Ice Patterns On My Skylight Window

Having had a week of snow and freezing temperatures I finally managed to get back in my studio yesterday to do a few bits. Here are some patterns of the ice that had formed on one of my skylight windows.
Glue chipping glass can produce a very similar result.
It is produced by sandblasting glass to make a key and then applying hide glue that when dried and adheres to the glass, puts the surface of the glass under such pressure that the glass flies off leaving a pattern.
Its important to keep pets away because they are attracted to the glue which will then also contain fine slithers of glass.

Cobweb In The Frost

I love the way that cobwebs look in the frost and found this one outside my studio on Christmas Day. I had to capture it on my camera.

Cyclamen In The Snow

Let It Snow

Woke up to snow this morning in Ballyclare and as always I proved to be the biggest kid!

Hope you like the snowman although to me it looks more like a big polar bear. It's started a competition in the close who can make the biggest and best!! Why are parents so competitive.

Had a wail of a time throwing snowballs, but the kids drew the line at letting me go on the sledge!! Just too embarrassing for my 12 year old son Tom.

The Kiln Fairies Strike Again!

I had a suprise when I opened the kiln yesterday morning. I had put some coasters in to fuse as well as some stars, which I have done so many times before, but when I inspected these they had yellow marks on them just like if I had painted silver stain on them.

So how could this happen? Then I remembered I had fired some jewellery which I had made some loops out of sterling silver. The silver had left a residue on the kiln paper where they touched it, but must have also effected the kiln wash underneath. This was obviously silver nitrate which is silver stain.

What cleaver fairies I have, if I had tried to make it I most probably couldn't. That's what I like about working with glass, you learn something new every day!

Just need to sand all the kiln shelves now and batt wash them again before starting again. It's the only way I can guarantee not contaminating anything again. What joy!!

Red Sky in the Night

I love the colour of the sky, especially at this time of year and was carrying my camera so thought I would share it. I like the contrast between the dark silhouette of the trees against the oranges and pinks in the sky. Sun setting over Ballyclare tonight.

I'm Seeing Stars

Just had a quite day preparing some stars that I fused in the kiln last night ready for another display cabinet and making some to give to friends and family for christmas. Also prepared a plate and some coasters to fire tomorrow. Frightening to think it will be christmas two weeks today!