01.
Three Layers
With a layer of clear Tekta on the bottom and top, the middle layer is made of up blue glasses that I originally used for the stained glass window (Light Sky Blue, Steel Blue, Aqua Blue, and Light Turquoise Blue). All the pieces are purposely cut to be irregular and overlap each other in different ways. The entire thing is contained within an 8″ circular vermiculite dam, lined with ceramic fiber paper.
02.
Fused
I like the various levels of transparency in the fused piece, and also the irregular shapes. But because of the ceramic fiber paper, the edges have needling (where the glass crept up the taller fiber paper).
03.
Grind It Off
I used a GlasStar grinder to take off the needling at the top edge of the circle.
04.
Ready to Slump
My first thought was to create a plate, so here is the ground piece ready to slump.
05.
Ready to Fuse 2
Though it’s hard to see, the blue plate is complete. You can see the light hitting the shelf paper through the raised edge of the plate. But this time in the kiln, I’m going to fuse it flat. I decided that I didn’t like how thick the plate was. When it fuses, it’ll spread out to the usual 6mm thickness.
06.
Slump 2
I don’t have a photo of the thinner fused piece, but it worked out as I’d hoped. I’ve also decided I want a bowl and not a plate. So in the top photo is a newly flattened and thinner fused piece ready to slump into the Large Cone Bowl mold. Below is the piece after completely slumping.
Results
Final Result
I’m so pleased with the irregular shapes, that I decided to leave the wavy edge of the bowl as-is. The second fuse gave it a wonderful handmade look which I rarely achieve. Though it’s far from what I’d planned, I’m really glad it went in a different direction.
Close-up One
The slightly wavy rim, with its glossy rounded edge.
Close-up Two
Those beautiful, overlapping, irregular shapes.
FULL FUSING SCHEDULE (RUN TIME 10:31)*
| SEGMENT | RATE (deg F / hour) | TEMPERATURE (F) | HOLD (hours:minutes) |
| 1 | 350 | 1225 | :45 |
| 2 | 600 | 1500 | :30 |
| 3 | AFAP | 900 | 2:00 |
| 4 | 100 | 700 | OFF |
SLUMP FUSING SCHEDULE (RUN TIME 9:29, 15.1 kWH)
| SEGMENT | RATE (deg F / hour) | TEMPERATURE (F) | HOLD (hours:minutes) |
| 1 | 300 | 1200 | :30 |
| 2 | 300 | 1225 | 1:30 |
| 3 | AFAP | 900 | 1:00 |
| 4 | 100 | 700 | OFF |
* The firing schedules may be designed for other projects that were fired with this one. Everything was fired in a Paragon GL-22AD.
This is amazing! It’s so pretty! Thanks, T!
You’re so welcome, and wow are you fast!
Extraordinary! Love these dreamy blues!!
Thank you very much, Jennifer!