This is the time of year before show season when we have a little time to experiment. When it comes to working with reactive glass, it's a little like being a mad scientist. I love the saturated and/or lustrous results with silver glass, but I often find good results hard to achieve. The glass contains a high content of minerals, which causes various reactions in the torch flame or the kiln. Last night I experimented with one variety after pouring over tutorials and other online information. The greenish looking rod at far left, (which looks palest pink in different light) when handled in the proper sequence of striking and reducing flames, will yield the bright pink. It's so temperamental. My first attempt turned grayish blue, the next cream and yellow and finally on the third and fourth tries, the hot pink I was after. But I wasn't sure until I got them out of the kiln this morning. The good ones were blue when they went in the kiln last night. So, hopefully I can duplicate success again, and with some murini and stringer decoration, we might be on to something new for summer.
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