The Delphi Blog

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.