I have always been creative and was drawn to colored glass at an early age. In the 1980s I taught myself stained glass, making suncatchers and lamps as a hobby. I expanded into fused glass after retirement from the hardwood lumber industry in 2016. I am constantly learning new techniques and processes that keep me excited about working in glass. Opening each kiln is like Christmas morning!
Using colored flat glass sheets, pieces of the design are cut using a carbide wheel cutter or a diamond wet saw. If needed the edges are ground smooth with a diamond wet grinder. Electric kilns fuse the glass at temperatures between 1200F to 1700F. Temperature schedules control both the heating and cooling (called annealing) of the kiln. A kiln schedule can take eighteen to more than 36 hours to complete depending on the thickness and size of the items. Fusing can be just a tack fuse sticking the pieces together with slightly rounded edges and full texture, a contour fuse where edges are more rounded but retain some texture, to a full fuse where the pieces become one with a smooth surface.
Using opalescent, transparent, and dichroic glass in my designs, I will sometimes use multiple fusing cycles to add detail components and form (slump) the piece into a mold for the final shape.
Family, two miniature schnauzers (Maple and Ash), and creating with glass is my ideal retirement!
Location Specifics:
My Glass Studio is the garage on the right side of the house. Enter through the door with the Tall Oaks Glass sign.
Accessibility:
Gravel driveway, concrete apron to 35 inch door opening with 1-1/8 inch threshold. Could also open overhead garage door if needed.