Dine At My Table

[Kev]

This is an experimental piece currently fusing. It is a napkin ring / coaster. The napkin is pulled through the center of if and then set on top of a wine glass. When the napkin is removed, it us then placed under the wine glass as a coaster. I may have to fuse this a second time, as it is firing at the same time Old Glory is as well, and I have a firing schedule for a dimensional fuse in place. This piece might do better with a full fuse.

If it turns out the way I hope, it will be the beginning of a line of dining accessories for your table, The accessory line will be called " Dine At My Table"

[Becki]

Good to see you getting a start on the dining accessories!   

[Anne]

this is cool Kev!  What a good idea!

[Kev]

This is just a trial piece..more to determine function and form, more than anything else.

[ct4mom]

Wow How cool Kev.....Move over Martha

[Linde]

That is a cool idea, Kev.

[JoanFrances]

multifunctional and attractive, can't beat that with a stick.  Great idea, there Kev

[Audrey]

What a cool idea.

[Tre V]

I really like that idea! And I like the dark moss green too. Heyyyy..as a secondary design along the same line, what if you used 9 small circles instead of squares, hole in the center for napkin..I dunno, I think I've had one too many diet Cokes this morning...did the flag explosion mess up your coasters? Hope not! 

[PiscesGlass]

Very cool...I'll also place my order for some of these too!  BTW..my kitchen is yellow w/touches of green...so this would look great! 

De

[Glassic]

It is a good idea and I like the concept, but I have a question on glass coasters as I would never use them.  I was given a set ages ago and they quickly went by the by, one was broken and the others went under plant pots.
I won't use them as they tend to get lifted from the table with the stem once there is enough water to form a vacuum, they do need to be level and smooth but it was the reason for the broken one [and a Mikasa stem].  If the moisture runs to the table it defeats the purpose of using a coaster.  I wouldn't top my crystal with glass either ....... NO-one is allowed to 'chink' my crystal, we kiss fingers or raise glasses.
Tumblers, coffee mugs and my crystal aside, the loss or chipping of one stem from a set is a pain even if they came from Big Lots!

    

[Kev]

I actually used them tonight and had no problems at all with them. We used water glasses, wine glass, and coffee mugs..seems to be fine so far. these are not perfectly smooth either..there is a very slight texture on the topside that should prevent that suction effect.

The napkin ring could also be used as a fork/knife rest as well.

Kev

[Kev]

Here it is out of the kiln and displayed as it will function.

[Anne]

this is such an original idea Kev and so functional.  I like them!!

[Becki]

Is this how it came out of the kiln with the flag piece, Kev?  Not bad, pal!

[Amber]

What a nifty idea Kev! It's got a great look to it too, I can see it being a big hit with anyone looking to dress up a table *smiles*

[Audrey]

So unique. Was it your idea? It is great.

[Kev]

this is such an original idea Kev and so functional.  I like them!!

Yes Becky..I have not fired it again. The program got to the max temp I had set of 1450 and was starting a 5 min hold when I had to abort the program. I let it cool down at it's own rate, and this was the result. I kind of like how it really kept it square edges and crisp lines...a good tack fuse I believe. Funny though how the flag piece melted a lot more. Do you think because the base was opal instead of cathedral that that might make a difference?

[Kev]

It's an original Audrey..you saw it first here.

[Becki]

this is such an original idea Kev and so functional.  I like them!!

Yes Becky..I have not fired it again. The program got to the max temp I had set of 1450 and was starting a 5 min hold when I had to abort the program. I let it cool down at it's own rate, and this was the result. I kind of like how it really kept it square edges and crisp lines...a good tack fuse I believe. Funny though how the flag piece melted a lot more. Do you think because the base was opal instead of cathedral that that might make a difference?

I'm really thinking it was a volume issue.  Do you, by any chance, have Richard LaLonde's book "Fused Glass Art and Technique"?  There's a really good section on volume control and avoiding trapped air.  I think that's what happened in the case of your flag.  You had trapped air under the single layer white pieces and no way for it to escape because the sections on either side were 2 layers...more volume/weight...so the air just kept expanding your white single layers, basically blowing them up like a balloon!  I'm surprised that the coaster edges didn't round off at 1450!