The Delphi Blog

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