For Camp Make-A-Mini (CMAM) this year, I designed three quick minis. These are items found in a glass blowing studio. If you just want to purchase these kits, go directly to my etsy shop. Otherwise keep reading.
Being on the Create committee, specifically the Special Events which includes CMAM, I knew what the project was going to be early on. I got to thinking about what I could make for a quick mini kit.
I was researching Arts and Crafts for the CMAM activities board (Carolyn and I are responsible for this.) When I think of Arts and Crafts I am reminded of my one semester at Appalachian Center for Crafts (ACC) in Smithville, TN. I made another project related to that time in 1:144 scale – can see it here. But this time, I was doing it in a larger scale (1:48) and I would just be designing something to go in a building.
I looked at that previous project and decided I would make the glass studio equipment. Because I was making it in a different scale, I decided to browse the internet for ideas on what actual items to make. I was blessed to find a site that had some great photos and some drawings to go by. I didn’t exactly copy for the simple reason of building in wood vs real life would be metal and other stuff.
How Blown Glass Objects are made
When glass-blowing, one starts with the glass that has to be heated. So I made a kiln or furnace. Kilns like this are sideways and you dip a pipe into the hole in the front to get out the molten glass. When I was at ACC, I took a class in glass blowing and it was hot work.
Once a blob of glass is on the pipe, one can either blow at/near the kiln or move to a bench to work the shape with tools. This is a photo of me over 36 years ago shaping glass I had dipped and blown myself.
In class we helped each other by one person blowing at the end of the pipe as needed and the student, who’s piece it was, doing the shaping. But we also had to learn to do all the steps ourselves since not always would another person be around to blow in the pipe for us.
The metal end of the bench was where tools like snips, knives and even wet newspaper were laid.
Once the piece is finished shaping it goes to an annealer oven. This oven can hold temperature or slowly be allowed to cool so the pieces can be complete. Glass that does not get slowly cooled is subject to fracture over the entire piece. I decided my oven would be able to be left open so it has simple ribbon hinges.
If you are interested in adding these same piece of equipment to your Arts and Crafts building then check out my etsy store for details of the kits. These kits are all in 1:48 scale.
Also don’t forget about my glass art from plastic tutorial here. These make great pieces of faux glass to display with the glass blowing equipment.
Video for how to make glass art from plastic
The Studio
Well, it technically is still just a building. I am thinking I will be adding the glass blowing equipment and more from the other Quick Minis.
Happy miniaturing!
Preble