The Delphi Blog

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.

As a fused glass jewelry artisan I have probably spent as much time on the look and feel of the backs of my pieces as the fronts. I have found that the feel of the glass on the skin is as much a selling point as the colors or design. Its the same conundrum fiber artists have been dealing with for ages: wool is an amazing fiber - easy to knit with and warm - but the majority of folks just cant stand that itchy feeling on bare skin. The same principle applies to glass. What you use on your kiln shelf can determine exactly how your pieces will feel on the skin - and in turn, can make for a happier customer. After experimenting with various methods including kiln wash (produces a very rough feel) and thicker fiber papers/boards (again, too rough) I have settled down into a very happy marriage with a thin kiln shelf paper. It wasnt such bliss in the beginning, though. Like most artisans, we tend to be cheap (not because we dont want quality, but because we want to stretch every last penny in order to buy more glass). There is nothing more unsatisfying than spending money on the accouterments instead of that glorious piece of glass youve been eyeballing for mont

As a self-described cheap glass artisan who lives in rural Maine , finding or making the tools I need myself (rather than buying them online and having them shipped) is a must. As a total beginner, I found that making frit with my scrap glass was actually messier and more dangerous than I had originally suspected. Hammering away on my back deck proved to be a situation which resulted in wasted scrap glass...and tons of cuts. I finally admitted finding a proper tool to make my own frit was a necessity (to my deck AND my hands) - but $50 (plus shipping) for a Frit Piston was just not in my budget. So I took an hour to roam the Home Depot (which, yes, even in rural Maine you will find one) for ideas on how to hack my own solution. What I came up with, after wandering the isles for an hour and confusing the bejesus out of the HD employees, was a frit maker that was within my budget, easy to clean, easy to transport (albeit a smidge bulky) and perfect for the job...and all available in the plumber's isle. What you need is very simple: (1) 8" Galvanized Steel Pipe (Nipple) with a 2" diameter opening and a 2" cap to thread onto the end (1) 12" Galvanized

If you find yourself reading our catalog in the most unusual places, enter our catalog contest, sponsored by Uroboros Glass, for a chance to win a glass pack worth more than $100. How to Enter: Email your photo(s) to [email protected] , (there is no limit to the number of photos you may submit), by Nov. 18, 2011 . We'll post an album of all the (appropriate, please) photos on Delphi's Facebook page, and our fans will "like" their favorites. The person who submitted the photo with the most "likes" as of midnight EST on Nov. 25, 2011 will be the winner. Winner will be notified via email. Winner will be allowed to choose either the Flower Power Stained Glass Pack or the Hot Colors 96 Glass Fusing Pack from Uroboros Glass. Contest open to residents of contiguous US states only. How to Win: Our Facebook fans will decide the winner. Whoever's photo gets the most "likes" wins. Voting wil begin Nov. 21 on Delphi's Facebook page and end Nov. 25. Winner will be announced Nov. 28, 2011. Prize: Winner will receive one of two glass packs from Uroboros Glass - either the Flower Power Stained Glass Pack or the Hot Colors 96 Glass Fusing

The Fuse It Studio in Cape Coral is run by Petra and Wolfgang Kaiser. Petra Kaiser is well known for her in-depth instructions books including "Introduction to Glass Fusing" , "Fuse It" and "Glass Forming with the Mold Block System." You will also find her articles in the major glass magazines. "Coming up and sharing new ideas and projects is what I love about glass fusing" Petra said. "It is just amazing what one can do with glass and a kiln." At the Fuse It Studio, you can learn everything about kiln-worked glass - fusing, slumping, draping, casting and cold working. Any supplies needed for glass fusing can be found in their "studio store." Specialty products like mold-making kits and jewelry findings can be found in their online store. Another specialty product Kaiser Lee is known for is the "Kaiser-Lee Board" a most versatile mold-making device. Petra and Wolfgang have come up with a huge variety of ideas to use the board to create unusual glass art and are sharing those in their workshops in Cape Coral as well as all over the country and abroad. About once a month Petra will send out a "Fuse It Blurb" to her subscribers. You can sign up for fr