Panel 4 cut and "only the foil" to go

This has been an amazing process. Mom was very overwhelmed at first. The thought of 664 little tiny pieces and 4 panels to cut really had both of us frozen for a time. After the second class we realized we needed to jump in the pool and go for it, others arrived at that class with a panel done and we had not made one cut in glass! We got one panel cut and from there Mom has been the deadline Queen. She gets all the flowers cut and puts just a little pressure on me to come and do the "easy" squares that I volunteered to cut when we were picking out a shade. Little did we know what we were in for or I think Mom would have said no thanks, and never looked back. Now she is already talking about "the next one we do"! The "we" may have to be Kate, not me, but I somehow see more "easy top part squares" in my future!

Below you can see what we were up to tonight on the final panel. The lamp really is looking quite impressive. I love the foil in copper, but it will look so much better once we get going with the soldering.


This is only 3/4 of the panels, although is looks complete, it is not. I agree with Bethany that it actually looks better in person.




Here is proof that I too have been cutting glass.




Mom making sure all her flowers are just right.



This is what I arrive to for each panel waiting for the blue sky and borders to be cut.



Panel 4 with almost all the glass grinded, it is cut, just needs to be grinded and fit on the dome shade.

Panel 3

So, we are moving along.
Panel 3 is above, minus the borders, they may all look alike to you, they should. But Mom and I can see major differences. I am not sure we will get panel 4 done by May 4. But we will be darn close.
Bethany and Andy arrive on Wednesday (YIPPEE!)and the week will zoom and I'll get nothing done!

I was looking at all my stained glass posts and I see I have the Iris in the winter, here they are in the spring. I'll have to get summer and fall too, though the difference will not be so noticeable.

The first quarter is done with foil

This is funny how photos load in the opposite order you down load them.
Anyway. Below is the second quarter that Mom and I finished tonight. I cut about 40 dome pieces and Mom was a grinding fool!
Tiffany used to sand his pieces by hand with sand paper.





We have this groovy grinder that Mom and I both sit at and grind our 664 little pieces.

This is where we were when we started tonight.


From point A to point B. Here is what we took to class last night. Mom finished the first panel in foil. The class was properly impressed and we got a few pointers as to how to make the glass seem more 3-D rather than flat on the dome. Now on to the foiling of the second quarter of the lamp and to get started with the third quarter!
Even though it looks cool on the dome, the glass really comes alive with light behind it. That is why you see us grinding and working with each piece individually on the light table.



The foil in process.



This is just the beginning of the first quarter foiling.
Very fun. Lots of work. But fun.

Moving right along, after a tumble

Thursday Mom had quite the tumble in the shower. She is OK, managed to go to the genealogy library for the morning and then took herself to Kaiser for a look see. They said she was fine and would be stiff. Well stiff seems to be the understatement of the week.
She is OK, but scared and delicate. Nothing broken and her back hurts like the dikens and a bruise that is quite impressive under her right arm. Kate spent the night Friday and stayed for book club and then they went to a few yard sales.
I stopped in today and she was moving slow. We went downstairs for a bit o glass cutting and did quite well. She hung in there and I got all my little squares cut for the first panel. See below.

This is how it looked before we started.



Here is panel 1 almost all done. Only 3 more to go! Then we get to foil, solder, patina, and assemble lamp bases! That is all!

Stay tuned!



I think I need a lighter border on the bottom. Only 7 little rectangles! :)

I was just thrilled not to get paged to go to work again today. Ten hours yesterday was quite enough.

Stained glass project

sketch of how we want the lamp to look


just a beginning of the black eyed susans


So here you have our lamp in progress.




Mom has been wanting to use up some of her stained glass she has had from prior projects. Being the good depression girl she is. So, Mom wanted to make a Tiffany lamp, and did not want to drive to the classes in the dark from 7-9pm in Kensington. The classes started in December are every 4 weeks for 6 lessons. That takes us to June for our "showing". SO. Guess who said yes she would take her and "help" with the project. Above you see the coloring for our pattern. We are in the mode of black-eyed susans (me being the only Marylander in the group, other than Todd!) They are supposed to be poinsettia's but we did not want that much red in a lamp. So we are going with the yellow and blue theme, which is always a good thing.
So here are 2 photos, we are actually further along with the project than this. One panel down, only 3 more to make. I'll get another photo of this panel this weekend when I do my squares.......I am good at cutting straight lines! Mom is in charge of the flowers. And she is doing an amazing job!

I'd say there are about 12 of us in the class, Mom and I count as one. A bit unusual, but the owner of the shop is cool with Mom needing toting help and help driving in the dark. We are all at very different stages. But this 4 weeks will separate out those that will finish and those that will not. This is labor intensive, and fun, but a lot of work.

So stay tuned for more panels and to see how they start to look on the dome we solder on! Quite complicated, but fun and I am learning a lot.

10 days till Christmas and I did what?

This ia a stained glass window Mom made for me over 10 years ago, she is now inspired to make herself a tiffany lamp!

So, tonight Mom and I ventured to the land of Kensington's mini warehouse district and Mom signed up for a Tiffany lamp class. It is from 7-9 pm and she does not like to drive at night, in fact the last time she did she was in tears. SO. I drove her tonight. I will be the facilitator for her lamp project. I am a bit excited, just not so sure how much help I'll be, other than encouragement and the ability to help her with glass selecton and to cut the easy little square bits along the top and bottom. We chose a poinsettia pattern with a grid at the top and bottom. We will make the flowers pink and whitish, with blue and green back rounds (to keep me happy!)

My tree is not up, my cards are out. My presents are mostly wrapped thanks to the lovely weekend Mom and I had at the beach. We shopped till we dropped, watched "you've got mail". I cannot imagine Mom had never seen that cute movie with Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks. Very cute Little romance movie. Almost as cute as how I met my Tim. Maybe one day I'll write the screen play and we'll all live happily ever after on the royalties......not, but it is always fun to dream! Drew Carry could play Tim and me..........Queen Latifa! ha ha ha.

Anyway all is well here in the un-chirstmas tree house. We'll get er up soon! I am sure. I am done with call for the week, I've done my promised class with Mom, now all I have to do is work about 30 more hours, mail a bizillion packages, decorate a tree, wrap more packages, bake 2 yummo pumpkin treats for Christmas dinner at Mary's, help Mom with her Christmas eve dinner.........have I forgotten anything? I am sure I have.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Rappahanock county studio tour

A fun day with Pat to visit in the car and see beautiful rolling hills of Rappahonock County Virginia. Saw some wonderful art in the county and mostly had a relaxing day.

Found a 5th anniversary present for Tim. Did not snap a shot, but ran out of room on Mom's card, will remedy that tomorrow. I just might be getting this photo thing.......

If I had unlimited funds I would have bought this stained glass for $750.00. But Mom could make it for much less and it would mean so much more!
The other art just caught my eye and probably will last longer in a photo than if I had spent all that money!

A very nice relaxing day!