Merging Mosaics and Fusing

Three Evergreens
Merging Mosaics and Fusing
Pat Rizzotto
Design and Fabrication by Erica Biery Collins, Text and Photography by
w lii,It r
3
projects?
n
:xirlJl
;Jl
*di
il,'l;
generally collects in bins
hoping that someone will pick it up for
making frit or for some other project
that calls out for small pieces. Here's
C. Grouted
Texturecl Finislt
another idea that will helP You use
up the glass excess-one that gives
1,our rvork a mosaic look but is actu-
ally fused!
There are three variations, all
using similar techniques. Project A
features an iridized, smooth finish
rvith a mosaic background, rvhile
A. Iridescent Smooth Finish
Pro.ject B is created using the traditional mosaic texture. Project C uses green
and blue frit to fi1l in the tree and suggests a blue sky f,1led rvith
snorv. For these projects, I am using all System 96 fusible glass,
B, Iride
ent Texture d F ini sh
System 96@ Fusible Glass
10" x 10" Clear Iridescent (Irid)' 2
10" x 10" Clear, 1
Clear, ScraP
TransParent Green, ScraP
includrng Uroboros 96 COE frit and rods.
Cut tlte 10" x 10"
squares,then chop
sc
1
Aventurine, ScraP
White Iridescent (Irid), ScraP
TransParent or OPal Brown, ScraP
the clear,tvhite irid,
and green glass into
random pieces
Uroboros SYstem 96@ Rod
1/4" Pieces of Red Rod, 45
in size using a
Uroboros SYstem 96@ Fine Frit
TransParent Light Blue
n'tosaic ctfiter.
TransParent Fern Green
approrimately 1/2"
Keep the clear. white irid, Aventurine, and Transparent Green
separate.
Tools and Materials
Hairspray Squeeze Bottle r'vith Applicator Tip
Cardboard Small Spoon Small Paint Brush
Pencil Eraser Mosaic Cutter
Pump
ThinFire PaPer or Kiln Wash
Place tlte
glass pieces
For projects A and B, place the irid glass base irid-side zp' (See
Tips) For C, place the clear base in front of you' Mark the middle
ofeach square at the top to center the tree and begin placing the
mosaic pieces to form a tree. Projects A and B use Transparent
Green. Project C uses Aventurine Green. Working frorr top to bottom, flt the pieces as you rvould apuzzle. Randomly leave a space
approximately 1/4" betrveen the pieces. Glue the pieces in place
by dropping hairspray between the mosaic pieces using a squeeze
Fill in around tlte trees and
cut glass for tlrc tree tunks
Utttte. ffre hairspray will seep under the glass' (See Step 4 picture)
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GLASS
PATTERNS
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/F all z<>tz
frit
Using the same technique, spread the Transparent Green fine
mix
doesn't
green
over the-green tree pieces, making sure that the
with the blue but still feathering the two colors together for a natural
as
effect. Get frit close to the edges by using a piece of cardboard
the
spray
arvay'
a wall while adding frit' Gently, from about 10"
piece with hairspray to hold the frit in place' Allorv the hairspray
pencil
io dry completely before picking up the piece' Slor'vly drag a
For projects A & B ' fill in around the tree rvith the clear mosaic
irid
pieces. Foi project C, flll in around the tree ivith the white
glass
Losaic pieces. Chop a tree trunk from your choice of brown
and fit it in at the bottom of each tree'
For all
three 4
ulorg the plate's edge to remove excess frit that is clinging
a smooth finish'
same
Tack-fuse the pieces. The Tack Fuse firing schedule is the
needed'
as
kiln
for all three piecei- A, B , and C. Adapt for your orvn
You are nol ready to slump the three evergreens using the
projects, apply
hairspray to act as
a glue by dropping
"ru.".
on so you end up rvith
it betvveen tlte mosaic
pieces ttsing a
squeeze bottle.
slumping schedule, adapting for your kiln as needed'
Viaci froiect A on the 10" x 10" mold with the nnsaic side
down.Thiswill create a smooth surface on the finished plate lvith
the irid glass, giving it a beautiful effect'
Placi Project B on the 10" X 10" mold rvith the rwsaic side
up.Thiswill create a bumpy finish and a different look to the Irid
Make sure to get to each piece. Allow the hairspray to dry approximately twenty minutes. Place the red rod pieces on the tree
tehveen the mosaic pieces to decorate the trees' Secure the rod
the
pieces rvith a drop of hairspray. Projects A & B are ready for
aside.
kiln, so set them
behind it.
PTaceProiectC ona 10" X 10" moldfinssic side up'
to
Each of the plates has a unique look rvhen finished' Choose
you
remake one, two, or all three. Experiment to find rvhich one
ally like best!
-
5
Fill in the spaces
betYveen
the glass on project C with
frit and use hairsPraY to hold
the
frit
in place.
Firing Schedules
rackFuse i
r /rrl,
Rate
Ndttr t("F/Hr)
70r\
Temp-
Now it's time to "grout" project C. Make sure
the hairspray that was applied in step 4 is completely dry, because you do not r'vant the pieces to
move.This mighttake overnight.PlaceProject C on a
clean piece of cardboard or paper, since applying
frit can be messy.
Using a spoon (see Tips), begin with the
Transparent Blue fine frit, spreading the frit over
the white mosaic pieces to create a snorvy sky'
Using a paintbrush, carefully brush the frit into
the spaces betrveen the mosaic pieces, making
sure that the "grout" is piled as high as the thickness of the glass. Try not to get any blue on the
green pieces.
i
q50
I120
20
nnn
1'4nA 1000
OOn
700
950 700
1400
1000
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o..r
b,ii
o.f lHold (Hr.Min)
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Tips
. Be creative and use up more of your glass. The same idea can be used for heatls,
or just about
shamrocks, free-form designs such as ribbons or swirly designs,
anything You want'
favorite molds, cutting the base to the correct slze'
. Use transparent glass on the iridescent base. opal will just cover up the irid' use
opal or transparent glass on clear.
. Iridescent glass facing iridescent glass will not fuse together properly'
. Make a "fiit ,poor" by bending a cheap metal spoon in a vice, squeezing it to
. Adapt ihis project to any of your
the desired width.
. Scratch iridescent glass with your flngernail to tell which side is irid' The irid
texture'
side will make a sound, and it will have a rough, unfinished
.
you can work on either side of iridescent glass, you will get small
Although
if you fuse on Bullseye ThinFire shelf paper' as I do with my work' If
youfireorukiln-*urhedshelf,youcanfireirid-sidedownwithoutaproblem'
"craters"
GPQ
@
Copyright 2012by Glass Patterns Quarterly'
A11
54
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rights reserved.
-.]
Erica Biery Collitts
is a glass artist Jrotn
\orthampton, Pettrtsr-lvania, who tt'cts itttroduced into tlte glass
industry man\' lears
ago while working
crt
Warner -C r it, e I I uro. 4 5i,lirt at' ?-,;-t-t
v,arehouse in the Leliglt \ ai[t'' . Dtr:': :
lrcr terutre tltere, sltc It'oytitti li:L .' it:'
trt' learning variottt q/rl " .'. L ;:';-'--;'ia'
;:
trom world-renotned ariir;-i. -(i;g ';
ttses
lrcr knov'led3e rltd
'^ii.. i' -r'-"it
tunnin g gl a s s p i e c e s ltsiii E,:l-t. ; --.';'''
uained gluss, antl ntosttit r. .;r'*j "-- ''
s
"
'
her love for glqss te(tcltin?t :1.'-r-'. ; --;';" home sludio attd tttttttt' (tii:.' . - -;;' ';' '
Erica exhibirs itt lot r,- .:;;r'; ' .-'''=
0rt shows, ziJt .sltops. (i':-: ..-'- -'-'- leries throttghout Pertrist- ' -^':.-; -i;:'
emphasiz.es fituline lr'.1.\') :' ''lr: '-"'-:
tlrc varittus ttte(littttts .lot' r;'-;:.:. - :-'--;'
purposes sut'h as liqltiirt':. ;' -.. ": -'ics ttsing Jitsetl piece:. (/r ).'-.':-'r--: '::
stained Slass ol' trto.sttit cic'---'l-'
:
-'l:
fused glass ctccents.
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ightweight - use it anYwhere!
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' 800-937-9593 ' info@dticrafts
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