What Fused Glass Technique Would You Like to Learn?

If you’ve been to our studio, you know we have ongoing classes in fused glass (along with classes on beadmaking and beginning stained glass). We offer everything from Beginning Fused Glass to classes using more advanced fusing techniques, like controlled bubble plates, stringer bowls, pot drops, pattern bars, dichroic jewelry, glass sinks, and more. The classes are fun, productive and taught by an expert. You’re guaranteed to come away with more knowledge about creating beautiful fused glass art every time.

We invite you to let us know what classes interest you. Your suggestions will help us plan our class schedules into next year. Have you seen a technique you like but need instruction on how to do it? Is there a particular project you’d like to learn how to make? Is there an artist you know who is teaching classes that you‘d like to meet in a workshop at Bella Glass Studios?

Please enter your suggestions in the Comments section below, or email us at info@bellglassstudios.com. Thanks for your input.

Bella Says

Have trouble transporting and storing those long, long pieces of lead or zinc for your stained glass projects? Me too! So, I bought a six-foot length of PVC pipe at my friendly home improvement store. It fits in my car, and I can easily carry multiple pieces inside the pipe while keeping them straight and neat.

NEW Kiln Journal Now Available

If you’ve worked in fused glass for any length of time, you know it can be a challenge to keep a record of all of your projects and fusing schedules. Even if you’ve written it all down “somewhere,” it can be hard to find it when you need it. We’re pleased to announce that we have a great solution for you.

The new Bella Glass Kiln Journal is a half-page (5.5” x 8.5”), three-ring binder filled with specially-designed sheets you can use to record the necessary details about your glass projects and keep them safe for the next time you need them. It will save you time and ensure that your valuable information is readily available. Less fuss. No searching through odd pieces of paper scattered around you studio. Less hassle.

The Kiln Journal is just the right size to store anywhere in your studio or to carry with you if needed. In addition to twenty-five sheets that are specifically formatted to make it easy for you to record your projects, it also includes six, time-tested firing schedules you can use as a reference as you develop your own fusing schedules. As a bonus, the Kiln Journal also has helpful tips for fused glass artists and some thought-provoking quotations.

Get organized. Be cool. Purchase your copy of the Bella Glass Kiln Journal today at Bella Glass Studios.

Holiday Gifts

Some of us around the studio are already thinking about what to give friends and family for the holidays later this year. In past years, we’ve given glass ornaments, small bowls, jewelry pieces and slumped vases. We needed something new . . . and we think we’ve found it. With the new, two-part box molds and 410 to 670 grams of frit or small pieces of glass, depending on the mold (that’s about 14.46 to 23.64 ounces), you can make a lidded glass box. The shapes available are round, rectangular, elliptical and kidney. If you want to get fancy, you can dress up your box lid in a variety of ways. Bear in mind, the boxes are small, with just enough space inside to hold a few rings, M&Ms, keys, paperclips, etc. They’re mostly decorative and definitely future collector’s items. People are bound to oooh and ahhh at your creativity and display their boxes proudly - especially your mom.

Bella Glass Now Offers Custom Display Stands

There’s no getting around it -- a display stand can make or break (ha, ha!) your glass art. And, if you’ve been looking at what’s available on the market, you know it can be difficult to find a custom display stand to fit your glass perfectly and show it off in the best possible way. Bella Glass Studios is now offering a custom display stand service that will add the “wow” factor to your glass art.

With the dimensions of your finished glass – height, length and width -- our designers can manufacture an attractive metal or wood display stand, whether it’s a tabletop stand for gallery exhibits, a floor stand to add drama to your art, or a simple slotted stand for a small flat piece.

Square, rectangular, round or irregular shapes can all be fit to a custom display stand.

Metal stands can be completed in basic matte black, or you can request them with primer only so you can add a finishing paint color of your own to compliment your glass piece. Wood stands are done using unfinished wood so that you can apply the finish or color you want.

Contact us today at 303-462-4221 or info@bellaglassstudios.com with your display stand requirements, and we’ll be happy to provide you with a quote and a delivery timeline.

Sticks and Stones

If you missed the Sticks and Stones class on June 20, you missed a ton of creative fun. Our intrepid artists made beautiful wall hangings (or table top art pieces) in just one day from a piece of decorative glass, a colorful pot drop "rondell," a tree branch (or two) and some solder. Some students had never soldered before, but left the class with a unique creation that is sure to impress their family and friends. Several people had so much fun, they're already buying supplies and designing their next Sticks and Stones pieces. Comments about the class ranged from "I know just where I'm going to hang this in my house!" to "I really like this!" to "Wow!" If you'd like to learn how to make your own awesome Sticks and Stones art, email us at info@bellaglassstudios.com with your contact information, and we'll let you know when the next class is scheduled.

So, You Want to Buy a Grinder

A glass grinder is one item of equipment that both fused glass and stained glass artists often want to have. (It was the first “major tool” Bella bought when she started doing glass art . . . those many, many years ago.) So, once you’ve decided to buy one, how do you decide which one? For most models, regardless of the manufacturer, you’ll need to budget $130 or more. Most manufacturers offer a five-year warranty and all the tabletop grinders work on standard household current. The differences in grinders (and prices) are related to the size of the work surface, the RPMs and horsepower of the motor, the size and number of grinding bits that come with a new grinder, and the inclusion (or not) of various items like an elevated work surface, a face shield or splash guard. If you're just starting out, a smaller model will do fine and last many years. If you're doing lots of grinding or you prefer a large work surface and more power, consider the larger models.

If a grinder is next on the “buy list” for your glass art projects, please stop by our studio to compare the various models we have available and find the best one for your needs.

Bella Says

Get those itsy-bitsy, teeny, tiny pieces of glass out of your fingers by using hydrogen peroxide. Apply some to the trouble spot, press on some duct tape and coax those pesky pieces right out. No kidding, it works.

Reactive What?

Those of you who are fans of Bullseye COE 90 glass have probably heard about or seen the new reactive glass – Reactive Ice Clear and Reactive Cloud Opal. Combine these reactive glasses with certain colors to see some fun . . . well, reactions. For example, Bullseye 0116 frit on the Reactive Ice Clear outlines itself with dark brown lines (the reaction). Bullseye 1116 frit turns chocolate brown on the Reactive Clear Ice. Stop by the studio if you’d like to see samples.

Although these two reactive glasses are new, reactions between certain colors of glass are not. It’s the metal oxides used to create glass colors that can cause reactions. Some colors react, others do not. Some reactions are fun, some are not. For example, French Vanilla reacts nicely with Turquoise Blue to create a brown outline (sort of like the outline you get with the new reactive glasses). Egyptian Blue and Marigold Yellow react to create a dark color that may not be so much fun.

Our advice is to be aware of these reactions, especially when combining different colors. We recommend that you do an artist’s study (or test) piece before you commit to certain colors for a final project.

Bella Says . . .

There’s a great class coming to Bella Glass Studios this September where you can learn a unique crackle technique with internationally-known artist Bob Leatherbarrow. My friend Gilda took his class and the bowls she made are to die for! The class costs $1050 and includes all materials for you to make several gallery-quality bowls and some awesome powder wafers, lunches for the five-day class, and a chance to enjoy Bob’s expertise, sense of humor and Canadian accent. Kidding him aboot his accent is worth a few dollars all by itself. Check our website for more information aboot the class. Give us a call, 303-462-4221, to register while there are still spaces left.

Bella Says . . .

For the best results, cut glass at room temperature. Cutting cold glass can be a real challenge. Ugh.

Welcome to BellaBlog!

We hope you’ll visit often to learn about new products for fused glass and stained glass artists, classes to enhance your glass art skills, and tips to help you exercise your artistic muscles.

Bella Glass is a family owned and operated business, and we love to adopt new people into the family. For this blog, we’ve adopted Bella. She’s a very experienced glass artist, loves long walks on the beach and baking Snickerdoodle cookies. She’ll be sharing her best tips and tricks (about glass, not cookies) with you. Watch for her words of wisdom.

You’re welcome to comment on what you find here, but please be aware that we are only able to review comments from time to time and we cannot respond. If you have questions about our products, services or classes, please visit our website at www.bellaglassstudios.com or call us at 303-462-4221. If you’re having trouble with a glass art project, we invite you to sign up for one of our classes to learn more. Our Intermediate Fusing Class is perfect for those who want to work on their own projects while expanding their knowledge of fused glass artistry.

Special Money Saving Deals

Don’t let the economy stifle your creativity. We know everyone is watching their pennies (and dollars) these days, and we’d like to help. Each month we offer a discount on specific items. In May, you can purchase any of our retail stained or fusible glass at a 20% discount!

We’ve also started the Bella Bucks program. For every $20 you spend on GLASS, you’ll receive two Bella Bucks. The next time you shop with us you can use your Bella Bucks for up to 50% of your purchase. It’s an extra few dollars in your pocket to spend on your favorite artistic pastime.

Take a Class

Despite the economy, we’ve been as busy as bees expanding our product lines and finding new classes that will encourage you to stop in for a day or more to play with glass along with us. Recently, students at Bella Glass created some beautiful Stack and Smoosh plates that have a real retro look – can you say psychedelic? – and the Double Iridized Sandblasted plates our students created were dazzling. Check our website for the full schedule of upcoming classes.

New Products!

If you haven’t seen the crinkled dichroic glass in System 96 and COE 90, the reactive glass from Bullseye, or the two-part box molds, check them out the next time you visit.