The Upstairs Gallery-This Month at TUG March 2014 | Page 12

For me, like many young women, birthdays and Christmas meant sparkly jewellery. A love of unique jewellery, and especially art glass, has insinuated itself into my very being. Whilst visiting the art hotspots of west coast America, I became fascinated by dichroic and fused glass. Learning to create fused glass pieces and sharing my passion for colour has informed my jewellery design journey.

The colours of nature, of light and night, and of the imagination, inspire my original hand-crafted designs. Unusual elements and quality materials are essential ingredients in the creation of my pieces.

Dichroic Glass

Developed by NASA, dichroic glass is used in the face shields of the astronaut’s space suits. Micro-thin layers of metals including silver, gold, aluminium and titanium are applied to the surface of the glass before firing in a vacuum at extreme temperatures.

In making dichroic jewellery different types of glasses and metals are fused together in a kiln. During this process unique pieces of fused glass are produced where no two pieces are ever the same.

A large selection of Hazels work can be viewed at The Upstairs Gallery.

Jewellery and Glass Artist-

HAZEL MILLINGTON