Size, shape and slumping Flowers
A number of people who have bought my flower stems have asked what I use to slump my flowers.
The answer is, all sorts of different items!!
If I want a symmetrical finish I use dishes and saucers, if I want a more organic look I use rings, and let my glass overlap the edges.
( see pictures)
so I use…..
dishes,
saucers,
shallow bowls,
steel cookie cutter rings ( I distort these for a more organic look)
Ceramic rings ( I make these)
Wanting to achieve a more natural shape led to using fibre paper, laid over a ring made up of pieces of chalk.
Looked great but took a lot of fiddling with!
So next I came up with a ring of fibre paper that has been stapled or pinned together, and stiffened with a heat resistant stiffener, I use sodium silicate, also known as water glass, you may have something simuliar if you have worked with silkemat. ( fires to 820c)
I have found this works really well and each one is reusable for a number of times ( used 4 times and still going, sometimes they crack, but I still use them )
Range of my slumping moulds! The two in the bottom left are made from fibre paper soaked in Sodium Silicate.
I use 3mm glass, and cut a wobbly circle of glass, the largest flower I make is the poppy at 13cm diameter, this weighs around 150g, this sits firm and looks fine.
You can buy steams for your flowers in my Supply Shop. Don’t forget to bend the stem not the cup or flower when shaping for display!!
Lots of people have suggested I only post as a patron, but I want to keep this free for any budding glass artists to access. If you would like to drop a few pounds in my coffee fund you can do so here. No pressure I’m just happy to see others being creative.
