Eleven: Art Deco Tulips

Project 11 is currently a work that I should finish this week.

It is a small, round image of "art deco" style tulips. I created this piece in an effort to use glass leftover from other projects. After I finish - I'll post pics.

Ten: Texas Marathon logo

Project 10 - Texas Marathon Logo

Nine: My First Lead Piece

Up until this point, my projects had always been created using the "copper foil" technique. When using the copper foil method, after you cut and grind the class, you line the edges with copper foil. When you solder the piece together - the foil bonds with solder to keep the piece together.

I created piece 9 during a class learning the "lead" technique. After the glass is cut & ground, it is "fit" into pieces of lead, which is soldered together. Although much of the pre-work is the same for both techniques, I found the approach to building a lead piece quite different. Copper foil projects are all about exact fit; however, in a lead project, the fit is purposefully a little loose to allow room for the lead.

The payoff in knowing both techniques is that you have more options - lines are straighter using the lead technique.

I've also kept this piece - being my first lead project and I really liked the colors - which by staying in a similar hue palette, I was able to play off the textures in the glass.

Glass Used: (to be added)

Eight: Iris

This was a little piece I created to send to my grandmother - whose name is Iris. I don't think the picture does justice to the purple glass here. The second pic, attempts to show, the raise flower petals.

Glass Used: (to be added)

Seven: Tulips

After finishing my mother's piece, life got in the way and I didn't work on a another project for several months. When I returned, I did this tulip piece as a way to quickly get my mind back into glass. I really love the red glass here in the tulips.

Glass Used: (to be added)

Six: Stargazer Lily

This I created as a gift for my mother - who loves lilies. I worked on this project over the course of a few months - working a few times during each week. I think I finished about a week before Christmas. The touch I like most are the stamens in the flowers - which are made of wire I soldered onto the piece. Gives it a 3D effect.

Glass Used:

Five: Lone Star State

This was a project that I did for my dad. The pattern I found was originally for a garden step - hence the hexagonal shape. What I especially liked about this project was the bevels used for the "lone star."

Glass Used: Red, White and Blue Waterglass, Clear Bevels

Four: Celtic Heart

My fourth piece was a piece I created as a gift for my brother & sis-in-law, in honor of their wedding. I created it in the month before the wedding and presented it to them at the rehearsal dinner. The colors I choose were inspired by their wedding colors. Although it is difficult to pick out in the pics - the glass in the heart is two different reds - almost the same in color, but different in textures. The bevels are used as the border to give a little sparkle - the bottom, center bevel is engraved with their names and wedding date. I am proud to say they loved it and it is on display in their home.

Glass Used: Pale Grey Streaky (8-33-BRGREY), Ruby Red Antinque (8-33-152A), Red Glue Chip (8-36-18GC), Clear Bevels

Three: Lead Crosses

My third project really became a series of "projects" that I did for Christmas gifts. I took a one-day class in making lead crosses - and out of this created about 10-12 lead crosses for family and friends. That was 2 years ago and I haven't made a cross since. :-)

Supplies Used: lead, glass globs (yes, globs) and clear glass bevel

Two: Inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright

I am a great admirer of the work of architect Frank Lloyd Wright and his Prairie School designs. The second piece I chose to do was loosley inspired by FLW's stained glass windows for the playhouse at the Avery Coonley estate. I have kept this piece, as it has become one of my favorites.

Glass Used: Dark Nickel Blue (8-36-350DC), Cerise Ruby (8-26-41), Clear Baroque (8-33-100RM), Clear Chord (8-33-100C), Clearn Vecchio (8-33-100V)