The Delphi Blog

You may never feel the same about a jar of jelly ever again. Linda Kester Hamilton has always had a creative soul. She currently works as a graphic artist from her home, and is a small-time producer of DVD productions using photos, mementos, film clips and new photography. She also does intricate beadwork and dabbles in a variety of other media. After moving last year from the central coast of California town of Aptos, to Alamogordo, New Mexico, she found the change in local recycling facilities alarming. She began to hold onto things she would normally recycle or throw away, namely her wide mouth jars and lids. "I remembered a teacher in high school had shown us how to make candle sticks using the same method I use today," Linda said. "Now, there are more modern crafting supplies to get neat things accomplished and I am very thankful for that." In high school, she remembers cutting lace from her canopy bed set (hoping her mother wouldn't notice) to add texture to her candle holder projects. Aside from reusing her bottles, (her bed lace) and other recycled materials for texture and embellishment, Linda also fills her jars with shredded tires to add weight. This is

Ever wondered what goes in to developing a new craft tool or product? The post below was submitted by Rita Levine of Diamond Tech International. She leads readers on a journey through the product development phases of the new G2 Bottle Cutter. Last Spring I was invited to join a group of friends for a little "eco" crafting. Little did I know that two months later I would be working to design a new bottle cutter. We worked hard that day to embrace our eco-friendly projects. Our goal was to transform bottles into art. It was clear, however, the bottle cutters we were using were not "cutting it". We struggled to score and separate our bottles with very little success. It was then I thought, There has got to be a better way! So I rounded up our product development team and we set out to create a tool that would effortlessly turn bottles and jars, bound for the trash, into crafts. If we could make it an earth friendly tool, all the better. To achieve this, we first fashioned our new bottle cutter from recycled aluminum. This was good, we thought, but we decided to take it one step further and made the packaging from recycled paper. (We were definitely bitten by the recycl

For an art glass enthusiast, discovering the Stained Glass Studio of Clearwater, FL is like a fried foods addict finding the fairgrounds. It's sensory overload. Large panels hang from the ceiling, small panels are posted on lightboards, and a large mixed-media piranha looms in the front window. You could spend hours in the 2400-square-foot studio and not find all of the art glass treats sprinkled around. Owner Kathleen Bromley is like the Willy Wonka of this proverbial chocolate shop. Her studio, located on US 19 attracts tourists, snow birds and locals of all ages, and she has diversified her offerings to appeal to multiple audiences. We went to visit Kathleen at her studio while a class was in session. Her students were learning how to make glass kaleidoscopes. She broke away from teaching long enough to introduce her staff and give us a quick tour. She, like her shop, is warm, inviting and colorful. Someone you feel like you've known all your life. Perhaps that's one reason behind her loyal customer base. Once you meet her, you're hooked. Or maybe its her business model, with its great selection of products and bustling staff, the air is thick with creativity. Wh

There's a lot of buzz about recycled art these days. At Delphi, we not only promotes "green" art, we also strive to run a green business. Here's what we're doing... Delphi uses overrun boxes whenever possible instead of official Delphi boxes. We use 100% recycled biodegradable packaging peanuts. They are literally and figuratively green. (Also our bubble wrapping is both figuratively and literally green). Bring Us Your Peanuts We are also a recycling center in Lansing for used packaging peanuts. People in the community can drop off boxes or bags of peanuts and well reuse them. For recycling centers near you, call the peanut hotline at 800-828-2214 or visit http://www.loosefillpackaging.com/ We use paper wrapping when possible. We even save our newspapers to use as wrapping! We have a dumpster just for recycled cardboard We recycle plastic and aluminum cans. Large bins are set up in both break rooms and by the snack machine. We are very conscious of our power use. Lights in the restrooms, break room, and classrooms are motion activated. We turn off office computers and lights at the end of the day. We print our catalogs on PEFC recycled paper a

How did you get started in glass? A friend bought me a small fused glass wall hanging many years ago and Id often gazed at it and wondered how it was made. Then in 2005, after being diagnosed with M.E./C.F.S. and lung problems, I was unable to continue with my career in the Learning Disabilities profession and needed an alternative and more therapeutic endeavor that would accommodate my condition. So, following a moment of madness in early 2008, where I bid for a kiln on e-bay, I began to experiment in glass and quickly became hooked on the colour, beauty and diversity of kiln-formed work. Why glass? Ive always admired architecture and loved the way a glass window could completely transform a room. And kiln-formed fused glass is such an exciting medium. My favorite part is the mixture of anticipation and trepidation I feel when Im opening the kiln it reminds me of Christmas morning as a child . How have your other interests/hobbies/career influenced your glass designs? I enjoy gardening and am often influenced by the shape or colour of a flower. Im also in the process on renovating my home which was built in 1901 and love being able to make my own unique tiles,

How did you get started in glass? I was lonely! I moved to Richmond, VA from Minneapolis, MN about six years ago, and didnt know a soul. I had a friend back in MN who worked with stained glass and it sounded fun and challenging. When I saw that Richmonds local Visual Arts Center offered evening stained glass classes, I decided to try it. Turns out, I love working with glass! (And I met some other great creative people too!) Why glass? Prior to working with glass, I was (and still am) an admirer of all types of glass creations leaded, fused, blown, mosaics, etc. I never considered trying leaded glass myself until my friend told me about the process, and totally demy stified it. And then I thought, I think I need to do this! I really enjoy the puzzle fitting the pieces together to create something beautiful is extremely gratifying. How have your other interests/hobbies/career influenced your glass designs? I have been drawing in graphite and charcoal for several years and I also dabble in photography and graphic design. All of these skill sets come in handy when creating original glass works. I like dramatic contrasts and balanced designs, and this extends to my g

Last week, we were surprised (and thrilled!) to receive a donation of 120 beautiful lampworked borosilicate beads for Beads of Courage. The artist was Ruth Kelley from Gainesville, MO. We caught up with her this week to ask her a few questions about her generous donation. Delphi: How did you hear about the Beads of Courage initiative? Ruth Kelley: Initially I saw a TV spot about Beads of Courage and how much the organization means to the patients. Then I got the Delphi e-newsletter about the initiative, and knew I had to contribute. Delphi: How did you get started flameworking? Ruth Kelley: A neighbor opened a studio (Sharon Stoffel of Morningstar Glass), and I started taking classes from her in 2008. Delphi: Who or what inspires you? Ruth Kelley: There are so many talented glass artists. I used to spend hours looking at websites and admiring artists' work. Plus, Sharon encouraged me to expand and try different techniques. I also had the opportunity to meet Sage Holland and her son at an open house at their studio in Fox Ar. And then there is all that beautiful glass! Delphi: Many of the beads you created were heart shaped, which has a special me

Of all the art mediums, glass is perhaps the most beautiful way to capture the magic of Mardi Gras. Glass artists in New Orleans, and across the US and worldwide, are embracing the holiday and creating some incredible projects. The Mardi Gras celebration is full of color and symbolism, and provides inspiration for bold, eccentric art. Delphi Artist, Julie Haan, whose talent extends into fusing, stained glass, mosaics and beyond, created the awesome projects you see in this post. Her inspiration? The rich history behind one of the world's most beloved celebrations. The actual phrase Mardi Gras means Fat Tuesday in French. Its a long lasting European custom for people to overindulge before the sobering beginning of Lent. Some scholars believe the original roots can be traced back to ancient Roman times during their springtime feasting. In the United States, the Grand Capital of Mardi Gras is New Orleans, where celebrations have been going strong since the early 1700s. Mardi Gras is February 8, 2011. In the United States, the Mardi Gras tradition was established by krewes or private clubs. Today more than 60 krewes plan the parades, the balls and outrageous c

We get a lot of questions about Delphis shipping charges and procedures . But theres more that goes into our shipping than just a box and a stamp. We wrote this post to help take the mystery out of what we do. How is Shipping Calculated? Our website shipping calculations use real-time data from UPS (United Parcel Service) and USPS (United States Postal Service). Calculations are based on dimensional weight and distance traveled (shipping from zip code 48910). Weight calculations round up to the nearest pound per UPS's policies (1.1 lb = 2 lb weight class). Keep shipping in mind when ordering sheet glass. We ship our sheet glass in either a small box (up to 21 lbs.) or a large box (up to 45 lbs.) To get more bang for your shipping buck try to fully fill your glass box. Example: -Small and Medium size sheet glass will ship together. You can fit up to 12 pieces in a small box. This box is a $4.95 boxing fee + shipping -Large piecesof sheet glass will ship in large boxes. You can fit up to 9 pieces in this box. (No small or medium glass will ship in the large box) This box is a $6.95 boxing fee + shipping. (This is considered an oversized box and extra U

I may be 27, but I still love stickers . I don't think we ever really grow out of the desire to be rewarded for our accomplishments. In fact, merit badges, trophies, ribbons, etc. are even more valued as we get older and feel overworked and underappreciated. That's the thinking behind the new "Badges" feature on DelphiGlass.com. (We can't give you a raise, but we can give you a sticker!) These badges show up on your Artist Gallery profile as well as anytime you leave a comment or product review. Think of it as a public display of appreciation. Now everyone can see how awesome you are. You can earn a badge for posting a project in Delphi's Artist's Gallery, entering a Delphi contest or listing your ArtFire studio or Etsy shop. You can also earn a "Top Contributor" badge for leaving 10 or more comments and/or product reviews on the Delphi site. There are a few other ways to earn badges. Learn about them all here. Tell your friends, and wear your new badges with pride.

How did you get started in glass? I have always admired stained glass but never thought I would have the patience for it. It seemed like the process was daunting. I am the 'webmistress' for my Fremont Harley Owners Group Chapter and a lady in the Chapter created a glass panel to honor another member's wife who had passed. I mentioned to her that I'd always thought about doing stained glass but figured it was too hard. She offered to come teach me and change my mind. Last April, she did just that. It is labor intensive - but as a website developer I've developed the patience for intricate things. Why glass? I'm a very visual person, have always been artistic, and love vivid colors. Ever since I was little, I remember my mom washing out empty noxema bottles (cobalt blue) so I could hold them up to the light. I loved going to church just to look at the gorgeous stained glass windows. My favorite moment is holding panels up to the light for the first time. It's always an oooo ahhhh moment for me. How have your other interests/hobbies/career influenced your glass designs? Things I love show up in my glass panels, like my cats. I love red chili peppers a