Slumped glass bottles- or what I do with the empties
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Slumped glass bottles- or what i do with the empties
My name is Jill Egan, I'm an artist, I work in lots of media such as overglaze painting, or china painting as it's often called, watercolours and glass slumping and fusing.
I thought it would be fun to show you how I recycle glass bottles using my kiln. If you want to see some more bottles visit my web sites Aeducan Art using the links
Squashed bottles- no I didn't sit on them
Being an artist/ artisan, and someone who likes to recycle (and have the odd tipple in an evening) I found a great way to recycle empty wine and gin bottles, no I didn't sit on them, as someone at a craft fair suggested. I slump them in my kiln. They make great spoon rests, cheese boards, or they can be used for slicing lemons for that G&T.Friends love them and they are always a talking point so they make great gifts for the host when invited to dinner parties
How do I slump a bottle?
First of all you need to drink the contents of the bottle. i know this is such a chore!Then you wash the bottle and remove the labels and all traces of glue residue needs to be removed. Then dry the bottles in the oven.
Then I lay the bottles on the prepared shelves in my kiln.
The temperature 's rising!!!
The firing cycle takes many hours, the kiln is gradually heated to around 800C to melt the bottles. The glass is annealed which takes the stress out of the glass and helps prevent the bottles shattering The next day
The kiln is left to cool overnight. Not until you open it the next morning do you know if the bottle slumping has been a success or if the kiln gremlins have been up to their mischief More slumped glass bottles
Wine bottles, gin bottles, beer bottles, any shape and size so long as they fit in my kiln
Web sites you might like
- Aeducan Art shop
- My arts and crafts, dichroic jewelery, slumped glass bottles, overglaze painting, and watercolours
- My weblog
- Find out what I'm up to, my inspirations and what I'm making
- Aeducan Art gallery
- Gallery showing a variety of my work
- Porcelain painters International Online
- Full of information about overglaze or porcelain painting
- Chatty Teachers and Artists
- Forum for all artists especially porcelain painters
- Wet Canvas
- Comrehensive site for artists in all media
Reader Feedback
Danielle wrote
could you please explain how the labels are reapplied... thanks for all the information thus far!
Posted May 12, 2009
Kim wrote
what type of adhesive is used to secure the sticker onto the bottle? And Is there a coating one can use so water doesn't hurt the sticker? my email is swank64133@yahoo.com I would appreciate some feedback
Posted March 10, 2009
Brian Taylor wrote
Hello...I am wondering if it is possible to slump glass bottles into a mold, and if so, how do I make my own molds?
Posted February 22, 2009
Joy wrote
Hi Jill,
I'm an Artist based in Ireland and I want to start slumping wine bottles etc - could you please advise me on what kiln you use (the hexagonal one) and where I can get one.
Warmest regards
Joy
Posted December 01, 2008
Anna wrote
Have you ever flattened a coca-cola or pepsi bottle? anything with a painted design? and have you ever tried to redo a glass dish that is broken... Reinvent it so to speak.????
Posted November 17, 2008
