Inspiration

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

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.

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 .

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

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

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

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

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

Glass artist Carol Lancour sent over these "before and after" photos of an old glass light fixture she found in her garage. She mosaicked the forgotten item and repurposed it into a glimmering garden orb. (Carol is the same artist who turned concrete blocks into stunning planters for her backyard.) Genius! Looking for Recycled Arts Supplies? Free Recycled Arts Project Guides here.

Global Overview of Colors Theme: The spectrum of color for 2011-2012 is wide and diverse. These colors are rich saturated hues. They evoke a sense of intensity and culture. They are cheery and, in most cases, bright. Follow your own inspiration. Break a color rule or mix palettes. Remember, color is personal and can infuse vibrant emotion. Influences: Brighter colors may lift our spirits during these uncertain economic times and create a sense of optimism for the future. The palette is bright but not radical. With an eye turned towards revitalizing the economy, colors, like our thoughts about the future, are slightly more reserved, said Kate Smith of Sensational Color. Applications: Color allows us to change our environment quickly, and most times, with little effort and little expense. Choosing a new wall color and adding lighting, hard or soft accessories (table top or pillows as examples) floor or window treatments can complement your style or personal taste. A pop of color will make traditional pieces within your home feel more unique and eclectic. Globa l Blues and Greens: The current colors, blue and greens (cool-wishful colors), will rem