Miss Molly Fused Glass Wall Hanging

Figure B

Steps:

1. Draw a head shape on a sketchpad (figure A).

2. Tape the drawing under clear glass.

3. Draw the outline of the head on top of the clear glass. Draw the outline of the head on top of the stringer glass. (figure B). Tip: Use a tiny bit of petroleum jelly to keep the marker lines in place for sawing.

4. Cut general shapes out of each piece of glass with a glasscutter, then cut exact shapes out with a band saw.

5. Grind all glass edges.

6. Drill holes on the top corners and sides, to add beaded wire later.

Figure C

7. Clean both the clear and streamers glass with soap and water and window cleaner.

8. Stack the stringer glass on top of the clear glass piece (figure C). Place in a kiln and fuse for 18 hours.

Figure E

Cut remaining colored glass features

9. Cut two leaves out of yellow opal or forest green glass using a band saw. Indent edges with the saw for a realistic leaf look, and grind all glass edges (figure E).

10. Cut out pieces of steel-blue glass strips, and make smaller cuts with the saw for leaves to be used around flower.

Figure F

11. Cut a small circle out of opalescent glass to make a flower, and saw lines to illustrate the petals.

12. Cut out small dichroic pieces to be placed on the flower (figure F).

Figure G

13. Cut a semi triangle out of sienna glass for a nose, and grind the edges.

14. Cut out blue-transparent glass for the shape of the eyes, and add small pieces of dichroic glass for the center of the pupils (figure G).

15. Trace eyeglasses with a permanent marker on mint-opalescent glass.

16. Cut out the shape of the eyeglasses with the band saw.

Figure I

17. Drill a hole in the center of each eyepiece. Tip: Use an oiled drill so it doesn't get too hot. Then insert a separating blade on the band saw to cut out just the center of the eyepieces, leaving you with frames (figure I).

18. Add dichroic glass to the corner's of the frames.

19. Use transparent red for the inside of the lips and two strips for the top of the leaves.

20. Cut out two heart shapes for the cheeks using cranberry pink glass.

21. Cut lips out of doubled roll glass cutting upper and lower lips. Place on transparent red with lips slightly open.

22. Drill two holes on the leaves where wire will attach.

23. Add fusible wire between both the clear glass and the stringer glass above the head, to form a hook.

24. Add fusible wire to the ear area for an earring hook.

25. Clean and grind all design pieces.

26. Assemble glass facial features onto the fired head. Tip: You may need to glue some of the pieces down.

27. Tack fuse in kiln.

Figure J

28. After firing, add beads and a fishing lure to the wires. Curl some of the wire with a paintbrush (figure J).

29. Wrap framing wire around the leaves to give a little spark to her hat.

30. Sign with an engraving tool.

Sherry Richardson from Las Vegas, Nev., has a colorful personality and a colorful craft to prove it! She calls her style of glasswork "all over the board," as she enjoys letting her creativity run wild. Her passion for glass began when she decided to take a fused glass class with her niece six years ago, and she hasn't looked back since. She makes a wild fused glass wall hanging depicting a woman's face, strung with wire and beads that she calls "Miss Molly."

Website: www.RawhDesigns.com