Welcome to Our Studios
HOME DECOR GLASS
In 2016, Gwen and Mike began making Home Decor Glass such as lamps, serving plates, candle votives, picture frames etc. These items are all kiln-formed and slumped or draped. See the page for Home Decor Glass to see our creations.
JEWELRY
We make so many different types of jewerly that we have several studios and lots of equipment. Here is a list of the various techniques we currently use to make jewelry.
Wire Wrapping Glass, Gemstones and Semi-Precious Gems
Wire Weaving aka Viking Knit
Wire Wrapping Glass, Gemstones and Semi-Precious Gems
Wire Weaving aka Viking Knit
Beveled Glass - NO LONGER MADE
How long does it take you to make a faceted, beveled or sculpted piece of jewelry?
Listed below are the general steps. A basic piece like the one shown takes approx. 8 hours to create.
1. 1 Hr. -- Develop the design. Cut the dichroic glass pieces needed for the design. Cut the Starfire glass needed. Glue the glass together using ultraviolet light. Let the glass cure.
2. 6 Hrs. -- Cold work the glass on a grinder using finer and finer grit grinder
pads.
3. 1 Hr. -- Add a bail, photograph, add to inventory, tag, and display the piece.
Listed below are the general steps. A basic piece like the one shown takes approx. 8 hours to create.
1. 1 Hr. -- Develop the design. Cut the dichroic glass pieces needed for the design. Cut the Starfire glass needed. Glue the glass together using ultraviolet light. Let the glass cure.
2. 6 Hrs. -- Cold work the glass on a grinder using finer and finer grit grinder
pads.
3. 1 Hr. -- Add a bail, photograph, add to inventory, tag, and display the piece.
Fused (Kiln-Formed) Glass - NO LONGER DONE
How long does it take you to make a piece like this?
A wire wrapped piece like the one shown takes approx. 18-19 hours to create.
1. 1 Hr. -- Cut or nip various kinds of glass to make the design components. Assemble the pieces and glue them together.
2. 8 Hrs. -- Full fuse the piece in a kiln.
3. 1 Hr. -- Cold-work the piece using a saw and grinder to get the desired shape and to finish the edges.
4. 5 Hrs. -- Fire polish in a kiln.
5. 2 Hrs. -- Wire wrap and add other adornments.
6. 1 Hr. - If the piece has a glued on bail, rather than being wire wrapped, it is put back in the kiln to set the glue so it will never come loose.
7. 1 Hr. -- Take photographs, add to the inventory, tag it and mount on a display.
A wire wrapped piece like the one shown takes approx. 18-19 hours to create.
1. 1 Hr. -- Cut or nip various kinds of glass to make the design components. Assemble the pieces and glue them together.
2. 8 Hrs. -- Full fuse the piece in a kiln.
3. 1 Hr. -- Cold-work the piece using a saw and grinder to get the desired shape and to finish the edges.
4. 5 Hrs. -- Fire polish in a kiln.
5. 2 Hrs. -- Wire wrap and add other adornments.
6. 1 Hr. - If the piece has a glued on bail, rather than being wire wrapped, it is put back in the kiln to set the glue so it will never come loose.
7. 1 Hr. -- Take photographs, add to the inventory, tag it and mount on a display.
Wire Wrapped Pieces
Gwen does the wire wrapping using Sterling Silver and 14kt gold-filled wire. She carefully selects which pieces of fused glass, semi-precious gemstones, or precious gemstones that she wants to enhance with wire wrapping. Gwen has taken many, many classes in wire wrapping and always can learn more. She likes to make pieces that are unusual, practical, beautiful, and will get the wearer compliments.
Wire Weaving AKA Viking Knit
Viking Knit is a very old method of weaving wire. The method was used to weave suits of armor for Vikings. Various wire are hand woven together to make bracelets, earrings, necklaces and other things. Gwen took classes from the inventor of the "Viking Knit Tool", Stephanie Eddy.
Chainmaille - NO LONGER DONE
Chainmaille is linking together jump rings to make earrings, bracelets, necklaces and other things. Gwen usually uses Argentium tarnish resistant Sterling Silver, 14kt gold-filled or enameled copper wire.
Jump rings can be different sizes and different colors to create interest.
Gwen learned how to do this at William Holland Lapidary School from Janet Trosino.
Jump rings can be different sizes and different colors to create interest.
Gwen learned how to do this at William Holland Lapidary School from Janet Trosino.
Silver smithing - NO LONGER DONE
Mike learned silver smithing at William Holland Lapidary School. He makes mostly rings and pendants.
Faceted Gemstones - NO LONGER DONE
Mike learned faceting at William Holland Lapidary School. He uses perfect synthetic rough and genuine gemstone rough to start with. This process takes several hours.
Where Did You Learn to do That?
We get asked that a lot. Here are some places that offer training that we would recommend.
AAE Glass and Tanya Veit in Cape Coral FL. www.aaeglass.com
William Holland Lapidary School in Young Harris, GA www.lapidaryschool.org
Glass Craft and Bead Expo in Las Vegas, NV www.glasscraftexpo.com
Kent Lauer classes www.kentlauer.com
PMC Connection and Teva Chaffin at www.pmcconnection.com
The Bead Strand in Ocala, FL www.thebeadstrand.com
Glass Patterns Quarterly Webinars with Master Artists
AAE Glass and Tanya Veit in Cape Coral FL. www.aaeglass.com
William Holland Lapidary School in Young Harris, GA www.lapidaryschool.org
Glass Craft and Bead Expo in Las Vegas, NV www.glasscraftexpo.com
Kent Lauer classes www.kentlauer.com
PMC Connection and Teva Chaffin at www.pmcconnection.com
The Bead Strand in Ocala, FL www.thebeadstrand.com
Glass Patterns Quarterly Webinars with Master Artists