So, I have made coasters in the past and they usually sell fairly well. Usually as gifts around the holidays or for housewarmings. But, I have been so focused on my glass paintings that I hadn't made any in a while.
I am currently getting ready for the season of shows coming up and thought coasters should be on my to-do list. Several months ago I purchased a couple of sheets of 6mm clear fusing glass with the intention of figuring out a new technique for coasters.
Well, after rolling it around for some time and peeking at one of my favorite books - Richard La Londe - Fused Glass Art and Technique - I decided to try a layered frit idea.
I know it is hard to see in a photograph, but what you see here is before the first firing. I lay down a thin layer of vanilla colored fine frit, then carefully layer one color of frit for the basic shap of the leaf. Next I sprinkle on two other contrasting colors of frit, then break and lay down the pieces of stringer for the veins. Finally, a 4 x 4" piece of the 6mm clear is laid on top and it is fired to 1480 degrees.
After the first firing I paint a black outline around the leaf edges and veins, then fire it again to 1450 degrees.
The final coasters are bright, cheery, smooth and have a really cool almost double image where you are seeing the black paint "floating" above the colored leaf.
All Seasons Coaster Set
After a pretty long hiatus from Etsy, I have decided to post my new coaster sets on there for sale. Click Here to see my shop. I will be adding more of the leaves and possibly some other designs soon. Enjoy and Drink Up!
