Abstract Under-Water Wave, Octopus Inspiration

Hi everyone! I did manage to make one piece before I left on holiday (and remembered to take pictures of it, miracle of miracles.) This piece was inspired by a photograph I saw of a tube wave as seen underwater. I used some of the new ring mottle glass my darlin' Scotsman picked up for me as a surprise. Click on any of the images to see a larger version.

Abstract underwater wave

Ring mottle glass, with a piece of wispy white glass below it

I gave it to my Mom and we brought it in to be framed. Unfortunately you can't really see the frame, it's a wood frame that has a kind of weathered gunmetal grey finish that goes really well with the glass colours and the un-patina'ed lead solder (I didn't use the black patina, so the leading is kind of silvery). 

Unfortunately also it wasn't a super sunny day when I took the pictures, so you can't see how the glass glows when lots of light is coming through it.

I think if there's one thing I've consistently found in making stained glass, it's that photos really can't ever do a glass piece full justice. Pieces of stained glass are almost like living things; they change and do different things as circumstances change.

And now, here's the inspiration for my next piece:

I got a bunch of absolutely gorgeous antique stained glass at the Milwaukee Stained Glass Studio while I was back home (more about that in a minute), including some pieces that I think will be amazing as the skin of this octopus. 

Why am I embarking on this clearly nightmarishly difficult design, after all of the trials and tribulations I went through with the squid? Because obviously, I am insane to even consider it. This one is about 100x as ambitious as the squid.

I guess I just can't stay away from the tentacles, folks. Wish me luck.

Before I go, I want to tell you about this dream-like glass shopping trip I had at the Milwaukee Stained Glass Studio. You know the part in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory when they do the big reveal of the candy room? 

Imagine that, only with glass. 

They have a huge stock of antique stained glass that they got from the estate of a very, very wealthy stained glass hobbyist whose motto was apparently "There's no such thing as too much antique art glass." I think he may have had a teeny bit of a glass hoarding problem (something I would know absolutely nothing about. Stop looking at me like that, I NEED every single piece of glass I've got. Need it. Shut up.) 

Anyway, sadly, the wealthy glass hobbyist passed away, but happily, the Milwaukee Stained Glass Studio got to buy his entire stock of glass. They have a WAREHOUSE full of this precious stuff, all different kinds of art glass, the kind that no one is ever going to make again. 

My god, I could spend several fortunes in that place. The only thing that restrained me from going even more bonkers with my credit card was that I knew I was going to have to carry anything I bought back to Scotland in my carry-on case. If that hadn't been the case, people, well, it would have been a bit of a financial apocalypse for Your Narrator.

And that's about all the news here. Hope you're all enjoying your Saturday!

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Mid-Century Modern Inspired (Waste Not, Want Not)

Hi everyone! It was subtly represented to me by another work friend that a piece of stained glass wouldn't go amiss for her upcoming birthday, and who am I to say no?

A sunny day in Scotland?! Somebody take a picture, quick!

I got started on this little piece last weekend and it's almost done - I just need to finish the lead came "frame" around the outsides of the piece.

For the background bits, I used this lovely textured glass that has an opalescent sheen. The circles are all scraps left over from other projects (my Grandma, rest in peace, had a wooden plaque on her kitchen wall that said, "Waste not, want not." I bet she approves.)

Another angle - love the textured glass background bits

The piece feels kind of mid-century modern, which isn't necessarily what I had in mind when I drew the design. But since the mid-century modern aesthetic is one of my favourites, I didn't mind at all.

When I finish this piece, I plan to smooth down the solder on the small circle on the left. That got a little blobby there.

This is the start of an extended glass-making frenzy that I'll be in for the next couple of weekends. I'm going home to America to visit my family and friends very soon, and I want to bring home pieces as presents for at least 5 people, so I've got my work cut out for me. I've got all the designs drawn and the glass bought. Wish me luck! I'll post pictures as I go along.

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Not dead! Just...squid.

Whoa! I bet you all thought I died or something. So long since my last post! Well, you'll be relieved to hear that reports of my death were greatly exaggerated.

What have I been doing all this time? Glad you asked! One thing I've been doing is working with The Scotsman to clear out our loft/attic so I can have my own work space up there. He then took the top from an unused desk and built me a cutting table that's the perfect height for me. Isn't he awesome? Here's the new cutting table workspace:

The cutting table my husband built for me. It's the perfect height. Goodbye aching back!

He also built me a nice cubby holder for my glass:

The glass holder The Scotsman built for me. Best husband ever!

I love my new workspace! I've gotten my new Cutter's Mate set up now too. I'm still practising with it; it's taking a little getting used to. 

My new Cutter's Mate

I had an idea for a piece last week and got all excited to try and make it a reality. Here's my initial sketch:

RELEASE THE KRAKEN!

Yes, it's a squid. Why a squid? Don't ask me. My Muse just kind of springs up and says weird things to me sometimes. This time she said, "SQUID!" and I was like, "Really? A squid?" and she was like, "YES A SQUID. IT WILL BE COOL!" (My Muse is kind of shouty sometimes. I think she has to be to override the noise that's usually going on in my head.)

So, yeah. I'm making a squid. A stained glass squid. I think it's going to be cool, just like my Muse shouted!

This is how far I've gotten on it:

Squiiiiiiiiiiiiid!!

The squid itself is mostly opaque translucent glass, and the water will be clear blues and maybe greens. I'll be using, fittingly enough, what's called "water glass" for the water parts. Water glass has ripples in it, and for some reason I just love it. Pretty much all of my pieces so far have been done with water glass exclusively, so adding in some translucent opaque glass is a bit of a departure for me. But I like it!

The only thing that worries me is that cutting out and fitting together all of those little round suckers on the tentacle is going to be a nightmare. Thanks for the super-difficult-to-cut idea, stupid Muse!

I'll post more pictures when it's done. Hope you're all having a great day!

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