How to make glass cabochons
All of the cabochons that this person makes are glass and they come from two main processes. The first process she usees for cabochons is lampwork (or torch work). These are made in a very similar process to the beads that I also create and sell. Flameworked cabochons allow for very unique colorations and designs with details that straight fused pieces cannot easily capture. Often, once a piece has been created in the flame and kiln annealed and she will sometimes slump it to a flatter profile, but not always! Some cabs encase in clear so they look like mini paperweights.
The second type of cabochons that she makes are straight fused cabs. These pieces start life as sheet glass and dichroic which she carefully layers directly into a cold kiln. The pieces are then super heated so the glass sheets become molten and reform into a new, patterned piece. This is the process she most often follow when using dichroic glass. Once fired the new pieces may be complete or may be cut up into smaller components and then firepolished for a nice finish. More……..
