Creating Sustainable Art: A Fused Glass Bowl from Bombay Sapphire Gin Bottles

Ah, Bombay Sapphire gin. The spirit that's not only good for tickling your taste buds but also for tickling your fancy in the world of sustainable art. Who would've thought that after sipping your way through a delightful gin and tonic, the bottle itself could embark on an epic journey to become a piece of art? Well, buckle up, my eco-conscious friends, because we're about to dive into the whimsical world of fused glass art using none other than these iconic blue bottles.

Why Bombay Sapphire Bottles? Why Not!

For starters, Bombay Sapphire gin bottles are like the peacocks of the liquor shelf – that vibrant blue glass is simply begging to be noticed. So, when I decided to take on the challenge of creating sustainable art, it was a no-brainer that these bottles would be my medium of choice. Plus, who doesn't love the idea of giving new life to something that would otherwise end up in a landfill? Not this artist!

The Fusion Confusion – Demystified

Before we get our hands dirty (or should I say, glassy?), let's break down what fused glass art actually is. It's not just about smashing bottles and hoping for the best. Fused glass involves meticulously cutting and layering pieces of glass, then heating them in a kiln until they meld together in a harmonious union of colors and shapes. It's like a glassy bake-off, and the prize is an eye-catching, sustainable masterpiece...

If only my previous paragraph were true... I confess, I did exactly the opposite and took a hammer to the bottles in a frenzied fashion and battered the crap out of them.

The Birth of a Bowl

The journey from bottle to bowl is a tale worth telling. First, you have to carefully cut the Bombay Sapphire bottles into workable pieces. This is not the time for your inner Hulk to emerge – precision is key. Once you've got your glass pieces, it's like putting together a puzzle designed by Mother Nature herself. Arrange the blue shards into a design that tickles your fancy, layer them up, and then into the kiln they go.

Yep, another fib... that's what I'd like to happen, but in reality, I chucked my lumps of glass in a stainless steel mould (which I should have removed) and blasted them to death.

The kiln is where the magic happens. It's like a spa for glass – temperatures rise, stress melts away, and everything comes together in a state of relaxed beauty. After a nice, toasty session, the glass emerges as one solid, stunning piece. Voilà! You've got yourself a fused glass bowl that's ready to turn heads and spark conversations about sustainable art.

Sounds good, right? Well, it would have been if my glass hadn't welded itself to the inside of the stainless steel mould - duh!

I was thinking of taking up the hammer again, but then I had a better idea. I dunked the whole lot in freezing water and it shattered the glass free of the mould. Yay!

Round 2

Deep down I knew that putting that shattered, already cooked to death glass back in the kiln was going to be a bad idea, so I thought why not make it worse and combine it with another bottle. I clearly do LOVE hitting things with a hammer. So after much stress release, I had more glass, which would give me a much better shape and thickness, BUT I also had pre-fired bottle glass which is known for (a) being grumpy as fuck, (b) not being a team player. It doesn't like mixing with other glass (even the same type of glass), and it certainly doesn't like a second firing in the kiln.

Result

A lot of cloudy glass... but am I bothered? No, I am not... and do you know why? Because I is well clever and had the foresight to get myself a proper sandblasting kit. I suspect you can see a theme here... hammer, sandblaster... precision artist :D

Ear defenders, goggles and air filtration mask donned to take the shiny surface off the glass... looks dreadful at this point, but then back in the kiln in a mould.

Result 2

Bloody brilliant. Despite being a deeper shape than I wanted (I was drinking gin when I should have been keeping an eye on it (what? I need more bottles for my art!)), it came out bowl shaped and a beautiful soft satin almost sea glass like effect.

As a first attempt I am beyond excited.

The Sustainable Art Soirée

Now, let's address the elephant in the room – why should you care about sustainable art? Well, imagine if every empty Bombay Sapphire bottle was transformed into a fused glass bowl. We'd have a world with less waste and more beauty. It's a win-win! Sustainable art is not just about creating something pretty; it's about making a statement, taking a stand, and looking darn good while doing it.

So please drink more gin, save me your bottles and you too could have a beautiful sustainable glass bowl.

The finished piece

Post Sandblasting

The precision cut pieces :D

Partway through cooking the second time in its mould

Bowl shaped and satin sea glass finished

Forgot to mention - I made this too :)