Please Be Kind, Rewind

Linda L came in with a mission and a deadline:  Make one Invitation Box in just three hours.  As you can see, she did it!  These double border boxes are rich with elegance and Linda's work just took the entire project to a whole new level.

  

 

Let's Rose/Cross is absolutely stunning like all her other work with us.  Perfect curves and a wonderful color combination make this elegant Cross come to life. 

  

 

Susan D made these two colorful suncatchers in record time.  As sensational as the Peacock Feather is I must say that the Starburst Flower Design really catches my eye due to its rock solid symmetry.  You can easily judge how talented a stained glass artist is by looking at any of their work that features symmetry.  It's safe to say that Susan's eye for balance is spot on.

 

 

 

A butterfly can mean only one thing and that's a new student!  Edmee had no problem whatsoever in cutting, grinding, or even soldering her first piece with us.   She'll be working on a Yin Yang Window when she comes back in and I can't wait to see her dive into that piece!

 

  

 

 

Sheri has two different Dragonflies in the works and both feature filigree wings.  She's the first person in the shop to make the wings out of something other than clear glass and those orange wings she picked for the top Dragonfly look absolutely STUNNING!

  

 

 

Ann wanted to make a small window of St Joseph and Jesus working in the carpentry shop and this is the image we came up with.  There's going to be an added touch at the end that even Ann doesn't know about yet so this will get very interesting, very soon!

 

  

 

 

Let is making what has become a staple in our classes.   This Rosebud Window  has been made many times and in many different sizes.  Let is making a small 12 x 12 version and it's, as you can already see, divine. 

  

 

 

Meanwhile, June's Cat is adorable!  Now that she has it completely ground she's able to begin wrapping so she can then tack it together and decide if she wants it centered in a piece of background glass or sitting on a table/floor before adding the background glass.  Decisions, decisions...

 

 

 

Cindy's Dog Window is really shaping up as she got all of the green background glass cut out along with four of the seven flowers!   You can already see just how great this window is going to look when it is completed.

 

  

 

 

Angie's Seafood Window is about getting to the point where we will have to fire the kiln so we can make some 'newspaper' glass.  With just a handful of pieces left to grind Angie will surely be wrapping pieces when we next see her.

 

 

 

 

Linda F's Abstract Curves Window was completely cut out while she was in class this week.  Those little yellow dots that you see in the lower right of the window are pin heads which means that Linda has already begun grinding her pieces and that this window will be done before you know it.

 

 

 

Melissa only had numbers completed on her Address Window when she walked in the door but she now has a healthy chunk of this window cut out now.   There are only two colors left for her to decide on, her background and her border.   Trust me, it will all be smooth sailing after that!

 

 

 

And suddenly three panels become one large window!  Roxane got her Nativity scene all tacked together and the only thing left to do is add a double border around it.   It will be a Merry day indeed when this is completed and that will be soon.

 

 

 

MiMi got her first border attached and yes it's beveled.  After that was finished she moved along to the second dark steel blue border.   Next she'll add corner pieces and then solder this so she can  move on to the second window of this series of two.

 

  

 

 

Shelley's Peaking Cat Window Ornament is all cut out and coming together now that he's being ground..  He looks odd only because he has no pupils in his eyes yet.  That WILL be handled though.

 

 

 

 

Martha was busy grinding her night away and she's working from the bottom up on her Sewing Machine Window.  I'll just simply state for the record that blue is my favorite color so you probably know what I think of her newest window... 

  

 

 

Susan R has a new 3D Pansy Flowerpot Ornament under construction and it's officially ready to be soldered and staked. The top may look a little bare but she was working on those petals when I snapped the picture.

 

 

 

It's hard to believe that these random bevels will be turned into two sparkling 3D hanging pieces with the help of Susan D's stained glass skills.  Next week we'll take a look at just what she makes with these and you WILL be amazed.

 

 

 

Judy has a crab window in mind to be made but she's currently unsure what color(s) she plans on making it out of.  We'll see what she decides on next week when she begins cutting out glass for this.

 

  

 

Th-th-th-that's all folks!!

Paul

Bayou Salé GlassWorks

Love Ya More

This Humming Bird and Iris Window has upped Sheri's ante when it comes to her stained glass talents. Her curves are all smooth and flowing (especially along the outer edge which is important because it isn't hidden by channel) and her pieces fit and align perfectly.   I love it!

 

 

 

Next up we have the same window made by a different artist.  Let picked an entirely different color scheme and made the same window only differently.  Now I have to say that a few weeks back we saw Betty make this same window and all three are uniquely different.   Rather than copying a similar color scheme each woman made the window with their own pallet of colors and textures.  THIS is what we like to see.

 

 

 

MiMi had a cow this week and it's the cutest thing.  Instead of having this hang from a window she made this as a standing piece that is propped up by a wooden base so Bessie can sit on a table or a desk.  MiMi even twisted a strand of wire to form the length of the tail.  Pure excellence!

 

 

Cindy completed this Santa Face during her brief time away from class and ended up with a charming gift.  Painted eyes put the finishing touch on this jolly little suncatcher.

 

 

 

Now that my large windows have been completed (I'll feature them next week) I've been able to do a couple of small items over the past week.   This Angel Wing Cross was inspired by one of my favorite sources for ideas-- a piece of jewelry.  As I drew the pattern out I was unhappy with the conversion but a few changes here and there fixed it nicely.

 

 

I also made this standard Dragonfly design but incorporated an unconventional background to it by using an unsymmetrical curved diamond design (I love to buck symmetry and throw in curves and angles whenever I can).  This also featured filigree wings which helps to make it resemble a piece that L.C. Tiffany might have created.

 

 

 

Dragonflies abound with Betty as she knocked out 4 more of them while in class.  Yes, I can count and realize that I only have two pictured but that's all that I took pictures of.  Her use of silverware handles for the dragonfly's bodies along with decorative solder drops has made these Betty's trademark piece.

 

 

Martha is working on her own Sewing Machine Window and with just three hours of work in on it I must say that she's making excellent time with it.  This is the third version of this window that we've seen made in as many months and Martha was not afraid to create her own color scheme.

 

  

 

 

June has started this wonderfully proud Cat Suncatcher which she will be turning into an actual  window.  She's managed to cut it all out in one night and will begin grinding it when she returns.  Once that's done she'll tack it together and cut out her background glass.  Easy peasy lemon squeezy!

  

 

 

With her Humming Bird  window off of her work table, Let has decided to fill the empty space by making this fancy Rose/Cross Suncatcher.   I've always admired this pattern because it puts the cross at two different angles making it unsymmetrical in a lovely and delicate way.

  

 

 

Linda F has started the new year by beginning a geometric Window with a twist-- there are barely any straight lines in it. Oh, they are there but you really have to look for them.  This is a window that pulls you in because of the way it all flows and connects.

  

 

 

Then there's Linda L who has started her three panel Nativity Scene as early as possible because she says that if she waits until the end of the year she's concerned that she might not have it done in time for Christmas.  This IS the way to handle things-- do what NEEDS to be done first, then move along to the things you want to do which don't have a deadline.

 

  

 

 

Cheryl has the majority of her new Cardinal Window cut out already.  The few remaining pieces will be cut when she returns and then she'll be able to move on over to the grinder.  This will feature the same border system that her last cardinal window incorporated so they'll be a matching pair.  (While bucking symmetry!)

 

  

 

 

Cindy is working on a Dog Window with a background that will contrast wonderfully with the pure black dog head.   It's all about flowers and yes, it will be a lot of work but the end result is going to be spectacular, mark my words.

 

  

 

 

On the opposite side of the spectrum we look at Shelley's pure black Cat Head Suncatcher.   This is an angled project that rests flush against the side of a window so that it appears as though the cat is outside looking in.   This will be completed before you know it because Shelley already has it almost completely cut out.

 

  

 

 

Aside from glare of the flash from my camera, Melissa's numbers on her Address Window are clearly and perfectly visible.  I see so many of these stained glass address windows that have little to no contrast between the numbers and the glass that surrounds them thus making them barely readable and mostly useless.  Melissa has made sure that is NOT the case here!

 

  

 

 

Jan's got her Lady of Guadalupe back under construction.  With only the background and border (which is barely worth mentioning) left to cut and grind I think it's safe to say that this lady has been tamed.  Jan's both relieved and thrilled to know that this is almost behind her and that she can begin something new soon.

 

 

 

MiMi has filled in her twelve long and narrow edge pieces all the while cutting out the delicate points with absolute ease.   Not a single point was broken (which wasn't easy to accomplish) and next week she'll tackle the two borders that will finish all the cutting for this piece.   The closeup I've provided highlights the length and thinness of the curved pieces that she cut this week.

 

  

 

 

Susan R is working on a second 3D Pansy Flower Pot Ornament and she already has all of the glass cut out with (I think) all of it ground as well!  I always say that the second time is the charm but Susan didn't even have a problem with this on her first trip across the dance floor with it.

 

 

 

Mary Grace is rolling right along on the first of three text sections of her business logo window.  With the word HEALTH largely cut and ground she began wrapping each of the pieces that she deemed satisfactory.   Once she has all of this wrapped she'll tack it together and then she'll fill in the pieces that she was unhappy with.  She's already taken the pattern for the next word 'WELLNESS' home with her so she can get a head start on the next phase of this multi stage project.

 

  

 

 

Lastly we look at one of the many  Cardinals that Betty has begun working on.  I may have spoken out of place earlier when I said that Silverware Dragonflies were her signature piece because I do believe that she makes a Cardinal along with every Dragonfly she creates.

 

  

 

So there you have it.  It's the start of a new year and everyone (well, almost everyone) is working on something new.    And that's the way I like it!

Paul

Bayou Salé GlassWorks

Either End

 

Each week I see too many people using their Breaker/Grozier Pliers incorrectly which leads to their break not following the score line.  In the picture below the score of the cutter runs along the curved black line.  This should be easy to separate  because it follows the 3 to 1 curve rule, however the pliers are incorrectly placed which will greatly increase the likelihood of the piece breaking.   Never position your pliers in the center of a curve! 

Always position your pliers at either end of the score that you made with your cutter as shown below.

When you position your pliers in the center of the curve  the glass has to break in two directions at once.  On a straight cut you could succeed with that method but on a curve you'll probably lose one or both the the points at the ends of the score line.  Even with a straight line it's most desirable to start at the edge of the glass.   Always position your pliers where you started your score line.  If it doesn't separate then try from the other end.  If it still won't break it's  most certainly a bad cut that needs to be redone.

The moral of this Hints and Tips post is simple:   Never position your pliers in the center of a curve!

Paul

Bayou Salé GlassWorks

If You Have An Outy You Can't Have Wooly Buggers

Linda F's Birds on a Branch Window is a stunning piece of art which fits perfectly into the stained glass medium due to its tremendous use of color.  Linda agrees with me about this pattern though--the eyes are the problematic part of this window.  Well, maybe not so much problematic as time consuming.  Still this is a piece that speaks for itself and says it in a rainbow of color.

 

 

 

Annette's Santa Face Window was completed right on time.  She did an excellent job with this and to be honest I'm thoroughly impressed because with all the other Christmas gifts she was making feared that she might be cutting it a little close considering the amount of time she had left to go before the big day.  But she did it!  And very well I might add.

 

 

 

 

Cheryl's first Cardinal Window has been completed and the fancy border  system that she used works better on this window than it normally would.  Multiple borders tend to engulf the subject of small windows by making them appear to be 'confining'.  By utilizing a lot of clear textured glass Cheryl opened her borders right up and created a nice airy Cardinal Window!

 

 

 

Linda L started this 3D Penguin last week as a normal flat suncatcher and this week she soldered it and then attached it to a white glass 'base' which allows this cute little guy to stand upright on a table.  Linda has completely disguised the necessity of glass under the penguin by making it resemble either snow or a patch of ice.   It's incredibly adorable and a perfect decoration for the Holidays. Oh, and the reflection in the base is just perfect!!!

 

  

 

 

Let fell in love with this stained glass kit for making a Wine Bottle Scene inside of a metal hoop.   All the glass was pre-cut and everything was included but Let discovered that these pre-cut projects require far more patience than materials to create.   But Let persevered and the end result is worth toasting to. 

  

 

 

Martha's Deer has other people in the same class looking at the pattern because this is the perfect gift for a man.  Martha used muted colors in this which gives it a nice naturesque kind of vibe.  Her quick and accurate work are to be commended!

 

 

 

 

Lisa's newest Plate Window may not have bevels in the borders but look how perfectly her border glass matches the plate itself.  These are stunning due to their simplicity and Lisa may even paint the leaves and the grapes with glass paint to put a small splash of color dead center. 

 

 

 

 

Judy's LSU Window may have been delayed while she waited for the gold/yellow glass to come in but she still walked out the door with her window under her arm just in time to be gifted on December 25th.  Slow but steady ALWAYS wins the race. 

 

 

 

 

Susan R's Reindeer has been soldered and staked!  That sounds much worse than it actually is-- the stake is simply mounted on the back of the reindeer so it can be displayed either in a flower pot, or placed inside a small 1/2" pipe mounted in her yard as a nice Christmas decoration.  Hmmmmm, a few of these in a row with chains joining them with  a red sled behind the pack might look wonderful!

 

  

 

 

Mary made her final pair of Angel Wing Hearts and they look stunning.  I have to say that it's a pattern that I love and one that I'll be making throughout the years to come.  Mary says she's finished with them but I know that she likes the end result so much that I won't be surprised if she comes in with another one cut out sometime down the line.

 

  

 

 

Sheri made a radiance of Cardinals (yeah, that's a new one on me also), seven of them to be precise, complete with some fancy wire work to set them all off in a nice Christmassy feel.   Working with wire is no fun but Sheri is sticking to it and getting better with each successive Cardinal that she makes.

 

  

 

  

Susan D made three Flower Pot Decorations in assorted colors which will spruce up any flower pot.  Of course, as always, she's got many other irons in the fire as well.  Some of which we'll see a little further on down in this very post.

 

 

 

 

Linda F also hammered out this Modern Cross quickly and efficiently.   After dealing with the tiny pieces of her Birds on a Branch Window this cross came together VERY easily for her.

 

 

 

 

Kerry is in a holding pattern on his Poinsettia Window because he really wanted to use Hollyberry glass for the background.  It's a seasonal glass and this year it wasn't delivered to glass distributors until the week before Christmas.  That's kinda late, don't you think? Well, on the bright side of things, it IS on its way to us now.    Meanwhile, Kerry is working on a Mickey Mouse Lamp which will keep him busy while his background glass is in transit.   Is it just me or does the picture below looks like Mickey is dressed in a black suit with a red tie?!

 

Susan D has yet another Silverware Dragonfly in the works along with a handful of glow in the dark Starry Bobbles which will be strung together across wires when we next see them. 

 

 

 

With just 12 sliver pieces of glass left to cut (running along the top and bottom) MiMi is well on her way to finishing the first of her pair of Traditional Windows.  This went together in a flawless manor for MiMi even though it was cut from multiple sheets of glass.  True there was one large section, but sometimes merging a large section to a smaller section and keeping everything in line can be a problem.  That was NOT the case here though as you can easily see for yourself.

 

Mary Grace has her HEALTH ground and ready to be wrapped.  She's not happy with a few of the pieces and will re-cut some of them after she wraps and tacks the letters that she is happy with.  With the first word essentially cut out she will be moving along to WELLNESS shortly after the new year begins.

 

 

I know Cindy and Steve were hard at work this week also but I didn't get a picture of either of their work.   But that's okay because we'll be in a new year when our blog is next updated and we'll get to ring it in with a look at what those two are making as well as what everyone else will be starting. Honestly though, it's nice to see (again) that everyone's goals were achieved in time for Christmas.

 

Happy New Year everyone!

Paul

 

Bayou Salé GlassWorks