Dichroic Glass Jewelry

I have recently added a lot of new fused glass picture frames to my inventory in the website.  Please check these out.  When you have great photos from a special occasion, whether it’s a wedding or graduation or a vacation, don’t display them in a blah or generic frame.  A special photo deserves a distinctive frame-up.  Need particular colors for your frame to match your decor?  I can make it for you.  Most of these frames are decorated with dichroic glass to give them extra sparkle.

All the glass pieces have been cut to the precise size, then fired in a kiln up to 1465 degrees until all pieces fuse together to form one.  Finally, a metal backing with clear glass was added.  Now it is ready for your selected picture.

This piece of metalwork jewelry began as sheet copper that I cut out with a saw, then it was annealed and pickled.  The next step was to roll it through a rolling mill to obtain this texture.  After this it was annealed a second time and then quenched in warm water to obtain this interesting patina. 

Taking care of jewelry is a recommended process, but more so if you have glass jewelry.  Glass jewelry is often unique and delicate and therefore will require just a tad bit more help than your typical bracelet or necklace.  For example, it may not be such a bad idea to get a velvet bag for your glass pieces, so they are protected when you put them away.  Also, purchasing a jewelry box (if you don’t have one) is absolutely essential.  By placing the glass jewelry in a bag, you can make sure that they aren’t scratched by other items you have stored away.

Fused glass is a term used to describe glass that has been fired in a kiln at a range of high temperatures from 1100ºF to 1500ºF. There are 3 main distinctions for temperature application and the resulting effect on the glass.Firing in the lower ranges of these temperatures 1100º 1250º F is called slumping. Firing in the middle ranges of these temperatures 1250º-1350ºF is considered “tack fusing”.

Firing the glass at the higher spectrum of this range 1350º-1500ºF is a “full fuse”.

All of these techniques can be applied to one glass work (such as decorative glass platters) in separate firings to add depth, relief and shape.