Just a BIt More Glass and another Ovum

I had another firing session of glass cabochons.  A bit of an experiment with some of the glass combinations and overall I'm quite pleased.

The three major fails were the ones at the bottom of the picture above but I really love the glow of the ones below!

A few weeks ago I put some wool tops, scrim, off cuts etc through the embellisher and then started stitching over it. 

Lots and lots of stitches.  It really feels lovely when it starts firming up into a proper fabric base.

It was about 18 x 7 inches when I'd finished.

This is it stretched out on the design wall having been spritzed from the back.

I then added cocoon 'eggs' I had beaded and stitched gold purls to and shisha mirrors, and mounted it.

Another Ovum box compete.

 

Ovum III

I hope you all have a wonderful and creative Easter break.  I hope to be doing a little more of this. 

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A Little Bit of Glass Fusing

When I did the silver Clay with Hillary Bowen last year she also let us do a few small glass cabochons in her kiln.  She also gave me some firing instructions to have a go myself at home.  Yesterday I finally dug out all the glass and had a go!

This was the first lot.  As you can see I over cut the clear glass layer on most of them and there are a few burst bubbles so these are a fail.

But I liked the little odd pair at the bottom.  Interesting to see that the purple iridescent glass actually started as blue before firing. Still pretty but not what I wanted.

The second batch.  I cut the clear glass smaller, down to about 2 mm larger this time. I did straighten these up but I had to carry them out to the kiln first. The large pieces were just to use up all the scraps I had left over from cutting the others.

 Pleased with these four pairs, they will be cufflinks.  John has already nabbed the blue ones.

These white I put on button backs.  There are one or two bubbles but I don't mind them.  It shows they weren't made by a robot!  But I will also try a lower temp, longer time fire next time so the bubbles have time to rise.

And this pair were quite pretty with the smallest slither of clear glass showing which you can see at the bottom in the photos.

I have learned a lot from just playing yesterday.  For a start I think my clear glass may be thinker than what I used at Hilary's.  Glass will always settle to 6mm when heated so they spread like cooking biscuits.  If there is too much clear it will just over run.  I will cut the clear glass just a fraction smaller again next time and hopefully get it right!   Oh the four larger cabochons came out a great shape but poor condition so were scrap too.  At least I could smash them and reuse them if necessary, or just keep them to learn from my mistakes.

Have a great week ahead!


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They Fledged!

This morning I was nowhere near my studio for ages and when I did pop in I saw these faces looking at me. They were quite active and having a few wing stretches. 

Then Elsa arrived with Olivia and we decided to sit in there as it's always nice and sunny and full of things Elsa wants to look at.  Whilst I was facing away Elsa said one was near the edge just as it few and hit the window!  Obviously I didn't have the camera ready for that but I was a bit worried about it hitting the window!  I couldn't see it anywhere so it must have made it into the bushes.

I managed to grab the camera for this blurred shot of No 2 about to leave.

 And then again as it tried to fly along the window.

Eventually it landed in the Quince.

Looking quite stunned with it's achievement and probably a little cold after the nice cosy nest with it's siblings.

No's 3 and 4 looking like Tweedledum and Tweedledee wondering what they are supposed to be doing.

Really not too sure at all!

So a parent flies in to encourage them with no food to offer.  Perhaps they'd better get a move on.

Which then works!

The parents are still flitting about and I saw one encourage one of the babies under a gate and on into the back garden.  I hope No 1 is ok.  I still don't want to go out there yet and check, (or clean the windows!), and maybe find out if there actually was a No 5 like we first thought. Luckily we don't have cats anymore and nor does the neighbour.

Fingers crossed for their onward flights. We have really enjoyed being a part of the wonderful event and feel more than lucky that we were here at the first flight too.  And don't forget you can click on the pictures for larger ones.


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