What can I do?

When I work with customers to design a window specifically for them, I try to find out as much about them as I can. Dale and Barb came to me looking for stained glass for their front door. Their last name begins with "V", and they have grown pumpkins for many years. They live in a farmhouse that is being restored that has a lot of stone. And, they wanted light to come through, but didn't want people to be able to see inside.

That is where this design came from. The V is very viney looking and adds to the vines of the pumpkin. I used all clear textured glass to maximise the light that comes in but textured enough to keep visibility down. The clear texture around the edges mimics the stone of their house and the textures in the pumpkin and leaves duplicate the textures found in them as well.

Today I delivered this window to them and that is always fun. Dale has done some stained glass in the past but was not up to, nor could he find the time for, a project of this size. He also mentioned that this is not a design he would have considered had he done the project on his own.

It is fun working with people who have either worked with glass in the past, or had glasswork made for them prior to their trying it on their own. I am currently working with a customer who is taking private lessons. She finds this especially helpful because she can get the help where she needs it. After trying a couple of projects on her own, she is now tackling a much larger one. Side lights for her home with matching doors. Each panel is approximately 16 square feet. By offering private lessons, I am able to do things like visiting her home in person to help her with things like reinforcing the windows properly, installing them correctly, etc. Some people, like myself, find it much more effective to have somebody show them the way - rather than telling them how to do it.

Whether you are a browser, a glass artist, or a potential customer... if you have questions give me a call or send me an email. I'd love to connect with you and help where I can.

ART SHOWS: Come see me tomorrow from 11am - 11pm at Art-O-Matic 419 in Toledo. It is a free event with artists (both exhibiting and demonstrating), musicians playing, poetry reading, videographers... What a great week-end to be involved in an event like this. Hope to see you there!

Pat