Classes and a Workshop
We had plenty of finished projects this week which included a workshop which kept me away from the computer and getting this Blog out quickly. (Not that it’s ever really out in a timely manner!)
Let’s start by saying that we all missed Ellen this week and we hope to see her back soon. Rumor has it that there’s a slight chance she’ll be back next week. If not, we’ll certainly see her back at work on her fireplace screen the following week.
Then there’s Gerald who worked on a project but has sworn us all to secrecy about what it is. He did finish it and take it home with him so next week I’ll be able to show you what’s he’s doing next. Once his current project is delivered to the person it’s going to we’ll post a picture of it here online for you to see. Let me just state for the record that it came out wonderfully.
Jane was here this week and finished working on a magnolia box that she drew up at home during the week. When she came in she had the flowers all cut ground and wrapped so all that was left to do for the top was to cut the background and add the 4 border pieces. Once that was finished she began working on the box bottom that the top hinges on. She did a wonderful job and I couldn’t have drawn this pattern up better myself. The box came out spectacularly. Here are 2 views, one of the box in its normal position and a second of the box with the lid slightly raised so you can see the mirrored bottom. I only wish I’d known that the iridescent colors in the border didn’t photograph at all. You’ll have to take my word that the border has purple, green and lavender hints of color all throughout it.
Joey finished grinding the cross he cut out last week and then set his mind on getting it all wrapped. After that was finished he tacked it together and began soldering it. Unfortunately the night ended before he could get it completely soldered but you’ll get to see what it will look like anyway since Cheryl finished the same pattern this week. Here’s a picture of Joey’s progress. It looks great and I know it’s going to look good when we see it finished and cleaned up.
Cheryl finished her cross while at home during the week and brought it in so I could take a few pictures of it (and for me to possibly go over if I thought it needed any touch ups). It wasn’t that long ago when I would have to spend at least half the night making touch ups on student projects but that isn’t the case anymore. I nit picked here and there on the cross and within 15 minutes I declared it finished. Cheryl washed it, colored it and we hung it up to take a picture. Here’s the finished view which also doubles as a preview for what Joey’s will look like next week when he brings his back in.
Meanwhile, Cheryl went to work on her USL window. There’s a lot of detail in her Fleur de Lis as her letters are much thinner in this version compared to the lettering in the last 2 that she made. There’s not only more work in this one but the work itself is more tedious. There are a lot of sharp curves with thin pieces of glass all throughout this window but she’s getting through them all. I even gave her an option to make the “U†in 3 pieces but she managed to get it out in 2 without breaking it. Here’s what she got accomplished in class. And I can’t wait to see it next week when it’s further along.
Craig had come in for a mid-week workshop and finished up a cala lily window that he had cut and wrapped while at home. We cut a quick border for it and then got it all finished the following morning well before noon. This was another project that was done almost completely at home without any help from me. Good job, Craig.
While I attached the border and brass channel to his calalily he began working on the main project for his workshop- a large lighthouse window. He had 2 copies of his pattern already traced out and began cutting up one of them on Tuesday night. The next morning he cut all the glass pieces and got to work grinding it all together. He zipped through the grinding process and then sit down to wrap it. We figured that it would be time to eat by the time it was wrapped, but with a little help we were able to get it all finished and even tacked together. Using the strip cutter the border pieces were cut and skimmed on the grinder. That was when we called it a day at around 5 o’clock.
The next morning Craig wrapped the border pieces and put brass channel around his window. He soldered the front side and after I looked it over and gave it my approval he got the back side finished. By 3 o’clock it was hanging up outside where I managed to take this picture of his finished window.
As I said, it was a busy week here with a lot of projects coming in and out the door. My only regret is not being able to show you the beautiful Rose window that Gerald finished this week. Wait a minute– was it a rose window? I forget what it was now. I guess I’ll have to look at the picture myself and get it ready for the day when I can post it here for public viewing on the Blog!