Turns out they’re fabulous! Adorning leather belts, solid fused glass belt buckles can be found in an astounding array of colors. We discovered a great little source – all handmade in New England – offering fused glass belt buckles in (get this) 26 different colors. These aren’t your run-of-the-mill colors, either. Think vivid Caribbean blues, flashy cosmopolitan pinks, orange speckles, and forsythia yellows. Each stunning, these fused glass gems go way beyond accessorizing an outfit – they make the outfit.
We wanted to learn more about the process behind fused glass jewelry design. Turns out, fused glass is an art practiced by people all over the world. And, apparently it is growing in popularity. Instead of having to cut and assemble hundreds of smaller pieces of glass, seamless fused glass pieces are made without “lead lines” by melting two or more glass pieces in a kiln. Sometimes the glass is melted into a cast; other times it is placed over a mold. Another method growing in popularity is stacking thin sheets of glass, usually using different contrasting colors, to create patterns or simple images. Each method allows for a great range of creative expression from the artist whether the finished items are earrings, pendants, a glass bowl, coasters…or belt buckles. You can find solid color items, pieces with multiple swirling colors, and even those with stripes or speckles.
You’ll discover a lot of great fused glass pieces simply by wandering galleries and boutiques- such as the ones you’d find off the cobblestone streets of the Old Port in Portland, Me or Newport, Rhode Island. Or there are many opportunities online to shop for fused glass jewelry – and the belt buckles that are all the rage with today’s celebs. Fused glass offers a colorful and unique way to express your style.
You must log in to post a comment.