Glass Clay

MAKING GLASS CLAY
I took a small amount of the prepared CMC and added powdered frit (BE Red). I don't have the exact proportions but I started with about 50/50 CMC to powder. It wasn't the right clay-like consistancy that I was hoping for so I added about 1/2 tsp more powder. It still wasn't right so I added more powder. It was more clay-like at this point. I "molded" one piece with just this combination and I added a few drops of aloe vera gel to another test.

I like the consistancy with the aloe vera gel so I have to remember this.

When working with this, it reminded me of a very sticky dough.

I made 2 lady bugs and used a wet paintbrush to smooth any lines. Now I need to wait for this to dry.
NOTE: When I went back to check on these, the one with the aloe vera added had flattened out. At first I didn't know if that's because of the aloe vera addition or too much water on the brush. So I slightly rewet the original piece and reformed it. When the surface was dry, I applied the black line for the wings and the spots using the Liquid Stringer(tm) Black that I already had. I think there must have been too much water in the brush, and not caused by the aloe vera, because when I reformed the ladybug, it was fine after it dried.



24 hours later I fired the ladybugs.
Kiln Notes:
Items in the kiln: 1 flat piece with Liquid Stringer writing, 1 pc (butterfly) with PearlEx and the 2 ladybug glass clay pieces

Starting kiln temp: 64 degrees
Turn on Lo.
At 15 min., temp at 500 deg. Increase to Level 1.5
At 60 min., temp at 700 deg. Increase to Level 2.0
At 90 min., temp at 900 deg. Hold 15 minutes
1325 AFAP (reaches this temp in 5 minutes) Hold 30 minutes.
Turn kiln off and let come to room temp.
Total cook time 2:15
Final results. This may have to be taken up to fire polish next time. I don't know how much height and detail would be lost at that temp. Will have to play around with it. It did shrink as expected - about 25% - but I'm happy with the results overall.

Next test will have to either be up to fire polish or use the CMC to make liquid stringer. I need to get a squeeze bottle in order to really test that.

Making my own liquid stringer and glass clay - RECIPE for Powder Line Medium

INGREDIENTS:

•1/4 cup CMC
•2 cups water (distilled preferred but not required. NOTE I used reg tap water)
DIRECTIONS:

•Boil water.

•Add CMC, stirring in slowly to minimize clumping.NOTE: I basically dumped the powder in and it formed white, clumps with the powder inside the clumps (see photo). I smashed the clumps on the side of the pot to get rid of them.


•Stir until mixed. There will be lots of lumps at this point - that's okay.


•Allow the mixture to sit and cool for 24 hours.
IMPORTANT:

•CMC is used as a food additive and is non-toxic. This recipe can be safely prepared in your kitchen.
NOTE: The package I picked up at my local ceramic supply place (Laguna Clay) has a warning that there are known carcenogens in the package and should not be used near food preparation. I'm hoping this is just a generic warning, but I did take precautions.
1. I'm using an old pot that will be dedicated to only making this.
2. I'm using a spoon to stir that will only be used for this.
3 I used a dust mask.
4. I prepared this all outdoors since it was a nice day. I can also do this in the glass studio if the weather doesn't permit.

•CMC consistency varies among manufacturers. You may need to experiment if you are not getting the consistency that you want.

•This mixture can be thinned by adding water. It cannot be thickened by adding CMC. This is why many people choose to intentionally mix the PLM extra thick and thin as needed

18 Hours Later

All the undisolved lumps are gone and it has gelled. The consistancy is like gelatin. My best description is like chicken stock that you make at home and cook down for hours. Then you put it into the fridge and the next day it is alot like jello. Well that's my best description for this, except a bit thicker.

Now this is ready to use to make glass clay or liquid stringers.

Here's the finished pieces installed.





There's a space above the window AC that was a corregated plastic filler that became brittle and cracked over the years since it is west-facing. Granted it's 10 years old and we don't use the AC much (too noisy and does't cool a non-insulated, western-facing wall in So Cal very well) so it gets forgotten throughout time.

This was a compromise of sorts since the idea for that space, as little as it is, has changed many times. My boyfriend and partner in life said he had an idea of what he wanted to see there and wanted to make it. Time passes on and I had my own ideas, but not expressed to him.

My original idea was a 4-panel piece showing the same tree in each of the seasons. I've seen this in a series of perfume bottles that I absolutely adored. I bought rods to do the leaves on the torch, but ended up tabling that idea. Note I said "tabling" because things always change around here.

The compromise came to light since he likes ravens and I wanted to do a piece for a monthly challenge. Lightbulb goes on and I can "kill 2 birds with one stone."


I wish I remembered to take a before picture of the broken plastic. Well it now houses another glass piece.

So here's more technical info:
This was done with BE clear thin, BE thin black strings, BE thin black, fiber paper and fiber blanket.

I make the background with the stringers and a blowtorch. I suppose I could have used the stringer glass but 1) I would have to go and get that and 2) I wanted the stringers to be in specific locations.

Once the stringers were "made", I partial fused them to the clear.

The second firing was with the raven that I cut out with the saw. I used 1/4" fiber paper to cut out the raven and then backed it for more depth with another raven cut from fiber blanket.

The fiber blanket was placed on the kiln shelf and the clear was placed on top of that. The black raven is on top. They are placed to look like they are sitting on top of the stringers. This idea was from a KCET (local PBS station) commercial where birds perched on wired give a composer an idea. Well it worked for me too. This piece was then taken to a partial fuse.

Spring is here with new ideas

Since I'm using this as my on-line notebook, I'm also going to jot down some ideas so I don't forget them. So often I have an idea, but when it comes down to producing them, I can't remember what I thought to do.




I love to see the written word on things, mainly as a background to something. And I'm more into functional art rather than just having something pretty sitting around (just collecting dust). I know - too practical sometimes. But form does follow , right?


So here's some things I plan on producing for the spring/summer

1. garden art - Colorful geckos, etc
2. veggie garden markers. I've been working on this but hasn't come out
3. plates with sayings