07/17/08 – We just got back from a fantastic trip to Wichita, Kansas. My daughters had never seen lightning bugs. As evening approached the lawns came alive with these illuminating creatures. They had so much fun catching the little bugs in jars and once their fascination was fulfilled, they again released the creatures to continue their mating dance.

Once we returned, I decided to do some patterns for these critters and other summertime bugs. There are so many different bugs during the season, but here are a few that I put on the Glass Bug Patterns page.

Bumble Bee

Butterfly

Dragonfly

Lightning Bug/Firefly

Lady Beetle/Ladybug

07/14/08 – I spent most of the weekend working on my site again. The only bad thing about working at home is you never get away from the job. But, I really enjoy working on the site and adding new items all the time.

Today I added more designs to the Glass Fusing Pattern page. Time has gotten away from me and we were on vacation so I didn’t have the opportunity to put up a page for Independence Day like I wanted to before the holiday actually arrived. But, the page is up and I have included pages for the following pin ideas:

4th of July Hat

Firecrackers Pin

Watermelon Pin

07/13/08 – I have been putting a few more pages up on my web site since summer is here, and it is too hot to go outside. So, I will stay inside and heat up the kiln. Here are a few things I have been working on this past week…

Painting on Glass with Glass - This is a simple way of decorating clear pieces of glass. I am planning on making sets of plates for Christmas presents, and this is an easy and quick way of achieving the same design over and over.

Glass Fusing Firing Log - The firing log has been updated and put together in a booklet. I was debating whether to just upload this as a downloadable file or have it made into a printable version. With the printable version, everything is bound together nicely and the printing is already done for you. So, I decided to go with the version that makes it easier for individuals. You can find it for sale at my Café Press store.

The Slumping Glass Bowl - This was a lot of fun to make and watch as the different segments came together. The colors are very complimentary, and the leaves have a sparkle glass that the picture doesn’t seem to pick up. It took a long time to anneal this piece because of the thickness.

07/06/08 – I decide to put up a shop on Cafe Press. It is hard to find t-shirts or other items that relate to glass fusing. This site is filled with items that will help warm glass artists find items for this sizzling craft.

These items will be fantastic as gifts for friends or family who are glass fusers, or purchase them for your own personal use. The store will be updated periodically as new items are added.

Be sure to check out my Store Front for new and updated items.

Apparel Store Front
http Glass Fusing Made Easy $24.99	Hot Out of the Kiln $13.99	Now This is What I Call a Hot Flash $22.99
Glass Fuser Hard Worker $22.99	Glass has Class $23.99	Glass Fusing Puzzle $32.99
Glass Fusing Makes Me Hot $32.99	Pass The Glass $23.99	King Of The Kiln $22.99
Kiln King $22.99	I Love Glass Fusing $22.99	Glutton for Glass $23.99
Fusers Do It With Glass $25.99	fusing fanatic $24.99	You Don’t Know Frit $21.99
Will Work For Glass $22.99	Warning Glass Fuser $24.99	Glass Fever $26.99
X X Check $26.99	This is Why I’m Hot $21.99	That’s How I Fuse $21.99
Get out of the way $32.99	Glass Fusing For Me $28.99
Baby Back to Top
No I wasn’t made in a kiln! $16.99
Housewares Back to Top
Large Mug $16.99	Mug $15.99	Stein $18.99
Hats & Bags Back to Top
http Glass Fusing Made Easy $17.99	Glass Fusing Goddess $17.99	Glass Fusing is The Answer $23.99
Stickers, Buttons & Magnets Back to Top
3″ Lapel Sticker (48 pk) $29.99	Sticker (Bumper 10 pk) $31.99	Sticker (Rectangle) $7.49
Posters, Prints and More! Back to Top
Glass Fusing Greeting Card $7.49	Calendar Print $8.99	My Glass Fusing Journal $12.49

06/19/08 – Well, after using a manual controlled kiln for a long time now, I have upgraded to a kiln with a temperature controller. I am still learning so much about this new kiln, and it will take time and lots of notes before I really feel comfortable again. But this kiln is much larger and really opens up the possibilities for so many more projects that can be accomplished.

Like so many individuals when starting out doing glass fusing, I was unfamiliar with just how important a controller was, and how much easier it would make the fusing process. Although I had done a lot of research when I started out, I felt that I would be ok with a manual kiln. Boy, what a headache that was, and so time consuming. Now I can concentrate more on my designs and projects and not as much time babysitting my kiln.

If you are unfamiliar with the advantages of a “Temperature Controller”, or are in the market for a new kiln, please check out this page.

06/15/08 – Confetti is thin shards of glass that can be used to add shading and design to your fusible pieces. These can be purchased in a variety of colors. They can also be made in the kiln. The colors won’t be a brilliant if made, but the positive side is the glass will be less expensive and compatible if made out of already purchased compatible glass. Find out more about these fusible glass confetti pieces.

04/14/08 – Added a page on “Cold Combing”. What is cold combing? This is a very simple method that gives you the look of hot combing on glass. It can be accomplished using just a few items, and the process posses few safety precautions. So if you feel a little squeamish about sticking items inside a molten hot kiln, try this method to achieve a similar appearance.

04/08/08 – You may have been under the idea that an air bubble in fused glass is an unwanted matter.  But, after discovering a couple of pieces where these blisters have been intentionally posed within a piece of fused glass you are starting to view them differently.

Entrapping air within glass for eternity has started to invoke creativity.  But, rather than trying to preclude these smooth-textured forms, embrace them and place them in your fused pieces.  They can even be encouraged to form and even be put in intended areas.  Yes, you can intentionally trap air between levels of glass.

A list of different ways you can accomplish this technique can be found on the Do You Want Bubbles? page. Here are pages about the different methods:

03/23/08 - Time to arouse your imaginative juices and construct a few Easter Pins.  The Easter Page will help you determine some pin ideas for this holiday.  Create a few creative adornments that can embellish you, your family or acquaintances.

There is an adorable Peter Cottontail pin with a pattern to get you started.  This pattern does require the use of a glass saw to cut out the details in the bunny.  Or use coloring books for a few themes on other projects you could create and design.  Adjust the pattern to your desired size and cut out the design.

03/12/08 – Today I finally finished some of the St Patrick’s Day pages. I am trying to add pins for each season on the Seasonal Pin page. These St Patrick’s Day Pins are great to give and wear to prevent getting pinched on March 17th. The Shamrock requires the use of a glass saw to cut out all the details on the four leaf clover. The scrap glass pin is very simple and just a suggestion of the things you can do with all those scrap pieces of glass.

St Patrick’s Day Pins

• Shamrock
• Scrap Glass Pin