Creating the Display

Both Torah Adornments are finished. I will put the chains on tomorrow.
Figuring out how to display them was a challenge.
I borrowed two High Holiday (all white) Torah mantles.
With the help of a dear friend Diane F, we shopped for dowels and finials at Home Depot. 
Problem #1: How to hold up the mantles SOLVED
Problem #2: How to keep the pseudo-Torahs upright SOLVED

#1. Not only did Diane shop with me, but she also cut the dowels on her chop saw...and she cut cardboard inserts. The woman is a wizard with an x-acto blade!

The Torah mantles fit well over this structure. Two drapery finials were used to create decorative handles (Aitzey Chaiim- Trees of Life.)

#2. Solving the standing upright concern required a trip to the local hardware store. I picked up some plaster of paris and then scavenged some old clay flower pots from the garage. My husband provided the badly needed extra set of hands!

We begin the installation tomorrow. I'll post pictures!

Sending much gratitude to Diane and Jeff!

INVITATION

You are all invited!!!!

Cutting holy letters

This took two tries...sigh! Unfortunately the saw blade chips the edges of the dichro but it's still better than the alternative...not doing it at all!

The letters do get progressively bigger which means it is a little easier to cut. These are just freshly cut letters waiting for a gentle washing and lay up.

The words are from Torah: "Build for Me a sanctuary that I may dwell among  or within you."

Another few words to cut out and I will show you where I am headed with these letters.

CHAMSAH PLATE DONATION

My synagogue has an annual auction. This is my donation.
Hoping they get a reasonable price. 

The chamsah is made with dichroic glass. The dish is slumped into an origami mold. I might have to make another one or two of these!

The shul is about to celebrate it's 150th anniversary. If you scroll down you can see the first of two Torah Adornments I am making for the lobby art show.

More info to come...but first, I need to finish cutting the glass for the second adornment I am making.

...stay tuned!

Tiny Letters and More

Cutting tiny hebrew letters has been my challenge. Surprisingly, I only had to re-do 2 letters. I placed one of the letters on a time for perspective.

The Asseret Hadibrot, commonly known as The Ten Commandments is more accurately translated as "The Ten Utterances." I couldn't possibly cut letters small enough to write them all out, so instead I cut just ten.

The letters are all dichroic and the centerline is a dichroic stringer.

The whole piece is in the kiln for a slow fire up to tack fusing temperature...with a slow cool down as well. 

Copper Wire Hooks as Inclusions

The next step in assembling the project is to create hanging hooks which will be included in the fusing process. Copper is compatible with glass but one must proceed with care. The wire should be bent in some fashion in order to better be contained and offer resistance to pulling when the project is hung. Copper wire is pliable so simple pliers are enough to do the trick. Because this project uses clear glass, the hooks should match because they will be visible.

Bending copper wire

In order to make the fusing as problem free as possible, it's best to hammer the wire to flatten it, thus reducing the potential for air bubbles. I usually use a mini anvil...but it's gone missing so....I improvised! Using the head of another hammer as an anvil, I managed to hammer the wire flat. My fingers also managed to survive the process! Phew!

Hammering the wire flat

Testing copper in the kiln

Copper is a wonderful material to use as an inclusion in fused glass projects. The color it turns is a bit unpredictable because copper will react not only to heat, but also to the chemical composition of the glass it is sandwiched between. Most often it will turn into a deep red with bluish or purplish notes. Sometimes it will turn blue. Treated with lemon juice it tends to stay true to its copper notes. Before I gamble with the star I just cut out, I need to make sure I will achieve the desired effect. 

My next project needs the the copper to turn red. Step 1 is to take pieces of sample glass and test what happens when the copper is sandwiched between 2 layers.

BEFORE

AFTER 

The top piece has two pieces of clear reactive glass.

The middle has clear reactive glass on the bottom and is capped with clear.

The bottom is 2 pieces of clear.

I fused these to a top temp of 1450° with a bubble squeeze at 1250° on the way up.

THE RESULTS:

The reactive glass causes the copper to turn quite dark....too dark for my purposes...but clear on clear is the magic I was hoping for!

Check back in a few days to see my next steps in this project.