Moon and Stars at Night

Every studio has a large part of its work from restoration.

This recent one came about when the removal people broke the bottom two thirds of this panel. The owners wanted to retain it for sentimental reasons, but needed it expanded to fit a new location. Their initial suggestion was to continue lines in the original to fill out to the required area. After discussion we all agreed that it was better to keep the original conception and "frame" it with a glass that did not compete with the original.

This shows the panel before cementing - the numbers are still there. The expansion is the clear textured glass around the perimeter. The bottom blue and most of the textured centre were broken. The top was in tact. Only three of the bottom blue were unbroken and only one of the clear - the white centre.

The original maker - maybe in the 1960's or 70's - used quality handmade glass, and the white is flashed Desag. I continued the restoration by using handmade glass for the substitutes/replacements to keep some of the original character.

The owners do not know what the inspiration for the panel might have been, but I like to think of it as water, sky and night. The blue base could stand in for water. The central panel consists of vertically oriented seedy glass, making me think of rain, with a pale sun. The top is a dark blue which with the white shapes lead me to think of the moon and stars on a showery night. So this for me is "Moon and Stars at Night"

St Silas's Church Hall, Installed

Back in August I reported on the early stages of the restoration of the wheel window and three small "supporting" lights.

Now that the building is nearing its completion, it was time to install the big window into its new home. The stone has been re-erected, with the location markings still visible at close quarters. Installing into stone channels is always more concerning, as the panels have to be big enough to stay in the stone, but not so big as to be impossible to put in. I got someone to help with the installation, both to give assistance and to keep me calm.

The first day, we could only install the bottom half of the wheel window, as the scissors lift was in constant use by the painters and no other scaffolding could be put up there while the painters were at work. So after four hours we left, with the promise that the lift would be in place for us in the morning.

Morning came, but the lift was not there. There was no one qualified to drive it either. We did a few odd jobs for an hour or so, and then the lift became available. The top half of the window fitted well with little difficulty. We finished it up and went for lunch.

The difficult part came with the little windows. It seems like there is less room for manoeuvre. The stone was badly eroded in some places also. So, out we went to buy a 110 volt angle grinder as the site's one had gone missing. Still it will be a good tool in the future. It was an essential one for this installation, as we had to cut one new channel and deepen all the others. Four hours after we started on these three little windows, we began to seal them with the sand mastic. I finished on the inside first and was able to stand back and admire.

Fortunately, the other workmen on the site also admired the work. But most importantly the architect approved the work. Very important for me, as it appears he initially preferred another person for the job.

This is the completed installation of the main window and its three supporting windows.

The outside of the window from below

The window from the inside staircase

Open Studios, Day 2

The second day of the Wasps Open studios was a little shorter, a little less busy, but more time to talk with people. I had set up a few things to do to demonstrate some techniques and activities. So I finished leading and soldering a panel I am repairing,

and ground and polished some small vessels for the Christmas shows.

It seemed a happy weekend for everyone. Some people made sales. I didn't make many, but the best thing for me was meeting people, learning new things and letting people know I am here and what I do. Also half a dozen people asked about classes. I never remember how tiring it can be meeting and talking with a lot of people.


So I came home and vegetated last night, feeling good about a successful Open Studios weekend.