Winter Light

Days are finally lengthening. With the sun low on the horizon at this time of year, you may find it coming in your windows a little too intensely, particularly if you have south-facing windows.

If you're contemplating your light-control options, consider stained or fusion glass.  With the right choices you'll be able to diffuse the light without cutting off the world outside.

A glass window hanging, strategically placed, can reduce glare while still letting you see the scenery.

 

If privacy is also a criteria, we can selectively place the design so outsiders can't see what you are doing. Below is a sandblasted panel we used with conventional stained glass in a door.

 

Next is a window that combines stained and fusion glass techniques.  For more window designs go to www.turtlecreekart glass.ca.

 

 

Sandblasting & Sandcarving

After a few equipment hitches, we finally have our sandblasting equipment up and running at TurtleCreek Art Glass.

Sandblasting glass is a three-step process. First the glass is completely covered with a protective mask. Then the mask is cut away to create a design in reverse. The blasting takes place within a cabinet that looks very much like an infant incubator. The surface of the glass is blasted, not with sand, but with aluminum oxide or silicone carbide.
The resulting design is a rough, opaque surface that contrasts with the smooth surface of the glass.
Sandblasting can be done on any glass surface from glasses and bottles to windows.
On windows, the judicious choice and placement of a design can give you privacy in one part of your window and a clear view in the other. TurtleCreek Art Glass now has the necessary equipment for sandblasting windows glass up to 24” wide. If your window is bigger we can combine sandblasting with conventional stained glass.

Sandcarving involves blasting deeper into the glass, even to the point of cutting holes. The carving is usually done in several steps so that the design is various depths. We have been making some new sculptural pieces with this technique.

Decorating Solutions with Stained or Fusion Glass

Clients of TurtleCreek Art Glass bring us some interesting decorating challenges. Here are some of the solutions we've developed using stained or fusion glass.

PRIVACY for a home office Located just off the front hall, the windows in this office are the main source of daylight. So to create privacy in the office, without blocking the sun, we created these fusion glass French doors.

A CAT passage

In the combo fusion/stained glass door in the middle picture,, the bottom centre panel is an open hole so the feline resident in this home can easily get from the family room to her litter box in the laundry-room.

FIREPLACE feature

On a winter night, looking up from a roaring fire at this stained glass hanging over the mantel, these clients fondly remember summer sails.

PUNCH in a narrow space

The sculptural 3D hanging below maximizes a small decorating opportunity.

For more ideas on decorating with fusion glass SUBSCRIBE to our monthly newsletter.

Stained Glass OR Fusion Glass

When planning a decorative glass window for your home you have the choice of techniques -- stained glass, fusion glass, or a mixture of the two.  Which is best for a particular location depends upon many factors. 

BUT FIRST, I'll clarify the techniques:  In a stained glass window (maples leaves below) the pieces of glass are held together with solder applied to copper foil or by lead channels.  Fusion glass is made by layering small pieces of glass on a large sheet of clear glass and fusing it all together in a kiln.  You don't see any lead lines (the birch trees).

1. Will you be viewing this window from one or both sides?  In a front door, where you'll probably want your window to look great from both sides, stained glass is an obvious choice.  Most fusion glass designs have a front and back side, with more intense colour and detail on the front side.  For a bathroom or clerestory window, one-side viewing is probably the norm.

THERE ARE EXCEPTIONS.  A two-sided relief pattern was chosen for this door so it can be enjoyed equally from both sides.

2. Are there complex shapes in your design?  With stained glass you need to add a lead line at each right angle.  The designs in this French door would look very busy if done in stained glass.  Also, by using fusion glass I was able to add detail to the  zebra.

3. What are your budget limitations?  Generally, making fusion glass windows is less labour intensive, so they can cost less.  However I do have to factor in the electrical costs in operating the kiln.

4. What about weight and strength?  Fusion glass is usually 6 mm thick, while stained glass tends to be 3 mm.  The thick fusion glass is heavier, but less likely to be broken. Your location will be a factor in deciding which attributes are pros and which are cons.In my next blog I'll talk about some interesting options achieved by combining both stained and fusion glass.  In the meantime, take a look at some of the windows at http://www.turtlecreekglass.ca/.