Since we entered into this strange, new world of the Coronavirus pandemic, there have been a lot of “firsts”— first time wearing a face mask to go out in public, first time standing in line to enter the grocery store, first Zoom call, etc.. In my business, I usually spend most of my time creating commissions. But as that has slowed down, I am now spending time exploring glass techniques that interest me. The photo above is of one of my “firsts” but it wasn’t actually during my technique explorations that it happened; it happened during something I do all the time— flattening wine bottles. A client had reached out asking me to create a wine bottle with Jersey Shore sand inside. She had gotten one previously and her sister loved it so she asked if I had any in stock. I didn’t but I had empty bottles and sand so I did what I have done a hundred times, I loaded the kiln with bottles and I went about my day. The way it usually works is the bottles are laid down on the kiln shelf and, as the kiln slowly rises in temperature to 1500 degrees, the bottles flatten, air is squeezed out, and the sand is trapped inside. After about 16 hours, the kiln is cool and the bottles come out. They are flat on the side that has been in contact with the kiln shelf and the side that was up is smooth and glossy. In all the times I’ve done this, I never had a bottle roll off the shelf— until this week. This bottle rolled about halfway off the shelf and the glass that hung over the edge sagged down until it reached the kiln floor and the remaining glass stayed on the shelf. I love that the neck of the bottle was off the shelf so it created sort of a foot. I also love how the glass stretched and folded— it looks like taffy. It was such a complete accident that I don’t know if I can recreate it but I’m going to try! Here’s to hoping that some of our “firsts” will be the more joyful, unexpected kind!