Glass Clay & Devil's Club, a Thorny Way to Play

The gals at Magpie & Squid have had an eventful couple of years - both have moved (along with their better halves, into the same house!) and another generation of (soon-to-be) glass workers has joined the mix.  Between moves, new jobs and raising the next generation, there hasn't been as much time for playing with glass, however as the rest of life settles down and the glass studio gets unpacked bit by bit, the Magpie is getting excited about all the new glass techniques and materials that the glass fusing community has been working with.

Their most recent moves have landed the girls in Juneau - not only the capitol of Alaska, but one of the prettier settings for a capitol city.  With hiking trails and glaciers literally minutes from the house, there is no end to the natural inspiration for glass projects and when new co-workers ask "can you do a devils club leaf?" it's time to start thinking beyond the glass saw (which is still packed by the way).

Glass clay is a mix of glass powder and binders that allow glass powder to be shaped and molded such that, when dried and tack fused, the binders burn out and the glass powder retains much of the original molded shape (though there is up to 20% shrinkage overall).  The clay can be sanded and painted using glass enamels after the initial drying is complete making it a great way to add versatility to one's glasswork.

Once the final tack fuse is complete, the framing frenzy begins - in this case three leaves are turned into three different pieces of art.  

The temperate rainforest is a beautiful place to call home - especially on a lovely summer day.  Below are a few photos that we have collected on walks during our first year in Juneau.  Enjoy a short tour of our corner of the world....