The Family That Prays Together

What an honor to create a family cross for this beautiful family!

The photo below shows this glass work in several shots so you can see the final piece, a close up with the background glass, and another close up showing the very textured state the crushed glass was left in.

I love working with various sizes of crushed glass, including frit to give the frayed edge seen on this piece.

For my work, lately I have been using System 96 in sheets.  I cut them to size big enough to fit into my glass crusher.  From there, I sort out the sizes so I can layer the glass in the way it will work out best for each piece.  For things like this where I want a frayed edge, I use a simple mold cut out of foam board and layer the glass until it gets no thicker than the 1/2 board I am using.  Carefully, I pull up the mold, rearrange any stray pieces, and fire it to about 1300 degrees.  The background with names and dates was fired separately.  Next, the glass is glued using KOA 300 and an ultraviolet light to set it.  This gluing method has been working very well for me on transparent glass.

What a beautiful wedding gift for somebody special in your life, don't you think?  Elizabeth, thank you for giving me the opportunity to give you a gift I know your family will enjoy for a long time to come.  Because this has to go through 2-3 firings in the kiln, advance notice for gifts of this type are necessary.

Pat Deere

LINKS:  Click HERE For more information on custom designed stained glass by Pat Deere.

Wedding Cross for a Deserving Friend

When my friend Elizabeth told me about wanting a cross for their upcoming wedding, I was thrilled to be able to help her with this project.

She has 3 beautiful young boys, and a husband to be I haven't yet met.

Elizabeth works at  Giovanni a'balatti Salon and Spa in Adrian and cuts my hair.  We have worked on art projects together and she is truly deserving of good things in her life.

Because she wanted something to signify their new family, she thought of this idea.

Love it and would love to do more for wedding couples.

The pattern below is the simple computerized design, the picture above shows the glass in the kiln after the cross was fired and before the painted names have been kiln fired.  It has yet to be finished and framed.

LINKS:  To find information on other crushed glass panels, click through to my web site.

Pat Deere

Trillium In Crushed Glass

This posting is a little late, but I wanted to post the pictures of my trillium panel since I posted all of the photos I used as inspiration. 

Like the other crushed glass pieces, this was very fun to create.  I am planning on using this theme for the room in my house that faces the south.  I am actually making pieces that will go on the corner pieces for the window framing in that room and will follow that up with a transom or hanging panel that will go in the large window.

The top photo shows a close up of the panel prior to being installed into a beveled glass framework.  I like this picture because it shows all of the detail in a very clear way.

The next one shows the glass from a horizontal view and reminds me of rock candy.

And finally, you can see how it looks when the hanging is completed.  I used a series of 1" and 1.5" bevels to surround it and finished it in copper channel surrounded by rebar to keep it from warping over time and giving it a something sturdy to hang by.

This is one of the panels I created for a show in Little Rock Arkansas for the months of June and July.  More of my crushed glass panels can be viewed on my web site!

Pat Deere 

Links:    Crushed Glass Panels

Crushed Glass Kitchen Cabinet for Epiphany Kitchens

Today's Business: Really - I am just trying to keep the people who are filling in for me informed of what to do while I am gone.  Even though I have an office procedures manual, feel like I have covered my bases with the bank - employees - and customers, being gone for three weeks is a long time and I feel like I am leaving something out.

Today's Photo: When Epiphany Kitchens from Northville called about working on some cabinet doors for their display I knew what I wanted to do for them.  Shown here is one of two doors completed for them.  The other has the same design, but a less expensive version with the central piece being clear textured glass.  They will be having an open house for their customers, designers and builders while I am in Europe so I am thankful I was able to get it to them before that event.  Their showroom is very nice and has a lot to offer.  I put a link to their web site below that you may want to check out.

Pat Deere

Links:
Epiphany Kitchens
107 N. Center St.
Northville, MI 48167

Day 51: Give to a good cause... the Ann Arbor Skatepark

365 Days Of My Life As A Studio Artist: Day 51

Day 49 Donations: $.41917

Donations Running Total: $32.04675

Today's Growth Idea: Give to a good cause using your talents to their fullest.  Today's cause is the effort a large group has been working towards building a skate park in Ann Arbor, MI.

My History:  The more I thought about this building the more I felt like it was meant to be mine.  My life was extremely busy with my boys now all in school, my home life a little hairy, and my business growing but still not very profitable.  I am continuing to put money into more glass and supplies, advertising, and creating relationships with other businesses in the area.  I liked the idea of this new studio because it was on one of the main roads in Adrian and almost everybody coming into Adrian would see my sign.  It attracted people from Hillsdale, Toledo, and of course Lenawee County.

Today's Business:  My Flint windows.  The drawings are not going as smoothly as planned.  I bought The Glass Eye software program because I could use it to print on a large sheet printer  (2' wide).  But, I am having trouble getting it to print properly.  The lines are not lining up and, it doesn't show the detail of my border lead, and the size appears to be off.  Not good.  These windows need to be exact because they will be placed in thermopaned glass prior to installation.  So, looks like I am taking what came off the printer and altering it by hand.

Today's Photo:  Titled:   Travis, Mid-Air  My latest crushed glass piece (on the left) was inspired by a photo of my son Travis (on the right) skating in some off the wall spot.  My original intention with this piece was to cut the figure and tire with a band saw to get a good likeness of him.  My second thought was to try it all in crushed glass.  I like it.  Although it is more abstract looking, I think it gives him more movement and makes the piece look alive.  He said the event is 12-6 tomorrow at 704 Airport Drive, Ann Arbor.

Pat Deere
LINKS: 
~Article about Washtenaw County pledging $400,000 towards the park.
~Event info on Facebook from Red Belly Boardshop in Ann Arbor.

Featured Glass:  Travis Mid-Air will be added to my web site.  The site has changed some so if it is not on there today, it will be added shortly.  Any photo can be created in crushed glass.   What a great gift for the person who has everything don't you think?

Day 37: Be Early!

365 Days of my Life As A Studio Artist: Day 37

Day 36 Donation: (Time to collect.)
Donation Running Total: $29,59957

Today's Growth Idea: Be Early! This is not something I am really good at. I am pretty much set up for my show although I have some polishing to do on my glass. Today I will try to be early so I can be totally ready and not feel rushed!

My History: Guess I was pretty tired the last time I added to this section... I never finished my sentence. Sometimes the dynamics of a job can be kind of funny. The lamps for the seasons were a wonderful project for me but I can remember anywhere from 2-5 people coming to my studio to give me direction. Finally, I had to ask "Who is paying the bill?". The answer to that questions helped me know whose ideas I needed to listen to most. Sometimes if there are too many people involved I have found it important to know who the decision maker is or there can be problems in the end.

Today's Business: We are putting the final touches on our Newsletter, Show Flyer, price sheets for the show, etc. I am trying to finish a couple of more lamps, come up with a better project for me to demonstrate with (my lion was too big for the space), and possibly a couple of garden trellis's if I get that far. Then, off to Rock Financial Showplace for their opening at 2pm. Hope to see you there! I was told they featured my crushed glass piece on their promotional interview on the news yesterday! I couldn't see it because we only get Toledo stations here.

Today's Photo: This is my 4' aspen coffee table with a beveled glass insert incorporating agate and stones.

NOTE: Somehow my letters are looking really big. Is it looking that way to you?

Pat Deere

LINKS: Cottage & Lakefront Show Floor Plan, I am booths 1320 & 1322

Day 31: Keep on going - but don't get sick.

365 Days Of My Life As A Studio Artist: Day 31

Day 30 Donations:

Donations Running Total: 29.59957

Today's Growth Idea: Keep on going but don't get sick. When I am getting ready for shows it is easy for me to get up early, work all day, work late at night, and get sick because I forget to eat well, drink water, and take care of myself. Today, I will call my homeopath and be sure I have some supplements to help fill the gap of my current routine.

My History: So here I am with three boys in tow, setting up a new studio, and trying to get business going. I had a real problem with my new place... getting a sign up was becoming a real issue. I don't know where the problem stemmed from but signage in Adrian could be somewhat problematic at that time. Now I have a nice new studio, plenty of space, lots of windows and no sign. Hmmmm.

Today's Business: I will be finishing the log table that the crushed glass piece shown here will be made from. Yesterday I finished my 4' table and the lamp that compliments it. Today, I plan to make more lamps, finish putting wood frames around several pieces I have had in my studio, finish my garden trellis' that have been selling very well, and hopefully finish my kitchen and bathroom displays. I do have help today but one of my helpers is on her way to Florida as we speak... so I am going to head down to the studio now!

Today's Photo: Colorado II is what I call this piece. This is the fired glass prior to being incorporated into a beveled glass border.

Pat Deere

Day 9: Free Class Tonight!

365 Days Of My Life As A Studio Artist: Day 9

Day 8 Donations: $ .

Donations Running Total: $.368084

Day 9 Growth Idea: Offering a free class tonight. Sometimes people will tell me giving free classes is kind of counter productive. For me, it is very beneficial. Tonight we will be working on several projects if I get the number of students I am expecting. This is a lead came window that is almost ready for construction. Because the glass is thicker than the lead, I will have students tonight using a beveled grinder that will allow the edges to fit into the lead easier. They will be finishing a donated window that is almost done. They will be putting foil on beveled glass for kitchen cabinets that are in the process. And, we may be using the torch to create stamens for the flowers for the church window I need to finish. It is a good way for people to see if they like working with glass, and it is a good way to help me get donated items finished at a lower cost to me. The energy of the students really helps me. I think these are win/win situations.

My History: Now we are getting into 1990. My son is 3 months old. I had a brother, David, who died very young due to a heart condition. These things, although they are not directly related to glass, definitely influenced my life and the path I took, how I approach my work and my business, etc. I bring this up because my faith life is very important to me now. I was raised in the church but didn't feel close to God. This death made question a lot of things. I needed to know what I was going to do with my life. I can remember walking down the streets of Tecumseh with my sister, Stacy and my son, Matt. We were looking at a very small space in the Bidwell building... thinking, maybe I should start a small business in glass.

Today's Business: Busy day. Along with the class this evening, I have started putting together my Colorado crushed glass piece. It's 3:00am and I can't crush more clear glass because we have renters that live above my studio and they may not appreciate my sledge hammer. It's hard to stop mid-stream though. My bulletin board of current projects is almost complete. I have a lot to do! So, once done with this blog I am going to try to get some sleep so I can be ready for my 8am meeting at Great Ideas. I have to finish a mosaic sample for a customer before tomorrow. And, I think it's time to make a deposit and finish some of my current projects so I can bill them... not my strong point.

Pat Deere

LINKS: Last announcement for my Free Class tonight!

Day 8: Crushed Glass Preparation

365 Days Of My Life As A Studio Artist: Day 8

Day 7 Donations: $ .

Donations Running Total: $.368084

Day 8 Growth Idea: Weld a steel box for crushing glass.

I wasn't sure how many of these crushed glass pieces I would make so I had a flimsy box made of a Plexiglas hinged cover, plastic sides, a copper plate on the bottom, and a material curtain to hold in the glass shards as we hammer them with a sledge hammer to the proper size. If I am going to make these efficiently in the future, a better box for sledging needs to be made. Brandi has been king of struggling with our current system. Today's project has been cut out for me. Previous goals... the form letter has been added, and my bulletin board is full of "works in progress". It's much easier for me to visually see what needs to be done.

My History: One of the last classes I took prior to opening my studio was a Tiffany Style Lamp making Class in Toledo, OH. I purchased an old oil lamp that had been electrified. I designed the shade to match the base, purchased the hardware and glass sconce from a glass artist in Ann Arbor, and put it all together for a beautiful finished look. As I continued to work on glass projects, the thoughts about a studio became stronger. I was hooked. My future was becoming clearer.

Today's Business: Busy day planned. 7:30 am - I start with a meeting with a potential customer who is starting a new business. 9:00am - Meet with a church who is looking for information about possible repair work to their windows. Before the next meeting I will stop by the steel supplier to pick up necessary pieces to create a better box for my glass crushing needs. 11:30am - Meet with my marketing consultant. And, somewhere along the way I want to start a new crushed glass piece using a photo I took in Colorado as my inspiration.

Pat Deere

NOTE: My Free Class Thursday is filling up!