GLASS-LIGHT

This blog place is mine for sharing light--and the glass that allows it to dazzle and awe us. My works will be here--with works of others better and more dazzling.

[glassings94]

SIMPLE PATTERN & PROJECT

A “simple” project, nothing large and great, but a stained glass project that incorporates every step of “doing” stained glass copper foil.  “Just make a nice pattern, cut the right-sized pieces, foil, flux, solder, patina, clean up.”  Easy.

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COLOR-LESS

Can there ever be such a thing as too little color? Too much color? Is there anything like a bad-looking piece of glass? Here is another "rather simple" glass installation. Is there beauty in such simplicity?

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CRAFTY YET DEMANDING

THE ARTS AND CRAFT MOVEMENT FLOURISHED "TO DEVELOP AND ENCOURAGE HIGHER STANDARDS IN THE HANDICRAFTS."   SUMMER FESTIVALS INCLUDE A MYRIAD OF HANDICRAFTS, INCLUDING GLASS BLOWN ARTICLES THAT SHIMMER, SHINE, AND SPARKLE.  JUST THE LITTLE BITS THAT DELIGHT AND ENTERTAIN.  HERE ARE SOME PIECES FROM THE SHAKER WOODS SUMMER FESTIVAL, OHIO, 2014.

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HOW BIG SHOULD IT BE? CAN IT BE?

Sometimes glass crafters begin with an idea, some with a picture for a pattern, some...well, with a piece of glass (in this case, a diamond-shaped bevel).  The pattern (or cartoon, really) can be as big as...a kitchen table, or a door, or a sliding glass door...or a studio work table.  No matter the size of the work surface, a stained glass piece always begins with a thought of beautiful glass.

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ASKING FOR SOMETHING IN GLASS...

So a relative knows that you are doing stained glass work: teaching, maybe; commissions, maybe; hobby-ing, maybe.  Or perhaps all of that, maybe.  Then the question is asked: "Can you make something for...to go in the...?"  What do you say?

[glassings94]

Beauty Is in the Eyes...

Begin with a brass ring, a good one, purchased at a hobby store or a fabric store.  Find a roundel, add a few bevels, foil all the pieces, and make a sun catcher.  Beautiful.

[glassings94]

RIBBON FOR LIFE

RACE FOR THE CURE!  RUN TO SUPPORT!  SHOW YOUR COLORS! I made this piece for a breast cancer survivor.  I used a brass ring, with the common ribbon pattern.  The bevel cluster was most popular a few years ago, but it does add a bit of glass to the piece!  The art glass is Baroque from Spectrum.

[glassings94]

RESTORING

Are restorations worth the time?  Someone has to do it, right?  it is dirty, messy work; time-consuming and often frustrating.  Yet some glass workers specialize in nothing but restoration work.  I have done my share.  It is worth it, for it takes all the skills of breaking, removing, matching, inserting.  And then?   I have seen restorers working in Paris.  Truly  worth it all.  This is a sample of what I have done.

[glassings94]

TOOLS OF THE "TRADE"

Google "Glass Makers' Tools" or "Stained Glass Tools."  So often viewers and clients see the end product, so beautiful; but they have no knowledge of a glass cutter, breaker pliers, foil and solder,  and the many other tools found in a local glass

shop--or in a studio.  Here are some.  What is essential? Can't do without a cutter, then oil, then....on and on

[glassings94]

ST MARTIN'S IN THE FIELD

BEAUTIFUL 

SIMPLICITY IN LONDON'S MAGNIFICENT SMALL CHURCH

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MOSAIC TABLE TOP

We had an outdoor patio/lanai set we sold off, except for one end table.  I used the flower-leaf pattern

from another project I did for sidelights.  We cut the glass, glued down each piece, and then grouted as seen.  It was a great project, and we still use it.

[glassings94]

RODIN MUSEUM, PARIS

I SAW THIS IN THE ENTRYWAY TO THE MUSEUM.  I TITLED IT, "RODIN'S GLASS MAN."  HOW SIMPLE, HOW BEAUTIFUL, YET SO OFTEN OVERLOOKED.  JUST THE LITTLE THINGS THAT HAVE TO DO WITH GLASS IN A SPECIAL PLACE.

[glassings94]

INVALIDES, PARIS

A SPECIAL PLACE IN PARIS, FOR MOST PARISIANS--I AM TOLD.  HOSPITAL, CHURCH, MONUMENT, MUSEUM.  BUT A BEAUTIFUL DOME, TOO, THAT IS WORTH A LOOK. 

[glassings94]

MUSEUM GLASS: THE SALVADOR DALI MUSEUM

THE DALI MUSEUM IS LOCATED IN ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA, NEAR TAMPA BAY.  THIS GLASS SCULPTURE IS FORM AND FUNCTION: 1,062 PIECES OF GLASS FORMING A GIANT WINDOW TO THE OUTSIDE,TO THE MATHEMATICAL GARDEN.  THE SCULPTURE IS KNOWN AS "THE ENIGMA."

St. Petersburg is located directly west of Tampa Bay, approximately 30 minutes from TAMPA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.  Referred to as the “Sunshine City,” St. Petersburg averages 361 days of sun and a comfortable average temperature of 73 degrees.

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Notre Dame de Paris (2013)

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SAINTE-CHAPELLE, PARIS, APRIL 2013

MODEL FOR QUIGLEY SEMINARY IN CHICAGO.

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QUIGLEY PREPARATORY SEMINARY IN CHICAGO, ILLINOIS

THE BUILDING IS FRENCH GOTHIC REVIVAL; THE CHAPEL WAS MODELED AFTER SAINTE-CHAPELLE IN PARIS; THE ROSE WINDOW IS MODELED AFTER NOTRE DAME IN PARIS.  ROBERT GILES WAS THE "GLASS MASTER."  JOHN KINCELLA COMPANY IN CHICAGO

BROUGHT ANTIQUE GLASS FROM ENGLAND.  THE CHAPEL WAS COMPLETED IN 1919.