Glass Fusing class

Last week was a last day of my glass fusing class. I took it out of curiosity and because it matched my kids class schedule. They were in class learning about arctic animals and tsunamis and I was in class cutting glass two doors down - it was perfect!

Over the course of 8 classes I made over 30 pieces of full fused and tack fused glass, most of which I must define as unsuccessful. There are a lot of things to consider when you fuse glass and it is not as easy as one might think. There is the design - cutting is hard!!!:), there is color of the glass which might change in a kiln, there is the thickness of your glass. In full fusing your piece will always end up quoter inch thick, so when you lay 2 or 3 pieces on the top of each other consider the expansion because if the stack is thicker then quoter inch you might end up with a coaster instead of a pendant. There is a temperature control in a kiln which was in the instructor hands. She did a great job, but some pieces still had bubbles or scummed surface. Also I made a mistake of not buying my own glass and I didn't have many choices using the instructor bought glass. She invested in a lot of beautiful dichroic pieces but left out the solid colored ones.

Here are posted the pieces I am happy with, some of them will make pendants. Full fuse. Tack fuse. My first wire wrapping work. I have never done it before and did it in class on the piece that I don't like. This pendant is an experiment and is not considered wearable. I just want to post a picture for a record:)

Summer wreath

This week I finally got to making a summer wreath for our friends. I never made such a big one before, but promise is a promise! Neat picker that I am I spent 5 hours putting it together with wire and hot glue after 3 trips to the craft store, because the flowers just didn't quite work together first 2 times:) I am thrilled with the way it turned out and I really hope that the person whose front door this wreath is to decorate will share my excitement!

4 months!!!

My Etsy shop StudioElenus crossed 4 month mark 3 days ago! Amazing thing is the realization that every month the amount of things to learn doesn't get smaller, it grows. I face the necessity to reinvent my product and that is what I am working on right now! I am getting ready to launch a super exciting new vintage inspired collection at the end of March!!! Over 30 original, trendy items are coming into my shop! I even excited myself about it and making at least 4 items to treat my jewelry box:)

As I am getting ready for this big event, I moved nearly half of my items into the SALE section! Beautiful jewelry, great prices!!! Here are some of the discounted designs.



I am really looking forward to this fifth month on Etsy, I have a feeling it is going to be fantastic!