Looking at Globes

Going through past images of my ornaments, I have noticed trends.  Starting off in 1976 with gold-foiled kraft paper to make 3-Dimensional Platonic solids and using colored glue, cellophane cling wrap, liquid leading and pages of coloring books to make glass clingers, then ‘graduating’ to beads and the other media, most of my ornaments take unusual twists.  If you ask most people about Christmas ornaments many will answer with the ubiquitous ball or globe shaped ornament.  Easily remembered, but always easily forgotten.  Boxes of the globe ornaments are sold each year in a wide range of colors, finishes and sizes.  They make great ‘filler’ ornaments that people expect to see on the decorated tree.  I, like most, have boxes upon boxes of the ornaments in different sizes, colors, and finishes.

Back when I was studying at Florida State University in the late 1980s, I began constructing embellishments to the globe ornaments.  The first was making custom globes for friends by pouring latex paint into the globe, swirling around, and then letting drain over night.  This can be a great “First Christmas in a new house” gift, making ornaments using the colors of the rooms in the house.  Depending on the finish of the clear glass globes you can make frosted, ‘AB’ or aurora borealis or shiny using the reflectiveness of the plain clear glass ones. 

Doesn’t take long after gathering your supplies.  You will need some type of work place covering - old sheet, newspaper, etc., either some denatured alcohol or vinegar (a bit smelly but a good cleaner which leaves little residue), drainage cups - I usually use the small Dixie cups used in the bathroom, you paint and the glass globes.  Remove the ornament cap by gently pulling the hanger up and sitting them aside.  I always clean the inside of the ornament by pouring a little denatured alcohol into the ornament and swirling the alcohol around and turning the ornament upside to allow for drainage.  Because of the low ‘flash’ point of alcohol much will evaporate just from the heat of your hand.  I would clean the ornaments one evening and the next would coat the insides.  There are several different techniques to inject the paint inside the ornament.  If you are using the small bottles of Tole paint, you can just squirt the paint from the bottle.  You can also use small plastic bottles for cake decorating or carefully pour the paint inside with a paper cone.  You don’t need much for a 65mm glass globe.  I would give a ‘good squirt’ and fill the bottom maybe 0.50 inch.  I would start tilting and rotating the globe slowly moving the top of the ornament to the bottom.

As the paint completely covers the inside of the ornament, turn the ornament upside to drain into the disposable cups.  Allow to drain overnight.  When drained, I keep the cups for the next batch, replace the ornament caps and take a soft lint free cloth moistened with either the alcohol or vinegar and wipe down the outside of the ornaments removing fingerprints.  Depending on the weight of the paint, you may want to glue the cap onto the ornaments, I traditionally use E-6000 or 572 epoxy. 

I have also used spray paint to coat the inside of glass globes.  I would suggest doing this outside, wearing disposable gloves.  Align the nozzle tip and place next to the ornament opening.  Depress nozzle and let the paint spray into the ornament.  Shake the ornament and rotate until the insides are evenly coated.  Again turn upside to drain.

Another embellishment to the common globe would be what I call “Ball Gowns”.  I have collected several books on tatting, crocheting, bead-working and macraméing coverings for globes.  It seems every few months, a new book of designs comes out, or a new design is featured in magazines.  Here is one of mine I did in the late 1980s.

 



















The Summer of 2006, I attended a wholesale gem and jewelry show where I purchase several gross of simple costume jewelry necklaces.  I had no idea what I would do with them be the price was great.  On the 5 hours ride back, I knew I would end up turning them into ball gowns.

After attending the 2009 show, I came back with several pair of earrings which have ended up as focal components of more ball gowns.  Using plain curb chain, jump rings, and the earrings I constructed more ball gowns. 

 

In the beginning of 2012, one of my ornament exchange groups had a theme of “Recycled”.  The ornament I made were from recycled parts from where I work.  I used tube caps to strengthen the neck of the large globes and add more area for epoxy to glue the small globe.  To hide the connection point, I used scrap fibreglass and flannel to make a scarf.