Dichroic Scrap

Because we've brought in so much CBS Dichroic Glass, inevitably (especially if the staff have been drinking again) some gets broken. Mikey in his genius has packaged it all up into nice little clear boxes weighing six ounces. This scrap is all clean and unscratched as staff demand we treat all our dichroic as if angels had delivered it on extended wings from fluffy clouds in the sky. Six ounces is the equivalent of seven 2" x 4" pieces (with a retail of $105.00 and up), but as it is scrap (albeit top quality scrap- the angel thingie remember?), it's yours for only $43.99 (very limited supply).

Me Thinks They Thanked the Wrong Guy

Selling off our scrap and glass crates adds up to doing some good.

Congratulations and thank you to all those who have contributed over the years!

We Hope This Makes Up For It

We had a bit of a glitch last month with the website ('thank you rogers cable', he spat out sarcastically) but due to to some outside help we might have all things licked (yes, I do mean you Gary Brown and Cynthia).
So as per tradition, here's a frightening picture of Zenia to announce this month's Sale- posting early- and it's a big one too.
Go here to see... 

The Soldering Iron of Justice

A true story related by Mikey a long time ago-
Makes me think that if I lived in the wild west days, instead of carrying a six-shooter in my holster, I’d carry a Weller 100 soldering iron. That way, if some smart-alec cowboy said something like “Hey, look, he’s carrying a soldering iron!” and started laughing, and everybody else started laughing, I could say, “That’s right, it’s a soldering iron. The Soldering Iron of Justice.” Then everybody would get real quiet and ashamed, because they had made fun of The Soldering Iron of Justice.

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New Silent Convective Water Cooled Kiln Line Comes to Fantasy In Glass

Tired of your kiln getting hot and overheating? Upset that everytime you turn it on it keeps melting your glass? Had enough of burning yourself whenever you turn it on? Then the BoneArf is the kiln for you.
With BoneArf's new water cooling technology you never have to worry about all those heat related problems associated with a hot kiln! Utilizing special silent convective water cooled dedicated overclockers and thermoelectric coolers in place of more common standard heat exchangers. the patented BoneArf water cooling system is a technological tour-de-force. Its uniqueness lies in the way in which it cools water directly by the evaporator coil of a phase change system and is therefore able to chill the circulating coolant below the ambient air temperature of the surrounded room's air and, as a result, provides superior cooling of the kiln's heat-generating components.
Remember, with the BoneArf and its patented cooling system, you no longer get all those pesky problems associated with a hot kiln (like melting glass).

Tomorrow Only

Mika's great 100 watt soldering iron!

Reg- $53.99 (still too cheap)

Sale- $33.33 (now way too cheap!)

Fused Glass Dot Org

I'm sure, if you have a deep interest in fusing, and want to learn as much as possible, then you might have tripped across this website (fused glass.org) at some time. But just in case you were too busy looking at inappropriate content and missed it, their latest offering is a well illustrated and simple project on making fused glass 'puddles'.
Easy and effective.

Good Guys

When Mikey started this blog well over five years and about a thousand entries ago, he decided that it would be all about the trials and tribulations of a lowly retail business owner. There aren't many avenues available for customers to see behind the curtain and perhaps better understand what happens on a day-to-day basis in a store and he thought that might offer an interesting perspective. He also wanted to educate and entertain totally free of commercialization and intrusive ads.
Today he sort of breaks that last point only because it promotes a non-profit organization worthy of your support-

What is better than spending an evening listening to the music of local musicians? This is an evening to enjoy some reggae, rock, pop and country. Come out and enjoy the music of Errol Blackwood and the Injah Band, Neil Murray Band, Randy Stewart Rollo, The Options and the in-house band of the Opportunity Centre, “The Opportunities”. 
The event will be a great deal of fun for everyone involved, you’ll be able to spend some time with your family and friends while assisting with raising funds for the Brain Injury Association of Waterloo-Wellington.  The evening will consist of music, 50/50 draws, buffet, and dancing.
Buy your tickets online at http://www.ticketscene.ca/events/5224 or
http://www.biaww.com/index.php?page=donate  
Email: biaww2@bellnet.com  
Phone: 519-579-5300

The Rumours Apparently Are True

We heard some rumblings that Desag was no longer producing their very popular GNA line of drawn antique glass. Gary Umber found that hard to fathom (he talks like that) and just assumed that it was yet again another round of reductions from OOCSGS, given their regular cutting back of selection and inventory. A quick call by Mikey to Donald at Desag however confirmed the above.
It seems that the Desag furnaces prematurely broke down earlier than expected and will take well over a year to rebuild and get back on line. The only GNA that will be available for the next while is their clear. 
We did manage to pick some up from an American supplier (but not all colours) so if you are working on a project keep this in mind. 
And the next time you're in, ask us to show you their GNA Red- stunning!
On another note, all 20 (except Red) or so GNA colours have the same COE and are therefore compatible for fusing! 

Yippee!!

After three months, it seems that once again we are worthy of living on the edge and to patina to our hearts content. 
The back story is that some government agency felt that black patina was so dangerous a substance that it should not be offered for sale in its existing format. Apparently people such as Gary Brown needed to be protected from themselves.
It has now been relabelled (I can't see the difference, can you?) and is once again available and sits dangerously, quivering on our shelves...
*NB- We also will refill your old Black Patina container for you for a buck less!

A Few Things to Crow About In the First Person

I was absolutely blown away this summer by the Stained Glass Museum found at the Navy Pier at Chicago's waterfront. Not only is the quantity overwhelming, but the quality even more so. 
Who even knew there was such a thing?
It's always nice to trip across a beautifully done glass window (of which there are many here in Toronto- just take a trip through Mount Pleasant Cemetery and peak into the odd mausoleum as an example) but to encounter so many in one place was just awe inspiring. 
Of prominence were the windows of the Louis Comfort Tiffany Studios- so many of his finest works all in one place, and many very familiar to those who have been doing or appreciating stained glass for any length of time. I mean, I've got many a book with these windows in them- and now I was fortunate enough to see, examine and appreciate them up close and personal.
Over the next while we'll be posting them on our website- go here- as well as putting them up on our Facebook page (look for Fantasy In Glass and even Figimodo who has his own page).


On a separate note, Fantasy In Glass used to be on Twitter several years ago. We've revived that as well. Just search for Fantasy In Glass and you should be able to find us. 

Tomorrow Only

The great Aanraku Twofer- that's two 3/4" bits for the price of one- now even cheaper for one day at @21.11!

Easy To Make Stuff

Our friends at Slumpy (the mold people) have a central page with a whole bunch of tutorials listed. Go here and you'll find instructions on how to make light switches, nite lights, pot melt clocks, candle holders, Xmas decorations,  etc.

Steve Jobs

I was debating making mention of the loss of a great innovator today as they will be many over the next few days.
And besides this is a blog about the trials and tribulations of stained glass and fusing store owner. But as I sat here thinking I realized that I did, after all, speak about Louis Tiffany here just the other day. Also a giant- at least in our industry, another visionary that had a profound effect on us.
So, talk about Steve I will.
The Apple cofounder brought in a new era with his insight and forethought shaping our lives through his inventions and products
Fantasy In Glass only runs today as smoothly(?) and efficiently as it does because of Steve's vision. 
I can build and update our website at will keeping it absolutely up to date, write these musings as I see fit  and price and control inventory all easily because of Steve.

Heck, even on those days when on a whim i declare it Tom Waits music day, I can load up my iPod and just do it. 

He's already missed...

FaceBook

We've had a Facebook presence for a couple of years now. And when I say we, I mean both Fantasy In Glass and Figimodo.

Join us on Facebook and "Like us" to make our blog entries, product announcements, and industry tidbits part of your Facebook newsfeed.

Thanksgiving Saturday

This coming Saturday October 8, we are closing early for Thanksgiving at 2 pm.
Remember, gravy is a beverage.
Have a great Thanksgiving all!

Back In Stock

Perhaps the best (and accurate) basic stained glass instructional book. All in full colour, with many patterns included (Mikey's favourite is on page 123... The Missus).

Glass Into the Future

Here's an interesting video which shows how deeply ingrained and how much more so we will be using glass into the future.

Here's a few pics of some of our students/customers along with some of their work-

Some of Our Customers...

... are just too clever...

(fused, dichroic glass)

Go Figure...

Overheard by a staff member:
'I am not a vegetarian because I love animals; I am a vegetarian because I hate plants...'
Anja

A true story (honest- I couldn't make this stuff up);
We once lost a commission because we had suggested the use of gluchip as a background, which the customer had learnt, was made by using animal glue. She was a vegetarian...

Tomorrow Only

Saturday October 1 from 10am to 4pm...

5 lb rolls of 60/40 solder..... $68.88

(cash/debit/limits may apply)

October Monthly Sale

I don't know which gets people more excited- the posting of our Monthly Sale or the embarrassing pic of Zenia which announces the sale.
We give you both.

Cringe as you gaze upon this photo, and go here for our October Sale!
If you don't see it, make sure to do a page refresh.

Spectrum Score Magazine

The Spectrum Glass Company has been publishing The Score Magazine for well over twenty years. Where it once was a printed and stapled 8 page booklet, today it is a mere shell of itself as it has now shrunk down to a one page email note.
One thing though that they do deserve a bit of credit for is the issuing of some large format patterns. This issue's two samples are great.
Get them here...

Just Too Good To Not Run Again

The process of art glass production really is like alchemy- mysterious and secretive, but in this video, Eric from Uroboros talks and shows you how it's done. 

I know, we ran this video a couple of months ago, but it does warrant a repeat viewing. Besides Gary Brown wasn't paying attention according to Dot The Missus.

While Eric may not be the most electrifying person to host this video, it is his company and he was there at the beginning of the North American Art Glass revival of the late seventies. 

Have patience as the video shots of their glass being mixed and rolled is fascinating.

Kind of a Cool Thing to Try, from Bullseye

	Frit balls—easy to make and fun to use! Spread out pieces of coarse frit (0003) on a primed kiln shelf, leaving space around each piece. Fire hot enough to round out the frits, usually 1500°F (816°C) with a 20-minute hold. There's no need to anneal. Open the kiln and voila, you'll find frit balls! Once they’re cool, rinse with glass cleaner and rub dry to remove primer dust. For opalescent styles that pick up primer, do a quick soak in CLR (calcium lime rust remover) before rinsing and drying. When clean, the frit balls are ready to use as design elements or for building larger forms. The frit balls shown here were made with Opaline Striker frit, which should be fired on the cool side to achieve a pleasing translucent quality: 1480°F (804°C) with a 16-minute hold. Get Opaline Striker frit working notes. To make the Opaline frit-ball bowl shown above, first create a dam by cutting a 5.5" hole in a sheet of 1/8" fiber paper, leaving the border intact. Place the dam on a primed kiln shelf and load it up with about 5 ounces of frit balls. Tack the balls together by firing at a rate of 300°F (167°C) per hour to 1375°F (746°C) for 10 minutes. Slump the piece in a separate firing using mold 8746 . We recommend annealing in both firings.

Happy Birthday!

Gary Brown...

Party hats are on and we are ready and waiting for you...

Getting a Reaction

Something that's been getting a lot of interest lately is the whole notion of reactiveness. While that normally means Zenia yells at Mikey and he reacts, such is not the case here. UROBOROS has created two unique glass formulas for System 96 that are designed to create an interface colour, or a “reaction”, when melted against certain other colours. This occurs when ions from the two adjacent glasses migrate and mingle when the glasses become hot and fluid. Given the right glass chemistry, the co-mingled ions form a very thin coloured line, or “reaction”. Since their formulae react to create a noticeably reddish hue they named them Red Reactives: as in Red Reactive Transparent, and Red Reactive Opal.

The primary ingredient needed in a partner glass to generate a reaction colour with this Reactive glass is Copper. Copper is present in many blue and blue-green glass colours, but in some cases in too low a concentration to create a noticeable reaction.

For simplicity, all System 96 partner colours have been graded for their potential to react into three categories: Strong, Medium, and Mild. You will find that the intensity of the reaction colour will get stronger with longer, hotter, or repeat firings. This is because the copper ions have more time to mingle with their friendly reactive partners in the adjacent glass.

 Don't worry- we've got data and printouts for your amusement, and have even put tags on all the glass in our racks that offer reactive combinations. And a PDF link here.

Oh yeah, and we also have lots of Reactive Stringers and Noodles...

The bottom colour palette showing all possible reactive combinations using both glasses and stringers was ably made and stunningly displayed by The Zenia (face possibly obscured by design).