Project by Leah Bohannon from Chicago.
Leah was a successful financial consultant working at a Fortune 500 company. Though doing well professionally, her artistic side wasn't being fulfilled. When a flyer arrived in the mail advertising local crafting classes, everything changed quickly. Remembering the glass items she had admired at flea markets as a child, she signed up for a fused glass class and it quickly became her favorite hobby. Now, among other glass projects, Leah makes gorgeous glass sushi sets. The shapes are made through slumping in the kiln using fiberboard molds that Leah makes herself. The sushi plate looks so lovely and Zen-like that you'll be tempted to order in sushi every night!
Materials:
5 colors of blue bull's eye 3mm glass *
5-1/2" x 10-1/2" bull's eye 3mm clear glass
glass cutter
multipurpose oil
ruler/straight edge
permanent marker
running pliers
glass pliers
kiln
kiln shelf treated with kiln wash
kiln wash
soft brush
during firing
5/8" fiber board
utility knife
glass grinder (optional)
* alternating opaque and transparent
Steps:
1. To make fused glass tile: Measure with ruler one 5-1/2" x 10-1/2" piece of clear glass. Mark measurements with permanent marker.
2. Lubricate glass cutter with oil. Use glass cutter and straight edge to score glass on marks. Use running pliers to break glass along the score line.
3. Measure and cut five 1-1/8" x 10-1/2" stripes each for design.
4. Clean all the glass pieces with dish soap and hot water, while retaining your design. Dry each piece thoroughly with a lint-free cotton towel. Place the stripes on the kiln shelf, and top with the clear glass.
5. Fire to fuse temperature (approximately 1450 F degrees) and anneal (cool slowly). The fusing process takes approximately 6 hours and approximately 6 more hours to anneal.
6. When the kiln reaches room temperature, the fused glass tile may be removed from the kiln. True-up all edges with a grinder to achieve straight 90-degree angles.
7. To make the mold: Measure fiber board to a 5-1/2" x. 10-1/2" rectangle. Cut rectangle with a utility knife.
8. Measure and cut out the inside of the rectangle leaving a 1-1/8-inch border all the way around.
9. Apply kiln wash to mold. Fire mold to 1400 F degrees in a slightly vented kiln to burn off all binders. Allow to cool.
10. Thoroughly clean fused glass tile.
11. Stamp logo on backside.
12. Place fused glass tile on top of mold on kiln shelf. Load kiln. Fire to slump temperature (1250 F degrees) and anneal. The slumping process takes approximately 8 hours and approximately 8 more hours to anneal.
Website: www.redglow1500.com
E-mail: leah@redglow1500.com
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