May 3, 2024 • Happy Accidents
I had a couple of "Happy Accidents" this week, some with the website and one with a murrini! First, an update on my website theme now allows 36 murrini listings to be displayed in the "Collection" area at once (before having to go to the next page) which is nice, but there is an additional new feature that allows the option to add multiples of one item in your cart and you don't have to leave the page ...which will make checkout even faster! Also, if there is a variation within a listing, it now has a little popup feature showing the options. So if you want to go peek around to get a feel for the new look, you can peruse it in advance and check out how it works.
However, here's the bad part...if you just add it to your cart and you don't click to open up the individual listing, then you don't get to see all the added photos I've taken showing them fused, by a dime, etc. But you will get to see most of these in the blog! I suppose if you are trying to check out quickly you aren't really viewing all the pics anyway. Keep in mind even when a listing sells out, I keep it up through the weekend, so you could go back and view it again if you'd like.
This week is the first of my upcoming "Remake" weeks from the requests submitted in the survey from a few weeks ago! I had a good time making these and as always, they might be SLIGHTLY different than before, but should be close. Many I have again this week in the smaller 1oz. packages to have more available for everyone.
This week's project was also a hoot. It's my mom and dad in a swing and all the murrini from the week are in the scene (minus the remake of last week's transparent blue butterfly). Before the seat belt law separated them in the car, you'd always see them tooling around town with my mom right by my dad's side. Darn those seat belts! But there's always the outside swing. ;)
First, let's talk about the murrini "Happy Accident". I had a friend ask for a cluster of grapes, so I tried it. After I saw them I was saying "hmmmmm" not sure if they were exactly as I was hoping...however...they made the most perfect Wisteria! You can still use them as grapes if you want!
NEW Wisteria
Surrounded by clear, these Wisteria flowers are made with Oceanside Lilac, Ivory and Youghiogheny Plum. Both the Chipper Nipper and wheeled nippers snip these great. The thinner the better if tack fusing. If full fusing, I think they'd be best in a "flip and fuse" to spread them out even more (see them fully fused below). As we know, in a full fuse the center shrinks inward and the sides spread out, distorting them a little. These will be sold in 1oz. packages for $17.
Transparent Blue Butterfly (Tack Fuse)
This is a remake from last week's most requested item. Created with Peacock Opal, Transparent Teal, Caribbean and Blue, this murrini can be used as a single side view of a butterfly or place two together to make a full butterfly. There is a "How To" under the TIPS section of my website on how to snip these beauties. The shape of this murrini does not hold up in temperatures hotter than a tack fuse. Also sold in 1oz. packages this week at $17.
Bee Kits (Tack Fuse)
Bee kits are back! Each order will have 4 bodies, 8 wings and 4 heads (heads not shown in the listing photo). My choice would be wheeled nippers on all parts of the bee. It is best to Tack Fuse these for an "as-is" look, however a fully fused version is below for you to see. These are weighing in well over 1.5oz for $29.
Peacock Feathers
This is by far the most complex setup of any murrini I make. Thanks to the genius of Lori Moreno, from Wilderness Glass, who several years ago was able to come up with this amazing design and then shared it with me when I needed to make one and didn't even know where to begin. Definitely considered a "Specialty Murrini", they will be available in the smaller 1oz. size for $20. Both types of nippers will work well on this beautiful murrini and I think a tack to contour fuse is best. Fully fused version below for you to see.
Mint and Peacock Pansy
This beautiful Peacock, Mint and Pansy is another design by Lori Moreno that she was gracious enough to share with me. These are gorgeous in a tack to full fuse. I preferred the wheeled nippers for easy snipping. Again in the smaller size so more packages would be available. 1oz. for $17.
Opal Mint/Peacock Butterfly
Created with Oceanside Opals, this murrini can be used as a single side view of a butterfly or place two together to make a full butterfly. There is a "How To" under the TIPS section of my website on how to snip these beauties. The shape of this murrini does not hold up in temperatures hotter than a tack fuse. Also in 1oz. pacakges this week at $17.
Peacock/Mint Pansy and Butterfly Duo
For those who may want a sampler of both the pansy and the matching butterfly, this will be the mix for you! 1.5oz for $26. Remember the pansy is great at all temperatures, but the butterfly wing is a Tack Fuse murrini. :)
Mint Daisy
Blending perfectly with the Pansy and Butterfly, this beautifully dainty daisy is pretty much perfect in any scene. Tacked to fully fused, this murrini is also easy to snip with wheeled nippers or the Chipper Nipper. 1.5oz for $26.
Mint Leaves
Our little basket of flowers needed leaves, so these sweet little Mint leaves filled the bill. Best at a tack fuse, these leaves are easy to snip with wheeled nippers or a Chipper Nipper. A great addition to your summer leaf variety. 1.5oz for $26.
Apple Kits
Requested again for making teacher's gifts, these beautiful apples are best at a light Tack Fuse. Fun projects using these cuties are in past blogs. Leaves will require wheeled nippers placed right in the center, but the apples will be fine using either wheels or the Chipper Nipper. Sizes will vary in the order. There will be one leaf per apple cane. 1.5oz for $26.
Critter Eyes
Always nice to have some Critter Eyes handy! These fun murrini will have varying sizes in each order. Easy to snip with wheels or the Chipper Nipper, they also fuse great at all temperatures. Snipped and fully fused into an eyeball dot will give it more dimension. Packaged in the smaller 1oz. size for $17.
Chubby Birdie
This is a requested remake for a bird that can handle more of a contour fuse and not change drastically. This fella has blue on the top with a transitioning speckle between the blue and the persimmon. Wheeled nippers work best and I would still keep him more of a tack fuse if you can. Packaged in the smaller 1oz. size for $17.
Bee Wings
I had a few extra Bee Wings that didn't make it into a kit. Bee wings are like a leaf, but the veins go in the opposite direction...so keep this in mind if you were thinking you'd use it that way. ;) These wings can be added to your own flying critters and are quite versatile! Sizes will vary in the 1oz. orders. $17.
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Fully fused versions:
From the front.
From the back.
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SECONDS:
SECONDS Bee Kits (Tack Fuse)
The reason these are SECONDS is as you can see the leaves are past the best part of the pull. The bee bodies have tiny air holes and the design is just starting to wiggle a bit. Still really fun to create with! These will NOT come with heads. You'll receive two wings with each body. Tack Fuse for best results. 1.5oz for $17.
SECONDS Critter Eyes
These are seconds for a couple of reasons. Some may not have white fully formed around them yet and others may have lots of white. If they look perfect from the inside, the outside might have a small chip, ding or inclusion. Still GREAT to play with and so versatile! Both wheels and the Chipper Nipper work great. 1oz. for $12.
SECONDS Critter Eyes
Even more SECONDY (is that a word?) as these are at the VERY end of the pull and are mostly tinies. I'm including these this week because I've had several requests in the past for tinies that are mostly white with a small dot for specific critters they were making. Some may even have the tiniest start of a hole in the center. 1oz. for $5.
Now for this week's project...Love In The Swing
I started out by making a quick sketch of my idea. I knew I wanted the new Wisteria flower to be the star of the show, but still incorporate all of this week's murrini into one scene. While typing this I realized I meant to put an apple by the puppy! Darn!
I also knew I wanted to have a layered design, so I started laying out the elements that would be in the background and fully fused.
I gave mom and dad some grey and white frit on their heads to make it look like speckled grey hair (this is being quite generous as dad pretty much has NO hair!) Ha ha!
I then put a mix of green medium frit down first with some finer Fern Green over the top to make it look like the swing might be a little further way in the scene. I also wanted my green tree to be fully fused as well. I used white strips as the side of my swing and then a piece of Vanilla Cream Noodle as the top part. I also put three pieces of clear stringer down the side pieces in hopes that it made them look like columns. And it did!
In to the kiln it goes with dams all around the sides. Note that underneath this piece I have a 3mm clear piece sprinkled lightly with clear powder to help reduce bubbles. I had all weekend to let this baby fuse slowly and I set an UBER conservative schedule:
50>1150>30
350>1450>30
9999>950>3 hours
150>700>10
300>room temp
Everything about it was perfect. The sides did great against the dam and the clear stringer did exactly what I had hoped and made my plain white sides become fancy columns!
Next I started laying my elements out. My flower pot, dog with Critter Eye, a black fused dot for his nose, a tail and ear.
I then placed all the flowers and leaves for the week in my little pot. Of course then Bees started coming around after that. ;) I have all my murrini snipped very thin. Maybe 2mm.
After my flowers were ready I started on the wooden swing. This is an Oceanside white and brown wispy that I use frequently for trees or wood. I also had a Chubby Birdie land while I was getting the swing together.
This is the final piece before going back in the kiln. I added a collar to my puppy with red stringer, as well as white stringer as the "rope" holding the swing on the trellis. I also placed a very thin layer of GlassTac glue where I wanted the transparent Dark Green medium frit to be. This is for the leaves of my trellis. I then placed my Wisteria all around. I put Apples in the tree with their little leaf and last but not least the Opal Peacock/Mint Butterfly and Dad has a Peacock Feather in his hand (that he has around mom). Mom also has a little Pansy in her hair.
One last shot before shutting the lid on the kiln. This time for a light tack fuse:
150>1150>30
350>1300>10
9999>950>5 hours
150 700>10
300>room temp
I couldn't have been more pleased with how this one turned out. It was a joy to make. I wish you could see it in person.
Also, if you are new to the blog, here are two of my fav past photos of how I used the apples.
Hints on the Horizon
I will continue on with requested remakes which will be more butterflies, birds, flowers and more.
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Helpful Links:
If you are looking for COE 96 stringer, Joni pulls matching stringer for the items I have each week. Find her beautiful work at Aggie Glass Designs!
If you are looking for Mike LaChance’s open bails, find his unique work at Mike’s Innovative Glass.
If you use COE 90, be sure to shop Lori’s beautiful murrini options found at Wilderness Glass.