The Delphi Blog

I love all things nautical. In fact my husband has completely banned me from purchasing any more striped shirts. But theres something so fresh about pairing bright blues and stark whites with splashes of red and coral. Its a trend that works on men and women, as well as in the home. The nautical theme in art and fashion has been around forever. Fashion icon Coco Chanel first made this tren d popular in the 1920s when she began to emulate the fisherman she met while yachting. Every spring/summer the trend pops up again, and according to top fashion designers like Michael Kors, its not going anywhere. For the home, nautical accents are appearing inside the pages of Southern Living and Better Homes and Gardens, and all over design blogs on the Internet. Fused glass starfish and shells, like the ones pictured below by Elida Koenig, would make a beautiful table centerpiece. I also love the intricate solder work and striking blue sails of the stained glass sailboat (pictured below). I can picture it sitting atop a buffet or bookshelf to brighten up a living room. The sea glass mirror, also pictured below, by Rhona Siegal would liven up a neutral wall. Glass art lends

Mosaics add charm and whimsy to any room in your home or corner of your garden. Mosaics are not only beautiful to display, but they are truly a lot of fun to make! Traditional mosaics are made by cutting tiny pieces of glass and fitting them together with just enough space between each piece for grout. Traditions change, however, and today's contemporary mosaics are not only made from glass but broken china pieces, buttons, shells and even Grandma's rhinestone jewelry. To begin, choose an item on which to mosaic- fountains, small bistro tables and stepping stones are good starting places, but generally mosaics can be applied to any and all surfaces. If you've chosen a smooth surface, rough it up first using fine grit sandpaper or score it using a craft knife. A rough surface will allow the adhesive to form a better grip. Next, decide on a pattern for your mosaic. For inspiration visit your local library or book store for a pattern or mosaic book. Once you have an idea for a design, draw it on paper and transfer it to the surface using carbon paper and a sharpen pencil or simply draw it directly on the surface. As with any craft project, the proper tools are essential.

In the winter of 2005, Craig Mitchell Smith wandered into a class at Delphi Glass in Lansing, MI. Six years, and thousands of creations later, Craig has taken the world by storm with his artistic vision. He is not a newcomer to the art world (his background is in painting, interior design, landscape and floral design), but glass changed everything for him. And what started as a hobby has quickly become a full-time job. His sculptures, some enormous in scale, have been spotted on television, in museum shows, garden exhibitions and now in his very own public gallery. In 2010, his glass cardinal ornaments hung on the National Christmas Tree in Washingon, D.C. When Dan Daniels, CEO of Delphi Glass, saw Craig's work for the first time he was speechless. He recognized in Craig a talent unmatched in the industry - the next great glass artist. Since then, Craig has become the darling of Delphi Glass, and is scheduled to appear in an upcoming catalog. Delphi Executive Director, Lisa Parks, caught up with Craig to ask him a few questions on his recent gallery opening and newfound fame. DG: You recently opened a new gallery in Okemos, MI. Tell us a little about the Gallery

When Charity Stewart's mosaic mirror made of old Starbucks Gift Cards was posted to our Artist Gallery as part of our Recycled Arts Contest , I couldn't help but notice. Cheerily nicknamed "Momma Mosaics", Charity creates brightly colored art that is whimsical and playful. She has mastered the art of using paper under glass, and repurposing found objects. We caught up with her to ask her a few questions about her signature style. How did you get started in glass? I discovered the joy of glass at the age of 12, when I was introduced to stained glass art by my grandmother. She inspired me to explore my creative side as we worked side-by-side in her tiny basement studio, cutting and grinding pieces for a large window panel. Those lessons in creativity launched my interest in glass art and eventually led me to classes in fusing and mosaics. Why mosaics? Have you ever been obsess ed with finishing a puzzle? Making a mosaic is similar, but unlike a puzzle where the end result is always the same, mosaics give you have the freedom to create the puzzle as you go. My designs are never really too preplanned, I enjoy the flow of the process and often find tha

Glass Artist Karen Mamel had all but packed away her glass tools when she opened her E-mail inbox. Sharon Jones of Good Shepherd Hospice in Sebring, Florida was inquiring about a stained glass window in a newly built chapel. A man was donating the window in honor of his beloved wife. She had previously built windows for two other Florida Hospices and spent much of her free time visiting patients and volunteering for the organization. A cancer survivor and nurse, she felt a particular connection to the patients. She called friend and pattern designer, Lynda Chandler, to explain the challenge. The project was a five-and-a-half-foot round window facing west, Karen said. Beyond that, she had rece ived little direction. Sharon at Good Shepherd had seen our work before and trusted us to come up with a good design. Karen and Lynda got to work. The pair met more than five years prior and discovered a mutual love for the arts. Lynda, a botanical illustrator, had a talent for bringing landscapes to life on paper, and Karen, an accomplished glass artist, was looking for someone to design custom glass patterns. Their first project was a stunning 27-foot window in their church.

The office was all abuzz when Marketing Director Monika Smolarczyk told us she was going to the Personal Glass Experience at the Morean Arts Center. She could tell we were jealous. Our corporate offices in Tampa, FL are just a short drive from the art center's location in St. Petersburg. Dating back to 1917, the former Art Club of St. Petersburg, has become a world-renowned center for glass art. The Personal Glass Experience is a one-on-one demonstration on glass blowing that takes place in the center's Hot Shop. For a nominal fee, a seasoned glass blower guides each participant through every step of the hot glass process until his or her glass sculpture or ornament is complete. First, the glass blower collected the glass from the furnace onto a large (and heavy) metal rod. At this point the glass is about 2,300F! Next, Monika rolled the glass onto a steel table, called a marver, to give the glass its cylindrical shape. She then reheated the glass in the furnace. The glass blower collected more glass, shaped and reheated. This process was repeated until the desired thickness was achieved. Finally, the project was returned to the furnace, heated and inserted into

Glass artist Carol Lancour sent over these "before and after" photos of an old glass light fixture she found in her garage. She mosaicked the forgotten item and repurposed it into a glimmering garden orb. (Carol is the same artist who turned concrete blocks into stunning planters for her backyard.) Genius! Looking for Recycled Arts Supplies? Free Recycled Arts Project Guides here.

Stained Glass Stylists of Waretown, New Jersey has become a haven for would-be artists as well as experienced artisans. They've been around for 14 years now, and owners Butch and Jane Gathright say they're not going anywhere. Butch started in stained glass almost 25 years ago. "There was no one to teach me how to do the craft so I became self-taught, he said. Having endured the hardships of learning on his own, he made it his mission to help others learn the craft. Over the years I've seen many people go from having never touched a piece of glass to opening their own businesses, he said. Stained Glass Stylists offers classes in stained glass, kiln-formed glass and more. They also sell a variety of supplies in-store and online. In addition, they specialize in repairs and custom work. For more information visit their website or find them on Facebook by searching StainedGlassStylists. You can also email them at [email protected] or call them at (609) 242-0555. They are open Tues. 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. EST, Wed. - Fri. 10 a.m. - 9 p.m. EST, and Sat. 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. EST. Tutoring assistance is available Tues. and Sat. 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. EST. Stained Glass classes are

Last year, we asked our Facebook fans to tell us how they use regular household items as tools in glass art creation . We got a fantastic list of ideas! When we asked again this year, we got a few more great tips to share. Here's the list, Part II. Thanks everyone! Folger's coffee buckets for scrap glass A cut-up cardboard box instead of a grinder shield The plastic tops of milk containers for holding flux while working Spoons for frit to roll beads in; baby spoons to hold small amounts of frit Silverware basket from dishwasher to hold tools Canning jars to hold frit Wooden toothpicks for mandrels Stainless steel bowls and containers for slumping Page protectors to keep patterns dry while grinding Cut an apron out of old plastic tablecloth to use while grinding. Use a kitchen apron as a pattern - no sewing involved! Read Household Items You Can Use as Tools, Part I.

Can I use two pieces of mirror back to back in a window so it will look nice from both sides? Yes, you can. Like any pieces of mirror you use in a panel, youll want to use a sealant of some kind (ask your supplier for a recommendation) on the edges and back side of each piece before placing them back to back. The sealant is used to help prevent black rot a discoloring of the mirror caused when something nasty, most likely the flux , gets between the mirrored surface and the glass itself. The sealant is applied after youve cut and ground each piece of mirror to its final shape. Once the mirrors are cut and sealed, hold them back to back and wrap a wide foil (probably 3/8 if youre using 1/8 thick mirror) around the edge of both pieces together. You now have a piece thats 1/4 thick. Keep this in mind when you solder it in place because its going to stick out on one side of your panel or the other (or a little on both sides). I hope you werent planning to construct this window with lead, because itll be hard to find a came appropriate for the job. Another option is to use front surface mirror . Its reflective on both sides so you dont need to plate two pieces togethe

How did you get started in glass? I originally just did tile mosaics and then a friend sent me info on taking a class at Delphi for fused glass mosaics taught by Christine Stewart. I was hooked and had my own kiln within a few months. Why glass? Its infinitely easier than working with ceramic tile! I like the way the fused glass lets me incorporate rounded shapes with the hard edges of cut glass. Why is recycling important to you? I always take everyones leftovers tile, glass, wire, rocks, beads because you never know what project you can use even the smallest pieces in. Then you can elaborate: my friend gave me that, my neighbor was throwing that away. Im currently working with the Michigan Chapter of the IIDA and ZeroLandfill where they divert architectural samples from the landfill for upcycling. Its a wonderful way to get free goodies! How have your other interests/hobbies/career influenced your glass designs? Ive been a graphic designer by trade for my whole working career and glass lets me get out from behind the computer and get my hands dirty again. What inspires you? Nature and its textures. What makes your work