child had a hand-made mosaic project for Mother's Day. The kids loved making them, and the moms loved the frames. This is a very easy project. It requires no glass cutting by the kids, and no previous mosaic experience. Time saving tips: 1. Draw a border around the edges of the frame and instruct the children not to go past the line - this allows room for grouting the edge. 2. Nip chips into triangles, and nip 1/2 of those triangles into smaller triangles. First the children make designs with the larger triangles, then they fill in any extra space with the smaller triangles. 3. Squeeze a white craft glue all over the frame (instead of adding glue to each individual piece). Go back with more glue once the children have made their original designs, to show them where to fill in with extra pieces. 4. Flat projects

My husband and I recently met a spectacular couple, a genuine cowgirl and cowboy. Besides being fortunate enough to purchase a very sweet horse from them, we are proud to be able to call them our friends. While at their home I learned that her one of her best friends, her horse, had passed away the previous year. "Yoda" had carried her though years on the Rainbow Riders drill flag team, taken her to reigning championships, and safety along countless miles of trails. I wanted to do something special for her, and also try something new for me. I remembered seeing an article in the Delphi newsletter about making fused glass silhouettes from a photograph. While at her home I snuck a picture of her and Yoda sliding to victory, on my cell phone. I downloaded the picture and adjusted it to an appropriate size for a 10 by 10 square plate mold from Delphi. I cut out the image and traced it onto my black iridized COE 90 glass. I used amber streakies and amber clear COE 90 glass, behind the silhouette and border, to thicken the plate with color. I traced my silhouette and began cutting it out with my Taurus 3 Glass Ring Saw . I don't have the special separator blade for the

Inspiration can come from so many places . Sometimes a word or a picture will stir a memory. As I trace the thread of a memory it often weaves a tapestry in my mind of vivid images, ready to be transformed into art. A few words triggered such a moment recently when I remembered a favorite childhood book that Id shared with my children, Frederick by Leo Lionni. I went searching through the bookshelf of childrens books in our home that we'd kept even after the children had outgrown them. I found Frederick, and began flipping through it. Next I picked up The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle and paged through the beautiful illustrations. Sometime later I emerged from my journey through The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein, Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak, and The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter. I was flooded with ideas and inspiration for projects. The experience brought a smile to my face as I realized that the simple little story of Frederick had been an inspiration my life through. Much like Frederick, Ive always labored to collect colors and imagery, things that arent always tangible but have a value all the same. What things from your me

D & L Art Glass in St. Augustine, FL, will be hosting renowned glass artist David Alcala in its studio on October 6 and 7, 2012. David will be sharing his innovative techniques of working with frit in the vertical along with his revolutionary new product Flexi-Glass . Join D L for Davids Sand To Glass Tour 2012 and walk away with a new sense of creativity and inspiration.

The Crafts Report Magazine is currently sponsoring a Cover Contest for its October edition. Through the end of May, contestants can post photos of their best work on to The Crafts Report Facebook page wall for a chance to win. Read the complete contest details for more information. Crafts Report staff will choose the preliminary finalists, but Facebook fans will ultimately choose the winner by voting for their favorites.

Delphi associates are raving about the new Bend It Molds from Creative Paradise . The clever design makes it easy to fuse projects that stand up on their own, and the mold comes in three different sizes, Large, Medium and Small (or Baby Bend It .) The picture frame for mom (top left) was made by glass artist Denise Christmas-Gibson using the Medium Bend It Mold . The Father's Day golf project (at right) was also created by Denise using the Large Bend It Mold . What would you make with this mold?

Katalin Szabo completed a 9,000 piece jigsaw puzzle about a year ago , and found herself bored by completion. The puzzle lacked the creativity Szabo was seeking. Her husband suggested she learn the art of stained glass and now she's hooked! This was her first stained glass lampshade (we were impressed to say the least). Szabo says she made all the mistakes possible in the process of making her lamp, but learned a lot in the process! What did you learn in the process of making your first lamp? Tell us in the comments section below, and on Friday, May 11, we'll pick one person to receive Making Stained Glass Lamps book , complete with full-sized patterns!

1. Blogs Sites like blogger.com and wordpress.com make setting up a blog free and easy. Its a great way for students to create online portfolios of their work and document the creative process. Teachers can also use blogging sites to create free mini-websites for their classrooms to post assignments and encourage student interaction. 2. Flickr Flickr is an online image gallery, where teachers can share images of their students work. You can adjust the privacy settings to keep your gallery private, public to some groups, or completely public. Visit Delphis Flickr site for inspiration. Flickrs Creative Commons section is also an excellent resource for royalty-free images that you can use in PowerPoint presentations and projects. 3. YouTube YouTube is a great resource for free videos on almost any topic. More than 200,000 videos are uploaded per day, and chances are, your favorite business probably has its own channel. The Delphi Glass channe l has more than 130 instructional videos for learning new techniques in art glass. YouTube for Schools provides schools access to hundreds of thousands of free educational videos from YouTube EDU. These vi

1. Blogs Sites like blogger.com and wordpress.com make setting up a blog free and easy. Its a great way for studios to create online portfolios of their work and document the creative process. Use a blogging site as a free mini-website for your business. 2. Facebook Facebook is a social networking service that makes it easy to keep in touch with friends and family. With 1 in 7 people on the planet on Facebook, its also a great platform for promoting your business and finding new customers. Find out how to set up a Facebook page for your business. Here are a few good examples of art glass businesses on Facebook: Momma Mosaics (photo top left) Stained Glass Creations and Beyond Steider Studios 3. Flickr Flickr is an online image gallery, where studios can share images from store events, classes, students work, etc. You can adjust the privacy settings to keep your gallery private, public to some groups, or completely public. Visit Delphis Flickr site for inspiration. 4. YouTube YouTube is a great resource for free videos on almost any topic. More than 200,000 videos are uploaded per day, and chances are, your favorite business probably

I know I'll never get up the nerve to open my kiln to rake . Instead, I was wondering, can I fake...I mean, rake it? I was recently in Monterey, CA visiting a shop on Cannery Row, where glass artist David Alcala is usually busy at work. The day I visited, he was out (at the Glass Art Bead Expo) promoting his new book and Flexi-Glass . His lovely wife was holding down the fort and I marveled at his landscapes made with fine glass frit. I knew I had a lot of Uroboros frit and powder at home, and it inspired me to try and fake a kiln rake with frit. I laid out a sheet of newspaper, and donned my goggles and face mask . I cut out a 10-inch transparent glass circle, so I would have a double-sided plate. Next, I sprinkled a bunch of purple powder, then white, and purple again, gently patting down the mounds with my fingers. I then added a squiggley line of bejeweled frit. From there, I included Uroboros fine frit in white, purple, then sprinkled on some more bejeweled frit. I used a paint brush to gently move the frit across the plate, blending one color into another. Next came the big move. How was I going to get this thing into the kiln

This past weekend, Delphi celebrated its 21st Annual Art Glass Festival at the Lansing Creativity Center. We had a fantastic turn out for the artist's reception! At our catered breakfast, artists had the opportunity to meet and mingle with one another and winners were recognized and awarded prizes. Delphi also awarded each entrant an exhibitor pack. This year was a bit different, because artists were able to create their own goodie bags at the exhibitor pack station. We also awarded more than 15 door prizes. View more pictures from the event.

Before I was fortunate enough to own a kiln, I used to experiment with all kinds of polymer clay using recipes for faux gemstones. It was fun and inexpensive. While giving a fused glass lesson the other day, I said, "Hey, lets try to make some faux opals." So, we crushed up some green and orange, clear backed dichroic glass (from the Uroboros Magic Box ), and mixed in a tiny bit of crushed opaque white glass. We cut two transparent ovals, covered them with Bullseye Glastac Firing Glue , and sprinkled on the frit. We added another layer of glue and piled up some more frit. The beauty of this glue is that you can use as much as you want. I love it for holding the frit on the edges of bowls and glass. The fired pieces looked like opal cabochons! To make the cabochons more opaque, I used my Dremel tool, and ground the back sides of the glass. I did find, however, that gluing the pieces to a ring or pin blank, kind of takes the effect away. This would be an excellent tool if you were using the cabochon in a bezel, like I saw in one of the "how to" lessons, that inspired me. Adding an oval of dark green, like a doublet, behind the cabochon, might create an Australian

Boyce Lundstrom has been a well-respected name in fusing since the late 1960s . In 1974, he founded the Bullseye Glass Company. Since then, he's published several books that have become essential guides for fusing artists. His latest release, "The Best Bottle Book Ever" showcases whimsical art made from discarded bottles. He outlines technical aspects of cutting, breaking and fusing bottles, and addresses compatibility issues and firing schedules. We're giving away the book! Along with the new G2 Bottle Cutter and a popular Bottle Sagger mold - an $85 value. It's our best bottle art giveaway ever! Enter our sweepstakes through Facebook April 21-23 to win the prize pack. (If you'd rather not enter through Facebook, you can enter here.) The winner will be chosen randomly on April 24. Our apologies for the technical difficulties with the Bottle Art Contest....the link should be fixed now. If you are still having trouble, please call our customer service dept. at 800.248.2048 (open 4.23.12 until 6 pm EST) and one of our reps will manually enter you into the contest .

I am always trying to save my scraps, even if they are metal. I grind my glass, pin backs and bails with my dremel tool (I've found that they stay glued together much better that way), and I started saving all of the grinding scraps. I save the sterling silver grindings in one bottle, and my gold plate with mixed metals, in another. One day, I was looking at some old green sea glass lying on the beach. I thought about folks sending notes out in a bottle, and it being found miles away, full of sand on a beach. I wondered if I could capture that idea in a pendant. When I got home I put those ground metals to use. First, I cut one square of transparent glass, then a smaller square of aqua-green transparent glass, and a tiny square of transparent glass. I sprinkled some of the mixed metal grindings on top of the clear glass, then placed the aqua glass on top of that. On top of the aqua glass, I sprinkled the sterling silver grindings, and capped it with the smallest square of clear glass. Once fused, the mixed metals turned a nice dark color like sand, while the sterling silver grindings stayed nice and bright, just like clear sand. The set did remind me of the s

Jo Kinnaly is a glass artist living in Northern Virginia . Happily retired from her government job, she spends much of her time playing with glass. She has been creating glass art for a little over eight years, and finds that the more she learns, the more there is to learn. Over the years, her work has evolved into animal portraits which she creates from photos, but she tries to find time for a wide variety of projects. Kinnaly says she usually doesn't spend more than a few weeks on a project, but this lamp took her several months. She made the grapes herself in her kiln. The shade is roughly 12 tall and 18 in diameter. You can see more of Kinnaly's work on Etsy.

Delphi China is exhibiting at ChinaGlass 2012, April 2-5. It is the 23rd Annual International Glass Industrial Technology Exhibition and the largest of its kind covering more than 80,000 square meters. There are 853 exhibitors from more than 23 countries including USA, Germany, Italy, France, Finland, Austria and Australia. Companies will be demonstrating new products, technology and equipment. Delphi is proud to be showcasing its wide variety of fusible glass, supplies and educational resources. View more photos from the exhibition.

Here's a great idea for a night in with the ladies ...Jennifer Newman, Delphi's Director of Merchandising, recently hosted a Mosaics and Wine night for a few of her friends. It was a fabulous event (all of the ladies are now addicted to making mosaics!) Here's how you can plan a similar experience for your closest friends. 1. Send out invitations. You can use a free service like Evite to send out stylish invitations to your girlfriends. We recommend no more than a dozen people. Ask them to bring an item to mosaic (a flowerpot, a wooden box, a small table, a trivet, etc.) 2. Plan your menu. Snacks and beverages like sangria, beer, salad, artichoke dip, veggies and chocolate covered strawberries are always well-received. Make it a pot luck and ask each lady to bring a food item or beverage. 3. Gather your supplies. You'll need a few pairs of wheeled tile nippers , an assortment of mosaic tiles (glass and ceramic), clear silicone adhesive and colored grout. 4. Set the mood . Use folding tables and disposable table cloths for easy cleanup later. It's also nice to have finished projects on hand (if you've done this before) or mosaic books for inspiration. Fr

Delphi is proud to introduce its 2012 Born to Do Glass T-Shirt . With its detailed black, white and red design, the shirt embodies a cool, biker vibe. It features a seamless double-needle top stitched collar with taped neck and shoulders and a double needle sleeve and hem. Made from 100 percent cotton, this durable and comfortable t-shirt is long lasting and offers a flattering unisex fit. It comes in black and is offered in every size from Small to 2X-Large (and it's only $11.95! )

We received so many impressive entries into the Light Up Our Blog contest, we've decided to showcase a series of them on the blog. Check back frequently, and you might just find your entry in the spotlight! Jacqueline King has been working as a professional glass artist for four years in Australia and uses Delphi Glass as her major supplier. She has recently been recognized in many publications from the US 'Best of Worldwide Glass Artists' to Australian Art Collector Magazine. Although she's relatively new to glass and still considers herself an emerging artist, she now teaches copper foiling and kiln-forming to other aspiring artists. Images: These are three of Jacqueline's 'functional' pieces she makes from a wide range of art glass. The bases are made from salvaged timber and some include Australian agate, fossil and semi-precious stones. Visit Jacqueline King on her website.

Over the weekend I attended the 23rd Annual Hyde Park Village Art Fair. The trendy area of Hyde Park, located in Tampa, FL, was the perfect setting for a show of its kind. The brick-paved streets were lined with booths showcasing high end art - everything from life-sized sculptures and paintings, to handcrafted sterling silver jewelry. One of the exhibitors was world-renowned glass artist and Delphi customer Vincent Pernicano . I recognized his work three booths away. There is something so captivating about his approach to mixed media. Pernicano, who has won several awards for his work, including the 2009 Delphi Art Glass Festival Online Competition, uses layers of colored glass that have been cut into shapes and fused together with glass frit and fusible glass paints to create three-dimensional components. The glass components are then backed with wood and attached to a canvas-covered wood-backed panel and frame that has been pre-painted with acrylics and/or oil paints and sealed with five coates of varnish. Dichroic glass stones are sometimes added as accents to the finished piece. Pernicano lives and works in a small community in Northern Michigan, but his ar

There are some fun events coming up at the West Michigan Glass Art Center , so I thought I'd share... 1. Battle of the Glass Blowers Friday, April 13, 5 p.m.-10 p.m. and Saturday, April 14, noon-6 p.m. Battle of the Glassblowers is a high energy glassblowing "battle" in West Michigan Glass Art Center's Hot Shop to create incredible glass blown objects. Winners also receive bragging rights! Fast paced team glass blowing competitions and individual competitions are judged by a panel of esteemed judges from our Kalamazoo community. To pique your curiosity, our timed categories include, Fastest Goblet, Fanciest Goblet, and Mystery Winged Object. Come out and cheer on your favorite glassblower! Event is Free! 2. Glass Art Center Auction Saturday, April 28, 6 p.m.-9 p.m. This year's Glass Art Center Auction promises exquisite glass art, entertainment packages and more to delight your artistic soul! The net proceeds from the auction support our scholarship program. Join us for an exciting night of bidding, socializing and snacking. Tickets for the Glass Art Center Auction are $20 per person in advance and $25 at the door. Advance tickets are available on West Michiga

At Delphi's latest Glass Getaway, 14 Ceramic Studio/Paint-Your-Own-Pottery owners from Texas and Oklahoma gathered in Austin to learn how to make money with glass. Participants learned how to make nine exclusive fused glass projects that they can recreate in their own studios. In addition, glass artist and business expert, Denise Christmas-Gibson, shared marketing ideas and best practices for implementing glass programs. This is, by far, the best class Ive attended in 10 years of business,said Michelle Booth of Glazed Over studio in Houston. These [projects] were cute, fun, easy projects that will make my studio money and my customers happy. Christmas-Gibson agreed that the getaway was a success. When studios get together like this, they share ideas with eachother and brainstorm together, Christmas-Gibson said. It's really great to see participants getting so much value out of these workshops. So far this year, Delphi has hosted Glass Getaways in Phoenix, AZ, Lansing, MI, and several other locations upon request. Plans are underway for a workshop in the Alabama/Georgia area and other cities in the near future. For more information on Delphi's Ceramic Studio/PYO

I'm always looking for ways to use my scrap, so I decided to give the round screen melt set a try. I had mixed feelings about it, because I made the mistake of not following the fusing schedule, and tried to wing it with my pre-programmed kiln. Despite the error of my ways, I ended up with some very pretty glass using two colors of opal art glass scraps. With my screen melt complete, I used a Sharpie pen to trace out my images, and began cutting them with my Taurus 3 Ring Saw . Once I finished the shapes, I put the pendants and purse hangars back in my skutt Firebox 14 kiln , for a fire polish on the slow tack fuse. Some got bails, some wire wrapping, and the others were epoxied to purse hangers . Looking back, If you follow the Delphi directions labeled as users manual in the product description on the screen melt kit, I can imagine the wonderful bowls and pieces that could be created. Learn more about Michelle Rodriquez on her website. The views, opinions, positions or strategies expressed by the author and those providing comments are theirs alone, and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, positions or strategies of Delphi Glass. De

For the last few years, Dan Daniels, founder of Delphi Glass, has had his eye on China. With its rich art history and growing middle class, the country offers a new opportunity for the largest art glass retailer in America. In the United States, art glass, like woodworking or quilting, is a popular pastime. But until recently, China didnt have the luxury of pastimes. Ten or even five years ago, the Chinese didnt have the time or money to take on a hobby, Daniels said. Now thats starting to change. As a result of economic development, leisure-time activities are becoming more and more common in China. People are spending free time with their families, playing outside or visiting the mall. But there are no big box craft stores offering paper crafts, jewelry or sewing supplies in China. The craft industry as we know it in the U.S. is simply non-existent. Likewise, there are no art glass stores offering stained glass , fusing or flameworking products. Art glass as an art form, however, is not new to China. In 2000, an art professor named Zhuang Xiaowei, who studied art glass at Wolverhampton University in the U.K., opened a glass studio at Shaghai University to

The representatives in Delphi's Call Center did a little team building project today creating a fun in/out board for scheduling lunches, breaks, etc. It turned out so well, I had to share! For the board they used Diamond Tech Clear Crafting Tiles and Creative Images Color Slide. Click here to see more photos. Would you use something like this in your home or office?

You may know Judi Rusho by the Epic Kiln Carving post we shared on Facebook last week, or by one of her many jewelry pieces floating around on Pinterest. Jodi is a glass artist who is known for stacking, tacking, slumping, fusing and etching discarded glass items into tasteful, functional art. How did you get started in glass? I was originally interested in lampworking , bought a kiln and couldn't afford to buy glass or any more equipment. Not being particularly patient, I promptly rounded up some bottles and started melting them. I liked the recycled aspect, and when other artists told me that it couldn't be done, I was in for the duration. I'm nothing if not determined. I began in 1999, and have learned so much since then! Happily, I finally made my first lampwork beads last year. Why glass? If you look around your home or office right now, I bet you'll see more glass things than you expect. Glass is everywhere around us, is critical to our lifestyles, and yet, for the most part, we are only marginally aware of it. Glass can be so many things, it can be gorgeous or dangerous, decorative or functional, frequently both. I find that fascinating

2012 is looking like a banner year for art glass. To give you an idea of what your fellow artists are creating, we've compiled a list of our top 10 most popular products since January. Among the most notable trends of 2012 are fused jewelry and bottle art. In particular, artists are loving Colour de Verre's round bead molds and our wide selection holey molds . We are also seeing a growing interest in bottle art. Bottle art is everywhere on social networks and in our artist gallery . Artists have dedicated entire Pinterest pin boards to Bottle Art (Delphi included). Number one on our list is the Craig Mitchell Smith 7-Piece Floral and Foliage mold . Customers are loving its quality and versatility, and Craig is becoming quite the celebrity! Check out the list for other notable favorites. What's your favorite product so far this year? 1. Craig Mitchell Smith Floral and Foliage Mold 2. Simple Round Beads Mold/Small Ring Beads Mold 3. Safe Art Soldering Flux 4. Heart Jewelry Holey Mold 5. Wind Chimes Bottle Art Kit 6. Keepsake Box Bottle Art Kit 7. Circle Jewelry Holey Mold 8. Diamond Jewelry Holey Mold 9. Luminary Bottle

Choosing a winner for the Light Up Our Blog contest was virtually impossible . With more than 30 unbelievable entries, how could we choose just one? Ultimately this peacock gem stole our hearts. Daisy C. from Tucker, GA will receive a Flower Power premium glass pack from Uroboros . You can read her story below. We'll be featuring many other entries on our blog and in our catalogs in the future, so check back frequently and thanks to everyone who entered the contest! View other entries on Faceboo k or view a slideshow of entries. I am Daisy Comer. I leave in Tucker, GA. I have been working with Stained Glass for about 10 yrs. I started with class at Colonial Stained Glass in Marietta, GA. Donna and Susan taught me well. My shop is in my sunroom on the back of my townhouse. It is a nice setting and I love working out there. My cat Boo allows me to use a portion of his space (because from day one he made sure that the sunroom was his.) Now about my lamp. It started with a class that Susan started in November. I selected the Peacock design because it was so unique. This pattern had 200 pieces. I used the Worden Lamp System . This system included the pattern, form,

It is true. Even the best of us get bored. We work and learn and experiment with one medium or one itty piece of said medium (which, like a new love, we are infatuated with - can think of nothing else)but, after a while -things can get stale. It's normal. The beauty is to realize that all these lovely and wonderful and awe inspiring mediums do not have to live in a vacuum. When you get bored with onedo a little of what I like to call Medium Mash-Up. My latest mashups have been with my own fused glass and silver. You can only fuse so many pendants and plates before you've had enough. For me, that means it's time to move on to another process for a while. After working in silver (mostly rings) and loving itone day I found myself staring longingly at my lonely and unused kiln (I think she was jealous of my new fling, er, medium) - it was then I decided to bring my glass and silver work together and introduce them. I began taking small bits of my favorite pieces of sheet glass and fusing them into amazing little gems that I could set like stones. Using the knowledge that glass likes to naturally be around an 1/4 thick, I knew that by cutting small squares, they would bead up

The students and parents of Mrs. Johnsons first grade elementary class at Westchase elementary in Tampa, FL, recently created glass art mosaic tables to auction off for its annual fundraiser. The students used stained glass chips and venetian glass tiles to create kiwi, watermelon, orange and apple designs onto 19 wrought iron tables . The fruit designs, created by Martin Cheek , were a big hit with the kids and the parents. At the auction, the tables received the highest bids of the evening. Supplies were donated by Diamond Tech and Delphi Glass . See more photos of the students in action here.

It seems that Pinners can't get enough Bottle Art. (If you haven't discovered Pinterest yet , you will.) It's a great place for artists to gather inspiring images from around the web. I started a pinboard for all of the bottle art inspiration floating around the blogosphere. Below are 7 projects I've pinned from our very own artist gallery. See more on my pinboard here . What are you making with bottles? Upload your bottle art to the artist gallery and you just might see it pinned to Delphi's Bottle Art pinboard! 1. Bottle Art Necklace 2. Recycled Champagne Bottle Beads 3. Soy Candle 4. Windchimes 5. Planter 6. Bottle Bird 7. Mic rowave Kiln N eckla ce

As catalogers, we send out a lot of paper. We hope that people keep our Delphi catalogs for a long time (and Ithink many do), but then what? The thought of all that paper ending up in the waste basket makes me sad. Imagine my joy to find a pinboard by Catalogs.com filled with creative uses for old catalogs! Here are some of my favorites. 1 . Star ornaments (top left) 2. Stretchy bracelet 3. Catalog button flowers 4. Envelopes from catalog pages I've repinned these ideas and others on my Pinterest pinboard here .

As you know, many of the associates at Delphi are also talented glass artists. I recently caught up with Delphi's Internet Marketing Specialist, Stacy Daniels, who told me about a special plate she's making for her brother and his fiance. She is celebrating passover with the couple - it will be their first Passover together. Passover is the Jewish holiday celebrating freedom from bondage under the Egyptian Pharaoh. It is celebrated with family dinners called seders. Passover this year is April 6-14. Stacy is creating a special seder plate for her brother and future sister-in-law, one she hopes they will use for years to come. You can create a sedar dinner plate like Stacy's using System 96 OpalArt , fusing mold #92308 , frit for decoration and Gold Firing Pen item#5175G for embellishment. See Seder Plate Molds and Judaica Fusing Supplies at Delphi. Also, see what some of our customers have made in Delphis Artist Gallery. Artist Credit: Top right, Angela Chadbourne, Fort Stewart, GA ; Jackie Sitzenstock, Carmel, NY; Shary Weisman, Millsboro, DE

Photographing glass objects is not easy, and yet, it's often the photograph that sells the piece. If you're advertising classes online or selling your work on Ebay, Etsy or ArtFire, good photography is essential. Here's what you will need: 1. A light tent. You can purchase one for about $100, or you can make your own relatively inexpensively. Read this article for step-by-step instructions on making your own light tent . 2. Light fixtures. You need at least one light for illuminating directly onto the object from above. If you have a desk lamp with an adjustable "neck", that will work. If you are getting too many shadows, or too much glare, you may need a set of lights to illuminate the sides of the box instead. Just make sure you're using "daylight" or "full spectrum" bulbs, and that all of your fixtures are equipped with the same type of bulb. 3. A Camera . Here's a great article by Steve Meltzer author of Photographing Arts, Crafts and Collectibles outlining cameras. Even your point-and-shoot will work better once you have your light fixtures and tent set up. Good luck! For more great photography resources, check out one of these great photog

Thank you to everyone who entered our Art Glass Fairytale contest. I'm continually amazed at the creativity of our customers - I had no idea our artists were writers too! It was very difficult choosing a winner for the Fused Glass grab bag. Many of you shared personal stories of hardship or tragedy and how you overcame them through glass. Thank you for inspring us! Congratulations go to Jude Wilder-Roberts for her tale of Uroboros and the Very First Rainbow . You can read her story below. We may also be featuring other entries in future blog posts or catalogs - so stay tuned! Once upon a time in a dreary, colorless land lived a girl named Uroboros. Since there were no colors in the town of Youghiogheny, where she lived, everyone was sad. One day while collecting drift wood on Kokomo beach, Uro found a piece of beach glass. The pale green of the stone made her smile. This was a very strange and unfamiliar sensation to Uro, but she liked the way it made her feel. Uro searched the beach for more of the beautiful stone. When she had some different colors, she headed home to show her parents. Unfortunately, Uro's father, Van Gogh was not excited by her find, but

Gail Christofferson, a Delphi educational customer for many years, is leading a student/community based project for Ostego Elementary, a new elementary school (home of the knights) in the Ostego area of Ohio. More than 1,000 students of all grade levels, as well as more than 300 community members, have participated in creating a large-scale mosaic mural measuring 7 feet high and 20 feet long. The year-long project, "Mosaics by Knights," is intended to be a permanent art installation in the commons area of the new elementary school. Members of the Ostego community were asked to submit design ideas, and with local high school art teachers guidance, a combination of multiple entries will be used in the finished piece. Christofferson and her team are in the final stages of student and community involvement, and the project should be installed sometime this spring (2012.) It is important to realize that not only will there be a beautiful piece of art for all to enjoy, there will also be a sense of pride that our community can share in having created the piece together, said Christofferson. Photos: Students working on the project; project illustration; and the panels

I dont have just one favorite tool, but there is one that I use virtually every time I work on a project. As you know, having the right tool for the job, makes the job a whole lot easier. Beetle Bits Cutting System with the Flying Beetle Attachment This system provides the speed and precision glass cutting that a busy studio demands. Cutting strips, squares, angles and more are perfect every time, and this tool does it in half the time of other systems. Be sure to train your entire staff to use this amazing system and theyll all be anxious to use it. Plus, they now have a 35 bar to use with your system, so cutting large pieces of glass is fast and accurate. There is a video on the Business Center, under Studio Resources that demonstrates all the wonderful things this system will do!

Once upon a time in a land far, far away Goldilocks grew up to become a glass artist. She heard tales of amazing works of art - fused and formed in magical kilns, and she decided she must try it. So she set out to find her very own kiln. Now, we all know that Goldilocks was particular. She didnt want a kiln that was too big for her cottage, and she didnt want one too small for her creative aspirations. She didnt want one too complicated, but she didnt want one too limiting. So she went to Delphi where she found the kiln that was just right, and she created happily ever after. Check out our selection of sale kiln s or our complete listing of kilns. Do you ever get so lost in your art glass, you feel like you're living in a fairytale? Email your art glass fairytale to [email protected] before February 10, 2012 for a chance to win a mystery fusing grab bag of goodies. We'll also publish your story here on our blog. The more creative, the better. Good luck!

It's not just writers that suffer from writer's block. Artists fall victim to a similar condition. You're sitting alone in your workspace looking around and...nothing. You've lost the ability to produce a new idea, much less a new work of art. Sometimes the "absence" is temporary - just a moment or two. Other times you mull around for weeks feeling lost. What do you do to get your creative juices flowing again? We asked our Facebook fans to share their ideas. Here are a few of our favorites: Play loud music. Cut and break glass. - Amy M. Step away. Look for inspiration elsewhere. Go to a museum, watch a program about something unusual. Just do something new. - Jacque D. Pinterest ! - Dawn M. Go for a walk. Look for nature to inspire you. -Shirley J. Clean your workspace. Then get out and explore somwhere - even if it's only the mall or a local park. - Deanna A. Look through a Delphi Catalog . - Marjie B. Go to an art show or gallery. - Deborah S. Color in a kid's coloring book. - Jude W. Take a walk in the woods, sit and listen to the birds, walk down to the water and watch a sunset. - De

We are thrilled to share with you the Winter 2012 new products from Uroboros Glass. Each of these new products is based on Uroboros' unique manufacturing strengths, while adding depth to their most popular product groups. Streamer Bits Glass (all offered in 90 and 96 COE) White Streamer Bits on Clear Cobalt Blue Streamer Bits on Clear Red Opal Streamer Bits on Clear Noodles and Stringers Sprinkles (offered in 90 and 96 COE) Glass Noodle Bits, Mardi Gras (offered in 90 and 96 COE) Noodles and Stringer, Mardi Gras (offered in 90 and 96 COE) Cobalt Blue Opal (offered in 90 COE) Pastel Green Opal Noodles (offered in 96 COE) Pastel Green Opal Stringer (offered in 96 COE) Frit Celadon Opal is now available in all grain and package sizes (offered in 96 COE) View these and other NEW fusible glass products here.

Congratulations to the following winners who participated in our Bottle Art Kit Contest. Each of the winners will receive one of four new Bottle Art Kits from Diamond Tech Crafts . We appreciate your feedback and enthusiasm regarding these awesome new products. Check back frequently for new contests and great prizes! Cynthia Massei Sandy Arbogast Mary Causey Johanna Cropley Interested in Bottle Art? Get inspired with our free eBook, artist gallery and bottle cutting how-to videos.

We are so excited to introduce the new 7-Piece Flower and Foliage Mold by Craig Mitchell Smith . A few weeks ago we posted a couple of videos on Facebook to demonstrate how to use this mold to create several different projects (watch the videos here) . Now we want to hear your ideas on what to do with this versatile mold. You can create anything from hanging sconce lights to slumped frogs to jellyfish! "The functionality of this mold is endless. Every other mold we sell has a finite application - i.e. make a bowl, make a necklace, etc. This is really endless but will require a thinking shift on the part of the consumer, said Delphi Executive Director Lisa Parks. Tell us what you would create with the mold , Jan. 10 - Jan. 20, 2012 for a chance to win it! Entries will be accepted starting at 8:30 a.m. EST on Jan. 10, 2012. The contest ends at 4:30 EST on Jan. 20, 2012. To qualify, fill out the entry form in its entirety. One winner will be chosen at random and notified before Jan. 30, 2012. Enter Here. Who is Craig Mitchell Smith?

The holiday season is over . The ham has been eaten and all your resolutions have been made (and probably broken). The time for making and giving out all your large and time consuming presents has passed...now what? Creatively stunted? Need a change of pace or something that is easy, simple yet stunning? I know around this time of the year, I sure do. I need an activity that has a fast turn around time and the oomph to push me to create more. Sometimes just the act of creating can push you kicking and screaming through a creative block. Enter the fun (and inexpensive) holey molds. What a perfect way to use up scrap glass AND to produce a baseline piece from which to creatively expand upon. The best part? As the name denotes...they fuse with the hold already MADE - no messy, time consuming drilling! (Which, in the dead of winter in Maine - for me - is a pain in my rear as I have to go out in my unheated barn to drill.) Beware though...they are totally addictive. The minute Im done with one kiln load...I immediately fill em up for another go round. The process is very easy - spray molds with mold release , fill with frit (I use crushed scrap glass) and fuse. Viola, a w

Delphi's Winter Open House is one of our most popular events of the year. Free to the public, visitors can attend previews of many of our most popular classes - even new classes! Don't miss this exciting chance to meet our fabulous instructors and network with other artists. When: Saturday, January 14th 2012, 10am to 4pm 10:00 am - 11:15 am Free Flameworking Previews Glass Bead Making / Beads on Minor / Intensive Bead Workshop / Intro to Boro/Boro Jewelry / Decorative Blown Glass Spheres / Marble Making 11:30 am - 12:30 pm Free Stained Glass Previews Beginning Lead Came / Lead Came Construction / Cutting Art Glass / Soldering Made Easy Bandsaw Magic / Designing & Installing Kitchen Cabinets Beginning Stained Glass / Copper Foil Studio / Tiffany Lamps / Panel Lamps 12:45 pm - 1:15 pm Free Jewelry Previews Beginning Metal Clay / Simply Soldered Jewelry 1:30 pm - 2:00 pm Free Mosaics Previews Mosaic Home Dcor / Mosaic Art Tables Architectural Mosaics / Mosaic Walls, Floors and Accents 2:00 pm - 2:30 pm Free Other Crafts Previews Copper Enameling / Switch Plate / Copper Jewelry / Beginning Sandblasting / Enameling on Glass 2:45 pm- 4:00pm F

We're excited to tell you about four new bottle art project kits from Diamond Tech Crafts . Each kit Includes instructions and supplies for one project. (Bottle and g2 Bottle Cutte r not included.) The kits are an easy and afforable way to do something different with your old glass bottles. Read a little about each kit below, and let us know what you think for a chance to win one of the new kits for FREE! Post a comment about the new kits to Twitter (use #bottleartkit) or post to Facebook (tag @DelphiGlass) or here on our blog. You may enter once per day, up to 3 chances to enter daily, four winners will be chosen to win a free kit. Now through Jan. 6, 2012. Garden Treasure Kit Create the ideal environment for growing and watering any type of plant with the 3-in-1 Plant Keeper. Use this kit in conjunction with the g2 Bottle cutter, to create this garden helper from recycled bottles. Keepsake Box Kit For all the keepsakes you treasure - a special photo, a dried flower, concert or theatre tickets, vacation trinkets, cards and letters keep them close at hand and inside this unique Keepsake Bottle. Luminary Kit Add a dancin

As a "crafty" person, the holiday time can be rough . Not only are we lugging around 7.4 million pounds of "product" to various craft shows, we also have the expectation upon us that we will hand make everyone's holiday gift...because, we're crafty like that (plus, you and I both know that it would KILL us to buy gifts that we could otherwise make - it's in our DNA). So, at the end of the day - our backs and feet are killing us, we'd rather die than smile or make small talk with one more person, we have a car full of stuff to unload (which we also both know will stay there for another 3 weeks until we can't stand it much longer)...and I have to MAKE a present for your sister's husband's aunt's niece who is in college? Oy. Enter the scrap glass suncatcher slash holiday ornament. This has been my go-to holiday gift, birthday present, housewarming trinket....the "oh-my-I-can't-believe-that-day-has-come-so-fast-and-I-have-nothing-made" gift. Not only is it eye catching and totally customizable (big/small/ornate/simple) it is a snap to make, a snap to fire and it digs into and uses some of that HUGE pile of scrap glass that stares at you every time you even THINK a

Perhaps you've had a bad experience with bottle cutting in the past. Or perhaps you've never tried it because the process seems too daunting. Fret no more. Dr. Lauren (I’m not really a doctor, I just play one in this blog) is in the house. Here are my 7 recommendations for relieving bottle cutter seperation anxiety. 1. Practice good bottle hygiene. Make sure that you remove the entire label from the bottle you want to cut. Even the smallest amount of sticky residue will interfere with the scoring process. We recommend using rubbing alcohol to get most labels off, but if you have a really stubborn label try nail polish remover with acetone. 2. Always keep your cutting wheel oiled – this is a big one. The better you oil the wheel, the smoother your cut will be – a lot of the separation issues I hear about are quickly resolved when the wheel is oiled – bonus - the more you oil the wheel the longer the blade will last! 3. Remove stress. Remember a good cut doesn’t require a lot of pressure. Most people think that the bottle will separate much better with a deep cut, but that is the opposite of what will happen. When

Do you love making lamps? Enter Delphi's "Light Up Our Blog" contest for a chance to be featured on our blog and to receive a Flower Power premium glass pack from Uroboros Glass . Other entrants will be considered for features on our blog as well. Email a photo of your lamp, and a little about you (the artist) to [email protected]. One entry per person please. All entries must be received by Feb. 29, 2012. Stained glass entries only please. Delphi Glass will notify winner by replying to email address. Delphi Glass reserves the right to deny entry to the contest for any reason. Winner will be chosen by Delphi Glass associates. Participants acknowledge that Delphi Glass may use their photos, with artist credit, for reproduction in any medium, including print and electronic for the purpose of advertising, trade, display or any other medium. Lamp pictured, top left, created by John Metcalfe. The contest is over. Read about the winner here . View all of the entries here .

The Feathers of the Phoenix Plate is the most complex plate I have made so far . Making the glass feathers and fusing the plate is an 8-step process. It starts with a glass brick that is fused from layers of transparent and opal glass dammed between four kiln bricks . The brick is then sawed in half and bookended, then fused again. After fusing, the brick is sawed into thin slices with a round diamond bladed Taurus 3 glass saw. The slices are again bookended together and fused with a piece of clear glass on top. All the glass feathers turn out beautifully and never look the same. They can be used in jewelry and plates. The feathers are laid out on a black piece of opal glass and fused flat. Then a transparent piece of glass is placed on top, and the plate undergoes another 12-hour fusing. The last step is slumping the platter in the 10" by 10" plate mold , and rubber feet are attached to the backside of the plate. Learn more about Michelle on her website. The views, opinions, positions or strategies expressed by the author and those providing comments are theirs alone, and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinio

Congratulations to Richard H. (aka. Old Saint Nick! ) on winning our "Where in the World do You Read Your Delphi Catalog" Contest. Santa will win his choice of Premium glass packs from Uroboros Glass . Thanks to everyone who participated in this contest. We had such a great collection of funny, smart, inspiring images. Our customers are the best! View all of the entries here.

I saw a free stained glass pattern in the Delphi newsletter that I just loved. I knew if I made it into a stained glass panel, I wouldn't be able to eat off of it. So I set out to create a fused glass platter instead. My husband and I decided to cut all the pattern pieces by hand (thinking about it later, I would have used my Delphi Taurus 3 glass saw ). We sandwiched all the fusible pieces between two sheets of transparent 96 COE glass . In the end, I didn't have the heart to slump it into its mold. I made a channel on each side with fiber paper foam and transparent glass, to hang it with.(I have learned to double the channels for the wire loop.) There were some bubbles due to our handcutting and gaps, so the second fusing got rid of some of those. During the second fusing, I made the transparent channels to hang the piece. Next time I would leave the extra sheet of glass off of the top.I still haven't mastered increasing my hold time during the second ramp up phase of firing. Using 26 lb. cable wire, we can now hang it in the small window of our closet or shed showroom. Visit Michelle's website to read more about her.

If youre looking to share some homemade love this holiday season , but dont have a lot of time, consider making one of these easy art glass projects. They take fewer than 3 hours to complete, and you can download the project guides for free. Purse Hangers Wine Bottle Stoppers Gingerbread Cottage Night Light Opaline Striker Frit Balls Bowl Fused Game Set Box Monogrammed Mens Accessory Set Keepsake Necklaces Which project is your favorite? Tell us in the comments section below, and we'll pick one person to receive a free purse hanger on Wednesday, Nov. 30. Gingerbread cottage night light made by artist Julie Haan.

For the past three years, Delphi Employee Melissa Agueros has been creating and donating art glass projects for the Michigan State Holiday Bazaar and Charity Auction. Melissa's aunt works for Michigan State and encouraged her to get involved. "Three years ago my plate went for $100. Last year I made a Michigan State serving tray, and this year I'm donating another plate," said Melissa. The proceeds from the auction go to benefit the Toys for Tots program for underpriviledged children. Melissa, who works in Delphi's call center , says everyone in customer service gets excited this time of year. "They look forward to seeing what I'm going to make and donate," she said. "It's for a really good cause." The auction will take place the first week in Decemeber. Note: Delphi no longer carries the MSU pre-cuts seen in this photo. You can now purchase a full range of collegiate pre-cuts here. This project was made with System 96 Aventurine Green Glass , Spectrum White Opal Glass and the 11-1/4" Origami Bowl Mold.

As artisans selling our wares, we all want to know 100% of the time that every craft show that we choose to participate in will be wildly successful and well worth the time and money spent. Not only do you have to find the time to set up, work the show and break down...you also have to make sure you have enough inventory. This is all secondary, though, to the dreaded booth fee. The booth fee is like gambling a small fortune, not knowing what the end profits will be and if the show will be well attended. Here are the secrets to a perfect show... THERE ARE NONE. Its a crap shoot, folks. Ive been on both sides as a show attendee and a show organizer...and one thing is for sure, its always a gamble. You cant control the attendance, the venue (generally speaking), the vendors surrounding you, the weather, the state of the world...nada. The only thing you CAN control is your own attitude. Who am I kidding, I do have a few bits of advice to share... Check your attitude. The power of a positive attitude, a pleasant demeanor and general courtesy to everyone (vendors, attendees, venue staff, volunteers etc) can make or break your show. No one likes to be stuck next to a

Pam Peters, one of Delphi's purchasers, shared the happy news this week that her niece just returned home from the Iraq War. An unexpected and exciting twist was that her niece's husband was also sent home, reuniting the couple with family and friends. 1st Lt. Platoon Leader Crystal Sklodowski and 1st Lt. Platoon Leader Tom Sklodowski (pictured top left) met during Army training and married on May 15, 2010. They both arrived safely home on Nov. 7, just in time to celebrate Veterans Day! In honor of all the courageous veterans that have served our country, Delphi has discounted the Patriotic Engraved Bevel for a limited time, Nov. 10 through Nov. 17, or while supplies last. This "God Bless America" bevel makes a beautiful addition to any patriotic stained glass project. Download our free project guide . We'd like to take a moment to thank our military and their families, and to celebrate the safe homecomings that are anticipated throughout the fall of 2011 with the end of the Iraq War. Are you celebrating the return of a loved one? Tell us your story in the "comments" section below.

As a fused glass jewelry artisan I have probably spent as much time on the look and feel of the backs of my pieces as the fronts. I have found that the feel of the glass on the skin is as much a selling point as the colors or design. Its the same conundrum fiber artists have been dealing with for ages: wool is an amazing fiber - easy to knit with and warm - but the majority of folks just cant stand that itchy feeling on bare skin. The same principle applies to glass. What you use on your kiln shelf can determine exactly how your pieces will feel on the skin - and in turn, can make for a happier customer. After experimenting with various methods including kiln wash (produces a very rough feel) and thicker fiber papers/boards (again, too rough) I have settled down into a very happy marriage with a thin kiln shelf paper. It wasnt such bliss in the beginning, though. Like most artisans, we tend to be cheap (not because we dont want quality, but because we want to stretch every last penny in order to buy more glass). There is nothing more unsatisfying than spending money on the accouterments instead of that glorious piece of glass youve been eyeballing for mont

As a self-described cheap glass artisan who lives in rural Maine , finding or making the tools I need myself (rather than buying them online and having them shipped) is a must. As a total beginner, I found that making frit with my scrap glass was actually messier and more dangerous than I had originally suspected. Hammering away on my back deck proved to be a situation which resulted in wasted scrap glass...and tons of cuts. I finally admitted finding a proper tool to make my own frit was a necessity (to my deck AND my hands) - but $50 (plus shipping) for a Frit Piston was just not in my budget. So I took an hour to roam the Home Depot (which, yes, even in rural Maine you will find one) for ideas on how to hack my own solution. What I came up with, after wandering the isles for an hour and confusing the bejesus out of the HD employees, was a frit maker that was within my budget, easy to clean, easy to transport (albeit a smidge bulky) and perfect for the job...and all available in the plumber's isle. What you need is very simple: (1) 8" Galvanized Steel Pipe (Nipple) with a 2" diameter opening and a 2" cap to thread onto the end (1) 12" Galvanized

If you find yourself reading our catalog in the most unusual places, enter our catalog contest, sponsored by Uroboros Glass, for a chance to win a glass pack worth more than $100. How to Enter: Email your photo(s) to [email protected] , (there is no limit to the number of photos you may submit), by Nov. 18, 2011 . We'll post an album of all the (appropriate, please) photos on Delphi's Facebook page, and our fans will "like" their favorites. The person who submitted the photo with the most "likes" as of midnight EST on Nov. 25, 2011 will be the winner. Winner will be notified via email. Winner will be allowed to choose either the Flower Power Stained Glass Pack or the Hot Colors 96 Glass Fusing Pack from Uroboros Glass. Contest open to residents of contiguous US states only. How to Win: Our Facebook fans will decide the winner. Whoever's photo gets the most "likes" wins. Voting wil begin Nov. 21 on Delphi's Facebook page and end Nov. 25. Winner will be announced Nov. 28, 2011. Prize: Winner will receive one of two glass packs from Uroboros Glass - either the Flower Power Stained Glass Pack or the Hot Colors 96 Glass Fusing

The Fuse It Studio in Cape Coral is run by Petra and Wolfgang Kaiser. Petra Kaiser is well known for her in-depth instructions books including "Introduction to Glass Fusing" , "Fuse It" and "Glass Forming with the Mold Block System." You will also find her articles in the major glass magazines. "Coming up and sharing new ideas and projects is what I love about glass fusing" Petra said. "It is just amazing what one can do with glass and a kiln." At the Fuse It Studio, you can learn everything about kiln-worked glass - fusing, slumping, draping, casting and cold working. Any supplies needed for glass fusing can be found in their "studio store." Specialty products like mold-making kits and jewelry findings can be found in their online store. Another specialty product Kaiser Lee is known for is the "Kaiser-Lee Board" a most versatile mold-making device. Petra and Wolfgang have come up with a huge variety of ideas to use the board to create unusual glass art and are sharing those in their workshops in Cape Coral as well as all over the country and abroad. About once a month Petra will send out a "Fuse It Blurb" to her subscribers. You can sign up for fr

We first noticed the work of Clayton Stang in Delphi's Artist Gallery. His glass shadowbox "Night Owl" received many comments in our gallery and on Facebook . Artists were asking, "how did he do that?" We tracked him down for a short Q&A. How did you get started in glass? I was the baker at an adult summer camp 13 years ago. They were offering stained glass classes. I took to it immediately. Two years later, I became the stained glass instructor at the camp. Why glass? I was a color stylist in animation for years, so the colors of glass called out to me. Sometimes I just go into the glass store and look at glass for the thrill of it. Ive always loved stained glass. I just had to wait until I grew up and could afford it. How have your other interests/hobbies/career influenced your glass designs? So many of my designs are nature based. I am a country boy at heart. I love the mountains, forests and flowers. What makes your work unique from everyone elses? I guess the thing that makes everyones work unique is that they are done with

Linda and Alan Cook of Kachina Stained Glass are preparing to celebrate their store's fourth anniversary. They don't take the accomplishment lightly. " We are extremely thankful that in this market we have been able to keep our stained glass store in Mesa, Arizona open, not all of our competitors have been so lucky!" Anniversary festivities will take place on Nov. 5 and 6 at the store. They will be giving away goody bags, holding raffles and offering daily door prizes. If you are in the Mesa area, stop by and enjoy the fun! Kachina Stained Glass, LLC is located at 1762 South Greenfield Road, Suite 101, Mesa, AZ 85206. They can be reached at 480-655-2000. Find a Delphi Elite Dealer in your area. Interested in becoming a Delphi Elite Dealer?

Classical Glass of South Carolina, a Delphi Elite Dealer, was featured in the October edition of Columbia Metropolitan Magazine. Owners, Bill and Hi Roberson, both actors and stained glass artists, share their unique story with the publication. We invite you to read the article and check out their business if you're ever in the Columbia area. Find a Delphi Elite Dealer in your area. Learn how to become a Delphi Elite Dealer.

GLASKOLBEN cylinders are pre-blown clear glass cylinders with blow pipe ends , used for blowing glass balls. Glaskolben cylinders are used throughout Europe for making Christmas tree ornaments. "Glaskolben" is a German word that translates to "glass bulb." WATCHAVIDEO ONBLOWINGGLASKOLBENORNAMENTS. SUPPLIES/EQUIPMENT: Torch head for Mapp Gas use Gas/oxygen torch Glaskolben™ cylinder 90 COE frits and powders for decoration Ornament cap and loop set (available in gold or silver) COMPATIBILITY Glaskolben is compatible with Uroboros and Bullseye 90 COE glass frit and powders. Do not use any other COE as it may cause stress or fracture. HOWTOBLOWANORNAMENT 1. Light the torch and adjust the flame - a broader flame is better. Select a Sealed End Cylinder Glaskolben™ and introduce it into the back of the flame away from the torch. Rotate it as it is brought into the hotter area of the flame. Continue to rotate until the cylinder is glowing red and starts to reduce in size or collapse. However, do not let the neck end of the cylinder get as re

Back by popular demand, Delphi is sponsoring its second annual Animal Creations Contest. Last year, animal lovers submitted hundreds of amazing projects inspired by their furry friends. Submit a project of your pet to Delphi's online Artist Gallery for your chance to win a Delphi Swag Bag full of goodies! This contest is going on Oct. 1 through Oct. 30. See the contest rules and enter today! VIEWASLIDESHOWOF2010 ENTRIES. More About the Contest: Submit any project done in art glass, mosaics, ceramics or jewelry. This is an online contest open to everyone. All skill levels, from beginning crafters to studio artists, are encouraged to participate. Entries must be submitted electronically through the online Artist Gallery by Oct.30, 2010. Prizes: Delphi Swag Bags will be awarded to 5 randomly selected entries. Swag bags will contain a Delphi T-shirt, a Delphi lanyard, $10 Delphi Dollars and more! All entries are also eligible to be featured in future Delphi catalogs and publications. Delphi Glass reserves the right to change prizes and contents of swag bags without notice. Artist Spotlight: Our featured artist is Chris Thurber of Goodyear, AZ. This dog wa

Show off your art glass creations! Here are 6 easy and inexpensive ways to incorporate art glass into your Thanksgiving dinner table dcor. 1. Glass bottles are easy and inexpensive to use . Cut the bottoms of glass bottles of varying heights. Place over votive candles, and decorate with etching , twine, ribbon and other found objects. Download instructions on how to make the centerpiece pictured top right. I also love these amber-colored bottle hurricanes I found on Etsy (at right). They provide just the right amount of romantic ambiance for the dinner table. 2. Decorate pillar candles with glass frit for extra sparkle ! In browing for Thanksgiving inspiration online, I ran across this great idea by HGTV to roll pillar candles in lentils for a unique table decoration. Then I thought, why not roll them in glass frit ! The frit will sparkle in the candlelight and make your table shine! You'll need an assortment of pillar candles (green, white, rust, orange or yellow), double-sided adhesive sheets, and fine frit in fall colors or clear .

How did you get started in glass? My husband Rich and his father used to have a custom stained glass window door company in Santa Clara, CA, so one day he offered to teach me stained glass. You also do beautiful beadwork, which came first, beading or warm glass? The beading came first and then my husband signed us up for a fused glass lesson at Ocean Sky Beads Glass in Oceanside, CA. I was so taken by it, that I asked him for a kiln for Christmas. Who or what inspires you? Discovering or making up new techniques inspire me the most, but I am also inspired by horses, animals and the sea. You seem to be inspired by Southwestern culture and style, tell us more about that. I grew up in Imperial Beach, CA, which is a border town to Mexico. I used to body surf at the beach in the summer and ride horses to the Tijuana River Valley State Park all year round. I also love Native American Indian Art and jewelry. I also have Central American Indian heritage. You mention in your bio online that you enjoy experimenting with glass, how so? I enjoy using all kinds of rubber stamps while I travel. I use them with the Delphi liquid platinum gol

First, gather your table elements. 1. Table cloth 2. Table runner 3. Place mats/chargers 4. China/dinnerware 5. Glassware 6. Cutlery 7. Condiment sets 8. Candles 9. Napkin rings Second, arrange your elements. 1. Forks go on the left, knives and spoons on the right. Work from the outside in, so the cutlery that will be used first should be furthest from the plate. Knife blades should face inward, toward the plate. Cutlery for dessert (spoon or fork) can be placed horizontally above the plate or brought out with dessert. 2. The napkin should be placed to the left of the plate, under the fork(s) or in the center of the plate (as pictured top left.) 3. If serving bread, place a small plate above the forks and include a butter knife. 4. Glasses should be placed above the knives. 5. Dress it up! Add napkin rings and personalized place cards for each guest. Art Glass objects are perfect for jazzing up a dinner table. For more inspiration, read 6 Tips for Decorating Your Thanksgiving Dinner Table with Art Glass. Photo credit: Table setting top left, photos.com

What is dichroic glass? Dichroic glass is regular glass, dressed up. It gets its sparkling metallic colors from a complex scientific process. Glass is placed in a special vacuum chamber, in which quartz crystal and metal oxides are then vaporized. The resulting mist settles onto the glass and forms a unique crystal structure that reflects and transmits light in amazing ways. Coatings by Sandberg put together this great video illustrating the dichroic process. Where did dichroic glass come from? Dichroic glass dates back to 4th century AD , but was more recently used by NASA for dichroic filters. Dichroic glass was discovered in the 1970s by the art glass community and is now a coveted design element due to its unique characteristics. Why does dichroic glass change color? The coatings applied to the surface of the glass create both transmitted color (which is seen when you look through the glass) and reflected color (which is seen when the glass is viewed at an angle). This is why the colors seem to shift and change. How do I know what colors my Dichroic glass will be? Remember dichro presents multiple colors and can be difficult to photograph clearly.

Artists are often asked to donate items for charity auctions and fundraisers. And while most people love the idea of contributing to the greater good, a fundraising auction can end up hurting your career if you're not careful. I found a great article by ArtBusiness.com that lists several pointers for artists seeking auction success. Here are 9 key takeaways from this article: 1. The best events are those that support visual arts organizations and attract buyers from visual arts communities, like collectors. 2. Donate to non-art-related fundraisers only when it's an organization you feel strongly about. You'll be happy with your contribution even if you don't achieve any professional gain from the experience. 3. Find out how you (the artist) and your item will be presented. What will be said about you? Will your art be presented live or by photograph? Will your contact information be published in the program or on the website? 4. Talk to the people conducting the auction and ask what types of items (and prices) will sell best. 5. Donate a good piece of art. You want your donation to serve as a positive reflection of your talent. 6. Include your bio and contact

Feel better when you're knee-deep in frit? You probably do, and now we know why. Ladies Home Journal recently published a great article entitled, "Want to be Happier? Try Making Your Life a Little Harder." Author Catherine Newman cites the work of neuroscientist Kelly Lambert, Ph.D. who says, "When you do meaningful work with your hands, a kind of neurochemical feedback floods your brain with dopamine and seratonin. These happy brain chemicals are natural antidepressents, and we've evolved to release them both to reward ourselves for working with our hands and to motivate ourselves to do it some more." Harvard neurologist Marie Pasinski agrees saying, "We are programmed to reward ourselves when we accomplish things with our hands." The author goes on to say that creating things by hand has been proven to decrease stress levels, provide a greater sense of control and allow you to save money. Anyone who's bought art supplies knows the "saving money" part is up for discussion, but there is no doubt that finishing the project you've been slaving over for weeks is incredibly satisfying. How has glass art changed your life for the better? Email your story to us at featuredart

It's very rare that a video stops me in my tracks. But when a colleague sent me Hilltop Artists' "Black Forest Ham" video , I was hooked for the entire 7 min. and 58 seconds. If you haven't heard of Hilltop Artists , it's an organization that reaches out to at-risk teens and teaches them the art of fusing , flameworking , mosaics and glass blowing . More importantly, it gives kids a sense of self-worth and an outlet for pent-up frustration. With the help of Dale Chihuly, Hilltop Artists, a 501(c)3 non-profit glass arts program, opened in 1994. It provides classes and individualized instruction for more than 500 students each year, and no students are refused based on past behavior, grades, disabilities, or artistic talent. This video won a Telly award back in June for being one of the finest video productions created for the web. I encourage you to watch it and find out why.

On a recent company field trip to St. Petersburg, Florida, a group of Delphi Glass employees attended a glassblowing demonstration at a local Hot Shop. With music pumping in the background, the group watched as the glassblower gathered, rolled, twirled and twisted a glob of molten glass. He shaped it with conviction and intensity. He performed a calculated dance from the furnace, to the rod, to the steel table. And only moments later, the lava evolved into a striking vessel. From a furnace - to a queens dowry. That is the magic of glass. After the demonstration, the group wandered into the Hot Shops Glass Studio still mesmerized from the lively performance. The space sparkled with bottles, bowls, pitchers, jewelry and more. Had the group not just witnessed the demonstration, they might have overlooked these vessels. But now the bowls and plates were more than just colorful glass shapes. They represented an artist. A man with a compulsion, and a vision, and an ability to create something incredible from nothing at all. At Delphi, were inspired by art like this every day. This glassblower is one of many who make a living teaching, creating and selling glass art. And b

Kim Heenan has always been a creative person, but when she found glass, she fell in love. "I've done crafts for years, but when I found glass, it just consumed me," she said. She took her first glass class at Delphi Glass many years ago and has since become proficient in stained glass, fusing and mosaics. She never imagined she'd one day be working for Delphi, surrounded by the glass, books and tools that inspired her. For a little over a year, Kim has been working in Delphi's warehouse in quality control. She also creates custom art glass projects for friends and family and sells her work through her website . Recently, a writer for Greater Lansing Woman's Magazine spotted some of Kim's projects in a gallery in Old Town. The magazine decided to feature Kim in its monthly edition. At Delphi, we couldn't be more proud of Kim. She is just one of many Delphi employees who are also artists - we are so fortunate to have such a talented staff! Are you interested in taking a class at Delphi? Check out our latest class schedule.

Brazos Glassworks of Bryan, Texas is hosting a Glass Art Show and Competition in conjunction with Historic Downtown Bryan's October Art Step and the Texas Reds Steak and Wine Festival. The competition features glass art created by local artists and area students. Works in stained glass, fused/kiln worked glass, mosaics, cold-worked glass, blown and flameworked glass, beads and jewelry are acceptable. Owners Barbara Peevey and Debbie Jasek hope the show will raise awareness of the art form and the number of glass artists in the Bryan-College Station area.

We recently asked our Facebook fans to send us photos of glass art from their gardens . We received some especially interesting photos from glass artist Mark Hall. Impressed as we were, we realized that Mark's talent goes far beyond the confines of his garden. He is self-taught and has mastered German leading techniques, hand beveling, mirroring and sandblasting among other techniques. He fine-tuned hisskills while studying abroad in Germany at Derix Glass Studio,at Pilchuck School of Glass in Washington, andwith The Studio at the Corning Museum of Glass in New York. He and his wife, Leslie, now work together at Hallmark Glass. How did you get started in glass? In 1976 my brother informed me he'd started a business, and I was his partner. Surprised, I asked, What's our business? He responded, Stained glass . I knew nothing about it, so I learned how to make a window on our first commission. Why glass? My brother decided this for me, and my interest in the field has kept me on track. How have your other interests/hobbies/career influenced your glass designs? First of all my focus became glass, most other hobbies fell by the wayside. Now I don't fish

Thank you to everyone who entered Delphi's first-ever Christmas in July Contest . We had more than 125 amazing entries in stained glass, mosaics, flameworking, jewelry and fusing. A team of Delphi experts and artists chose the winners after much deliberation. Winners will receive a Delphi Gift card as well as the opportunity to be featured in a Delphi publication. Thanks for another great contest! View a complete list of winners here. Pictured: Second Place overall winner. This large panel by Cara DiMassimo depicts a lone polar bear exploring a snowy ice flow. It is created using Bullseye 90 COE glass.

I am often inspired by the glass work of our customers and Facebook fans. They are always thinking outside the box and using Delphi products in new and interesting ways. Recently we asked our fans to send us photos of glass art from their very own back yards. We received so many amazing projects, we decided to share a few here on our blog. Joleen Siebert, of Magic Gardens Stained Glass, created these two beautiful stained glass Koi fish panels (top left and at right). The larger panel is made up of 120 pieces of Spectrum , Kokomo and Bullseye glass. The smaller panel is made up of 40 pieces of Spectrum and scrap glass. It is framed in copper tubing. Both are foil construction. She designed these pieces from a spectrum pattern and adaptations of photos she found online. Mark Hall of Hallmark Glass created a whimsical birdbath (at left) using three layers of 5/16" thick boiler plate, with frit made from an old vodka bottle. Mark says he loves to create birdbaths and typically uses 1/4" plate glass rounds (cut out of the same sheet) with colored glass paint between the layers. He often uses crushed bottle chips in the center with mica flakes around the rim, so the

Fairytales, folklore and fantasy provide endless inspiration for garden art. With a little imagination and a few enchanting elements, you can turn your back yard into a magical playground for kids (and grown ups too!) In researching fairy tale garden art for this blog, I ran across many inspiring images and stories. One artist created a magical garden where stone mermaids rested near a cool stream and pixies perched on trees. Another artist added tiny wooden doors and windows to the base of the trees in her garden, much to the delight of the "wee folk." Besides wood and stone, glass is also a wonderful medium for creating magical details like toadstools , bird baths, wind chimes and more. Create a slumped fairy house to tuck in a shady spot, or a table-top fountain to sit under the sun. Fused flowers in brilliant colors provide year-round cheer to pots and planters. Here are some of our favorite glass Fairytale projects: Blooming Bird Bath Dragonfly Garden Stakes Slumped Fairy House Fused Flowers Fairy Wind Chimes For all garden project guides, click here. To see what other glass artists are making, visit our Artist Trend Gallery . View a

How did you get started in glass? Glass is a fascinating medium. I was living as an ex-pat in Denmark in 2001 when I had the luck of finding a fusing glass course. I fell in love with the technique immediately. I pursued further classes and a masters since, trying to achieve more. Im also a self learner, I love to study and work on my own. Since then I never stopped looking for ways to improve myself in this beautiful art. Why glass? The first time I went to Murano, Italy, back in 1986 I had the chance to visit glass studios and was astonished by the way the artists worked with the powders and heat. Due to its unique properties, glass continues to be an intriguing material that can reflect, transmit or absorb light. It creates a surprise element which brings eclectic interest to a space without becoming overbearing. In fusing, I add powders, strings , frits , metal or other inserts toslabs of glass toachieve an organic, but extraordinary design. I like to create pieces that are functional as well as decorative - bowls, platters and sculptures. They are fired to around 1500 F. The high temperatures melt the glass fragments incorporating them into a new form. In fus

Avoid the Heat with Delphi's Christmas in July Contest . It may be blazing outside, but Delphi is keeping it cool with $275 in Delphi gift cards up for grabs. In addition, the first, second and third place winners will also be featured in an upcoming Delphi Glass catalog. Simply upload your holiday-inspired project(s) to our Artist Gallery (make sure the Christmas in July box is checked) before July 30. Winners will be chosen by Delphi artists and experts. Good luck! For complete contest rules and the list of prizes, visit https://www.delphiglass.com/contest The Christmas in July contest correlates with our first-ever Christmas-in-July glass sale . So get a head start on your Christmas shopping and enter the contest! Need inspiration? Visit our Holiday Center.

When planning your Christmas creations for 2011, channel seasons past. High-quality products and traditional colors (various shades of red, green, gold and silver) characterized the upcoming holiday season, according to experts at the 2011/2012 Christmasworld trade fair in Frankfurt. Fortunately for glass artists, glass was the material of choice for tree ornaments at this years show. Fused, blown and stained glass ornaments will be more popular than ever! Click here for hand-picked Christmas glass. In addition to traditional ball-shaped ornaments, make note of these five standout trends: Nature The biggest source of inspiration for the 2011 Christmas season is nature. Natural materials like wood, bark, wicker, as well as milled wool and felt were mixed with glass, pearls and precious stones to achieve a beautiful but organic feel. Hearts Classic heart-shaped ornaments in delicate shades of rose, red, gold and silver were seen throughout Christmasworld. Stars The Christmas star is also huge for Christmas 2011. It symbolizes high hopes and ideals, which is perfectly in line with a renewed sense of optimism. Flowers/Birds Flowers and birds a

St. Pete Beach, on the west coast of Florida, has long been recognized for its beautiful beaches and stunning sunsets. Now it will have a new claim to fame - an 8' tall by 20' wide glass mosaic mural created entirely by volunteers from the surrounding communities. The mural will adorn the east side of the Suntan Art Center next door to the world-famous Don CeSar Hotel. Glass artist and instructor Pat Chase, who currently serves as the president of the Suntan Art Center, came up with the idea to create a mural out of glass. "[The Suntan Art Center] used to be a Firehouse with large windows out front. When they did the remodel, they took out the windows, leaving a large indented area that looks like a frame for the mural," Pat said. Pat approached nationally recognized artists Frank Saso and Libit Jones about a design for the mural. Together, and with input from other artists and members of the community, the two created the finished concept. The mural includes images that are meaningful to the community - dolphins at play, a large pelican, sandcastle and shovel, stunning sea turtles and more. A painting of the final design is pictured above. Since March 2011, a gr

Some were messy. Some were messier. But only one was messiest. Glass Artist Mindy Meyn was awarded $200 in organizational supplies from Delphi as the winner of Delphi's Messiest Art Glass Studio Contest. With more than 50 photo entries from art glass studios around the world, the competition was stiff. But Mindys mess received more than 70 likes on Facebook and 20 comments, (some nicer than others) making her the reigning queen of clutter. Mindys studio, which she says is at its worst, only leaves her a small space to work in a very cramped corner of the garage. The rest of her garage, she says, is filled with multiple skis, backpacks and a kayak. The contest was so close, that Delphi decided to award Robin Veverka, whose studio is also miserably cramped, a $50 gift card to Delphi. With so many wonderful (awful?) entries, Delphi is considering making this contest an annual event. Thanks to everyone who participated. We understand creativity can get messy! Want to unclutter? Read 13 tips for a Tidy Craft Space or view Favorite Organizational Products.

We scoured the web, asked our Delphi artists, questioned our fans on Facebook, and finally came up with 13 easy-to-implement tips for keeping things clutter-free! Feel free to share your own in our "comments" section below. 1. Choose an area with good lighting. If you have a window, keep the area clear, so light can flow in nicely. 2. Partition off the craft area (contain the craft creep) with a screen or furniture. 3. If you haven't used something in 2 years, consider donating it to a school or senior center, selling to a buy-back program or tossing it. 4. Label everything. 5. Consider what tools and supplies you need the most. These should be easily accessible. Store the rest in clear bins. 6. If your space is limited, go vertical! Install a slat wall for easy shelving. From our Facebook fans: 7. Scrapbooking paper shelves are also great for small scrap glass. - Amy Davis 8. I bought a $15 shoe rack/cabinet from Target to store my glass. 4" 6" x 12" cubbies and I think there are 20 spaces. - Deby Hutt Romaniw 9. My husband and I run a vinyl decal business and I use the leftover cardboard tubes that the vinyl comes on for my zinc, lead and wire

Get Fired Up with Fusing! Saturday, June 11, 2011 from 10am - 3pm ONE DAY ONLY! Hang out at Delphi for the day and watch free fusing presentations by Delphi Experts. Learn about the fundamentals of fusing, tips and tricks from Delphi's best and network with other artists! Don't Miss These Exciting Presentations: 10:00 am - Let's Start Small Learn the basics on how to fuse glass. Glass cutting and layering will be demonstrated. Take advantage of the opportunity to try new embellishing products by making a small cabochon that will be fused and ready to take home later in the afternoon. All material will be provided. 12:00 pm - Prepare and Apply It: Which kiln wash do I use? Learn what kiln wash works best on which surface and how to prepare and apply Check out the New Molds and see what they can create. 1:00 pm - Glass Vessels Sinks, Birdbaths, and Fountains Discover how to alter a firing schedule to accommodate larger and thicker vessels that can be used in different applications. Cold working, fire polishing, and drilling holes will be demonstrated. Complete assembly will be discussed. 2:00 pm - Unique Patterned Glass Murrini and damming mol

The grand art of mosaics, which has existed for thousands of years, was used by the ancient Greeks to decorate their walls, floors, tables, benches, fountains, and pools. Made from marble, ceramic tiles, semi-precious stones, and smalti, mosaics are luminous, lightproof, water and temperature resistant. They allow artists infinite possibilities to design unique and long-lasting creations in their own expressive style, from realism to abstract. This weeklong workshop guides students through the various steps needed to complete their own one-foot square mosaicfrom the cartoon drawing to the final installation. Most materials needed for the workshop are provided, but participants must bring their own tools. Please see the workshops materials list, available in the Leagues main office. Born and trained in Russia, Vladimir Aituganov immigrated to the United States in 1991. He then became an American citizen, and established his studio. He is known as a master of mosaics and of painting in the United States, Russia and France. He has had numerous solo exhibitions throughout the United States and Europe. His majestic mosaic murals for churches h

Yellow, red and sizzling orange are t hree of summer 2011s hottest colors . These colors are stunning in glass. In fact, red has always been a coveted color in stained glass, and remains one of Delphis best-selling hues. According to Jaymes Richardson of Civility Design (www.civilitydesign.com) for HGTV, When you have accents of red, it draws attention to other things you might not even notice in the room, Richardson says. The whole idea is to entice, intrigue [and] invite without clubbing you over the head and dragging you in. Red and orange are great colors for art glass accents like candleholders, bowls, vases, sculptures, etc. And yellow glass accessories are great for brightening a room with little sunlight. Create a pendant lamp in yellow or red for a dramatic pop of color. David Bromstad, host of Color Splash on HGTV says, Hot colors like reds and oranges will energize you and get you ready to tackle the day. Just be leery when you fire your next set of red or orange dishes, as these shades supposedly stimulate appetite (they say if youre on a diet, eat off of a blue plate). Red, orange and yellow all look great against neutrals like white, tan, grey

If your art glass studio is a hot mess, enter our Messiest Art Glass Studio Contest and you could win $200 worth of organizational supplies from Delphi! How to Enter: Email your photo to [email protected] May 23- May 31, 2011. We will post all photos to an album on Delphi's Facebook page on June 1 for voting. How to Win: Our Facebook fans will decide the winner. Whoever's photo gets the most "likes" wins. Voting wil begin June 1 and end June 9. Winner will be announced June 10, 2011. Prize: Winner will receive $200 in studio organizational supplies from Delphi. The Fine Print: This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by Facebook. You are providing your email address to Delphi Glass and not to Facebook. Delphi Glass will notify winner by replying to email address. Delphi Glass will not share your email address with anyone. Delphi Glass reserves the right to deny entry into the contest for any reason. Participants acknowledge that Delphi Glass may use their photos for reproduction in any medium including print and electronic for the purpose of advertising, trade, display or any other medium. For more info, visit Delphi'

We found Mollie Barrow on Facebook in the midst of a discussion on Pot Melts. Mollie cooks up her incredible glass creations in a quiet eco-village in rural Ireland with her 10-year old son Elliot and cats Bonnie and Oscar. She is continually inspired by the Northern Lights, and the rich swirls of color in her pieces prove it. We were blown away by her magical melts, and we know you will be too. How did you get started in glass? I've been in love with glass art since I visited the Murano Glass Factory in Venice when I was 16. I was hypnotised by the skill and speed those guys had working with molten glass, and I would have loved to pursue glass seriously from then. As is often the case, however, life had other plans and it wasn't until I was in my late 20s that I finally picked it up. I took a 16-week fusing course at the only teaching studio in the country, with the intention of making some nice jewellery for myself. Then I made some for friends, and then their friends. And it grew from there. I'm a natural rule breaker, and I was soon experimenting with glasses and kiln times and mixing things I shouldn't mix and getting up to all sorts of shenanigans

Last weekend, while killing time in Detroit before a flight, I wandered into the Henry Ford Museum. If you haven't had a chance to visit this monstrous attraction, make plans now. Its incredible. I was there for three hours and saw only a small portion of what the museum has to offer. There are huge machinery collections, transportation exhibits and much, much more planes, trains and automobiles, oh my! I was especially intrigued with one particular machine. The Corning Glass Ribbon Machine. Before the invention of this machine, every light bulb was hand blown. As you can imagine, this process was painstakingly slow and expensive. But then a man named Will Woods came along and changed the world. This is his story. In 1898, Will Woods was a 19-year-old kid looking to pursue his dream of becoming a glassblower. He traveled to the Corning Glass Manufactory in Corning, NY to learn the art. Thomas Edison had commissioned Corning Glass to manufacture the envelopes for his first electric light bulbs in the early 1880s. At that time, skilled glassblowers called gaffers could produce just two bulbs per minute. Eight years later, Corning Gla

One of the biggest trends in jewelry for 2011 is layering . Layering necklaces appears chic without looking stuffy. The key to pulling off this look is combining different textures and lengths. Gone are the days of never mixing gold and silver. Dig through your jewelry box for charms, chains and forgotten items, and wear them together for a fresh look. Necklaces in different metal finishes, a string of pearls, and a brightly colored cabochon make an elegant statement on a plain white t-shirt or LBD. In 2008, we saw this layered look emerge on runways the world over, but it was a subtler approach (perhaps pairing a shorter gold chain with a longer one.) Now, anything goes. To keep it from getting tacky, (you dont want to end up looking like your crazy aunt Marge) follow these tips: The chains should be of varying lengths and staggered. Try mixing metals such as gold, gunmetal, silver and copper in varying shades. Wrap a strand of pearls, gems, glass beads or organza ribbon around one of the chains to add texture and sparkle. Delphi now offers metal ball chain in various shades and sizes (see photo at right). We also carry organza necklaces i

"My dad 'retired' and wasnt enjoying the change of pace so I suggested he get back into an old hobby (stained glass) by coming to work with me here at Delphi. He joined the customer service department and brought technical expertise and a passion for customer care that always made me proud to have him here. Along the way, he also got back into stained glass, and picked up an interest in mosaics, fusing and cold-working. Hes since 'retired' again, but cant quite seem to give up his love of tools and customers and finds his way back to Delphi as a photographer during our annual Art Glass Festival event, and as an assistant instructor with Guest Instructor Kent Lauer every year. T he photo (at right) was taken by Melanie Churchill during the 2010 AGF reception while dad and I were both cruising the crowd with our cameras. - Karina Foster, Delphi Glass Merchandising Assistant My father was born with a congenital hip disorder, and he didnt walk like the average person does, he swayed from side to side. My youngest son said he walked like a duck. He spent years in the hospital as a child going through painful surgeries as doctors tried to correct the problem. They never did. N

Thanks to a wide assortment of patterns, molds and instruction, its easy for hobbyists to make Tiffany style lampshades. We should mention right away that when we refer to Tiffany Style Lamps, were talking about lamps that are made on a mold (or form the terms are interchangeable). If a mold isn't needed, the lamp would be considered a Flat Panel Lamp . Making Tiffany style lamps is actually quite similar to making stained glass windows. The main difference is that after youve cut and foiled the pieces for your lamp, you solder them together on a mold, instead of on a flat surface. This is what gives the lamp its rounded shape. Most of the pieces in a Tiffany lamp need to be quite small to conform to the rounded mold. Thats why this type of shade, by its nature, has a considerable number of pieces. Most popular designs have about 150400 pieces, although some require nearly 2000. Obviously, another difference between Tiffany lamps and most windows is the amount of time required to complete the project. These lamps can be time consuming. The only supplies you need to get started on your first Tiffany style lampshade are a mold, a pattern and some glass. As far as tools go,

I love all things nautical. In fact my husband has completely banned me from purchasing any more striped shirts. But theres something so fresh about pairing bright blues and stark whites with splashes of red and coral. Its a trend that works on men and women, as well as in the home. The nautical theme in art and fashion has been around forever. Fashion icon Coco Chanel first made this tren d popular in the 1920s when she began to emulate the fisherman she met while yachting. Every spring/summer the trend pops up again, and according to top fashion designers like Michael Kors, its not going anywhere. For the home, nautical accents are appearing inside the pages of Southern Living and Better Homes and Gardens, and all over design blogs on the Internet. Fused glass starfish and shells, like the ones pictured below by Elida Koenig, would make a beautiful table centerpiece. I also love the intricate solder work and striking blue sails of the stained glass sailboat (pictured below). I can picture it sitting atop a buffet or bookshelf to brighten up a living room. The sea glass mirror, also pictured below, by Rhona Siegal would liven up a neutral wall. Glass art lends

Mosaics add charm and whimsy to any room in your home or corner of your garden. Mosaics are not only beautiful to display, but they are truly a lot of fun to make! Traditional mosaics are made by cutting tiny pieces of glass and fitting them together with just enough space between each piece for grout. Traditions change, however, and today's contemporary mosaics are not only made from glass but broken china pieces, buttons, shells and even Grandma's rhinestone jewelry. To begin, choose an item on which to mosaic- fountains, small bistro tables and stepping stones are good starting places, but generally mosaics can be applied to any and all surfaces. If you've chosen a smooth surface, rough it up first using fine grit sandpaper or score it using a craft knife. A rough surface will allow the adhesive to form a better grip. Next, decide on a pattern for your mosaic. For inspiration visit your local library or book store for a pattern or mosaic book. Once you have an idea for a design, draw it on paper and transfer it to the surface using carbon paper and a sharpen pencil or simply draw it directly on the surface. As with any craft project, the proper tools are essential.

In the winter of 2005, Craig Mitchell Smith wandered into a class at Delphi Glass in Lansing, MI. Six years, and thousands of creations later, Craig has taken the world by storm with his artistic vision. He is not a newcomer to the art world (his background is in painting, interior design, landscape and floral design), but glass changed everything for him. And what started as a hobby has quickly become a full-time job. His sculptures, some enormous in scale, have been spotted on television, in museum shows, garden exhibitions and now in his very own public gallery. In 2010, his glass cardinal ornaments hung on the National Christmas Tree in Washingon, D.C. When Dan Daniels, CEO of Delphi Glass, saw Craig's work for the first time he was speechless. He recognized in Craig a talent unmatched in the industry - the next great glass artist. Since then, Craig has become the darling of Delphi Glass, and is scheduled to appear in an upcoming catalog. Delphi Executive Director, Lisa Parks, caught up with Craig to ask him a few questions on his recent gallery opening and newfound fame. DG: You recently opened a new gallery in Okemos, MI. Tell us a little about the Gallery

When Charity Stewart's mosaic mirror made of old Starbucks Gift Cards was posted to our Artist Gallery as part of our Recycled Arts Contest , I couldn't help but notice. Cheerily nicknamed "Momma Mosaics", Charity creates brightly colored art that is whimsical and playful. She has mastered the art of using paper under glass, and repurposing found objects. We caught up with her to ask her a few questions about her signature style. How did you get started in glass? I discovered the joy of glass at the age of 12, when I was introduced to stained glass art by my grandmother. She inspired me to explore my creative side as we worked side-by-side in her tiny basement studio, cutting and grinding pieces for a large window panel. Those lessons in creativity launched my interest in glass art and eventually led me to classes in fusing and mosaics. Why mosaics? Have you ever been obsess ed with finishing a puzzle? Making a mosaic is similar, but unlike a puzzle where the end result is always the same, mosaics give you have the freedom to create the puzzle as you go. My designs are never really too preplanned, I enjoy the flow of the process and often find tha

Glass Artist Karen Mamel had all but packed away her glass tools when she opened her E-mail inbox. Sharon Jones of Good Shepherd Hospice in Sebring, Florida was inquiring about a stained glass window in a newly built chapel. A man was donating the window in honor of his beloved wife. She had previously built windows for two other Florida Hospices and spent much of her free time visiting patients and volunteering for the organization. A cancer survivor and nurse, she felt a particular connection to the patients. She called friend and pattern designer, Lynda Chandler, to explain the challenge. The project was a five-and-a-half-foot round window facing west, Karen said. Beyond that, she had rece ived little direction. Sharon at Good Shepherd had seen our work before and trusted us to come up with a good design. Karen and Lynda got to work. The pair met more than five years prior and discovered a mutual love for the arts. Lynda, a botanical illustrator, had a talent for bringing landscapes to life on paper, and Karen, an accomplished glass artist, was looking for someone to design custom glass patterns. Their first project was a stunning 27-foot window in their church.

The office was all abuzz when Marketing Director Monika Smolarczyk told us she was going to the Personal Glass Experience at the Morean Arts Center. She could tell we were jealous. Our corporate offices in Tampa, FL are just a short drive from the art center's location in St. Petersburg. Dating back to 1917, the former Art Club of St. Petersburg, has become a world-renowned center for glass art. The Personal Glass Experience is a one-on-one demonstration on glass blowing that takes place in the center's Hot Shop. For a nominal fee, a seasoned glass blower guides each participant through every step of the hot glass process until his or her glass sculpture or ornament is complete. First, the glass blower collected the glass from the furnace onto a large (and heavy) metal rod. At this point the glass is about 2,300F! Next, Mon