Spring has finally sprung! The weather has been just great this past week, and that makes me think of one thing: gluing glass together. Okay, maybe two things: gluing glass together and making corned beef and cabbage. It was St. Patty’s Day on Saturday after all! So while I had my traditional Irish dinner boiling away on the stove, I popped outside to make a few glass sculptures.
First, I wanted to finish one I’d started last year. Remember this sculpture? Here’s a picture from where I last left it:
After I made it, the weather turned cold and I never got a chance to really finish it the way I wanted. I liked the “glass within a glass” look and wanted one more layer on there. Good thing I’ve been collecting vases and glass all winter! I continued the green theme and added another vase.
Then, I had this big piece of glass that used to be part of a long candle set. I glued that on, and a candy dish on the top.
I liked the way it looked, but still wanted something more to jazz it up. So I went to the dollar store and bought a package of green glass beads.
I added a thin layer of glue around the edges of the glass.
Then I placed the glass beads on one by one. (It didn’t take long.)
I put some around the two middle layers, and also the top.
And viola! Finished!
But I wasn’t done with green glass. I think it was the ghost of St. Patrick sitting on my shoulder, urging me on to do one more. I gathered some more glass and got to work on a second piece.
This project is featured in my book, Glass Sculptures: How to Make Beautiful Sculptures for the Garden Using Vases, Bowls, and Other Glass Pieces.
I glued the edges, and with this particular glue let it sit for a few minutes before I secured it in place.
For some layers, I put glue on each piece. Then, I pressed the pieces into place.
I glued layer by layer, until I had the look I wanted.
Once again, I got all the pieces from Goodwill, estate sales, and rummages. I have this piece on my porch right now, and I like the way the light hits it.
Cherie, you and your glass obsession have really got me thinking about my garden this spring… It’s all your fault!
Do it! I can picture something very beaded and beautiful in your garden!
I love the addition of the glass bubbles on the first one. Hope you had a great St. Paddy’s Day!
Thanks, Eileen! I did. Hope yours was great too.
I’ve been collecting a bunch of glass pieces myself for this very thing. I was wondering if you’ve had any issues with breakage? My concern is that if I completely seal one piece to another, the air inside will expand in the heat and have nowhere to go, bursting the glass. I’ve been considering NOT sealing all the way around, but that would potentially allow water to get in…
Hi Wendy,
I haven’t had a problem at all with heat and breakage, but I do live in the cooler part of the country. The only breakage I had was because of a big windstorm that ripped out our porch, and as a result one of the sculptures got tipped over. Even then, just a piece of it broke and I was able to salvage it and remake it.
I chose to seal them all the way around because otherwise you’ll have more mold and moisture creep in. Let me know what you decide!
Wow Cherie, both pieces are amazing! I too like the glass bits you added to the first one.
Aw, thanks Barbara! I wasn’t sure about them at first, but now I might do some more like that.
Enjoyed this post so much. I’ll keep an eye out for useless glass objects to recycle–very fun! I’ve got lots of space in the garden. Thanks so much.
Best from Tunisia,
nadia
Hi Nadia! Thanks for popping in! I hope you make a couple and take some pictures!
I am curious about what kind of glue you went with that works the best.
When reading on E6000 it sounds very dangerous to use. I’ll wait to hear from and expert (that’s you) on this subject. Also your creations are very beautiful. Keep up the great creatativity. My friend and I are making garden fancies also, we call ourselves the “Junk Gypies”. We have so much fun shopping for our glass and going out to lunch. When we unwrap our fines its like Christmas. Have fun.
Pat
I get asked this a lot. In fact, I have some info on my FAQ page if you want to read more about it.
I use Household Hogar glue. I use it with gloves and always outside where it is well ventilated.
Don’t know if you have these glues, but I use ‘Goop’ Marine glue, and GEII Silicone glue. Just recently tried the silicone one, and I like that it has a skinny tip to make it easier for doing things like the glass beads one by one. And it is nice for the thin edges of some of the glass pieces, too. So lately I have been using both at once, depending on which part of the totem I’m glueing. Love Goodwill for sources, but I don’t see the great colored glass pieces you have here. Must get back to checking out tag sales again… Love your work!
I do use the Goop Marine glue sometimes and I also like the Goop Household Hogar, too.
Yes, I get the best pieces from estate and rummage sales. I also get them way cheaper that way. I can get a box of glass for the same price as one piece from Goodwill.