Holiday Art Ornaments, Vases, Jewelry

Holiday Art Ornaments, Vases, Jewelry.

I've been on the run from home to Wichita to help our daughter and her family while she is on bed rest and pregnant. It has been a special time for me!

I have found time to make some art for the holidays: tree ornaments and holiday decorations, one of a kind art like my Abstract Autumn fused glass work, necklaces, vases, paintings for my show in Oct. at the downtown bakery, and work for the 3rd annual Holiday Glow Art Sale & Show, which was held Nov. 11, 12 and 13.

The sale was a huge success and I raised over $2,000 for our local homeless mission. I donate 1/2 of my art sales to that organization. Check out my etsy shop and know that your purchases help the homeless!

I hope you and yours have a well-blessed Thanksgiving and Christmas, too!

How to use E6000 glue Tips for E6000

Have you had frustrations with E6000 glue failure? Me, too!

The main things I've learned:
Be sure things to be glued are very clean, free of dust, grime and grease.

Be sure everything is dry.

Use E6000 SPARINGLY! More is not better! The reason: E6000 does not stick well to itself. I put a small amount on the jewelry bail and the matching glass pendant, or a small amount on the glass butterfly and the matching mat board, for example. Next I spread it out very thinly on both surfaces with a small piece of heavy cardboard or a scrap of mat board. After waiting about 1-2 minutes, I press the two surfaces together and apply some weight. I don't move the piece for 24 hrs. to give the bond a good cure time.

I've not had any glue failure after applying the 'less is more' principle with E 6000. I would love to hear any tips or frustrations or comments you may have about E 6000. Or your recommendations about other glues that are 'out there'.

Be sure to browse my etsy shop! I have lots of fun pottery, fused glass, gourds, whimsical acrylic paintings and more. www.jackiesart.etsy.com

Fused Glass Art Kiln Pressed Glass How to Remove Kiln Wash

Just wondering if anyone knows how to remove kiln wash from fused glass - other than sandblasting. We don't have sandblasting equipment. We do have a grinder, lap wheel, and a dremel with attachnments. I don't know how I can hang on to the piece to hold it on the lap wheel as it is only about 4" in diameter, and flat (1/8" thick). Any ideas appreciated!

I will attend the Glass Craft and Bead Expo in Las Vegas the beginning of March - looking to learn new techniques and excited to see all the new supplies and glass.

I hosted a tie dye birthday party in my studio yesterday. The kids made tie dyed pillow cases, balloon animals and origami book marks. It was great - the kids were all well mannered and fun!

We are looking forward to babysitting our grandkids while their parents have winter vacations in Jamaica and Peru...glad they didn't make plans to go see the Giza Pyramids in Cairo!

I tried making a small piece of kiln pressed glass this weekend. The technique worked well so I was pleased with that...but now to get the excess kiln wash off. If I can figure that out, I will post a photo.

Stay warm...windchill is minus 31 here today. Brrr!

How to use glass paint markers, Jackies Art, fused glass

Life since December has been a busy blur: Holiday Glow Art Sale & Show in December, grandson Jacob born February 3 in Morris, MN, a trip with my parents the end of that month, granddaughter Brooke born in Wichita in March with some post-birth complications that necessitated me staying to help for almost a month, a family meeting in Bismarck, Jacob's baptism, our middle daughter's wedding in MN in June, Brooke's baptism in Wichita last weekend...I'm still trying to catch up!

I've managed to make a few new art pieces, though. I had fun making pottery frames for felted whimsical houses, that I then embellished with beads and sequins. And I've given away many fused glass houses that I've personalized with names and dates. For example, Johnson House, Est. 2010. This week I'm designing fused glass guardian angels. I really like the little kiln we bought this summer!

A class I offered for kids this summer was painting on glass. At our daughter's wedding we didn't have a traditional guest book. Instead we had a large white platter that everyone signed. We used Vitrea 160 glass paints. After drying for 24 hours I baked it in our conventional oven for 40 minutes at 325. Now the new couple can actually use their guest book. It is even dishwasher safe, although I'd recommend washing it by hand.

For my kids' glass class we used the same paints and markers. Be sure to wash and dry the dish ware first, and clean with a cotton ball soaked in denatured alcohol if it is still greasy at all. Don't skip the 24 hour drying period - longer is better if the paint is applied thickly. Don't use a baking pan, just set the finished art on the oven racks. Turn the oven on, when the preheat light goes off, turn on your timer for 40 minutes. After 40 minutes, turn off the oven, open the door. Remove the dishes when they are cool enough to touch. Viola! Lovely art to use, or to hang on the wall.

I'm taking a fused glass class in Winnipeg in Sept. taught by Patty Gray...hope to learn lots and get inspired for creating new art for the 2010 Holiday Glow Art Sale & Show Nov. 12 & 13.