Search found 22 matches

by Suzette A
Wed Dec 31, 2014 10:21 am
Forum: Art, philosophy, and content
Topic: Self doubt
Replies: 15
Views: 45974

Re: Self doubt

I made a bunch of small gifts for co-workers this Christmas. As each person opened their gifts I received many compliments. It was tough to take. I had been looking at everything for so long all I could see were flaws. And I said so. But one of my co-workers said "dont tell me that. Its perfect...
by Suzette A
Sat Dec 20, 2014 6:07 pm
Forum: Newcomer Forum
Topic: Frit on copper clay jewelry
Replies: 5
Views: 9399

Re: Frit on copper clay jewelry

Im posting back to report on my experiment. I took a pendant of previously fired copper clay and covered it with frit, roughly 2mm thick. This was 96 coe medium frit. In any case, the frit was fairly heaped in the center with no design in mind so there were lose bits around the perimeter. As you can...
by Suzette A
Thu Dec 18, 2014 11:03 pm
Forum: Art, philosophy, and content
Topic: Self doubt
Replies: 15
Views: 45974

Re: Self doubt

oh ps...you will always think "i could have done a better job". If you didnt you would lose the desire to keep creating! You as an artist will never be " finished" and know yourself to be a master. Ever. If you did, you would lose your freshness and just become an insufferable, a...
by Suzette A
Thu Dec 18, 2014 10:41 pm
Forum: Art, philosophy, and content
Topic: Self doubt
Replies: 15
Views: 45974

Re: Self doubt

Ive been busy working on Christmas gifts but this thread keeps coming up in my mind Kathie. I relate so well! Im 47 and have a life time of doubt tucked into my work. But I had a kind of epiphany recently. That is...well let me give you the long version. You see, I was one of those kids labeled &quo...
by Suzette A
Sun Dec 14, 2014 1:41 pm
Forum: Newcomer Forum
Topic: Frit on copper clay jewelry
Replies: 5
Views: 9399

Frit on copper clay jewelry

I have just made a copper clay pendant and I would like to fire some frit in the channel on the pendant face. The idea would be to fuse the frit on the pre-fired pendant. So its really just a copper piendant. Any way, the frit would be bound on 3 sides by the copper and about 1 mm in depth. The is 9...
by Suzette A
Sun Nov 23, 2014 11:07 am
Forum: Newcomer Forum
Topic: impromptu molds and dams
Replies: 2
Views: 5790

impromptu molds and dams

I am looking for impromptu mold and dam ideas. Found objects, re-purposed goodies. Ideas I am considering: Food cans Altoid tins ceramic tile steel foil (used to create a firing box for metal clays) Can anyine give me pros and cons of these ideas? Obviously everything would be kiln washed and lined ...
by Suzette A
Thu Nov 20, 2014 6:49 pm
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: painting on glass
Replies: 6
Views: 10287

Re: painting on glass

Glassline paint would work well. They come with a fine tip for detail work. I believe you would fire them on your last firing but Ive seen some complex stuff using glassline. They might be suitable for more than one firing.
by Suzette A
Mon Nov 17, 2014 10:15 pm
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: knocking off needles on the cheap
Replies: 8
Views: 10181

Re: knocking off needles on the cheap

Thank you Cynthia. Your tips are helpful! Luckily, I do have wet/dry paper. Ill give that a go. The needles are very small. Just pin prick size. I thought I did rather well over all. My plate is square, no dog boning. Aside from those needles Im quite happy. As for my firing schedule: 1. 250. 900. 1...
by Suzette A
Mon Nov 17, 2014 10:26 am
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: knocking off needles on the cheap
Replies: 8
Views: 10181

knocking off needles on the cheap

I got quite a few needles on my last plate even though I used a very conservative ramp up at 250° f per hour. Its a slingle layer of 3mm glass with about 1 mm frit. The glass stuck to my fiber paper. Any way, I cant afford to buy any more tools at the moment and I own very little cold working equipm...
by Suzette A
Sun Nov 16, 2014 7:41 pm
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: Texture / kiln carving
Replies: 11
Views: 15188

Re: Texture / kiln carving

Thanks for all tge comments regarding thin fire. I have a slab with frit in the kiln right now. Ill be refiring this slab with 1/16th inch fiber paper and well see how it goes. Morganica, I have seen that blog post regarding the many layers of thin fire. Very inspiring work. Although I won't be usin...
by Suzette A
Sun Nov 16, 2014 9:27 am
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: Texture / kiln carving
Replies: 11
Views: 15188

Re: Texture / kiln carving

Thanks for you comments. Newbie experiements are rather fun are they not? I stopped being a ninny and just ran some test tiles. I learned a lot! Oh and to be clear 1450 was my best guess when I did not have the schedule handy but the actual fuse temp was 1475. I was at work and did not have my notes...
by Suzette A
Fri Nov 14, 2014 2:58 pm
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: Texture / kiln carving
Replies: 11
Views: 15188

Texture / kiln carving

This is really two questions but they are related. I recently fused some cabachons with textured dichroic glasss. I dont have the exact schedule with me but the schedule included a slow ramp and hold and a fusing temp of 1450 with hold, plus bubble squeeze and slow down. In any case the textures of ...
by Suzette A
Tue Nov 11, 2014 10:27 pm
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: grinder or cutting system?
Replies: 4
Views: 6227

grinder or cutting system?

What is more useful for a newbie working with glass? A grinder, to correct cutting mistakes and for finishing, or, a cutting system to make cutting more accurate? Ill get both eventually but for now Im looking the most useful tool for my budget. Also, as my kiln and work area is small, my tool choic...
by Suzette A
Mon Nov 10, 2014 2:44 pm
Forum: Newcomer Forum
Topic: discovered the alrm feature...pushed stop
Replies: 4
Views: 6945

Re: discovered the alrm feature...pushed stop

Thanks Jerry! That make a lot more sense than the way I did it. Either way, the outcome is the same. But your way is much easier!

Still, my test blobs came out well.
by Suzette A
Sun Nov 09, 2014 8:12 pm
Forum: Newcomer Forum
Topic: discovered the alrm feature...pushed stop
Replies: 4
Views: 6945

discovered the alrm feature...pushed stop

I just discovered the alrm feature on my kiln. I looked it up in my manual but there was no explaination of what to do, so attempted to quiet the alarm by pushing stop. I then looked up that alrm feature and realised the mistake I had made. Of course you all will already know that this doesnt just s...
by Suzette A
Fri Nov 07, 2014 3:57 pm
Forum: Art, philosophy, and content
Topic: "Dumbing down" of glass art?
Replies: 55
Views: 154410

Re: "Dumbing down" of glass art?

it might take years before they become curious enough, or retired enough or {fill in the blank} enough to go beyond paint-your-plate. There's a point at which they start recognizing the same molds/decals/whatevers in other peoples' booths* and start trying to find a voice. Absolutely! Im 47 but onl...
by Suzette A
Thu Nov 06, 2014 3:17 pm
Forum: Newcomer Forum
Topic: Fusing in small kiln with side elements
Replies: 6
Views: 10068

Re: Fusing in small kiln with side elements

My understanding is that side elements can heat the sides of your piece too fast, leaving the center colder, and in a different stage of firing. However, I wrote to Paragon yesterday and it is their belief that, because the firefly is so small, I wont encounter these problems using a standard firing...
by Suzette A
Wed Nov 05, 2014 10:01 am
Forum: Newcomer Forum
Topic: Fusing in small kiln with side elements
Replies: 6
Views: 10068

Re: Fusing in small kiln with side elements

Thanks for the tip about the polarizing lenses. I checked bullseye but they are out of stock. Will this work?

http://www.amazon.com/Polarizing-Film-S ... izing+film
by Suzette A
Sun Nov 02, 2014 1:59 pm
Forum: Newcomer Forum
Topic: Fusing in small kiln with side elements
Replies: 6
Views: 10068

Fusing in small kiln with side elements

I have a Paragon Fire Fly kiln. It has side elements only. From my reading it appears that a side element kiln should be ramped slower than a top element kiln, is this correct? This kiln is brick lined and very small so it retains a lot of heat. Is there anything about this configuration I should co...