Glass Expressionsis a full service stained glass studio located in Burien, near Sea Tac Airport. We have a good stock of tools and supplies for stained glass and glass fusing. We also do custom work and teach a variety of classes.
Kathy Johnson wandered into the shop in the early 80’s and ended up buying it in 1983 when the founder was going to quit. Lael Bennetttook a stained glass class from Kathy in 1991 and in 1993 she became Kathy’s business partner. Mindy Constant wandered into the studio with her best friend two years ago. She fell in love with the studio and the customers. In November 2023, she quit her tech job to come to work and decided to purchase the entire business in July 2024. She is the happy new owner that will keep Glass Expressions alive and well. Kathy will stay around for at least three years to help with the transition.
Currently we are running quarterly beginning stained glass classes but can accommodate more advanced students also. We have beginning fusing classes which are scheduled when we have enough students to fill a class.
New owner Mindy Constant with a student
The store has lot of glass for stained glass. For fusing we stock both 96 and 90 COE glass and supplies. In addition to the sheet glass we have frit, stringers and dicro in both COEs. We have 2 kilns and can fire projects for customers. We are happy to give advice and guidance to customers to make sure they get the right supplies for fusing projects.
648 SW 152nd St., Burien, WA 98166 In-Store Shopping: 12-3pm Tues-Sat (Closed Sunday & Monday) Phone: 206-242-2860 or email to make an appointment for shopping at other times.
Supplies other than glass can be purchased during Sitka Living open hours (they are in front of our studio space and can ring up our supply sales; they are closed Tuesday). For more info see http://glassexpressions.com/
Members should log in and go to About>Our Sponsors to see the member benefit given by this sponsor.
Doesn’t a class in an air-conditioned studio sound good about now? This month’s featured sponsor Melt Glass in Vancouver WA remodeled their basement to create more class space. Now they have both a stained glass classroom and a fused glass classroom. Look at all the classes they have going on this summer or stop in to buy supplies (and stay cool!).
A bit of history from owner Sheri Spurlock: 35+ years ago, my mother set up a stained glass studio in our basement. Within a few short years, we had opened a small stained glass shop in Milwaukie, Oregon. We developed strong relationships with the local glass manufacturers in their early days, and still enjoy those relationships today. Over the years, we have tailored our business specifically to meet the needs of the stained glass, mosaic, torchwork, and fusing hobbyists, artists, and small studio owners.
Inside Melt’s showroom
Today, Melt continues to grow, innovate and expand at the current storefront in Vancouver, Washington! Owing to our long history, we pride ourselves on being able to not only provide supplies for, but also to educate, our fellow glass artists. We operate our business from a cute little storefront at 502 Washington Street, Vancouver, Washington where we welcome artists to come in and browse our huge selection of dichroic glass, sheet glass, rods, tools and supplies. Need help with a firing schedule or having trouble with your solder lines? We are here to help!
Everyone on our staff is a glass artist in their own right. We are involved in craft shows, art shows, and galleries across the Pacific Northwest. This gives us a unique understanding of trends, new products, and the importance of everyday fair pricing vs fake sales and promotions. Shopping at Melt, in-person or online at https://www.meltglass.com/, you can feel confident that you’re getting a fair price and a quality product every day. Members should log-on and go to About>Our Sponsors to see how to claim their discount
Although the origins of glass are ancient and found in many civilizations throughout history, Dichroic Coated glass is a relative newcomer to the art glass world. Many people have heard the story of the artist rummaging through the Dumpster looking for cast off Dichroic glass that was being thrown away by the scientific community. So what exactly is Dichroic glass and how did it end up in the world of art?
Patterned Glass
Dichroic glass is actually a coating process that is completed in a vacuum deposition chamber by vaporizing quartz and metal oxides with an electron beam gun and condensing micro thin layers on the surface of the glass in the form of a crystal structure. This coating that we commonly call Dichroic glass today, is actually an “interference filter” permanently adhered to the surface of a piece of glass. The technology used to manufacture the optical interference filter has been in existence for over 40 years. It is known as “vacuum thin film deposition.” The roots of this technology date back to the late 1880’s. The significant commercial development of thin film deposition however, waited to be spurred by our military and aerospace requirements in the 1950’s and 1960’s. In the last 40 years this technology has played a key role in optical coating for a vast variety of optical instruments, lasers and laser systems, fiber communication links, optical recording/storage heads and media, display systems, infrared guidance and detection devices, photoelectric converters, architectural glass, eyeglasses, and many others.
It was 40 years ago when Jerry Sandberg of Coatings By Sandberg, Inc. pioneered his first vacuum, vapor deposited, thin film coatings strictly for art applications. Now, when the word Dichroic Glass is mentioned, the name “Sandberg” quickly comes to mind. The Sandberg Family is the backbone of this high tech aerospace application reinvented for the art glass industry.
Back in the early 1970’s, Jerry Sandberg was working for a vacuum-coating laboratory in Newport Beach and happened to take notice of an artist digging in the trash for pieces of Dichroic out of spec mirrors and started talking with him. This was the first interaction that Jerry had with the artist community and was immediately fascinated with the creative potential of the glass. Jerry then worked with these artists to create the first three Dichroic Glass Colors specifically designed for the art glass industry (Cyan/Red, Magenta/Green and Yellow/Blue).
Specialty Glass
It wasn’t long before Jerry also started experimenting with the coatings in the kiln. A third generation jeweler as well as a world class engineer, Jerry used his knowledge to create some of the first fused Dichroic Glass jewelry. His experiences using the Dichroic glass allowed him to see first hand, what other artists were now experiencing for the first time.
For the next twenty-five years Jerry continued to supply the art glass market and continually expanded the pallet of colors at the request of his ever-growing group of artists. A few other coating houses soon started to offer similar vacuum deposited coatings due to the buzz that Jerry had created and nurtured for many years. For Jerry, customer service and a quality product were paramount. The first distributors started selling Dichroic Glass during the 80’s as it became more and more popular.
In 1996 Nona & Jerry formed Coatings By Sandberg, Inc. Their mission was to supply the art glass market with reliable, consistent, uniform and durable Dichroic Glass coatings at a reasonable price. Customer service as well as customer support were key and still are to this day. Before Nona & Jerry were able to finish building their own custom vacuum deposition chamber with a price tag of one million dollars, the two had thousands of dollars in artist orders waiting to be produced. The first CBS Dichroic glass was created in November of 1996. CBS had to sell directly to the end user as distributors were not familiar with the company and unwilling to carry its product. Within the year some distributors were already requesting to open an account with CBS due to the multitude of artists requesting it by name.
As the demand for Dichroic Glass grew, CBS also began to expand. Not only did we expand production, we also expanded our product line and developed new coatings and patterns. We invited well known artists to come teach us at our plant and learned about fusing, slumping and manipulating glass. This all helped keep us in track with what our clients were doing and allowed us to offer extensive technical support to our valuable customers. At this point we coined our slogan “The Art of Dichroic Glass” since our products are specifically made with the artist in mind. In fact, the Sandberg’s specifically designed their chambers for the optimization of art glass as well.
By the new millennium CBS had single handedly created the standard in Dichroic Glass Coatings. Our colors were understandable. The color shifts during hotworking was predictable. The coatings were stable and most of all CBS was reliable. All the top distributors were on board with CBS and carrying inventory. As the leading manufacturer of Dichroic Glass CBS has a commitment to the well being of the struggling artist, on up to the world-renowned master, in the supply of quality Dichroic coatings.
In recent history we have created many more patterns, specialty rainbows, stripes and images. Imagine, we started out with 10 patterns and 16 solid colors, and now have 25 pattern and 23 colors and over 130 combinations of the two! We have also coated a multitude of glass including: architectural glass, stained glass, blown glass, fused glass, castings, bevels, rods, stringers, tubing, gems, jewels, drusys, cabochons, buttons, ear plugs, ceramics, glass block, tile, and more. We have coated pre-made items such as sculptures from Milon Townsend, hand blown bowls by James Nowak, beads from Sharon Peters and Swarovski and Waterford crystal, and have even worked with The Walt Disney Company.
Dichroic Extract
Dichroic Glass Coatings have come a long way in 40 years but have many more years in store. Thanks to so much excitement in the art market, Dichroic glass is now used for construction in the form of tile, decorative skylights, mood lighting, lighting fixtures, mosaics, sinks, sconces and sculpture. We realize that the future of Dichroic glass is very dependent on CBS and its practices. We are constantly in a state of analysis, research and development and we now have Distributors all over the globe. We have also hired “in-house” artists to help test and provide vital input to future product. We have expanded our sample department in an effort to offer smaller amounts at lower price points. Most recently we have designed a new Dichroic surface texture know as Crinklized Dichroic™. In the future, CBS will be experimenting with additional surface texture, shadowing techniques, new deposition materials, unique patterns and more.
In addition, in 2005 the Museum of Dichroic Art (MODA) was created and it now houses the largest know Dichroic glass collection in the world. It is currently located in our lobby in Orange, California and is available by appointment for guided tours throughout our facility on a daily basis.
Our newest sponsor, Joanie Schwartz Glass, is located inside Joanie’s gallery, Moonwater Arts, which just reopened in a larger space at 702 Commercial Avenue in the heart of ‘Old Town’ Anacortes. The gallery includes Joanie’s fused glass art, along with a variety of artwork from seventy local and national artists, mainly women. Joanie has filled the gallery with “intention, passion, and love” and selected artists who she believes help advance her vision of infusing the world with light, beauty, hope and joy.
Joanie in her classroom
A creator since childhood, Joanie has always loved art. Encouraged by their mother, she and her five siblings all grew up to become artists. Self-trained, Joanie began working with glass to create mosaics about 10 years ago, then learned how to fuse glass to further enhance her pieces. Now, she works almost exclusively with fused glass, although many of her pieces reflect a mosaic aesthetic.
Joanie’s true passion is teaching and helping people create their own vision. She says, “I love to see people’s faces when their work comes out of the kiln. It’s magical!” Her classes are small and personalized, with usually about 6 people each, although the new gallery space provides room for private groups of 8-10 people. Look at the class schedule atJoanieSchwartzGlass.com and secure a spot in one of her numerous workshops. You’ll get a chance to work with Joanie one-on-one to create your very own masterpiece, even if you’ve never worked with glass before. In Joanie’s eyes, everyone is a creator!
Joanie and friends getting ready to re-open in their new space
Members should login to PNWGlassGuild.org and go to About>Our Sponsors to see how to claim their discount.
For several hundred years, glass crafts people have created murrine, small slices of cane traditionally created in a hot shop crucible. This ancient technique required hot glass to be melted in crucibles around the clock. The Vitrigraph kiln changed that and now within a few hours artists can replicate this hot shop process and produce cane and elements for their fusing glass projects.
I sell 4” pots, 5” pots, and 7” pots designed for Vitrigraph. I also make custom bottoms for specialty pulls. Classes on designing pots offered. Members: log in and check the About> Sponsor page to see how to get a discount.
Carlyne Lynch and Greta Schneider pulling cane out of one of these pots in a vitrigraph kiln.
Examples of pots and different bottoms. Available in 4″, 5″ and 7″.
Rosalind Stanton is a metal and fused glass artist, working from home in Birken, B.C. Roz began working with glass in 2004, and became interested in metal art in 2006 while trying to find a way to display her fused glass art. She started by designing, cutting, burnishing, and bending aluminum into ornate stands that will hold a variety of glass art. After mastering aluminum, she ventured into cutting steel, manipulating it without the need for welding. Roz continues to design and sell a line of burnished aluminum as well as light steel stands in various sizes and styles for displaying glass indoors or out. The silver aluminum is beautiful as is, or you can paint it to work with any glass design.
She also offers fused glass instructional videos on both her website and on YouTube, and is willing to work with glass artists to manipulate an existing design to better fit a piece. Because Roz is located in British Columbia, she works with Debbie Patana in Chinook, Washington to ship stands to US customers.
(Members should log in and go to About>Our Sponsors to see the sponsor benefit offered).
Since 1973, our goal has been to provide the best possible selection of products at the best possible pricing along with a knowledgeable and experienced staff. We also teach classes and have an open workspace available by appointment during some parts of the year. Facebook often has our classes listed before the website gets updated.
Our focus is to encourage and support creative expression in glass. Northwest Art Glass is a worldwide supplier of art glass materials. We cover all aspects of “cold” and “warm” glass working, whether kiln work, etching, stained glass or mosaic. Our warehouse facility in Redmond, Washington offers the largest inventory of specialty sheet glass in the Pacific Northwest, unparalleled for its depth of selection. Customers are welcome to hand select their glass on site (by appointment), or may choose to have their order shipped anywhere in the world. See our website for a list of what brands we carry and specific products.
There is a large class area upstairs that many customers aren’t aware of.
(Members should log in and go to About>Our Sponsors to see the sponsor benefit offered).
Frit and glass in many sizes and from many manufacturers
I have been creating mosaics in Seattle, Washington for private collections, galleries, and public spaces since 1998 and have enjoyed every minute of it.
I am drawn to soothing symmetries of sparkling glass tiles and beads that are often inspired by the rhythm and symmetry of Moroccan art and architecture. My passion for this ancient art form led me to study with masters in Italy, Spain, and the US, who instilled in me a pride of workmanship expressed in each hand-crafted piece. I aspire to bring the joy of spirit I feel with the creation of each piece to the home of others. My journey with this art form is intensely spiritual as I strive to express an interconnected world where seemingly small and inconsequential experiences affect the whole. Mosaic is a medium effective at illustrating how carefully shaped pieces can unite with other tesserae to create something rich with texture, color, and meaning. There’s something magical about mosaic when it offers a detailed and holistic view simultaneously.
I also find sharing my knowledge and experience with students to be wonderfully satisfying and fulfilling. Something I love about teaching mosaic classes is when a student is in awe of what they are able to create with some guidance and supplies. Creating your own masterpiece is a wonderful way to add personality to your home and spark your creative spirit. Best part? Experience isn’t necessary! Contact her for classes (members should log in to see the Sponsor benefit):
Introducing Modeling Glass by Glass Bird Studios Lois Manno developed Modeling Glass after taking a workshop at Bullseye Glass to learn how to make images with powdered glass. She loved the method but didn’t like all that wasted powder, and decided to try and figure out how to turn the powder into something she could sculpt with more control and less waste. That’s how she got the idea for Modeling Glass.
“Renewal” was made in response to the terrible forest fires that have plagued my home state of New Mexico. The fern tendrils are made from Modeling Glass tack-fused to sheet glass and then mounted on a brushed metal panel painted with pine branches.
“Desert Springtime Mask”shows how dimensional Modeling Glass details can be. Each of the cactus plants and the rock detail was sculpted individually and then tack-fused to a flat mask shape made with sheet glass. The mask was then slumped over a ceramic form.
“Winter Woods” measures 9″ x 12″ and shows the delicate effect you can achieve with Modeling Glass. The forest and the snowy branches are made of a series of layers of Modeling Glass tack-fused onto transparent blue backed glass.
The Modeling Glass Starter Kit is a unique two-part kit consisting of a Powdered Binder and Liquid Medium that artists combine with water and their own powdered glass or fine frit. The resulting material has the consistency of clay and is smooth and easy to work with. It won’t stick to your hands or tools. The binder and liquid medium are food-grade and nontoxic. The Starter Kit contains an instruction sheet plus 3.5 oz. of Powdered Binder and 2 oz. of Liquid Medium. Refill sizes are also available, which are each double the amount in a Starter Kit.
You can work with Modeling Glass (MG) in many of the same ways you would work with clay: roll into coils, roll into a flat sheet and cut out shapes, or press into silicone molds. MG holds its shape without freezing. When fired to tack fuse temperatures it will hold an amazing amount of textural detail. It can be thinned with water and used to create beautiful palette-knife textures. Combine colors to make your own blends. Before firing, dry MG shapes can be sanded, carved, and otherwise modified, virtually eliminating the need for extensive cold working after firing. It can be painted with enamels for beautiful effects. During firing, the binder and medium will burn away, and do not affect the compatibility of the glass. It can be used with either COE 90 or 96 glass, and at full-fuse temperatures, colors remain true.
An assortment of feathers made using Modeling Glass, ranging from 13″ to 15″. Each one is hand sculpted and unique, no molds are used.
This flicker measures approximately 7″ long and is 3mm thick. It was sculpted from white Modeling Glass and then was painted with Rogue Enamels before firing. Painting unfired Modeling Glass is similar to painting on watercolor paper, as it is very absorbent.
Lois has also written an eBook called Exploring Modeling Glass: The Basics and More. It can be purchased on the Modeling Glass website! The book contains 81 pages of clear, step-by-step instructions and 160 photos. Featuring seven complete projects, you will learn the basic techniques for mixing, sculpting, and combining Modeling Glass with enamels. The book includes project templates and all firing schedules (designed to work with both Bullseye and System 96) in both Fahrenheit and Celsius. This eBook is suitable for all levels of experience.
The cover of the eBook.
This Holiday Plate measures 10″ x 10″ and features two ornaments that were cut out of red Modeling Glass with gold mica and contour-fused onto backing glass. Note how the ornaments were also used as stencils for the powder work before they were fused in place.
Creative Paradise is dedicated to providing innovative projects and tools to light the creative fire in every artist. Plaster molds for casting ceramics, plaster forms to aid the clay hand building artist and potter as well as the world’s most innovative line of earthenware molds for glass artists are designed and manufactured at our facility in Goddard, KS. Dedicated to innovation, quality and customer satisfaction, Creative Paradise, Inc. continues to discover fresh new concepts and tools.
Contact Us: Creative Paradise, Inc. PO Box 734 415 Industrial Goddard, KS 67052
Telephone: 316-794-8621 Fax: 316-794-8226 creativeparadiseinc@live.comPlease be aware that for the best discounted prices on our molds it is best to buy through a local distributor. We offer retail prices only to the public. Click on the distributor menu option to find the nearest distributor to you.
Please do not use High Temp Slide glass separator on any of your Creative Paradise, Inc molds. It does not work with our molds.
Thank you to the entire Pacific Northwest Glass Guild for allowing AAE Glass to be a small part! I know several members have worked with Tanya Veit and AAE Glass in the past and we always appreciate your support. We are currently offering your members a Coupon Code for the year. [Log-in to PNWGlassGuild.org and choose About>Our sponsors to see more details].
If you haven’t heard of AAE Glass or Tanya Veit, we are on online, fused glass education center, distributor, wholesaler, and retailer. Tanya Veit is an online educator, pioneer in the industry and has had a hand in shaping the way most online glass education is consumed these days. Tanya’s original tutorials became so popular, that in 2016 she decided to change the focus of AAE Glass from in-person teaching to producing her own online, educational video tutorials for the newly born AAE Glass Education Centre. Tanya has been focused on producing video content ever since.
My name is Mark Veit, Tanya’s brother-in-law. We have been working together for the past 12 years. You may have also seen Michelle Glass on social media, she is Tanya’s sister and part of the AAE Glass family. John Veit, Tanya’s husband, my brother, and Michell’s brother-in-law is someone you may have met at the Florida studio or spoken to on the phone or over email. This is true family business. Tanya is a self-taught artist who started out using other mediums before finally being drawn into fused glass. She is artistic by nature and grew up surrounded by art in various forms. She began selling finished pieces at shows, galleries, on eBay, Etsy, Artfire, etc. and branched out into selling supplies which is how AAE Glass began. Once she introduced her decals, not only did her glass jewelry sales rise, but it opened the door to producing decals for other artists who saw the same appeal. First it was decals, then silver settings, then chains, bails, and other supplies, then a Bullseye Glass Kiln Glass Resource Centre, then the release of the AAE Glass Education Centre and next will be the biggest thing Tanya has ever done. It is the release of a brand new, online, interactive learning platform unlike anything in the industry. Months in the making, we are almost at the finish line and by the time this article is released, we will just about be there, so stay tuned for AAE Glass updates.
Artwork by Tanya Veit Artwork by Tanya Viet
In addition to offering online education, Tanya has created several products that are only available at AAE Glass. Simple Screens were developed to make screen printing on fused glass more accessible for glass artists around the world. Designing and creating these screens is an involved process that AAE Glass does for you. Tanya’s waterslide decals are another example of these products. They fire true in shape and color. Tanya works directly with Howard Sandberg of CBS Dichroic Glass to create custom dichroic glass colors, patterns and shapes built around her favorite colors and techniques. Big Mouth paints are another product Tanya has brought in. The consistency of these paints allows Tanya to create the look she wanted. She doesn’t just release products to the industry though, she offers several video tutorials showing how to use the products as well as some projects that can be made with them. We know firsthand testing can get expensive. Tanya does her best to save you as much time and money as possible by showing you step-by-step instructions.
The biggest news to come out of AAE Glass in years is that Tanya has created a new subscription platform and learning experience that has not been seen in our industry. Here is a sneak peek into just a few of the perks included in your membership.
There is so much more that I can’t list now, but as you can see, Tanya is making herself more available to anyone who wants to learn and grow right beside her. It’s important to Tanya to reach as many glass artists as possible around the world and this platform will do that. The work and time put into this project is unlike anything we have done, but the results are going to be amazing and we want to share them with you. If you have any questions or have ideas of topics your would to discuss when we are up and running, please email them to info@aaeglass.com and we will do our best to implement them. This platform is going to grow and evolve as we settle in, so this as much your project as ours.
• Your membership includes LIVE monthly Q & A sessions with Tanya on specific glass topics such as marketing, organizing your space, tutorials, troubleshooting and more.
• Your membership includes monthly inspirational video tutorials from Tanya Veit. A great way to help break open your creative process.
• Your membership included immediate access to several fundamental glass fusing videos on topics like: cold working, cutting basics, tool demos and demonstrations of new products in the industry. New content added monthly.
• Your membership includes an exclusive community where you can comment, share photos, have private discussions with your peers or ask Tanya questions without the “noise” of social media.
• Your membership includes a color palette library created by Tanya using Bullseye glass swatches for inspiration when creating your own projects. New palettes are added frequently.
We recently made two very important business decisions that have our customer’s best interest in mind. AAE Glass is NOT raising our Bullseye Glass prices with the rest of the industry. We feel this is an area we can help current artists beat the inflation that seems to be everywhere. The second thing we were able to do is lower our shipping costs by an average of 15% across the board. Yes, we still offer Free Shipping to qualified retail orders over $200, but these new saving will affect all orders, including wholesale customers. Ordering Bullseye Glass from AAE Glass just got more affordable. We hope by continuing to work for you, that you will AAE Glass your supplier. Don’t forget to use your Guild coupon code when ordering supplies.
At Glass Expressions we are a full service stained glass studio. We have a store front business with a good stock of tools and supplies for stained glass and glass fusing.
Glass Expressions started in 1974 in Burien, WA. Kathy Johnson wandered in to the shop in the early 80’s and ended up buying it in 1983 when the founder was going to quit. She needed some place to do glass. Lael Bennetttook a stained glass class from Kathy in 1991. By 1993 she quit her job, cashed in her retirement funds and bought in to become Kathy’s business partner. And we are both still here!
The store has lot of glass for stained glass. For fusing we stock both 96 and 90 coe glass and supplies. In addition to the sheet glass we have frit, stringers and dicro in both coe’s. We have kilns and can fire projects for customers. We are happy to give advice and guidance to customers to make sure they get the right supplies for fusing projects.
We have beginning fusing and bead making classes which are scheduled when we have enough students to fill a class. Currently we are running quarterly beginning stained glass classes but can accommodate more advanced students also.
Call or email to make an Appointment for shopping at other times. Supplies other than glass can be purchased during Sitka Living open hours (they are in front of our studio space).
Although the origins of glass are ancient and found in many civilizations throughout history, Dichroic Coated glass is a relative newcomer to the art glass world. Many people have heard the story of the artist rummaging through the Dumpster looking for cast off Dichroic glass that was being thrown away by the scientific community. So what exactly is Dichroic glass and how did it end up in the world of art?
Patterned Glass
Dichroic glass is actually a coating process that is completed in a vacuum deposition chamber by vaporizing quartz and metal oxides with an electron beam gun and condensing micro thin layers on the surface of the glass in the form of a crystal structure. This coating that we commonly call Dichroic glass today, is actually an “interference filter” permanently adhered to the surface of a piece of glass. The technology used to manufacture the optical interference filter has been in existence for over 40 years. It is known as “vacuum thin film deposition.” The roots of this technology date back to the late 1880’s. The significant commercial development of thin film deposition however, waited to be spurred by our military and aerospace requirements in the 1950’s and 1960’s. In the last 40 years this technology has played a key role in optical coating for a vast variety of optical instruments, lasers and laser systems, fiber communication links, optical recording/storage heads and media, display systems, infrared guidance and detection devices, photoelectric converters, architectural glass, eyeglasses, and many others.
It was 40 years ago when Jerry Sandberg of Coatings By Sandberg, Inc. pioneered his first vacuum, vapor deposited, thin film coatings strictly for art applications. Now, when the word Dichroic Glass is mentioned, the name “Sandberg” quickly comes to mind. The Sandberg Family is the backbone of this high tech aerospace application reinvented for the art glass industry.
Back in the early 1970’s, Jerry Sandberg was working for a vacuum-coating laboratory in Newport Beach and happened to take notice of an artist digging in the trash for pieces of Dichroic out of spec mirrors and started talking with him. This was the first interaction that Jerry had with the artist community and was immediately fascinated with the creative potential of the glass. Jerry then worked with these artists to create the first three Dichroic Glass Colors specifically designed for the art glass industry (Cyan/Red, Magenta/Green and Yellow/Blue).
Specialty Glass
It wasn’t long before Jerry also started experimenting with the coatings in the kiln. A third generation jeweler as well as a world class engineer, Jerry used his knowledge to create some of the first fused Dichroic Glass jewelry. His experiences using the Dichroic glass allowed him to see first hand, what other artists were now experiencing for the first time.
For the next twenty-five years Jerry continued to supply the art glass market and continually expanded the pallet of colors at the request of his ever-growing group of artists. A few other coating houses soon started to offer similar vacuum deposited coatings due to the buzz that Jerry had created and nurtured for many years. For Jerry, customer service and a quality product were paramount. The first distributors started selling Dichroic Glass during the 80’s as it became more and more popular.
In 1996 Nona & Jerry formed Coatings By Sandberg, Inc. Their mission was to supply the art glass market with reliable, consistent, uniform and durable Dichroic Glass coatings at a reasonable price. Customer service as well as customer support were key and still are to this day. Before Nona & Jerry were able to finish building their own custom vacuum deposition chamber with a price tag of one million dollars, the two had thousands of dollars in artist orders waiting to be produced. The first CBS Dichroic glass was created in November of 1996. CBS had to sell directly to the end user as distributors were not familiar with the company and unwilling to carry its product. Within the year some distributors were already requesting to open an account with CBS due to the multitude of artists requesting it by name.
As the demand for Dichroic Glass grew, CBS also began to expand. Not only did we expand production, we also expanded our product line and developed new coatings and patterns. We invited well known artists to come teach us at our plant and learned about fusing, slumping and manipulating glass. This all helped keep us in track with what our clients were doing and allowed us to offer extensive technical support to our valuable customers. At this point we coined our slogan “The Art of Dichroic Glass” since our products are specifically made with the artist in mind. In fact, the Sandberg’s specifically designed their chambers for the optimization of art glass as well.
By the new millennium CBS had single handedly created the standard in Dichroic Glass Coatings. Our colors were understandable. The color shifts during hotworking was predictable. The coatings were stable and most of all CBS was reliable. All the top distributors were on board with CBS and carrying inventory. As the leading manufacturer of Dichroic Glass CBS has a commitment to the well being of the struggling artist, on up to the world-renowned master, in the supply of quality Dichroic coatings.
In recent history we have created many more patterns, specialty rainbows, stripes and images. Imagine, we started out with 10 patterns and 16 solid colors, and now have 25 pattern and 23 colors and over 130 combinations of the two! We have also coated a multitude of glass including: architectural glass, stained glass, blown glass, fused glass, castings, bevels, rods, stringers, tubing, gems, jewels, drusys, cabochons, buttons, ear plugs, ceramics, glass block, tile, and more. We have coated pre-made items such as sculptures from Milon Townsend, hand blown bowls by James Nowak, beads from Sharon Peters and Swarovski and Waterford crystal, and have even worked with The Walt Disney Company.
Dichroic Extract
Dichroic Glass Coatings have come a long way in 40 years but have many more years in store. Thanks to so much excitement in the art market, Dichroic glass is now used for construction in the form of tile, decorative skylights, mood lighting, lighting fixtures, mosaics, sinks, sconces and sculpture. We realize that the future of Dichroic glass is very dependent on CBS and its practices. We are constantly in a state of analysis, research and development and we now have Distributors all over the globe. We have also hired “in-house” artists to help test and provide vital input to future product. We have expanded our sample department in an effort to offer smaller amounts at lower price points. Most recently we have designed a new Dichroic surface texture know as Crinklized Dichroic™. In the future, CBS will be experimenting with additional surface texture, shadowing techniques, new deposition materials, unique patterns and more.
In addition, in 2005 the Museum of Dichroic Art (MODA) was created and it now houses the largest know Dichroic glass collection in the world. It is currently located in our lobby in Orange, California and is available by appointment for guided tours throughout our facility on a daily basis.
Since 1986, Fusion Headquarters has been supplying the art glass industry with Hard To Find Fusing Supplies. Over the last 36 years their Fuse Master Enamels have become highly regarded for their brilliance and intensity. We pride ourselves on great service and quality products. If you are looking for a new kiln, books on fusing, stainless steel molds that last a life time, Flexi-Glass, Liquid Stringer, Super Spray or more, check us out. We are happy to help!
Fusion Headquarters, Inc. 15500 NE Kincaid Rd. Newberg, OR 97132 503-538-5281
Welcome to Happy Glass Art Supply Irene Richardson is Owner / Operator / Glass Artist
Irene began her glass art journey in 1980. A friend shared some techniques and that was a gift to last a lifetime. Happy Glass Art Supply online shop is a subsidiary of our brick and mortar shop that was established in 2002. Happy Glass Art Supply is operated in the same manner as ISGS, INC Quality Glass Art Supplies in stock.
l) Quality Customer Service. 2) Attention to detail. 3) *All orders to be shipped are photographed with the order information plus a packing slip is sent with the order for easy check in of items ordered. 4) The sharing of the love and inspiration of glass art.
ISGS, INC is located in Hoquiam, WA and open by appointment. Appointments can be made by reaching out to me via email or phone 360-589-7766 or text.
It is such a pleasure to be able to have quality / uninterrupted time taking care of the specialized needs of fellow glass artists. “Wishing you happy glass art times ahead”, Irene.
Creative Ceramics & Glass and Blue Fire Molds is a company dedicated to providing quality slumping molds for the glass professional and hobbyist. We have been in the ceramics industry for over 30 years and have been dedicated to providing fine quality ceramic products for many needs. Our expert staff will assist you with any questions concerning the glass and mold industry.
Creative Ceramics & Glass and Blue Fire Molds has a large inventory of glass molds for your use including the common shapes and many unique shapes for a variety of uses. Many of our molds have sidewalls for ease of use and when appropriate have side holes to help in the distribution of heat while the glass is being slumped in the kiln.
It all started in Jr. High with a Ronco Bottle & Jug Cutter and an infatuation with tools, crafts and Scout badges. John knew he would make his living with his hands but when he saw a teacher working on a stained glass window, the fascination with Art Glass began.
The first windows built in his dad’s garage brought in a lot more cash than mowing lawns. It was only natural that his first job after high school was a small stained glass shop in El Segundo, CA that he opened with his brother Steve (now a Pastor). Besides, in the mid 70’s it seemed the best way to avoid having to get a haircut.
Business was good and soon John needed a helper. Today that helper is the workshop manager. Saturday class came next because if we didn’t pass it on, the craft would die like so many other noble endeavors. To provide for students and friends he bought glass and supplies to sell.
Along the way a used hand beveling machine became available and a loan from dad made it all happen. John Williams found this to be the winning combination: Goods, Services, & Craft. This was the natural progression of Pacific Artglass.
Goods: We wish to provide the best in Art Glass tools and materials at the best price. In doing so we hope to proliferate the Art Glass craft by making those hard to find items available to students and the Art Glass professional. Some of the relationships with our vendors go back 25 years or more. We have all grown up together. If you need something special, Jim Dunham, our warehouse manager can probably order it for you. We support and protect our retailers. We will only sell wholesale to a bona fide re-seller or professional glass studio.
Services: we fabricate or acquire components for commercial artists and hobbyists alike. Whether it be small dichroic glass shapes, cut on our water jet, laser etching or custom cut and polished bevels, we are considered to be the studio of choice by many successful designers. We also have some fine designers on our staff as well. For more information, see: Services.
Craft: We talk about craftsmanship, that mysterious mix of technical skill and artistic inspiration that is so elusive. It never was just about the money. Even though John is known in architectural circles as one of the best glass benders in the business, he is still involved in the beginning fusing class, given four times a year. For us, “craft” is something that is always in balance, science and art, tradition and innovation, all at the same time.
In our leaded glass workshop we may be restoring an antique, museum quality church window, while in our art department we can accept any digital file format for your production job, be it glass-etching, water jet cutting or custom bevels.
Simply, we are a family business. We hope to be a part of your family as well.
Along with everyone in the Northwest,Bullseye Glass Co. continues to work through challenges brought by the pandemic and the record-breaking summer heat. A year and a half ago, our robust education program of in-person classes at five locations around the nation came to a sudden halt as businesses and schools were required to close to the public.
Necessity is the mother of invention. Ted Sawyer, Bullseye’s Director of Research and Education suddenly had no students, so no classes! He switched gears and started working on an instructional video, Under Pressure.
After finishing the video, he met with Bullseye’s marketing department to discuss how an online class could give glass students an educational experience comparable to attending an in-person class. They concluded that an enriching online class would include:
A class guide, with extensive notes and illustrations to supplement the material covered in the video.
A private online gallery so that students could show their projects to each other and to the instructor.
Delivery of the class guide pdf file and on-demand video immediately upon registration, so students could start studying the materials before the actual class sessions.
Two live class sessions. The first would be a “Watch Party” where everyone could watch the video together, live, with the instructor to answer questions. The second live session would be a “Show and Tell” where the instructor and students could share observations and feedback about the projects.
Community. To support a community network for online students after the class, many of Bullseye’s classes offer a private Facebook Group where students can ask questions, offer insights, and share both their class projects and their follow-p projects, revealing more variations on the class technique.
Student work
Even with these features added, we assumed that a remote online class could not rival the quality of an in-person class. To our complete surprise, as students joined and completed classes, we learned that for any students who already own a kiln, the online experience with these features offered a better learning experience than an in-person class. This was the case for several reasons.
In Bullseye’s online classes:
Students set up the kiln shelf and kiln furniture on their own. (In a live class, a teaching assistant or the instructor does this.)
Students plan and program their own firing cycles, which typically does not happen in a studio class.
Students select their own supplies, including choosing glass colors. Typically, a studio class offers limited color options. When students select their own colors, the final projects reflect more palettes—students get the benefit of seeing the project completed in a wide array of palettes and sizes.
Follow-up projects: online class students have more confidence about following up their project with a new variation, perhaps because they are confident in how to set up and fire the piece, and have the support of the class guide, streaming video, and an online community to help with any questions.
It has been gratifying to see students take an online class, experience a new technique, and then run with it, making original work beyond the original class project. We have also noticed that more students are accessing classes because no travel is required.
Since “Under Pressure,” Bullseye has produced additional online classes based on the format described above, including many with guest artists. These artists include Tim Carey, Amanda Simmons, Richard Parrish, Nathan Sandberg, and Ian Chadwick, among others. We invite you to learn more at https://classes.bullseyeglass.com.Seeing how well students learn when they have less help from the teaching assistant has influenced our overall approach to in-person classes for beginners.
Tim Carey
Ian Chadwick
For example, in our introductory class, “Great Plates,.” students get access to a streaming video and illustrated class guide upon registration. As a result, less studio time is used to explain the process, and we now support students in programming their own firing cycles.
Taking a class like Great Plates further empowers students by qualifying them to use our Open Studio facilities, which now include the chance to use coldworking tools like our belt sanders and sandblasters, after a brief orientation.
This very hard year and a half has left us with a silver lining: we can do things in new ways if we keep an open mind.
In the beginning, there was Roses Glass & Gifts. A small gift shop that included stained glass and lessons. Several years later a fair Damsel named Pam stumbled across this store, took some lessons, became a teacher, and thus decided to purchase this small store with her husband Mitch – The knight in dented armor.
Over the next year, the store was registered as “Roses Glassworks Art Glass School Inc.” The small building was cleaned, painted , gifts gone – glass art filled the studio, inventory changed and expanded, everyone happy, and the Kingdom thrived.
Roses has not only survived the last couple decades under the tender care of Pam and Mitch, but has grown to be a first class adult art school, glass art studio and retail supplier giving people almost anything they could desire within the Art Glass Realm.
Roses Glassworks carries 96 COE fusible glass with supplies, many different manufacturers of stained glass, clear textured glass, and above all, Roses Glassworks strives to keep all the dragons at bay by keeping all shelves full.
Come visit us some fortnight, or seek us out online. www.rosesglassworks.com / (5030 246-9897 Roses Glassworks Art Glass School , 10105 SW Hall Blvd. Portland Oregon 97223 info@rosesglassworks.com Tuesday – Thursday 10am – 6pm , Friday 10am – 3pm , Saturday 10am – 4pm
Marvelous Mosaic specializes in stained glass on glass mosaics. We offer retreats, classes, custom mosaics, shower and backslash installs and much more! https://marvelousmosaic.com/
Kory Dollar is a stained glass mosaic artist from the Pacific Northwest. She has been creating colorful mosaics for 23 years and is a self-taught artist. Kory uses a wide range of materials to create her mosaics searching far and wide for unique bits and pieces that can be turned into treasures. She strives to keep items out of the landfill by recycling stained glass, antique bottles, vintage windows, and just about any piece she can find beauty in. She uses color and texture to create 3-dimensional elements in nature and fantasy. All of the works of art she creates are one-of-a-kind and assembled one piece at a time, making sure every piece is placed perfectly. Kory uses a broad range of materials, shaping them to fit like puzzle pieces, combining texture, reflectivity, and spacing to achieve her vision. She is intrigued by mandalas, nature, and the human body. Her inspiration comes from her surroundings; “I watch nature and people, studying movement, expression, tone, and light. I allow my imagination free reign, creating vivid themes and dramatic expressions for others to interpret.”
Glass Expressions
Glass Expressions has been in business in Burien since 1974. Glass Expressions sells fusing glass and supplies in addition to standard stained glass supplies. We’ve been doing custom stained glass projects and repairs since 1983. M Kathy Johnson teaches basic stained glass and bead making. Her business partner, Lael Bennett teaches beginning fusing, reactive glass fusing and jewellery fusing classes. In normal times we offer our students and semi-experienced stained glass artists an open-lab membership program. We also have kilns available for firing projects for customers who don’t have their own kilns. “We hope to see you soon.”
