This challenge blog post is more about why I’m not even going to attempt the tidepool project than it is what happened when I did try.
Honestly, if I were truly committed to the “challenge” aspect of this endeavor I would go for it, but you see, glass and metal clay defeated me already, years ago.
I did manage to semi-successfully create a few glass and metal clay pendants for when I was earning my metal clay certifications. It was part of the program. I had to.
And I even continued to try with my little “hot pot” before I purchased a kiln.
After I got my kiln, I was preparing to teach, and I really wanted to be able to merge glass and metal clay, but I did not want, need to, or was interested in learning dichroic glass techniques. I have enough hobbies!
And let’s face it, dichroic glass ain’t cheap (and rightly so). So I began experimenting with other forms of glass, and I “partnered” up with a glass artist to get her fails, figuring I could do cool things with them.
Yep, I could make crap with them.
I ruined more pieces than I care to admit. I have burned glass, cracked glass, melted it beyond all recognition.
I even made sample cards, so I knew what to expect when not using dichroic glass (I did not know about or have access to borosilicate glass beads, and frankly I’m gun shy to try them).
Also, when the price of silver spiked, I switched over to working in CopprClay and BronzClay. Both of these fire too hot for glass.
I have admitted defeat to glass. I will try it again maybe sometime in the future. Heck, I even have some Gasclay (which seems to be out of production now, I can’t seem to find any new/current info on it).
