The Delphi Blog

We are excited about the Spring 2014 lineup of talented glass art experts teaching classes at Delphi's Creativity Center in Lansing, MI. Each artist brings their own unique skill set and techniques that any student from beginner to professional artist would enjoy. First up is cast and kiln formed glass artist, Gloria Badiner. Badiner is a former scientist and studio artist living and working in rural Southwest Michigan. Her studio, Arts & Artifacts, makes commissioned and custom kiln formed glass for architects, designers and furniture makers. Commissioned work includes cast panels, high relief tiles and sculptures as site-specific installations in businesses and residences. Her sculptures include fused, kiln cast, sand cast and dalle de verre works mostly on an intimate scale and are often mixed with copper, silver, stone, bone and found elements. The themes of night and day, nature and human ritual are strong themes woven into her work. For those interested in attending Badiner's class at Delphi this Spring, check out the details below. Hurry, as seats are limited and filling fast! Class: Kiln Formi

Like all glass artists, I love color. Any color, every color but one color in particular. Purple. So, when Radiant Orchid was named the 2014 Color of the Year in the spring Pantone color report, I will admit I was pretty excited. Radiant Orchid manages to combine the luxurious richness of purple with the light-hearted fun of pink. Drawing from both the purple and pink color families, orchid elicits feelings of passion and energy it is associated with insight, mystery, magic and ambition as well as hope, peace and good judgement. Plus, being in the purple family, it is considered a royal color; who doesn't love that? From flowers to dusky sky scenes, this surprising shade can really make a project pop! Explore Passionate Purple projects on our Pinterest board . Artist: Cheryl Smith, from Delphi's Artist Gallery Artist: W.K. van't Land, from Delphi's Artist Gallery Artist: Kevin Saxo, from Delphi's Artist Gallery Shop glass in Radian

Here's our list of 5 Favorite New Items from the November 2013 edition of Stained Glass News. In addition to information packed articles, every issue of Stained Glass News features the newest items for glass artists. Read on to learn more about these exciting supplies. 1. Papyros Kiln Shelf Release Paper in Precut 13" Rounds Time seems to be in short supply these days, especially during the busy holiday season. Save time and say goodbye to wasted shelf paper with Papyros Precuts. The convenient 13" round pieces are die-cut to fit your 14" 16 kiln, so you'll never be stuck trimming shelf paper when you'd rather be cutting glass and creating. Each piece offers the full benefits of this favorite kiln liner it holds up, often for several firings, and clean up is a snap! At Delphi, you can find Papyros Precuts in 4 convenient pack sizes, so you'll always have the right amount on hand choose single pieces, a pack of 25, 50, or 100. 2. Studio Pro Tools The Studio Pro Tool Caddy offe

2013 Has been a banner year for fusers with the introduction of so many new molds . It's almost impossible not to be giddy about all the fantastic ways your glass art can take shape. From large to small, there are molds to fit every kiln size and artist's style on offer. Make exciting home decor, jewelry, and unforgettable gifts. The only hard part is deciding which new molds to add to your collection first. Highlighted here are just a handful of our favorite new molds: 1. Bottle Molds The Spoon Rest Bottle Sagger offers up a fresh way to turn trash to treasure by turning discarded bottles into functional art. Create a stylish and useful spoon rest to keep your stovetop or dining table tidy. Browse all new Bottle Molds 2. Texture Molds Designing a show-stopping serving plate or centerpiece for the holiday season is easier than ever with

Nothing says classic winter beauty like the wonder of snowflakes. First captured on film by Wilson Bentley in 1885, these hexagonal crystalline forms fall by the millions every winter covering the landscape in delicate white blankets of snow. Just like us, every snowflake that falls to earth is a one-of-a-kind form. This unique beauty has inspired art and artists for decades. Although it seems a bit odd that you would be capturing ice with fire, snowflakes make excellent glass projects. Capturing them in a medium such as glass allows you to enjoy their beauty without ever having to worry about finding your mittens, Kevlar gloves maybe, but no mittens. As a child, one of my favorite winter pastimes was cutting paper snowflakes. Just like the real thing, each snowflake I made was different and as an adult, I still enjoy this craft as much as I did when I was 7. Now I can imagine you are already shaking your head at me saying: "Are you suggesting I put paper snowflakes in my kiln?!?" And my answer is, Yes. Yes, I am. By creating paper snowflakes from fusible kiln paper, you can create these timeless decorations out of paper and capture them permanently in glass. This is a g

As some pick out costumes and prepare for annual Halloween festivities, in Mexico people begin preparing to celebrate Da de los Muertos, the day of the dead. This three day event spans October 31st through November 2nd. Traditions vary from town to town. However, most families spend these three days honoring and remembering the lives of the dead with flowers, decorations, traditional foods and brightly decorated skulls. These are commonly known and referred to as Sugar Skulls. While both Halloween and Da de los Muertos embrace skulls, the scary skulls that are sometimes associated with Halloween don't compare to the ornate and sometimes tasty sugar skulls displayed proudly during this Mexican holiday. Sugar Skulls are funky, festive and a huge trend these days! In honor of Da de los Muertos we encourage everyone to celebrate other cultures and have fun getting creative with an icon ofthis traditional Mexican holiday, the Sugar Skull. In pop-culture Sugar Skulls are often adorned withhearts, crosses, flowers and filigree. The possibilities are endless so enjoy! Check out all of the ama

Here's our list of 5 Favorite New Items from the September 2013 edition of Stained Glass News: As always we look forward to receiving our quarterly issue of Stained Glass News. It is always packed with inspiration and highlights of the newest items available for art glass creations. Let us walk you through these exciting new items and see how they can add new dimension and style to your work today! 1. Dichroic Extract It's like glitter, all grown up! Add dichroic to your projects in ways you've previously only dreamed of with this fantastic new product. It's all the dazzle of dichroic, without a backing to limit your applications. With no COE, you can paint it on, sprinkle it, even pick it up in flameworked and blown glass projects. Dichroic Extract is available in all your favorite colors, plus fun sample sets to get started. 2. Fuseworks Gift Findings for Glass Creating fun, thoughtful gifts or glass accents you'll love to use is a breeze with these fantastic flat Fuseworks Gift Findings . Each comes with simple instructions to make finishing your projects easy. The perfect way to display your glass art cre

We are excited about the Fall 2013 line up of talented glass art experts teaching classes at Delphi's Creativity Center in Lansing, MI. Each artist brings their own unique skill set and techniques that any student from beginner to professional artist would enjoy. Tim Driers intricate hollow forms will amaze flameworking fans. Learn valuable new skills from this master glass blower. Gain fusing expertise in Janet Schraders classes. Janet has many special tricks to impart that will take your fusing knowledge to a new level. Kent Lauers glass magic will enthrall coldworking enthusiasts. Youll also learn glass gem making from this master of beveling. One look at Patty Grays fantastic glass art will have fusers thirsting to learn her secrets. Patty will share some of her unique methods during her Advanced Fusing class. Get to know each artist and their work, then see which class is right for you! Class sizes are limited so register now to ensure your opportunity to work with these amazing artists. Tim Drier Michigan native Tim Drier has worked as a scientific glass blower for more than 25 years. His e

August 26th might just be another Dog Day of Summer for some people, but here at Delphi we are looking forward to this day. Why you ask....well because it is National Dog Day. This year we have decided to do something special to celebrate not just dogs, but all our favorite furry, feathered and scaly friends. For the remainder of August, we're putting our favorite pet inspired glass art supplies on sale. Delphi will be donating 5% of the proceeds on all sale items to the Humane Society to help pets in need. We encourage everyone who loves animals or just loves using them as inspiration for their art to join us in supporting a good cause, now through August 31st. Here are some of our favorite supplies: Cat Designs Pattern Book Paw Bail Fat Cats Color Enamel Decals Pre-cut Paw Prints Available in 90 96 COE In previous years, we've hosted The Animal Creations Contest to shine a spotlight on fantastic projects depicting the creatures large and small that ste

National Book Lover's Day is a lesser known holiday - much to my disappointment. It's celebrated on August 9th every year. I love books. I love books so much that in my house, every day is Book Lover's Day. I'm hoping you'll join me in celebrating for this one day at least though. "A book is a gift you can open again and again." Garrison Keillor A home without books is like a room without windows. Horace Mann Books have always held a special place in my heart. They open up a world of new possibilities to me. Each time I come back to a book, I bring fresh experiences and perspective to it, which lets me take something new away from it. Art books are no different. In addition to the bones of the process, the invaluable instruction that they present, they offer an opportunity to dream and create. The project ideas and instruction allow me to gain a greater understanding of the process, and how to use the process as part of the art. I get a new jumping-off point for creativity. I believe that books are as fundamental to an artists' workshop as the raw materials they'll use to complete a project. Without one or the other, no artistic vision can be executed successful

Delphi is pleased to welcome glass artists Kaori and Keiji Okushima, from Shiga Prefecture in Japan, to our Lansing Creativity Center on Saturday Aug. 10th, from 3:30pm - 4:30pm. Come to Delphi for a chance to see Kaori create her glass jewelry and hear Keiji explain his creative process. Kaori and Keiji are both part of the Art from the Lakes program . Art from the Lakes is a special artists exchange project between the sister states of Michigan in the United States and Shiga Prefecture in Japan. Named to recognize the importance of Lake Biwa in Shiga Prefecture and the Great Lakes which surround Michigan, the 2013 exhibition and residency brings seven extraordinary artists to Michigans capitol city of Lansing to exhibit their works. As part of the exchange artists from Michigan will be invited and hold an exhibition in Shiga in the fall of 2014. Kaori Okushima, Glassworker The Art from the Lakes Exhibit is held at the Lansing Art Gallery, August 1st - September 28th, 2013. All are invited to attend the opening reception on F