Kaleidoscopes

[nansea121]

One winter I really got bitten with Kaleidoscope fever and made over 30 of them. I started out using Clarity's kits and when I began to understand how they work, I went ahead and made up my own shapes and toyed with the internal mirror angles. Those Keleido kits come in many styles and are a great way to learn how to make them. I saw in one book that I have, one that was made to wear as a pendant! Now that's tiny!

1. First one I ever made. It's called a Marblescope.
2. A typical Kaleidoscope from Clarity's kit. You can make the wheels with different shaped. Textured and coloured glass works great.
3. Another type of Tumble scope by Clarity.

[nansea121]

Tis example turned out to be a total surprise! I printed Clarity's pattern layout with Dan's printer and the basic Kaleido grew from the basic size to a little over a foot long! I went ahead and made 5 of those in different colours. They were a tad heavy for kids to handle but the adults liked the experience. When folks come over to visit my studio, I really like to show them all the different types of images you can get from each style of scope. I take one of each style outside and show them how they work. Viewing them while looking up into the sun gives super crisp images. Everytime I look into one, I feel like a kid again and love to watch their reaction when they see those images to:)

Next 2 pics are how they look when you look into the viewing tube.

How I was able to take pictures of those was by positioning the kaleido and the camera at the same height. The camera lens, which has an extention over the lens, eliminates any other light except for what was coming from inside the scope. Position the kaleidoscope so that it's facing a nice bright sunny window, then place the camera lens right up against the viewing tube. Look through the camera and slowly turn the kaleidoscope wheels until they show the image you like. Then click! The closer you get to the viewing tube, the better the image.

[nansea121]

Here is a smaller version of some Wandscopes by Clarity. The 2 glass tubes are filled with oil and bits of glitter. You turn the body of the scope so the particles flutter down to the other end of the tubes. You can have them rest upright or laying on their side like the second picture shows.

[Audrey]

Those are so cool. That must have been a lot of fun. Very impressive Nancy.

[nansea121]

These are the single tube Wandscope examples from Clarity. I've sold some of these to people who work in offices where they like to put them on their desk at work:) The image action of these ones are a little faster moving than their twin tube cousins.

[nansea121]

Those are so cool. That must have been a lot of fun. Very impressive Nancy.

Thanks Audrey:) They're loads of fun to make and play with.

Here is a pic of how that wandscope looks when it's not resting in it's stand.

[nansea121]

Frrrrumm!...2 airplane scopes. You view the images through the tail end. I put 51 on the wings of the yellow biplane 'cause that's the year I ws born and the 42 on the red plane was the year of my late husband's 1942 GMC 2 ton panel truck. It was red as well:)

[PiscesGlass]

The planes are adorable!  I've always wanted to make one.  I have made the oil wand scopes, I made one for my mother, and she just loved it.  At that time she was working, taking care of a young boy during the week, she took it over to show him and he was enchanted with it too.

I still have an oil wand kit left and a couple of marblescope kits as well that I've been meaning to make. 

Nancy, do you order the mirrors when you do these or cut your own? 

De

[Malinda]

too cool Nancy

[Lou Ann]

Very Nice!!!

Toni has one of the tumblescopes with the round chamber at the end (looks like the orange one below the marblescope) that my mom made her a few years back... I've yet to try one...

She also has one that is egg shaped and made out of wood that I bought her at a craft fair...

LA

[nansea121]

The planes are adorable!  I've always wanted to make one.  I have made the oil wand scopes, I made one for my mother, and she just loved it.  At that time she was working, taking care of a young boy during the week, she took it over to show him and he was enchanted with it too.

I still have an oil wand kit left and a couple of marblescope kits as well that I've been meaning to make. 

Nancy, do you order the mirrors when you do these or cut your own? 

De

I cut my own now De. Since I got that cutter's mate, they're really easy to cut into strips now, and waaaay cheaper in the long run. I cut them with the plastic film side up and leave the film on until I'm ready to insert them inside the outer shell.

[PiscesGlass]

I nearly forgot about this info.  We used to, and apparently still have a place in Kennebunkport, ME that makes some beautiful Kaleidoscopes.  They used to display and sell them at some of the larger craft shows around, although I haven't seen them for some time, but they still apparently have a website.  The Sea Parrot used to make some of the largest and most ornate kaleidoscopes I've ever seen.  
I believe that they made one, although the picture is not on their website, that was the image of a person, seated I think and the head was the actual kaleidoscope.  A gentleman from Japan bought it and for awhile alot of their work was being shipped to Japan.  
There's sure to be some idea generating from their site...Enjoy.

http://www.seaparrotkaleidoscopes.com/sea_parrot_kaleidoscopes.php

[nansea121]

Very Nice!!!

Toni has one of the tumblescopes with the round chamber at the end (looks like the orange one below the marblescope) that my mom made her a few years back... I've yet to try one...

She also has one that is egg shaped and made out of wood that I bought her at a craft fair...

LA

Yaaahh! You can use anything as an outside cover! It's how you do the mirrors inside is the key thing here. The rest is totally up to the imagination:)

[Rebecca]

Nancy, what do you use for the hardware?  I have used copper wire crimps and brass brazing rod, but there is a little "slop" in them.  I noticed this summer that the one that Jim donated to the AGG scholarship auction turned so smoothly without the "slop" that mine have.

Rebecca

[nansea121]

http://www.seaparrotkaleidoscopes.com/sea_parrot_kaleidoscopes.php

Oh yesss! I've just saved that link in my favourites. Thank you!

[nansea121]

Nancy, what do you use for the hardware?  I have used copper wire crimps and brass brazing rod, but there is a little "slop" in them.  I noticed this summer that the one that Jim donated to the AGG scholarship auction turned so smoothly without the "slop" that mine have.

Rebecca

I had that problem at first as well, so now I get some long brass screws from the hardware store and cut the heads off. I solder one end into the seam inside the scope, thread on a small brass nut, slip the wheel(s) on, slip on a small brass washer (sometimes no washer...depends on whether it needs it or not) and then the final brass ball nut. I like using brass screws because it makes everything adjustable.

I've been a fan of Jim's scopes for quite awhile and it was he who showed me how to take photos of the inside images of the scopes.
Thanks again Jim if your here!

[Rebecca]

Thank you, Nancy; I will have to try that.

Rebecca

[Anne]

Oh boy, these are really awesome.  Something else I've never done.  Oh sigh, so much to learn, so little time.  That seems to be my mantra lately. 

Thanks for the inspiration Nancy. This is going on my learn how to make list.

[Elizabeth]

Wow - those are awesome Nancy!!   Always loved kaleidescopes - would'nt have a clue where to start to make one!   Saw instructions in a book once - it was as clear as mud to me!   Another thing to put on my looooong list of things to make one day!

[ct4mom]

Beautiful scopes Nancy!!!
Beth Im with you I have read  the instructions too and its greek to me as well