Another Custom Stained Glass Transom

Day 2; Today went somewhat better.  I really wanted to have all the leads in place before leaving today.  One thing I've learned... when I start struggling to get the pieces to fit right, it's time to walk away and pick it up tomorrow.  It is coming together nicely though.

DAY 1
5/27/2010; Today I started on a transom panel for a Nashville couple. This panel is an original design, measures approximately 15" x 33" and will be installed in an interior doorway open transom. The center circle will be a 2" amber faceted jewel.
I was making really good time… notice the word "WAS". I pulled the red glass I had ordered for this piece and realized it was the wrong glass. I double checked the invoice to see if I had ordered the wrong glass. I had not. The company sent me 152W rather than the 151W I had ordered. I am very disappointed in Delphi. I have ordered from them several times in the last 6 months and there has been something wrong with each order. This is pretty much the proverbial straw… I won't be ordering from them again. Luckily, Armstrong in Georgia had some 151W and is shipping it to me today. I always get their shipments the next day, Chris and Mike are awesome!
Then I discovered that the light amber glass I was using for this panel was a shade off, actually the medium amber. Grrr. I think I have the correct glass at home, I hope I have the correct glass at home! What is it with my glass being a shade off today?
So… I cut the clear rough rolled, measured and cut my zinc to size, set up the layout and leaded what I could until the rest of the glass gets here tomorrow.

Berkheimer Transom Complete

Wow... got that one banged out pretty fast! And I felt like I was really taking my time on it. It turned out beautifully! I had alot of passers-by comment on how much they liked the color combination. It is a very striking combination... also happens to be my old high school colors. Go Salthawks!!

The homeowner's for this piece are actually in Pennsylvania. Needless to say, I will not be installing this one. Hopefully Mrs. Berkeimer will send me some pictures after it is installed.

Custom Stained Glass Transom

I forget just how much I enjoy leading glass. Aside from a few little adjustments here and there, all the pieces slid into their respective channels perfectly. All in all it was a really good glass day.

Tomorrow I'll be able to finish leading the remaining pieces and soldering it all together. I might be able to putty it tomorrow as well, we'll just have to see. Might have to wait until Thursday to do that.

Berkheimer Transom; Custom Stained Glass

Now that I've finished with the Burvis cabinet doors, it's time to move on to the Berkheimer transom. I'm not planning on setting a true deadline for this piece, I think I can get it done in a few days... let's see how that works out! All kidding aside, I'd like to be done with it by Wednesday and I plan to work on it everyday until it is done. I'll be leaving for Kansas on Friday to help my grandfather celebrate his 90th birthday, so I'd like it to be done in plenty of time for me to take my trip.

This piece is going to be leaded, which is a different construction method than the last project. I find that leaded pieces tend to go together faster for some reason. The glass is a mixture of Spectrum Artique, Spectrum Rough Rolled and Wissmach English Muffle with a 1.5" clear faceted jewel in the center of each column. Awesome color combination chosen by the client.

I'll finish cutting tomorrow and then start leading on Monday.

Burvis; panels complete!

Success! That deadline I set for myself to have these pieces completed was Friday, May 14th. Guess what day I finished them? FRIDAY, MAY 14TH! I will never again post a deadline. If I ever hope to keep it anyway!

Waiting to hear from the Burvis' on when we can get these installed. There is a question on prepping the existing cabinet doors... more specifically, how to get the plate glass that is glued to to wood out before these can be installed. Once we get those details figured out, I will post final installed pictures on my website. www.sapphireroad.com

Nearing the finish line...

Two of the four panels were soldered, patina'd and polished today! Yay! I really wanted to have all four done today, but got a little side tracked yesterday afternoon and this morning. No biggie, I'm still ahead of the schedule I set for myself and didn't share here. Maybe Karma does work!

This isn't the best of pictures, but the camera batteries died right after this one was taken! Final pictures coming soon...

Burvis Custom Cabinet Doors

It's been 7 days since I started this set of four cabinet doors. I feel really good about my progress! Panels one through three are cut and foiled, panel four is about 40% cut and the remaining 60% is going to be fast and easy! I lost my lovely assistant for the week I'm afraid… the boyfriend came home from college. I don't think I'm going to be seeing much of her for awhile.

The first panel (on the bottom of the picture) has been tack soldered, so it is all in place. The other two are ready to be tacked and a few of the pieces have been bumped out of place, they will be perfectly in line once they are tacked. Only a few more days to go!