Having fun with a Wire Glass Melt!

If you could see me now... I have a very big smile on my face!
Took the plunge and decided to do my very first wire melt last night.
This process is melting glass at higher than normal fuse temperatures over stainless steel wire or rods (like I did) to create an awesome color design.
This is a great way to use up past failed experiments (and scraps) to create something beautiful.
Here's what I did:

 

I coated the inside of a 10" unglazed clay flowerpot base with 5 coats of kiln wash.  Topped that with several stainless steel rods (1/8").  Stacked scraps on top of that... colors I thought would look nice together so I chose blue, pink and white.  Wrote up a pot/wire melt schedule and ran that for a day.

And when I looked this morning, here's what I found:

 

I think it looks amazing!  I love how the colors turned out... I'll take a better picture when it's finished cooling... the lighting in my studio isn't the greatest.  There are small bubbles but I can fix that with a regular refiring.  :)

I did learn that any glass stuck to the metal rods will splinter and break off when they're cooling... it doesn't stick to anything or hurt the kiln so clean-up is a breeze.

Knitting for Charity

I've always appreciated knitting/crocheting... always wished that I could do it.  To be honest I've never tried.  When I saw this charity that was asking for 8"x8" knitted/crocheted squares so they could make blankets for children in Africa, I had to pass the info along.

 Knitting for Charity Website

Quoting the website:

"Ronda visited us in 2008. She told us of the scale of the disaster facing so many children in South Africa today who are imperiled by the twin issues of HIV/AIDS and poverty. She explained she often gave out blankets to children as she drove around Johannesburg, and of her frustration; too many children, too few blankets.

Many of these children are orphaned or have been abandoned. Many live in great poverty in shack settlements. Some head up families of their siblings together with other children and some live alone, without shelter, in hills and dumps around the cities."

Oregon Glass Guild - 10th Annual Glass Gallery

I'm very much looking forward to this event... looks like there will be an amazing showing of local glass art.  Free admission too!  Hopefully I'll be able to show my glass at this event someday.  

My Studio Workspace

Busy busy busy!  Here's where I am most of the day, in my lovely basement studio.  I'm just starting out and you could call me a "one (wo)man band".  I do it all and it definitely keeps me busy.  Whew!
Here's the grand tour:

It may look dark and depressing... but it's where I create beautiful glass art.  :)

Splash Suncatchers

Suncatchers can be so fun. The colors really shine when the light passes through them. Guaranteed to cheer up any window!  So I decided to make my own design for awesome color schemes.
Every splash suncatcher is unique... I choose the colors and let the glass almost design it's own shape. If you'd like one of your own, check out my Etsy shop. Send me a message if you'd like one made with your favorite colors!

Pot/Wire Glass Melts

Here's a website showing some very awesome pot/wire melts.
I just love the colors and I have a ton of scraps ready to be melted down! Just ordered some supplies and I'll be waiting anxiously until they arrive.
Here are some examples (not made by me) of pot and wire melts:

Here's a great tutorial about how to make this awesome glass.

It Has Begun!

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who's encouraged me while I've been creating glass. Your inspiration and support means a lot to me.
Today I created my etsy.com account so I can begin selling my glass art.
Looking forward to sharing more about the studio on this blog and don't forget to check out my new shop!
Amy Kirkman Glass Studio
(it's a work in progress so I'll keep ya updated ^_^)

Getting a Reaction

Here's my first time playing with Bullseye Reactive glass. The outcome is awesome and cannot be fully captured with a camera.
I used Bullseye Reactive Iridescent and Light Cyan to create this crackled effect.
Here's some info about reactive glass: Get a Reaction