Amazing Glass Casting – Craft Gossip

Recently my eye has been caught by glass casting and pate de verre.

I came upon Cynthia’s Morganica blog a little while back and today saw this (click her link to see the post). It highlights her work in casting realistic portrait images in glass which involves producing a sculpted mold first.

As I read this post I came up on the part where she talks about “better eyes on the first try” and explains how the master sculptors use negative space to represent the lens of the eye. It’s amazing what you don’t see when you’re looking at a piece but when someone explains it like that you start to notice.

Thanks Cynthia, for opening my eyes!

Read These Next

If you’ve been crocheting for a while, you probably think you’ve picked up most of the tricks already. That’s what I thought too—until I dove into Nicki’s Homemade Crafts Crochet Tips & Tricks E-book. Let me tell you, I was pleasantly surprised.

This isn’t your average “how to hold a hook” beginner guide. It’s packed with actually useful, hands-on advice that even seasoned crocheters will appreciate. I found myself nodding along with so many of the pages, thinking, “Why didn’t I know this sooner?”

One thing I really liked? It’s written in a super down-to-earth tone, like a fellow crocheter just sharing what works. No fluff, no overly technical jargon. Just smart, practical solutions to common crochet problems. From fixing tension issues to dealing with split yarn, the tips are straightforward and easy to apply.

Another standout? The layout is clean, with step-by-step instructions and lots of visual cues that make it easy to follow. You can flip to a section you need or read it front to back—it works either way. And it’s digital, so it lives on my tablet now for quick reference whenever I need a refresher.

But what really makes this e-book feel like a gem is the “aha” moments scattered throughout. Things like invisible joins that actually look invisible, tips to stop your yarn from tangling (IYKYK), and clever ways to weave in ends without the bulky bump. Even after years of crocheting, I walked away with new techniques that made my projects look cleaner and more polished.

I’d definitely recommend this for anyone who crochets regularly—especially if you’re tired of wasting time Googling scattered tutorials and just want everything in one place.

You can check it out here.

Read These Next

Have you read?