Archive for the 'Uncategorized' Category
For those who want to learn to etch lovely glass windows or glass objects I have added the three videos just below this post. Etching glass is perhaps one of the easier glass arts to learn, at least for the basics. But remember I didn’t say it is a snap! To be REALLY good at this art you have to be able to draw or paint a nice freehand picture or design (for the rest of us there are stencils). The chemical creams or chemical solutions used in etching are somewhat dangerous if used carelessly. Please, only adults should do this work. Wear rubber gloves and follow the directions carefully. The three videos below give only some of the basics in this craft technique. You will need to learn more, of course. One site that gives more instructions is http://www.glass-fusing-made-easy.com/how-to-etch-glass.html Another web site with more tips and instructions is http://www.etchworld.com/ccp0-display/ste_manuals.html
Here are some more web sites that show examples of beautiful glass art created by chemical etching or by sandblasting. Some of the glass objects also are created by glass carving and by etching. This technique, done by a master glass artist, results in a stunning piece of glass art!
There are other fine web pages, of course. Just search for etched glass artists. Now please view the videos (three) just below this post. I wish you much enjoyment and success!
Jerry (webmaster Crafting Glass)
Usually I write or feature articles or videos about art or decorative glass. Today is a little different. Here is a free money saving idea for you handy people out there (this idea would likely work best for a workshop or garage heater).
As you know there are many foreclosed homes being sold today at ultra low prices, or worse yet, being torn down! I have seen whole windows, with the intact glass panes, being placed on the lawn for rubbish pick-up. My idea (certainly not that original) is for you (a handy person) to collect as many windows as needed (or as many as you have space for) and use them to build a simple solar panel. A few years ago Mother Earth News featured an article showing how to build such a panel. The original article instructed the builder to use polycarbonate panels for the “windows” of the solar panel. If you use intact glass windows, that are still in the sash (or “frame”), you will save building time and money. You will need only basic carpentry skills (or hire someone) to build the solar panels. Go here for the original article: http://www.motherearthnews.com/Renewable-Energy/2006-12-01/Build-a-Simple-Solar-Heater.aspx
There are other plans on that site, and elsewhere on the internet, for simple solar panels using sun warmed air for the heat source. Just type “simple solar panel plans” in the search box on your browser. Don’t forget to use cheap (or free) old glass windows rather than plastic or polycarbonate for the clear panel covers to save a lot of money. I wish you much success!
Jerry (Webmaster, Crafting Glass)
This web article has some good information (IMHO) also:
http://www.mobilehomerepair.com/article17solar.htm
What Is the Difference Between Stained Glass And “Painted Glass” (Or Is There Any Real Difference)?
The glass vase looked beautiful, I thought. I was at a flea market vendors booth years ago just looking at glassware to buy for my wife. At the time I was a real novice in glass (speaking broadly about all categories of glass knowledge, such as collecting, art glass, and glass crafting). I didn’t buy the vase right away but vowed to come back later to buy it unless I found “something better”. In talking to a friendly vendor at another booth I found out that a buyer must be cautious because some glassware items have the color painted on with a chemical solution which is then fired to make it “permanent” on the glass. This process is called “staining” the glass. I later found that some collectors, and even some dealers, call this technique “flashing” although that is not really the correct name. Whatever name it is called, the problem with glassware made by this technique is that the thin chemical coating (or “paint”) can wear off in time with a lot of handling and washing. Needless to say, I did not buy the vase that the first dealer had for sale! So keep in mind that when talking about collectible glass pieces, such as a vase, the techniques of Flashing, Casing, and Plating are separate layers of glass applied to the piece and that Stain is a painted on coating.
Now we will talk about Stained Glass Windows. They are a different animal from the collectible glass mentioned above! Stained glass windows have a history over a thousand years old! From what I can learn of the early times it appears that most of the medieval windows were made by painting a special mixture containing tiny glass particles (frit) over the desired piece of glass and then firing the glass and “paint” in a kiln to fix the painted design on to the glass piece. Most, but not all, modern stained glass windows are made with a different method. This later technique involves cutting a clear or colored glass to fit in a part of a pattern drawn on tracing paper or similar material. The glass piece is normally not painted. It is used “as is”. Its shape and color make it part of the design. The glass piece is then held in place in the window by lead or copper foil and solder. For a little more information look at my glossary terms below. The glossary for Crafting Glass may be found on the upper left side of this web page. Thanks for visiting, Jerry (webmaster, craftingglass.com)
STAINED GLASS – Commonly used to describe any colored flat glass or any object made of such glass joined by metal strips. The term originally applied to colored or clear flat glass cut to fit an artist’s design, on which details were painted in pigment with a brush. The glass pieces were then heated in a kiln or oven to bond the pigment to the glass surface. This firing makes the painted detail as durable and permanent as the glass itself. Most religious windows from medieval times until this century were executed in this manner, and so the term came to be used first for any architectural application, and then for any design in colored flat glass. It is now universally accepted as a convenient general term to define the art, the craft, and the industry
PAINTED GLASS – Glass on which special paints (containing frit) have been applied in illustration or decorative pattern and then heated in a kiln to a temperature high enough to fuse the pigments permanently to the glass surface. The modern version of the original medieval “stained glass.”
Hey viewers, Don’t miss out! The contest will end in two weeks for today.Remember, the contest is to find the most beautiful glass window picture in the world (or at least in our little portion of it). Win one hundred bucks just for sending in a digital window picture. I love beautiful glass windows, don’t you? For the details (there are a few simple rules) go to:
http://hubpages.com/hub/VoteTheMostBeautifulGlassWindowInTheWorld
I’ll be grateful if you participate! 
)
Jerry (webmaster: Crafting Glass)
Aug
1
Welcome to CraftingGlass.com! Crafting Glass features videos, articles, pictures, and blogs on making and caring for beautiful glass objects. Whether it is information on stained glass, etched glass, or glass beads you will find it here. The sources for the tools and supplies you will need for crafting and maintaining decorative glass likely will be found here as well. Tips on buying, installing, and repairing window glass are provided on this web site also. For a list of categories please look in the column on the left side of this page. Please feel free to comment (blog) on any article or video. I also welcome suggestions for new articles, pictures, or videos in the broad catagory of “glass” (use the “contact us/me” page), How awesome can glass be? Well, just look at the beautiful images below for some idea of the beauty and versatility of glass.
Central Train Station R10/O5, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Architectural glass by Derix Glass Studios (derix.com). Pictured is the Glass art ceiling and glass art pillars.
Narcissus Quagliata, artist
A small stained glass window in an near 100 year old home.
A hand blown and hand cut small glass vase. 
Agate glass pitcher 
Recently I added a glossary to help you (or at least help most of us who are not experts already) learn more terms related to glass, and especially, to art glass and glass working. I have spent a lot of time compiling this list and I feel it is more complete than most glass related glossaries I have seen on the internet. My thanks to the following sources for some of the terms: Spectrum Glass Company, Inc. , Just Glass Online, Wikipedia, and glass-fusing-made-easy.com. There are, or will be soon, links to all of these web sites, and many others in my “links” page.
Please let me know what you think of it (the glossary) and feel free to suggest more terms to add to this glossary. To see the glossary click on the category “glossary” in the box on the upper left of the page.
Thanks for looking! )
Jerry (webmaster, Crafting Glass)
email: jerry@craftingglass.com
Many fusers etc are not aware that you can actully send your own glass to CBS Dichroic to have it coated. Even stained glass textures.
Duration : 0:6:42
Is This the Largest Glass Art Object In The World?
I believe it is likely the largest glass art that is visible from one vantage point. Certainly it must be one of the largest creations of its type. See the man in the high lift (screen shot 2nd picture) under the incredible glass ceiling? This gives you the scale of this beautiful creation by Narcissus Quagliata. Also called “Dome of Light”, the massive dome of glass art (including the pillars) is called “Wind, Fire, and Time” and is located in the central train station in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. I had one picture of this amazing glass creation a year or so ago on CraftingGlass.com. Here is another picture and a YouTube video showing more views and some of the creative process involved in making this. Derix Glass Studios in Germany was used by Quagliata to help fabricate the large panels that he designed.
Amazing Glass Mural Quagliata Kaohsiung, Taiwan
video Central Train Station Art Glass Mural
Dec
13
Learn how to fuse and slump glass with Corning Museum of Glass experts. Fusing and slumping are two techniques that have been used for centuries, and can be used together or separately.
Duration : 0:3:55
Nov
26
To all our regular viewers who love glass in all its many forms and to all newcomers I wish you a great “turkey day”. Enjoy your meal and let us all be thankful we have so much good food to eat (too many in the world don’t enjoy our bounty)!
Jerry