The Delphi Blog

Delphi Glass offers supplies and instruction for a myriad of art glass and other crafts, from the very simplest for the beginner hobbyist all the way to the most complex for the experienced artist, including glass fusing, wire wrapping, metal embossing, etching, carving, jewelry making, copper foil, sandblasting, glass sculpture, glass casting, copper enameling, beading, glass blowing, mosaics, ceramics, and others—a seemingly endless list of creative opportunities. In our Lansing, Michigan facility, Delphi offers a full schedule of classes and events. Utilizing four on-site, fully-equipped classrooms, more than 100 different courses are offered for beginners, intermediate and advanced students. Some classes last just a few hours while others may meet for several days. Classes are taught by popular guest artists or in-house experts. We believe in helping people be creative and making the glass arts enjoyable and rewarding. Delphi Glass fulfills its commitment to the arts by assisting creative projects of individuals, and supporting the development of educational programs in communities. Throughout its history, Delphi Glass has worked towards these goals of fosterin

It’s time for America’s largest glass and bead expo once again! The 2017 Glass Craft & Bead Expo will be held at the South Point Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. You can join in on classes there from Wednesday, March 29th through Sunday, April 2nd. Exhibits are available for viewing from Friday, March 31st through Sunday, April 2nd.   Delphi Glass is excited to be an exhibitor at this incredible event. It’s a great opportunity for all glass artists to explore the latest innovations in products and services for glass art from kilns to tools to glass types and colors. People travel from all over the world to attend this famous expo where they can view the exhibits and take exciting classes that include things like painting with frit, frit slurry flowers, advanced fused bowls & techniques, and many more. In total, there are over 250 classes you can take at the Glass Craft & Bead Expo. Additionally, there is a “Bead Bazaar” which showcases a stunning array of handmade beads, gorgeous jewelry, and unique specialty creations designed by the most prestigious artists in America.   This is the eleventh year the

For many beginners, getting into glass fusing can be a little intimidating, especially if you’re completely new to any kind of glass art. But fusing glass as a way to express your creativity is a fantastic outlet. It’s one you’ll really enjoy and really surprise yourself with once you give it a try.   Here are some simple tips for glass fusing for the first time.   1. Just go with it So you’ve never fired glass before. No big deal. There are lots of firsts in our lives. Don’t expect the first thing you create to be the world’s next greatest masterpiece. Just let it happen and you’ll get a feel for the craft.   2. Start simple This is not the time to pick some ornate design to create. Stick with a simple and small-sized piece. Once you get the hang of glass fusing, you can make anything you dream up into a glass art reality.   3. Prepare your kiln Glass fusing requires a kiln, and Delphi has a great selection of kilns . Before you begin, you’ve got to get your kiln and shelves ready with kiln wash. You need to run the kiln empty once to burn off any resi

No matter what you’re into – mosaics, stained glass, glass fusing, or glass jewelry – Delphi always has the tools you need to be creative. Without your tools, it would be impossible to bring to life all the incredible ideas that you dream up. As our 26th Annual Art Glass Festival quickly approaches, we know our glass artists are busy fusing, firing, and cutting to create their best pieces ever by using their favorite tools.   So what are your favorite tools? Let’s explore some of our most popular tools.   Toyo Dry Wheel Supercutter Everyone loves this oil-free cutter because it’s easy to use and makes great cuts without all the clean-up. Plus, it’s very durable and the cutter head is replaceable, making this tool a prime choice for glass artists.   Creators Premium Bottle Cutter Glass artists that love to upcycle love this tool that makes cutting bottles a cinch. The rings isolate your score to make it easier to separate bottles. It even works on those thick champagne bottles. Some amazing bottle art has been created using this fantastic tool.   Frit Sifter On

While it’s true that the groundhog predicted 6 more weeks of winter and most of the country is blanketed in snow, you can cheer up knowing that spring is right around the corner. When you find yourself trapped indoors due to the freezing temperatures and piles of snow, you can warm up with toasty thoughts of the upcoming spring season.   Let those spring thoughts fuel your creativity and passion for art glass. There’s no limit to what you can create with fused glass, stained glass, mosaics, and glass jewelry. Let the world of spring be your inspiration.   Spring is when the land wakes up again, with blooming flowers and trees that grow back their leaves and show their first signs of fruit. Spring is when animals come out from the hollows and explore the world anew. It’s a tremendous time of rebirth from the ground up.   Don’t just sit and stare out the windows into the snow wishing for spring to come. While you wait, keep busy by honing in on your craft. Snowed in? Hunker down in your studio to create your best pieces yet. From birds to butterflies, embrace the essence of spring and capture it in your work.

Behind the innovative molds we’ve all come to love from Creative Paradise is an intensely creative artist, Stephanie O’Toole. She recently sat down for a fascinating interview with Delphi.   Creative Paradise – where creativity takes shape – is the kind of place that doesn’t sound like work. Stephanie let us in on her creative process regarding how she came to design molds to make complex artwork more accessible for everyone to enjoy.   She draws her inspiration from all over. Whether it’s from surfing around the internet or while out shopping at stores, Stephanie looks for interesting shapes and ways to constantly change things up. Some of the amazing creations from Creative Paradise include drop and drape molds that allow for more elevation in fusing. Stand-up molds were another idea that Stephanie pioneered, making it easy to achieve vertical heights with fused glass. Her ideas also come from talking with friends, family, and even the customers she chats with when they visit Creative Paradise.   Stephanie believes creativity should be a vital part of everyone’s life. “It’s good th

Now that we’re into the New Year, perhaps you’ve made a few resolutions regarding your glass art. Maybe you’ve vowed to learn a new technique or delve deeper into the glass art of your choice. Whatever the case may be, Delphi has many classes scheduled for this year and you can be a part of them!   Not sure how to sign up for a class at Delphi? Just click here to get right to our classes home page . Once there, you can browse classes by craft. There are classes for stained glass , mosaics , fusing , jewelry and flameworking . In this section, you can also look up special store events to see what’s happening at Delphi or you can choose to search by guest instructor if there’s an artist you’d most like to have the chance to learn from.   One of the best tools is the class calendar . It gives you an overview of what classes are coming up soon. You can also use the calendar on the left side of the page to select a month and date. Once you find a class you want to join, simply click on it. It will give you all the information you need for taking the class including the dates and times, the cost, and what mate

As 2017 fast approaches, you’re probably thinking of what resolutions you’re going to make (and hopefully stick to) in the New Year. Perhaps it’s getting more exercise or eating more healthfully, the two most common resolutions people make every year. Those are great resolutions to make, but it’s also good to think outside the box when making your resolutions. Here are some suggestions for glass art resolutions to make.   1. Organize your creative space By taking a little time to organize and arrange your art glass tools and supplies, you’ll be saving yourself time in the long run. That means you’ll have more time to focus on what really matters: being creative. Plus, when you keep things organized, you’ll know what supplies you need to stock up on. Nothing is more frustrating than being in the middle of a project only to realize you’re out of something you need.   2. Try something new So you’re amazing when it comes to fusing glass, but why not give another type of glass art a try? You can attempt a mosaic or even try a new technique in fusing that you’ve never tried before. At Delphi, there are

‘Tis the season for shopping. Have you found something for everyone on your list? If not, we’ve got some fantastic suggestions for gifts they’ll be sure to love! Michigan Cast Iron Skillet For the chef that lives in and loves Michigan, there’s no better cookware than a cast iron skillet shaped just like the mitten state! But fear not if you’re not gifting to someone in Michigan. They make skillets in the shapes of other states like Texas and New York. There’s also one in the shape of America for the ultimate patriot. Karaoke Party Light-Up Music Ball This Bluetooth-controlled karaoke ball is loads of fun for anyone who is the life of the party. Light up the living room and belt out your favorite tunes. It works with all music players too. Foodie Dice If you know someone who always has trouble figuring out what to cook for dinner, these Foodie Dice are just the solution. With a roll of the dice, it will really shake up their cooking routine and help them break out of their mealtime rut. Pocket Wine Aerator For your favorite wine enthusiast, this pocket wine aerator can decant any glass of wine on the g

There are only 52 days left until Christmas! Have you started your holiday shopping yet? If not, Delphi has you covered with some bright and shiny ideas for the stained glass artist in your life. Here are some we think will be very well received if you tuck them under your tree!   1. Stained Glass A stained glass artist can never have too much glass to work with. We carry a huge selection of stained glass . Why not order some new and exciting colors for your favorite stained glass artist? Try something different like the Van Gogh glass that is almost too pretty to cut. Plus with glass packs and sample sets, your recipient will get a gorgeous array of glass to work with in one fabulous package.   2. Studio Pro Caddy If you’re stained glass artist has tools all over the place in their studio, perhaps a Studio Pro Caddy will be useful. It keeps all essential tools within easy reach and has them ready to use. Plus, the bottle holder and the iron stand keep chemicals and the hot iron safe.   3. Finishing Compound For the stained glass artist, that has everything, finishing compound is always a nice gift because it’s something tha

There are only 52 days left until Christmas! Have you started your holiday shopping yet? If not, Delphi has you covered with some bright and shiny ideas for the stained glass artist in your life. Here are some we think will be very well received if you tuck them under your tree!   1. Stained Glass A stained glass artist can never have too much glass to work with. We carry a huge selection of stained glass . Why not order some new and exciting colors for your favorite stained glass artist? Try something different like the Van Gogh glass that is almost too pretty to cut. Plus with glass packs and sample sets, your recipient will get a gorgeous array of glass to work with in one fabulous package.   2. Studio Pro Caddy If you’re stained glass artist has tools all over the place in their studio, perhaps a Studio Pro Caddy will be useful. It keeps all essential tools within easy reach and has them ready to use. Plus, the bottle holder and the iron stand keep chemicals and the hot iron safe.   3. Finishing Compound For the stained glass artist, that has everything, finishing compound is always a nice gift because it’s something tha