Belt buckles made out of fused glass? Who would have thought they’d be one of the next biggest jewelry trends? Apparently celebrities like Paris Hilton and Carlos Santana did and are now fans… so we figured we’d better check these new, trendy items out.
Turns out they’re fabulous! Adorning leather belts, solid fused glass belt buckles can be found in an astounding array of colors. We discovered a great little source - all handmade in New England – offering fused glass belt buckles in (get this) 26 different colors. These aren’t your run-of-the-mill colors, either. Think flashy cosmopolitan pinks, striking Caribbean blues, bright forsythia yellows, and vivid orange speckles. Each stunning, these fused glass gems go way beyond accessorizing an outfit – they make the outfit.
We wanted to learn more about the process behind fused glass jewelry design. Turns out, fused glass is an art practiced by people all over the world. And, apparently it is growing in popularity. Instead of having to cut and assemble hundreds of smaller pieces of glass, seamless fused glass pieces are made without “lead lines” by melting two or more glass pieces in a kiln. Sometimes the glass is placed over a mold, or melted into a cast. Another method growing in popularity is stacking thin sheets of glass, usually using different contrasting colors, to create patterns or simple images. Each method allows for a great range of creative expression from the artist whether the finished items are earrings, pendants, a glass bowl, coasters…or belt buckles. You can find solid color items, pieces with multiple swirling colors, and even those with stripes or speckles.
A lot of great fused glass pieces can be found by exploring art galleries or boutiques – like the ones located off the cobblestone streets of Portsmouth, NH or Newport, RI. Or there are many opportunities online to shop for fused glass jewelry – and the belt buckles that are all the rage with today’s celebs. Fused glass offers a colorful and unique way to express your style.
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