The Delphi Blog

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

We first noticed the work of Clayton Stang in Delphi's Artist Gallery. His glass shadowbox "Night Owl" received many comments in our gallery and on Facebook . Artists were asking, "how did he do that?" We tracked him down for a short Q&A. How did you get started in glass? I was the baker at an adult summer camp 13 years ago. They were offering stained glass classes. I took to it immediately. Two years later, I became the stained glass instructor at the camp. Why glass? I was a color stylist in animation for years, so the colors of glass called out to me. Sometimes I just go into the glass store and look at glass for the thrill of it. Ive always loved stained glass. I just had to wait until I grew up and could afford it. How have your other interests/hobbies/career influenced your glass designs? So many of my designs are nature based. I am a country boy at heart. I love the mountains, forests and flowers. What makes your work unique from everyone elses? I guess the thing that makes everyones work unique is that they are done with

Linda and Alan Cook of Kachina Stained Glass are preparing to celebrate their store's fourth anniversary. They don't take the accomplishment lightly. " We are extremely thankful that in this market we have been able to keep our stained glass store in Mesa, Arizona open, not all of our competitors have been so lucky!" Anniversary festivities will take place on Nov. 5 and 6 at the store. They will be giving away goody bags, holding raffles and offering daily door prizes. If you are in the Mesa area, stop by and enjoy the fun! Kachina Stained Glass, LLC is located at 1762 South Greenfield Road, Suite 101, Mesa, AZ 85206. They can be reached at 480-655-2000. Find a Delphi Elite Dealer in your area. Interested in becoming a Delphi Elite Dealer?

Classical Glass of South Carolina, a Delphi Elite Dealer, was featured in the October edition of Columbia Metropolitan Magazine. Owners, Bill and Hi Roberson, both actors and stained glass artists, share their unique story with the publication. We invite you to read the article and check out their business if you're ever in the Columbia area. Find a Delphi Elite Dealer in your area. Learn how to become a Delphi Elite Dealer.

GLASKOLBEN cylinders are pre-blown clear glass cylinders with blow pipe ends , used for blowing glass balls. Glaskolben cylinders are used throughout Europe for making Christmas tree ornaments. "Glaskolben" is a German word that translates to "glass bulb." WATCHAVIDEO ONBLOWINGGLASKOLBENORNAMENTS. SUPPLIES/EQUIPMENT: Torch head for Mapp Gas use Gas/oxygen torch Glaskolben™ cylinder 90 COE frits and powders for decoration Ornament cap and loop set (available in gold or silver) COMPATIBILITY Glaskolben is compatible with Uroboros and Bullseye 90 COE glass frit and powders. Do not use any other COE as it may cause stress or fracture. HOWTOBLOWANORNAMENT 1. Light the torch and adjust the flame - a broader flame is better. Select a Sealed End Cylinder Glaskolben™ and introduce it into the back of the flame away from the torch. Rotate it as it is brought into the hotter area of the flame. Continue to rotate until the cylinder is glowing red and starts to reduce in size or collapse. However, do not let the neck end of the cylinder get as re

Back by popular demand, Delphi is sponsoring its second annual Animal Creations Contest. Last year, animal lovers submitted hundreds of amazing projects inspired by their furry friends. Submit a project of your pet to Delphi's online Artist Gallery for your chance to win a Delphi Swag Bag full of goodies! This contest is going on Oct. 1 through Oct. 30. See the contest rules and enter today! VIEWASLIDESHOWOF2010 ENTRIES. More About the Contest: Submit any project done in art glass, mosaics, ceramics or jewelry. This is an online contest open to everyone. All skill levels, from beginning crafters to studio artists, are encouraged to participate. Entries must be submitted electronically through the online Artist Gallery by Oct.30, 2010. Prizes: Delphi Swag Bags will be awarded to 5 randomly selected entries. Swag bags will contain a Delphi T-shirt, a Delphi lanyard, $10 Delphi Dollars and more! All entries are also eligible to be featured in future Delphi catalogs and publications. Delphi Glass reserves the right to change prizes and contents of swag bags without notice. Artist Spotlight: Our featured artist is Chris Thurber of Goodyear, AZ. This dog wa