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Cherie Burbach

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Home | Lifestyle | Crafts | A Turkey of a Glass Sculpture

A Turkey of a Glass Sculpture

May 6, 2013 8 Comments

The weather is nicer here and you know what that means: glass sculptures. For the last two years you’ve seen me make a variety of sculptures, starting with this red one (which is still one of my favorites, the red is so pretty) and continuing with a variety of colors and sizes, finally adding solar lights and then moving to a new type of sculpture: glass mushrooms.

Just when I thought I had found my limit of things to do with glass, I started seeing something new on the flea market circuit: glass sculpture animals. I’ve seen a couple that are cute, but mostly I’ve seen people just being creative with glass. Their sculpture might not look like an animal but the very fact that they attempted something different really inspired me. Of course, I had to try it myself.

It all depends on the type of glass you have laying around. I find pieces super cheap (and I mean super cheap) because if it’s not then to me it isn’t worth doing. The fun of these projects is that they are cheap and use found materials. I recently got two huge boxes of glass pieces at an estate sale for $1. Total. The woman just wanted it all out of the house. Her trash was my treasure. In that pile of glass was a couple roundish green vases and a clear cup. I had a few more pieces that used to be part of those big trays people used in the 60s, and a vase and plate.

I took one look at this pile and thought: glass turkey. You can see it, right? The big tail, the wings…

 

IMG_3462

 

Okay, admittedly, you need to use your imagination with this sculpture, because while I think it looks like a turkey, others might think it looks like either a cheesy, kitschy sculpture or a bunch of junk glued together. But that’s art, folks! It’s subjective!

I took some green glass beads from the Dollar Store, and folks, if you’re not buying these beads at the Dollar Store you need to do it! It’s the cheapest place to find them, and especially for a fun project like this, they work perfectly.

 

IMG_3460

 

I glued some green beads on the “wings.”

 

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And also the tail.

 

IMG_3464

 

Then, I glued the tail to the body.

 

IMG_3470

 

I glued the head together.

 

IMG_3466

 

And the body. At this point, it sort of looks like an alien, doesn’t it? Those round things are the feet, and will keep the head up. I had to get a little more creative with how to keep the sculpture upright while drying. (And in case you’re wondering, I know turkeys aren’t really green.)

 

IMG_3471

 

Then, I added the head to the body.

 

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And viola! The turkey is done!

 

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Here’s a tip, the Dollar Store is also a great place to get solar lights. Especially if you’re buying lots of them and gluing them to glass turkeys. But even better? You can glue glass beads on these cheapie solar lights and when they light up at night the beads look so pretty.

 

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For now, I put the turkey on an old stump in our yard. We’re planning to cover the stump later on, and I may move it somewhere else then.

 

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At night, this little turkey lights up.

Dorky? Yes, definitely. And yet… I know I will have to make a few more!

[easyazon_image align=”right” height=”160″ identifier=”B00UTLAW62″ locale=”US” nw=”y” src=”https://cherieburbach.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/51EI0bosKoL.SL160.jpg” tag=”wwwthediffere-20″ width=”100″]This project is featured in my book, [easyazon_link identifier=”B00UTLAW62″ locale=”US” tag=”wwwthediffere-20″]Glass Sculptures: How to Make Beautiful Sculptures for the Garden Using Vases, Bowls, and Other Glass Pieces[/easyazon_link].

Tags: glass sculpture artist, making animals from found materials, turkey Categories: Crafts, Glass Sculptures

About the Author

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Cherie Burbach is a full time artist and writer. Her art prints, originals, and functional art pieces are available in artsy stores and galleries through the country and here at her site. Join her for Painting the Psalms. She is the author of over fifteen books, which vary from nonfiction to poetry to kid's books. Just for fun she created a family card game called Cupcake Commotion. Her first novel is The Space Between Dreaming.

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Comments

  1. Cat Wilson says

    May 11, 2013 at 8:44 am

    Love this idea, but don’t know if I could find all those pieces to make it just so. I am having fun with the glass totems for the garden, and just discovered the glass mushrooms idea. I frosted the mushrooms on the inside so they looked more subdued instead of sparkly. My totems are on the blog, but haven’t gotten to pics of the mushrooms yet. Have you tried dish flowers??? Great fun.

    Reply
    • Cherie says

      May 13, 2013 at 8:00 am

      Another person obsessed with gluing glass together! I love it. Welcome!

      Reply
  2. Tammy says

    May 12, 2013 at 3:12 pm

    I bet this really looks cool lit up at night.

    Reply
    • Cherie says

      May 13, 2013 at 7:53 am

      It does!

      Reply
  3. Nancy says

    August 1, 2013 at 9:28 am

    You are an inspiration! I love what you do! I have been attempting to make garden glass sculptures and having trouble with glue…then I found your site. Now I am on the search for the glue you recommend. What about silicone for fish tanks and mirrors? I started with Gorilla glue, but it is amber colored and doesn’t hold. Oh well, I’m still having fun!

    Reply
    • Cherie says

      August 1, 2013 at 1:31 pm

      Yeah, another glass sculpture maker! The glue I use is Household Hogar by Goop. It works well for bonding the glass and maintaining the bond even in bad weather.

      Reply
  4. Barb says

    August 7, 2014 at 5:11 pm

    This is the best use of dishes that I’ve seen in a long. Fabulous!

    Reply
    • GeekGirl says

      August 16, 2014 at 8:44 am

      ha! Thanks!

      Reply

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The Space Between Dreaming is a moving novel written with warmth and heart and which contains valuable wisdom. I loved that...
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The Space Between Dreaming is a moving novel written with warmth and heart and which contains valuable wisdom. I loved that the work tackles difficult topics about childlessness, childhood trauma, and betrayal by friends with sensitivity. It tenderly captures the social and emotional toll of being childless. I loved the main characters and found them to be realistic and engaging. The work masterfully explores the themes of friendships and relationships, drawing important lessons that can be applied in real life. The inclusion of art and the process of painting also enhance the story. Cherie Burbach's unforgettable novel will resonate with readers for its applicable themes and compelling characters. Fans of women's novels will love it.
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