Flint Bus Depot - Women's Rights Window

My current commission is one for the Michigan Transportation Authority. They are installing a series of stained glass windows, about 4.5'x16', in the Flint Bus Depot. I will be fabricating 5 windows total and designing 2 of them.

This computerized drawing shows, roughly, what the window will look like. The background will be an assortment of Youghiogheny glass rectangles arranged into a sunrise color scheme. The 5 women I was to highlight + Maya Angelou (my personal favorite), will have their silhouettes in heavy lead in the background.

Now, where your help comes in... I would like to include pieces of glass from women in your lives who helped you personally, like the pioneers of the Women's Rights Movement helped all of us, through their own strength, courage, and wisdom. Immediately I thought of the grandparents in my life that I was so blessed to have. Growing up, both my husband and myself, were fortunate to have parents, grandparents, and great grandparents who were positive influences on us. I am going to incorporate glass pieces from as many of these strong women as I can, into the scale which will make up the central part of this design. I prefer to have clear glass but will include others where I can.

For example, my Grandma Schmuckal kept a lot of stuff. I was able to acquire a glass shade from her that had a crack in it. The picture you see here is a scan of the edge of that glass. I will be cutting this off of the broken shade with a diamond band saw, flattening it in the kiln, and cutting it to the size I need. I have a broken crystal glass of my mom's. As you can see, I don't throw much away if it is glass. I will be using some of the pieces from that glass in the scale as well.

So... if you have a female in your life that had an impact on you, like women from the women's movement had on society... and you want to include a piece of their glass (preferably clear) into this design. I would love to hear from you. I may not be able to include all of it but if you send it, I will try to fit it in.

LOOKING FOR: Glass from influential women in your life!

Pat

Chapel at Lenawee Medical Facility - Almost Ready

I had a customer who came to me after her husband passed away. She wanted to have a set of stained glass windows installed in the chapel at the Lenawee Medical Facility in his honor. Bev designed the window with the help of artistic family and friends. I tweaked it to work better into a stained glass design and chose the glass that would best fit the design.

What you see here is one section of a four panel set. The plan is to take them to the chapel this week or next to check on fit and prepare for installation, with final installation to be done next week.

Photos of the finished installation will be posted shortly.

Most of the glass used in this window is Youghiogheny Stipple Glass. It is a wonderful glass with or without light. This photo was taken as it was leaning up against a board in my studio so it is darker than it will be once it is installed into the window framing.

More information about the facility can be found at: http://www.lenaweemedicalcarefacility.org/index.html . I find it to be a very comforting place to go. It always looks fresh and inviting. The children interact with the older residents. There is even a visual tour if you want to see what it is like.

These windows will be a wonderful addition to the facilities chapel. Right now it is nice but very plain. The windows, along with other possible improvements, will only improve the feeling when somebody enters and needs a place to pray or reflect.

That's it for now, Patty

Fun in Chicago!

I'm not home yet but I had to update any followers about what I saw. This is Float Fire glass by Armstrong. I've heard of it but not used it. When I go back to Chicago in March, I plan to pick some up and give it a try. I understand it is fusible to regular window glass and is also great for sandblasting - like flashed glass. A lot of ideas are running through my head.

What I did bring back are a lot of wonderful clear textures - some I have not purchased before. Some beautiful Youghiogheny Stipple glass. Some St. Just multi-colored pieces that I may have to keep for myself ... not sure yet. I grabbed a piece of Bullseye that I have never seen before in red with an awesome streak of deep purple running through it.

All together, I picked up about 275 square feet of new glass you may want to check out.

Bye for now. I'm going to enjoy this time away with my husband and will be back in town some time on Wednesday. Hope to hear from you soon!

Pat