|
Editorial Advertising General Information |
| Get Your Craft On! Fusing Studio at Chroma Glass Introduces Art Form to Crafters of All Levels By Barbara Holbrook, Signal Tribune Design Editor
With the opening of their new Fusing Studio, Chroma Glass Designs in Bixby Knolls is changing all the rules. Pioneered by the Egyptians, fusing is one of the oldest forms of glass manipulation. Glass pieces are stacked together and then heated in a kiln until they merge into one lovely slab. Depending on size, the finished tiles can be used as pendants, jewelry pieces, sun catchers or coasters. The slabs can also be re-fired using a mold to create art glass bowls, plates, candleholders and more. Krista Leaders, owner of Chroma Glass, is a talented artisan with six years of experience bending the unique qualities of glass to fulfill her vision. As such, she takes care of the technical details for visitors in the Fusing Studio-letting newbies focus on the fun part of creating "something pretty." Leaders modeled her new studio after the popular "paint your own pottery" shops. Customers can drop by any time, pull up a stool and start creating. The $10 studio fee covers all materials except the blank glass tiles, which range from $1-40 depending on size. Samples showing simple patterns and color combinations are available for inspiration, and clients are "let loose" to create any type of design they want. After the design is complete, Chroma Glass will fire it and customers can pick up their new art piece in about a week. It's really as simple as 1,2,3: pull up a stool, create a design, pick up your art! Some folks prefer to "craft" alone, finding their personal Zen by quietly contemplating color choices and texture combinations. Other folks like to make it a party; groups of up to 10 are welcome with prior arrangements. Whatever your crafting style, the Fusing Studio is the perfect place for those interested in glass art to try their hand at something new. More advanced crafters will appreciate Leaders's experience as she can help them take the art form to the next level with slumping and molding techniques. Chroma Glass Designs is located at 4242 Atlantic Avenue. Call (562) 424-6052 for more information about the Fusing Studio. Please call ahead to reserve space for parties of more than six. |
Glass art has a way of attracting attention. It's shiny. It sparkles. Everybody seems to love looking at it. Yet few crafters have ever tried their hand at making it, mostly due to the high start-up costs or because they lack the skills to comfortably let loose with the materials.