Combining Ceramics with Glass

As some of you know, I first started out doing ceramics and then moved on to glass. I think the biggest attraction with the glass is that it does not take as long from start to finish as ceramics does. I am all about instant gratification - when I want something, I want it NOW and I hate to wait! With ceramics, the process of making something can take from 3 days to a week or more, depending on the size of the piece. First, making the piece out of the clay and letting it completely air dry. Then, the bisque firing (another day). And finally, glazing the piece and firing it again (another day). With glass, I can cut the piece, put it in the kiln and then its done. I can make something and have it done in literally one day. But although I love working with glass, I do admit missing the feel of the clay and getting my hands dirty, so to speak. Well, this past week, I broke out the clay again and tried experimenting with firing glass into the clay. This heart pendant was fired 3 times. First, the bisque firing. Then, glaze firing. After that I put red glass frit (tiny pieces of broken glass) onto the glazed piece and fired it again to melt the glass into the glaze. Although a lengthy process, I really like the outcome. I like the way the red glass crackled against the glaze. This was my first try at this and I'm anxious to try out some more pieces and see what I can come up with.