Day 48: Architectural salvage... I love it!

365 Days Of My Life As A Studio Artist: Day 48

Day 47 Donations: $

Donations Running Total: $31.607.28

Today's Growth Idea:  Architectural salvage businesses can be a real plus!  While in Chicago I was able to visit architectural artifacts, inc.  They are an architectural salvage store, museum and events business.  Had I not left my purse at home and had to depend on my friend for gas, food, and toll money, I probably would have made some purchases there.  I get such inspiration from a store like this and often find pieces I can use in my stained glass panels.  If you have time, check them out on the web and definitely visit them while in Chicago.

My History:  So I am going along with my business, raising my boys, bringing them to the studio often with me and still trying to figure out my sign situation.  As business people do, I am always looking for opportunities.  One of the local businesses, Smith's Cyclery, was selling their building.  I walked by, looked in the window, and oh my gosh...
 
Today's Business:  Catching up from the last week and week-end.  My glass did not come home with me, they will be shipping it.  I did get the drawing for my last window for Flint, and that is the Veterans Rights window.  So, I will be looking through my bins looking for glass that I have in stock, and figuring out what I will need to fill in the blanks.  I published my new blog and wrote to both churches looking for their input and photos.  Nothing real exciting today.  And... that's ok.
 
Today's Photo:  This came from the home page of architectural artifacts, inc.
 
Pat Deere
 
LINKS:  architectural artifacts, inc.  store  museum  events
ChurchesAndChapels.blogspot.com

Some new glass - Wow!

Ok - I have been telling you I went to Chicago and bought glass... blah blah blah. Well finally, I have a sneak peak of some of what I bought. This picture shows just 5 sheets of what I was able to get at phenominal prices. May of these are transitional glasses that won't be manufactured on a regular basis. But, for most projects, that won't matter.

What you see here are a couple of pieces of fractured/streamer glass, a cool combination of purples and teals from Spectrum, a sheet of the new Float Fire glass that can be fused to window glass, and a wonderful sample of Saint-Gobain great for sandblasting.

It takes me a while but I'll be adding these to my web site and they are available at my studio any time. If you're looking for a specific piece of glass to finish a project, let me know. I'll do my best to help you out.

Custom Stained Glass: If you have been thinking about a piece of stained glass custom designed for your home, now is the time. Check out the new pieces you won't find elsewhere that can be incorporated into your home.

Pat Deere

Day one in Chicago did not disappoint.

Actually, I am in Warrenville, which is a suburb of Chicago. After driving 5 hours on a perfectly beautiful, sunny, 28 degree day, I checked into my hotel and decided to see what they had for entertainment. Not really wanting to drive into Chicago by myself after driving all day, I looked around Warrenville. I ended up on the campus of Wheaton College to see the Dublin Philharmonic Orchestra, of which I knew nothing about. But, when I clicked onto their web site to check it out and listened to this bit on You tube, I knew I had to hear them. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OAXCy3YS54&mode=user&search= .

I used to not go places like this by myself, being a little self conscious about it. But, then I realized I was cheating myself of some wonderful experiences. So, sitting in the seat by myself I closed my eyes and took in the sounds. Not realizing it would move me the way it did, I searched around for a pencil and something to draw on so I could get my feelings on paper.

The result was a few quick sketches that captured what I was feeling inside while the orchestra played. Since I was by myself, in a city far from my home, with nobody sitting directly beside me or behind me, I didn't have to worry about what people thought about my totally getting into this performance. Had I gone with somebody else, I don't think the depth of the concert would have been so profound and I surely wouldn't have started sketching what was going on inside me. I am anxious to put it into glass.

This reminds me to encourage you to visit your local live entertainment outlets. If you live in my community, check out the Tecumseh Center for the Arts: http://thetca.org/performances/events.htm . Last year I was given free tickets to see Natalie McMaster. I am now embarrassed to say, I didn't know who she was. Needless to say, I got tired in my seat watching her... 8 months pregnant, dancing around the stage and playing the fiddle like nothing I had ever heard before. And what a bargain. The same week she played in a neighboring city for almost twice what I paid. Can't beat live entertainment. To hear Natalie, try clicking on one of her songs on this link. But really, unless you are watching and listening at the same time, it's just not the same. http://www.nataliemacmaster.com/recordings/yourstruly.htm#soundclips .

Tomorrow morning at 7:30am I'll be at Ed Hoy's glass sale. Lot's of good stuff in their flyer - can't wait to see it and bring it back with me.

Pat Deere

Classes: This past week I was able to give a private lesson to a customer wanting to learn how to do stained glass but not wanting to wait for a group lesson. What an experience for both of us. If you would like to put a design that is in your head, onto paper, and then into a glass window... perhaps a private lesson would help you out!

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

Kid In A Candy Store

If you like to see a kid in the candy store... that's me in Chicago picking out glass. I'll let you know tomorrow what I found. But, guaranteed - there is always something awesome. I'll surely get what I need, but more than that, I will get something I have never seen before and will hold on to it for just the right project. I usually go alone. I took my Hobbit (book on CD), all my favorite music, and this time I took my husband as well. Can't believe he wanted to go. I may not be able to listen to all my favorite music and I may not get throught the Hobbit either, but it will be fun to have him along.

Next trip should be March 1st when they have their garage sale. I plan to go for that and will pass those savings on to you!

Keep an eye on what's new and let me know in advance if there is something you want. I may be able to find it on sale!

Talk to you tomorrow...

Pat

Inspirational Students on a Sunny Michigan Saturday

What a fun day! Today was my Free Mosaic Class day and I had 3 students attend with various levels of experience. It never fails that students inspire me and they did today - whether they knew it or not.

I meant to snap a picture while they were here working and... we got talking about mosaics of all kinds, pottery, bead making, fusing, art shows... and on and on and the picture was forgotten.

We were working on Tara here. You can see her laying on the table behind my mosaic sample board for another project I applied for. You have seen Tara before and she is getting closer to being done, with the help of Kerry, Joann, and Phil today.

Phil is working on an idea that will require gluing musical wire (like guitar strings) to glass. Today we tried using KOA 300 and an ultraviolet light. It worked for a while and then broke loose. I am going to try again to see if we can get it to work well. If there are any suggestions from people who have had similar situations and you found a combination that works, let us know!

As soon as I am done here, I will be leaving for Toledo to check out the building that Art-O-Matic 419 will take place at in April. I will be one of the exhibiting artists and don't even really know what it involves. I know there will be artists of all kinds, including poets, musicians, etc. and thought it sounded like a fun mix. I'll let you know more as I get information.

Chicago is my destination on Tuesday. I will be visiting my supplier to pick up some large pieces of glass and always something real unusual that I will use for something some day. If you need anything, let me know before Monday evening and I will pick it up for you when I go.

That's it for today. Enjoy your Saturday. It's SUNNY here in Michigan today!

Pat

Discounted Purchases - Interested?????

How easy is it to get our glass and lead at a real discount in exactly the color or kind we need? My experience as an amateur glass artist was that it was pretty hard. Sure, somebody, somewhere would have the basics but getting really cool stuff wasn't always easy.

I will be going to Chicago next week (Tuesday looks like the best day weather wise at this point). I'll be picking up solder, glass, and a number of other items. Normally, I give my customers 20% off when they purchase full sheets of glass. But, if you order a full sheet before I go, I can pick out the exact sheet you need, and I will give you 30% off your full sheet of glass. As you know, sheet sizes vary and so I have included the link here to my supplier, Ed Hoys. If they don't have it, my experience is, I can usually get it from them by special order. Might have to wait a while, but I can get it. Their link: http://www.edhoy.com/ . If what you see in this book is something I don't have, I can surely order it. I can't possibly keep in stock everything they carry ... but wouldn't that be nice. The nice thing for you is, you do have access to everything in the book and what a candyland for glass artists. Browse through and contact me with any requests. I will keep their link on my blog for easy access.

And again, my solder club (you can read about on my web site) will allow you to purchase solder at a true 40% discount. Can't tell you the exact price but the more I buy, the less it costs, and the less it costs you. In fact, there is a coupon for joining the solder club on my web site that offers more than just discounted solder. Check it out.

I love going on these buying trips. Let me know if I can help you out in the process!

Pat