Abstract and geometric fused dichroic glass earrings

Many people ask me where I actually get my dichroic glass. I shop for it in a few online stores. My favorite is simply called ArtGlassSupplies and they have everything from dichroic sheet glass to fusible shapes and decals. I also like Stallings Glass Supplies, Delphi Glass ... and even Amazon. In other words, finding glass to purchase is pretty easy if you know where to look.

I'm a bit of an addict when it comes to acquiring new glass and LOVE sample and scrap sets. This way, I get many colors and patterns at once and don't have to choose! I recently purchased ArtGlassSupplies' "Etched Glass Mystery Box" and am really pleased with it. It contains five 1.5 by 1.5 sheets of patterned glass from their etched dichroic collection -- and the pieces are stunning.

Of course, I had to create something immediately, so I spent the next couple of weeks using these patterns in earrings and jewelry sets:

I've made many pairs of square earrings, but have been playing around with other shapes, like those triangles. I cut those by scoring across the end (the right angle) on the base glass, which always comes in square sheets. These long, thin strips are more difficult to cut in the base glass, but I really like how they look. Plus, the earrings are lighter and more comfortable to wear. The trick is to press firmly when scoring the glass, so you get a deep cut -- which makes it easier to snip the thinner piece. I've also been adjusting the tension on the glass cutter so I can get cleaner lines. For me, a looser tension works better on thicker glass, so I can properly grip it. I suggest experimenting with thin and thicker glass, so you can see which grip feels most comfortable to you.

The challenge with the triangles was fitting the dichroic strips onto the base. I found that the easiest way to do this was to cut regular strips of dichro and then use my snipper tool to clip the ends so they fit. I'm getting better at working the snipper, as well, and can now cut straight or angled lines with it. I used to make a mess and had jagged edges when I used it, but I'm much more comfortable with operating it.

I recently did a couple of craft fairs (more on that in a future post) and the new earrings got a lot of attention. It's hard to ignore the colors in the gorgeous glass! I just ordered another sample pack and can't wait to see what they send me. I'm looking forward to making many more new pieces.

Check out the rest of my handmade jewelry at Naomi's Designs, MayaGirl Creations and Instagram.

Adventures in fusing glass: making fused dichroic glass earrings with three layers

My second jewelry making class is scheduled for this upcoming Tuesday and I'm really looking forward to it! In this session, I'll be teaching the ladies how to make wire wrapped, beaded earrings and rings. Most of my students don't have pierced ears, so I purchased clip-on backs. I've never used those before, so we'll play around with them together.

Meanwhile, I've been working on some earrings of my own. Lately, I've been experimenting with different glass firing techniques, including underfiring the glass and using multiple layers. I've finally figured out how to make triple layer pieces.

I've been trying to do three-layered glass for a while, with mixed -- mostly poor -- results. The top layer of glass would move and break during firing, or the bottom layer would melt incorrectly. This was actually how I destroyed my first kiln; by attempting to fire three layers. The glass turned into a goopy, burned mess, stuck to the sides of the kiln and wrecked it.

I've since learned from that mistake and now stop the firing process midway to make sure the glass hasn't moved out of place. This way, I can guarantee the glass hasn't melted and stuck to the sides. Still, I haven't had too much success with doing three layers... until recently.

The trick is to make sure all of the pieces are even and that the top layer isn't hanging over the edges. You also need to make sure the dichros are flat. Dichroic glass comes in all sorts of forms -- thick, thin, textured, smooth... and when you place a strip of textured next to a strip of smooth, the surface isn't even. Therefore, when you try to place another layer over it, the glass will move. That said, I've found that tripling works best with small pieces and when I use only one type of glass at a time.

I've practiced this technique by making earrings, which feature dichroic glass sandwiched between two layers of clear. So far, I've managed to have a few successes:

I absolutely love that yellow-pink glass. It's fuchsia in certain lights and gold in others. And with the glass on top, it looks almost green from some angles. I'm not thrilled with the pink crinkle glass, though. It looks really pretty when it's fired as the top layer, but when it's under the clear, it has a weird distorted appearance. Still, the technique worked and I'll just have to try it with different colors to see how they fare.

In other news, I'm in talks with my local salon about them possibly selling my jewelry. I showed some pieces to the owner and she's very interested. Hopefully, we'll set up a meeting for next weeks and she'll buy some of my merchandise. I haven't had any luck with getting my stuff into stores, so I'm trying not to get my hopes up... but at least she's showed some interest. That's better than an outright "No," right?

I'll keep you up-to-date on my latest jewelry happenings. You can check out my work at Naomi's Designs, MayaGirl Creations and Glass By Naomi.

Blue and turquoise enamel earrings with fine silver cloisonne and crystals

I haven't done a post on an enameling project in a while, so enamel-lovers, this one is for you! Tomorrow is our final enameling session for the summer and truthfully, I'm a bit relieved to be taking a break. The dichroic glass has kept me busy, plus I'm in the middle of working on a big project for a customer. And then I'll start my wire wrapping class in a few weeks. So I'm glad to have some time off from enameling, much as I love it.

Still, with only a few classes left this semester, I've been trying to finish some half-done pieces. I recently completed this pair of dangle earrings:

I originally planned to make three of these diamond-shaped links and then turn them into a bracelet, with the enameled pieces alternating with crystals. However, one diamond didn't turn out well, so I repurposed my design and went for earrings instead. Because holes were drilled in the tops and bottoms, I hung crystals from both ends.

The abstract design is made from fine silver cloisonne wire. Actually, it's bezel wire, which is much thicker than cloisonne. I cut it through the center to thin it out somewhat and decided to use it, anyway. I like the thick design! It gives the earrings a three-dimensional look.

Right now, I'm on the fence about signing up for enameling again this fall. I really enjoy the class and have made some great friends, but I haven't made as much money from the enameled pieces as I have from the dichroic glass and wire wrapped. Should I take the class primarily for business reasons or should I take it simply because it's fun? I guess I'll have to see how much I miss it this summer. If I find myself craving an enameling session, I'll sign up. I'm glad to have some time to think about it, though.

Check out the rest of my glass and wire wrapped pieces at Naomi's Designs and MayaGirl Creations.