The Delphi Blog

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