The Delphi Blog

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.

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’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 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

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

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

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