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Bullseye Thinfire Shelf Paper to the Skin's Rescue

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

Nov 02, 2011

Let it Snow!

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

Oct 10, 2013