Repurposing Summer’s Colors in Fused Glass 2

Sunny Chevron Plate

As I walked through the glass studio this morning, my eye was drawn to a bold color in the “fix it” pile. It was a chevron plate. I had spent hours cutting and piecing it together a couple of years ago.

Fused Glass Chevron Plate/ Cracked

When I took it from the second firing in the kiln, it had cracked right down the middle. I used to get so discouraged when this happened. I just wanted to throw in the towel and give pieces a chuck in the garbage, then Mike convinced me that anything can be salvaged with a little effort- (this is something he is so good at; repurposing dented copper wash tubs to create beautiful wine racks, adding a copper pipe to an old chipped light fixture to create a beautiful chandelier).

I decided to spend a little time rethinking this plate, and this is what I came up with.

Drilling Holes to Repurpose

I am drilling holes in a few places down that center and will “stitch” it together with copper wire, or leather, or maybe some pine needles, like the beautiful weaving on gourds and pottery I see at shows.

Summer’s Colors in Fused Glass Plate

These colors are just too incredible to lose in the fix it pile. They are summer at its best- red, orange and gold. Even Pantone named this gold their “Color of the Day” yesterday- Sunset Gold. Every hour of the day has a new light shining through the squash blossoms that share this amazing yellow

Squash Blossom

The red is actually called Tomato Red and I’m keeping vigil on my tomato plants to see that color before the squirrels do. The orange is as warm as the Arizona citrus that zings up our summer salsa.

No wonder my eye was drawn to this plate. God is reminding me not to waste treasures, to bring them out and let them shine.

Chevron Plate in Fused Glass

What do you think would look best for the stitching on this plate- copper, leather or Pine Needles? Please let us know in the comments below.

Thanks.