Rutherglen Door

I just got a photo of a door installed just before Christmas. This had a large number of broken pieces and a lot of lead with broken joints. The ties had come off the glazing bar.

The objective was to make the repairs look as much as possible as though they were original. The main concern was to get the large central piece which was badly broken look as near the original as possible, given that the texture of the original glass has been unavailable for many decades.

I chose a roughly textured clear granite, although it was more finely textured than the original, for its similarity to the original. Then I had to change the colour. Simply adding a silver stain would have made the piece too bright. Instead I matted the piece with an sepia umber on one side and stained the other. This gave the bronze colour wanted. As the original was not evenly coloured, I took the liberty of allowing areas of more intense colour to remain.

I am pleased with the result in that my additions are not obvious, and the central emblem has the character of the original.

Lamp Repairs

Months and months ago - it must have been early autumn - a person brought in three lamps of sentimental attachment which had been damaged. The pair of wall lamps below were damaged in moving. They probably are of 1960's vintage. The one on the left had most of the front panel dissasembled, but without being broken and was presented in pieces to be put back together in the correct arrangement. The one on the right had only a few pieces at the bottom displaced.




The one that was most interesting was the one below. It had been disassembled at some time in the past as it was presented to me with six curved panels, sometimes with the blue and orange pieces attached sometimes not. So this was a process of seeing which "petals" fitted the curved panel best, and then seeing which panel fitted best beside which one.





Finally they are all back together and will be be picked up on Friday.

Open Access

While I am posting information about workshops, it occurred to me that this might be a good time to tell interested people about the Open Access Studio concept that is operated here.



The open access concept is to allow people without the space or facilities to expand their skills without having to take numerous classes. This allows the individual to take things at their own pace. Of course, the open access is offered by appointment only. It is expected that the people coming will have basic skills and are looking to develop those skills within a working studio environment. The also should have basic hand tools, although more expensive and less used tools can be accessed from the studio. Some assistance with problems is available.



The basic bench hire can be used for leaded glass and copper foil work and other projects that do not require major equipment resources.

Costs: £5 per hour, or £25 per day, by appointment



The open Kiln offers you facilities to develop your interest in kiln forming. The studio facilities are made available to you to create your work. Stephen or an appointed person will be on hand to answer questions and give guidance with your projects and in the firing of the kiln if necessary. It is possible to schedule brief consultations on projects or methods you wish to investigate.



You can use your own glass or buy at the studio. You will need to have your own hand tools. Firing fees and mould rental charges apply. At least one class in kiln formed glass is a prerequisite.

Costs: £5 per hour or £25 per day, by appointment

Kiln firings: £5 for the small kiln (500mm square), £25 for the large kiln (2200x1000mm)



The open torch offers you the same facilities as for the open kiln to develop your skills in torch working. You can use your own glass or buy at the studio. Firing fees and gas charges apply. At least one class in torch working glass is a prerequisite.

Costs: £5 per hour or £25 per day, by appointment

Gas: £10 per bottle of propylene gas, £1 per hour of propane gas

Kiln annealing: £5

Fusing and Bowls

This workshop combines two of the most popular forms of kiln working - fusing and slumping. You will prepare a number of tests on the first day, using a variety of materials - metals, frits, confetti, mica, stringers and even cut glass. Discussions of kiln forming basics – glass, mould materials, firings, etc – will be interspersed with demonstrations and actual making. This is an intermediate level workshop integrating the fundamentals of kiln processes with exercises. You will use clear and coloured glass to illustrate the principles of design and colour. You will make numerous studies beginning with basic materials and methods, and building on them to create pieces to integrate them into your bowls. A few bowls will be produced during the workshop.

You will need glass cutting experience, or Cutting with Confidence

This workshop is held in a large, bright and airy (but warm) working studio. The workshop is limited to a maximum of six people to give you individual attention. All kiln-forming classes are taught using Bullseye glass - the première fusing glass. All tools and materials (and where relevant, the kiln firings) are provided in the workshop fees.

Date: 21 - 22 November

Time: 10:00 to at least 4:30pm

Price: £185

Booking: A deposit of £50 is required to book your place which must be received one week in advance. For further information contact: Steve Richard at Verrier, Studio 8, 77 Hanson Street, Glasgow G312HF. Telephone: 0771 883 1117, e-mail: s.richard@verrier-scotland.demon.co.uk

Leaded Glass Workshop

This workshop is appropriate for novices as well as experienced people. It introduces you to the traditional skills of making stained glass windows. You will produce one panel from a stock design or your own. You will be taken through the skills of complex glass scoring and breaking, leading, soldering and finishing through a variety of exercises.

Cutting with Confidence or equivalent experience is a prerequisite.

This workshop is held in a large, bright and airy (but warm) working studio. The workshop is limited to a maximum of six people to give you individual attention. All kiln-forming classes are taught using Bullseye glass - the première fusing glass. All tools and materials (and where relevant, the kiln firings) are provided in the workshop fees.

Date: 1 - 2 August

Time: 10:00am to at least 4:30pm

Price: £150

Booking: A deposit of £50 is required to book your place which must be received one week in advance. For further information contact: Steve Richard at Verrier, Studio 8, 77 Hanson Street, Glasgow G312HF. Telephone: 0771 883 1117, e-mail: s.richard@verrier-scotland.demon.co.uk

Fusing and Kiln Carving Workshop

This three-day intermediate level workshop develops the fundamentals of kiln processes with exercises. It will enable you to make wall hangings with an extra dimension. You will use clear and coloured glass to develop the principles of design and colour. You will make numerous studies beginning with basic materials and methods, and building on them to create pieces to integrate them into a project.

You will move on through the creation of maquettes to shaped panels in relief using ceramic fibres, sand and found objects. Ceramic fibres can give sharply defined images and, by tearing, much more free form images. Working directly into sand provides an additional mode of expression. Found objects can be used to create other forms. This method of kiln forming gives added dimension to your work, from hints of form to full bas relief forms.

You will need glass cutting experience, or Cutting with Confidence

This workshop is held in a large, bright and airy (but warm) working studio. The workshop is limited to a maximum of six people to give you individual attention. All kiln-forming classes are taught using Bullseye glass - the première fusing glass. All tools and materials (and where relevant, the kiln firings) are provided in the workshop fees.

Date: May 23 - 25

Time: 10:00am to at least 4:30pm

Price: £225

Booking: A deposit of £50 is required to book your place which must be received one week in advance. For further information contact: Steve Richard at Verrier, Studio 8, 77 Hanson Street, Glasgow G312HF. Telephone: 0771 883 1117, e-mail: s.richard@verrier-scotland.demon.co.uk

Making Glass Bowls Workshop

This workshop introduces you to the most popular form of kiln working. You will prepare a number of tests on the first day, using a variety of materials - metals, frits, confetti, mica, stringers and even cut glass! Discussions of kiln forming basics – glass, mould materials, firings, etc – will be interspersed with demonstrations and actual making. A few bowls will be produced over the two days. You will need glass cutting experience, or Cutting with Confidence

This workshop is held in a large, bright and airy (but warm) working studio. The workshop is limited to a maximum of six people to give you individual attention. All kiln-forming classes are taught using Bullseye glass - the première fusing glass. All tools and materials (and where relevant, the kiln firings) are provided in the workshop fees.


Date: 19 - 20 September

Time: 10:00am to at least 4:30pm

Price: £150

Booking: A deposit of £50 is required to book your place which must be received one week in advance. For further information contact: Steve Richard at Verrier, Studio 8, 77 Hanson Street, Glasgow G312HF. Telephone: 0771 883 1117, e-mail: s.richard@verrier-scotland.demon.co.uk

Fusing Workshop

This is a beginner to intermediate level workshop integrating the fundamentals of kiln processes with exercises. You will use clear and coloured glass to illustrate the principles of design and colour. You will make numerous studies beginning with basic materials and methods, and building on them to create pieces to integrate them into a project. You will need glass cutting experience, or Cutting with Confidence

This workshop is held in a large, bright and airy (but warm) working studio. The workshop is limited to a maximum of six people to give you individual attention. All kiln-forming classes are taught using Bullseye glass - the première fusing glass. All tools and materials (and where relevant, the kiln firings) are provided in the workshop fees.

Date: 11 - 12 April

Price: £150

Booking: A deposit of £50 is required to book your place which must be received one week in advance. For further information contact: Steve Richard at Verrier, Studio 8, 77 Hanson Street, Glasgow G312HF. Telephone: 0771 883 1117, e-mail: s.richard@verrier-scotland.demon.co.uk

Beadmaking Workshop

This workshop introduces people to working with hot glass on a small scale. The basics of bead making, including the use of tools, safety and bench set-up are covered. Participants will make a dozen or more beads, by developing the various skills of manipulating glass, making stringers, basic bead shapes, marvering, dot application, annealing, bead cleaning and more. No prior experience is needed.

These workshops are held in a large, bright and airy (but warm) working studio. The workshops are limited to a maximum of six people to give you individual attention. All kiln-forming classes are taught using Bullseye glass - the première fusing glass. All tools and materials (and where relevant, the kiln firings) are provided in the workshop fees.

Dates: Saturday 21 March also Saturday 20 June

Time: 10:00am - at least 4:30pm

Price: £75

Booking: A deposit of £50 is required to book your place which must be received one week in advance. For further information contact: Steve Richard at Verrier, Studio 8, 77 Hanson Street, Glasgow G312HF. Telephone: 0771 883 1117, e-mail: s.richard@verrier-scotland.demon.co.uk

Cutting with Confidence Workshops

Glass cutting is a skill that often is not fully acquired for years after starting in glass. This restricts your ability to make the right cut the first time, eliminating a lot of grinding and shaping. In this two-and-a-half hour session, you will learn to cut with confidence and efficiency. The skills include straight and curving cuts, circles, use of the tools, safety aspects of cutting glass. This provides a solid base for cutting in other workshops and for future glass work.

Verrier workshops are held in a large, bright and airy (but warm) working studio. The workshops are limited to a maximum of six people to give you individual attention. All tools and materials are provided in the workshop fee.

The Cutting with Confidence workshops run from 5:00 to 7:00pm

The dates for these Friday workshops are:

10 April

22 May

3 July

31 July

18 September

23 October

20 November

Price: £25.

Booking: A deposit of £25 is required to book your place and must be received one week in advance. For further information contact: Steve Richard at Verrier, Studio 8, 77 Hanson Street, Glasgow G312HF. Telephone: 0771 883 1117, e-mail: s.richard@verrier-scotland.demon.co.uk

Bathroom Window Repair

These two sashes had a number of breaks in them and needed repairs after a window refurbishment. Yes, the dark central object in the left image is a mirror. I thought this to be an addition later in the life of the window. The client wanted rid of it as it had begun to corrode and just did not look to be suitable.

The extra lines that you see as shadows are outside bars for security, as this window looks onto a passage.

Imagine my surprise as we took off the protective glazing from the outside to find that the mirror had its own protective glazing too. The 4mm mirror had a 2mm sheet of glass on its outside protecting the silvered back. This was installed in a high heart lead, which shows that this feature was original.

(The above photos were taken at 8:30 am, as the sun was beginning to rise.)

As requested, a new coloured piece of glass was installed at the same time as the repairs were carried out. The colour was selected to match with the small petal shape at the bottom centre of the window.

(These photos were taken at about 3:00 pm - sunset at about 5:00pm)

I agree with the client that the window looks much better with colour rather than a mirror at the centre of the window. It shows that there is always something to learn about stained glass.

craftscotland Calendar 2009

I have just realised that I have some copies of the craftscotland calendar for 2009. I am willing to send them to anyone who wants one at a discounted price of £3.00 plus p&p (normally £5)

The calendar gives a baker's dozen examples of Scottish craft. It comes in a CD sized case for propping up on the desk or leaving closed with just the current month showing. It is a momento of the "Homecomming" to Scotland in the year of the 250th anniversary of Robert Burns' birth.

Send me an e-mail if you would like a copy.

Skylight Installed

As promised this is the photo of the skylight now installed at the top of the stairs. I have established a glazing bar with ties to support the piece across the centre. I installed it on the long axis rather than the short one. This was to provide maximum support along the "folding" lines and because it is visually much less intrusive.

Without knowing where the support bar is, it is very difficult to see it. As this is not a large skylight, it can have the bar above. Were it to have been a large one, the support would have to be below. For this reason, I usually install toughened glass of appropriate thickness to support the leaded panel.

Skylight

This is an image of a skylight made from parts of a doorway that was surplus to requirements after a conversion of a large house into two. The bottom half of two floors was separated from the top half of two more floors, and the original doorway was done away with. The side lights and the fan light were removed and the idea was to use the damaged remains to put into the ceiling of the top part of the building to allow light into the stair well.

This will be installed in the next few weeks together with other repairs required after the builders finished.

Work in Progress

I hope everyone has had a thrilling New Year's celebration.

I have been using the holiday period to get some work done on a wax model to be cast. This is a commission that I took on quite a while ago. Although I have been doing a little each weed, this has been quite a long process.

I normally work to a much larger scale, so this has been a learning process for me. To get things right at a small scale is much more work than getting it right at a large scale. The family have been very patient with me, but now it is nearing the casting process, so I thought I would show my progress.

I first began the process with a large number of sketches once the pose had been determined between the clients and me. I determined the scale and made lots of measurements and converted them as final sizes on photographs. The person comes in from time to time so I can check the work against the actual person.


This first photo shows an early stage of the work about six months ago.









This second photo shows the state of the wax model at present. It does not show so much difference in structure from the first. But the real work has gone into the hands, face and feet. Also tiny refinements are required. Now that I am smoothing the whole, I am finding more of those little imperfections.

I intend to take a RTV rubber casting of this in case anything goes wrong. Then I can fill the rubber negative with wax and cast again. Just insurance for me.