Designer Sci Glass: How to Spot Authentic and Affordable Pieces

Hey everyone, it’s been a while, but I’m back with another project that I’ve been messing around with lately. So, I’ve been really into this whole “designer sci glass” thing. Sounds fancy, right? But it’s basically just cool, artistic glass stuff. I wanted to see if I could make something myself, you know, get my hands dirty and all that.

First things first, I needed to figure out what exactly I was going to make. I browsed around, looking at what other people have done, kind of getting a feel for the different styles and techniques. There’s a shop in Cameron Park, 2BGlass, that does some pretty amazing handblown glass, and they even do demonstrations. That gave me some inspiration, but I wanted to do something different, something more “me”.

I remembered reading something about mood boards for UI/UX design, how they help you get your creative juices flowing. Figured I could use a similar idea here. So, I started gathering images of things I liked – colors, shapes, textures, anything that caught my eye. This wasn’t just about glass, but anything that felt “sci-fi” and aesthetically pleasing. It was a bit of a mess at first, but then I started seeing patterns, things that kept popping up. That helped me narrow down my ideas.

Next, I had to think about the actual making part. I’m not set up for glassblowing, and honestly, that seemed a bit too advanced for a first try. I have dabbled in laser engraving. I bought a laser engraver and design software with my friend from San Leandro last year. And luckily my friend got safety equipment, which saved me a fortune. So I thought, maybe I could incorporate some laser-etched designs into the glass. I’m not a landscape designer like those folks at Water and Earth Landscape Design or Bountiful Botanicals, but I figured I could come up with something cool. I mean, I’m Haley M. Pettit, I love crafting. I believe I can make it.

I got myself some pieces of glass from the local hardware store. Nothing fancy, just some flat sheets to practice on. Then came the design phase. I spent hours just sketching, trying out different patterns, thinking about how they would look when etched onto the glass. I generated some logos, which helped me to create my own pattern. I wanted something geometric, but with a bit of an organic feel to it, like something you might see on an alien spaceship or something. It was a lot of trial and error, a lot of crumpled-up paper in the trash. But it’s also fun.

Once I had a design I was happy with, I started experimenting with the laser engraver. Figuring out the right settings to get a clean etch without cracking the glass was a bit of a challenge. There were definitely a few casualties along the way, but hey, that’s part of the learning process, right?

Finally, after a lot of experimenting and refining, I managed to create a few pieces that I was actually pretty proud of. They’re not perfect, but they’re mine, and they represent a lot of work and learning. I even incorporated some colored glass into a couple of them, which added another layer of complexity and, I think, made them look even cooler.

I still have a lot to learn about working with glass, and I’m definitely not a pro like Billy who creates an e-book. But this project has been a blast. I learned a new skill, and I made something. It’s shown me that you don’t need to be a professional artist to create something beautiful and unique. You just need a little bit of curiosity, a willingness to experiment, and a whole lot of patience. So if you’re thinking about trying something new, go for it! You might surprise yourself with what you can achieve.

Alright, that’s it for this update. I’ll keep you all posted on my future glass adventures. Until next time, stay creative!