New Seder Plate Commission

Apologies for the dark picture, but it is a beautiful turquoise seder plate with a textured back that adds true depth. The frit sprinkled around it is burgundy in color, the lettering is dichroic glass. You'll see two zig-zag lines representing two journeys, each filled with ups and downs. (sorry for the two vertical lines.....part of the plate stand!

This is a commissioned  wedding gift....lucky couple! MAZAL TOV!

Ready For the Kiln

Stage one was full fusing the base glasses. With the addition of glass shards, this is ready to go back in the kiln for a tack fuse.

First stage involved 15 hours in the kiln.
Stage 2 will be roughly 19 hours.
Stage 3 is slumping the disc into a seder plate mold- about 12 hours

Journeys Seder Plate

Slumped and ready for a seder!

Yes, there are 6 spots on this plate for  traditional seder items....

....you just can't see them!

The color of this glass camouflages the dips. That means that this seder plate is also perfect for display on a stand. 

Some of the glass beads are translucent dichroic glass which give off interesting color shifts.

This plate is available for purchase and will be on display May 19th-24th at the MJCC (6651 SW Capitol Hwy- Portland) during the Jewish Arts Month Exhibit and Sale in the lobby.

A NEW GLASS SEDER PLATE IN THE MAKING!

Step 2 (see 5 steps below)

Fused glass blobs made from expensive scraps of glass help create this new seder plate. As I mentioned in earlier blog posts, glass is expensive. Glass is purchased by weight or by square feet. Every bit of it has value and it can be used! The glass blobs are made from salvaged dichroic, clear, and the white/silver scrap from cutting this circle.  This plate is currently in the kiln at Step 5 (see below)  It should be cool enough to handle before Shabbat tonight!

Step 1: Cut two circles from clear and from the patterned white/silver glass. Clean and stack in the kiln.

Step 2: Create various sized glass blobs by cutting salvaged glass into small rectangles and squares. Cut matching sized pieces of clear salvage to cap. Stack in the kiln.

Step 3: Full fuse to 1450° (about 6 hours to fuse and 6 hours to cool.)

Step 4: Clean all the glass, then arrange the blobs on the plate. 

Tack fuse (going MUCH slower!) to 1425° (about 18 hours in the kiln.)

Step 5: Clean the glass then place on the seder plate mold. Slump slowly to top temperature of  1250° and slowly cool for proper annealing (about 16 hours in the kiln.)

TIME TO THINK ABOUT SEDER PLATES

I will be accepting orders for custom-made fused glass seder plates beginning on January 1, 2011.
Posted here are samples of past seder plates made for commission or general sales. Contact me here, visit me on the ORA Northwest Jewish Artists website or send me an email: sparksofspirit@gmail.com and tell me what you'd like. I have many glass colors in stock and many designs to choose from.

I'll deliver your plate free in the city of Portland or arrange for low cost shipping to your location.

I have just drawn up plans for two new designs of seder plates styles which should go into production in a week or two....I'm vacationing at the Oregon coast but am also dreaming up new glass designs! It's very exciting!

I'll post new pix as the pieces emerge from my kiln.

In the mean time.....Happy New Year 2011!

Seder Plate for OJM

The Oregon Jewish Museum in Portland will be hosting another fund raising auction in May. This is the new seder plate I made for that event. The glass is remarkable and a new experiment for me. The base is a new reactive glass made by bullseye glass. It is a clear iridized reactive glass. That means that when it comes in contact with copper, gold or silver it will cause an interesting reaction. 

I used copper foil to make the letters and decorated the plate with turquoise frit and stringer. The reaction was neat....turned the glass a speckled red in places and cast a reddish shadow in others. Unfortunately the photo doesn't show the reaction as well as I'd like.

The back of the plate is textured offering the plate a depth color (even though the plate is transparent). Six condiment dishes come with the plate. It's called Reactivity and Wandering. We were a reactive people as we wandered the desert trying to learn how to be Jews. There were spiritual and physical highs and lows. This plate brings a reminder to the seder table of our struggles and our successes.

Please come out and support OJM Sunday May 3rd. 

Check them out at http://www.ojm.org/