Instead of revamping your kitchen - Add a splash of glass

I bet many have spent much time near the oven taking care of a roasting turkey for Thanksgiving feast. The kitchen is a multifunctional room where countless hours are spent preparing, cooking, and entertaining family and friends. Regardless, being on special occasions or on a regular daily basis; year after year your kitchen is the center of the home that gets much visitors attention. Did you know that when guests enter your kitchen they are automatically drawn to the kitchen counters? Do you think it is the time to refresh your kitchen? If you answered yes, instead of running to tear down all walls of the entire kitchen with a sledge hammer try changing a focal point of the room giving it a new innovative vibe. Then why not change your backsplash? Backsplashes are a great and simple way to brighten up a space, make a space come alive with color, or relaxing with soft tones. Consider using glass backsplashes where you wish to add the fine ingredients of creative energy and conversation to the room. Why not choose a backsplash that draws attention and conversation with cherished and loved ones? Castle Designer Glass provides custom glass backsplashes that create a unique and artistic feel to any home. Each piece is custom made for your space, utilizing large continuous pieces of kiln-textured glass, back-painted by hand with an endless variety of colors and metallic pigments to create any desired look. Sometimes simple is best and a little spice can go a long way. Instead of revamping your entire kitchen add a splash of glass to create a change from life’s mundane moments that will go a long way. A little cinnamon with your coffee?

The History of Slumping

As glass designers we spend a lot of our time slumping. You heard me right we love to slump. Slumping is the term that is used to describe how we form warm glass into a shape that our customers will want for their backsplashes, wall or stand alone pieces of art, countertops or glass boards. By applying heat to the point where the glass will soften, our glass designers increase the fluidity of the glass causing the glass to 'slump' into or onto the mold underneath. Here's how we do it. Once the oven reaches the right temperature we put a sheet of glass in, 'slumping' it over a form or into a mold. We use molds that are made of plaster, clay coated with plaster, graphite, sand or steel. Once the glass is formed, we reduce the temperature so that it can cool off or anneal. Slumping has been around since the days of the the Romans. They used slumping on everything from vessels to bowls and plates. They would place a sheet of glass over a mold which produced vessels with rough surfaces, which could then be ground or polished to a smooth finish. Some of the other techniques that they used to get their unique pillar-molded bowls was through the use of a special slotted tool to for the glass into a ribbed shape before it would go to slumping. This helped create a ribbed effect on the exterior of the bowl. Glass is a malleable material that can be made into almost any shape that you want. In my coming posts I'll write about them to give you a better idea of the techniques that we use.

Helping Out Our Community the Best We Can

I have been very lucky in life. Aside from having the love and support of my family, I own my glass art studio. I spend all day creating glass art in the shape of glass counters, glass backsplashes, glass signage, glass railings, glass wall art and glass furniture. Many of the artists that work at my studio have exhibited their work throughout Saskatchewan and Canada. But I would like to talk to you all about something very serious. There are many members of our communities that are mentally challenged. And as the old saying goes "God helps those who help themselves", some members of our society are dealing with too much and need some help. The great staff at the Sherbrooke Community Center in Saskatoon are those angels from heaven that help those that are less fortunate. Each day, they make a difference in the lives of the citizens of the Sherbrooke district in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. They provide each resident with companionship, opportunities to give and receive care and seek to provide a diverse environment rich with spontaneity and variety. They support the individual community members and encourage them to develop their strengths and passions through meaningful and rewarding pursuits. We've gotten involved with the Sherbrooke Community Center in order to contribute as best we can, to their overall mission. Art therapy emerged in the middle of the 20th century that art to express emotions and concerns. We have donated our time as well as the glass in order for residents to create art that will help them heal. Not only do we feel good about what we're doing but we can help others feel good about themselves and that's the ultimate reward. If you would like to learn how you can help or donate, please visit the Sherbrooke Community Centre's website at http://www.sherbrookecommunitycentre.ca/