Sapphireblue.com Presents: Adventures in Dangerous Art (The Impatient Need Not Apply)

Some photos from last night's class.

Fitting lamp pieces into a wooden jig.

Lamp pieces need to be really precisely cut if they are to all fit together for a nice tight 3D construction. I spent most of class sliding pieces into a wooden jig, nailed on top of a copy of my pattern, to make sure everything is sized properly. The idea is to work one "ring" of the lamp at a time, downward from the top, and reposition the jig as needed for each ring. This would probably be sort of tedious work under the best of circumstances, but was maddeningly so at class last night: any time I found a piece that was a hair too big (which is to say, every one of them) I'd have to walk over to the grinders in the other room, shave off a fraction of an inch, come back, fit it again... wash, rinse, repeat. I probably walked a mile last night without ever leaving the building.

Foiling.

And, here's me, foiling lamp pieces. Also fairly tedious work, especially on glass like the Youghiogheny I'm working with on this project. The sheets don't come flat, but instead sort of warped, like plywood that's been rode hard and put up wet. If the piece being foiled in the above photo appears to have a curvy-cut edge---it doesn't, the cut is perfectly straight, when the piece is viewed straight on. Rather, the curve you can see is in the cross-section of the glass itself. Not only does that make foiling even pickier than it has to be, but it also makes me suspicious that the curvature is going to have to make my life difficult somehow, come construction time.

And, oh---I was right; the cream-colored glass I'll be using for the accent pieces in this lamp is a Bullseye. I'm entirely too pleased that I was able to guess that based on its texture alone; clever me. When your hobby makes you think you need a hobby, what then?

Posted by Michelle on May 06, 2003 10:08 PM

heh. My secret goal in all of this is to make a nice hanging swag-type lamp, for a corner of the living room that's a little on the dim side but is so occupied by a giant couch that there's no place for a table lamp. I am hoping, though, that it WON'T look like something out of Applebee's. Last thing I need is for houseguests to start asking things like "Can I get something to nibble on? Some pizza shooters, shrimp poppers, or extreme fajitas?"

Linda: I'm not sure what the red stuff is, but I've shed remarkably little blood so far in this project, so I'm thinking that's not me. Of course, now that I've said that, next time I write I'll be all "Taking twenty-three stitches hurts less than I had previously imagined..."

Posted by: Michelle on May 7, 2003 05:01 PM

Applebee's. Dear lord.

---------

Am very excited to see this lamp!! When you need a hobby for your hobby, then either you've become an artiste or you should get paid for your labors. Or both :-)

Posted by: Kim on May 7, 2003 05:36 PM

Applebee's isn't ALL bad, just mostly so. I used to go to one near where I lived in Jacksonville (not a town known for its fine dining, you understand) just for their, uh, "N'awlins Skillet." Anything that comes sizzling on an iron platter with shrimp AND chicken AND sausage AND onions AND bell peppers can't possibly be bad---unless you're one of them there city-slicker New York vegetarians, I suppose. Can't beat that plus a large, quiet, rarely-occupied smoking section... speaking of Ways New Yorkers Are Different From Us. :D

It is a mark of how lonely and bored and sad I was in Jacksonville, that sitting at Applebee's, smoking and reading and awaiting the delivery of a steaming-hot mass-marketed meat-feast, ranks right up there with my happiest memories of that period. *guh.*

Posted by: Michelle on May 7, 2003 06:56 PM

Ah, my being a snotty-poo is irrelevant of my being vegetarian or being a NYer. Blame it on inherent snotty-poo-ness ;-)

I will confess, though, to loving diners (I did time in NJ, after all) for their cheap, heaping plates of onion rings, overly loud table-side jukeboxes and register-side bowls of stale pastel mints :-)

Posted by: Kim on May 8, 2003 08:25 AM

Yaaack! The whole Applebee's thing wasn't a comment on your glass-assembly skills, Michelle. I tend to think of this site whenever I encounter stained glass .. I just happened to be sitting in that particular restaurant at the time.

God, your stuff is tons better.

Posted by: Adrith on May 8, 2003 08:56 AM

aww, s'okay, Adrith, I knew what you meant :) And it's a good thing. I've got branding! I've got eyeballs! I've got... *mindspace* !

Diners can be nice. Fried food makes me warm-and-fuzzy inside. Onion rings have to be *battered* though... none of that weird dry, flavorless, crumb coating stuff, which is a scourge akin to that of Miracle Whip, which, don't even get me started.

Posted by: Michelle on May 8, 2003 09:07 AM


I'm learning the art (or is it a craft?) of stained glass. At this weblog, I record progress, note useful links, and document flesh wounds. Links The Art League Where I took a lead class and a 3D construction class. Weisser Glass Studio Where I buy supplies, and where I took a foil class. Virginia Stained Glass Co. Where I buy supplies if I happen to be in Springfield and if they happen to have what I want. Warner-Crivellaro Great prices on supplies, a lively and helpful Glass Chat message board, and excellent Technical Tips on stained glass tools and techniques. Glass Galleries Links List A list of Glass Chat users who've uploaded photos of their work. The StoreFinder: Stained Glass Store Front Lots of articles. ArtGlassArt.com Tutorials Even more articles. Particularly recommended: "Anatomy of a design" and "Wood frames." rec.crafts.glass Courtesy of Google Groups. Nancy's Beginner Tips and Tricks Scoring, breaking, soldering, finishing, and more. Splinter Removal Tips Crucial. Syndicate this site Someone out there is using XML for something... right? Movable Type Powered by. Archives By Date November 2006 October 2006 May 2006 June 2004 October 2003 September 2003 August 2003 June 2003 May 2003 April 2003 March 2003 February 2003 January 2003 December 2002 November 2002 October 2002 September 2002 By Project Beaded Unity Candle Crocus Panel Dogwood Windows Green Tiered Lamp Lilypads/Lotus Panel Transoms Xmas Ornament		« Appointment Glass \| Main \| Twinning Transoms » May 06, 2003: The Impatient Need Not Apply Some photos from last night's class. Lamp pieces need to be really precisely cut if they are to all fit together for a nice tight 3D construction. I spent most of class sliding pieces into a wooden jig, nailed on top of a copy of my pattern, to make sure everything is sized properly. The idea is to work one "ring" of the lamp at a time, downward from the top, and reposition the jig as needed for each ring. This would probably be sort of tedious work under the best of circumstances, but was maddeningly so at class last night: any time I found a piece that was a hair too big (which is to say, every one of them) I'd have to walk over to the grinders in the other room, shave off a fraction of an inch, come back, fit it again... wash, rinse, repeat. I probably walked a mile last night without ever leaving the building. And, here's me, foiling lamp pieces. Also fairly tedious work, especially on glass like the Youghiogheny I'm working with on this project. The sheets don't come flat, but instead sort of warped, like plywood that's been rode hard and put up wet. If the piece being foiled in the above photo appears to have a curvy-cut edge---it doesn't, the cut is perfectly straight, when the piece is viewed straight on. Rather, the curve you can see is in the cross-section of the glass itself. Not only does that make foiling even pickier than it has to be, but it also makes me suspicious that the curvature is going to have to make my life difficult somehow, come construction time. And, oh---I was right; the cream-colored glass I'll be using for the accent pieces in this lamp is a Bullseye. I'm entirely too pleased that I was able to guess that based on its texture alone; clever me. When your hobby makes you think you need a hobby, what then? Posted by Michelle on May 06, 2003 10:08 PM Comments You know, I was sitting in Applebee's last night looking at all the stained-glass lampshades, and it made me think of you and your current project. sends lots of good lamp-assembly vibes Posted by: Adrith on May 7, 2003 02:45 PM Dumb question...is that blood on the ruler, or red paint? If it's blood then "Adventures in Dangerous Art" is aptly named. Best of luck in all your endeavours...I hope it turns into a profitable venture for you! Posted by: Linda Lee on May 7, 2003 03:58 PM heh. My secret goal in all of this is to make a nice hanging swag-type lamp, for a corner of the living room that's a little on the dim side but is so occupied by a giant couch that there's no place for a table lamp. I am hoping, though, that it WON'T look like something out of Applebee's. Last thing I need is for houseguests to start asking things like "Can I get something to nibble on? Some pizza shooters, shrimp poppers, or extreme fajitas?" Linda: I'm not sure what the red stuff is, but I've shed remarkably little blood so far in this project, so I'm thinking that's not me. Of course, now that I've said that, next time I write I'll be all "Taking twenty-three stitches hurts less than I had previously imagined..." Posted by: Michelle on May 7, 2003 05:01 PM Applebee's. Dear lord. --------- Am very excited to see this lamp!! When you need a hobby for your hobby, then either you've become an artiste or you should get paid for your labors. Or both :-) Posted by: Kim on May 7, 2003 05:36 PM Applebee's isn't ALL bad, just mostly so. I used to go to one near where I lived in Jacksonville (not a town known for its fine dining, you understand) just for their, uh, "N'awlins Skillet." Anything that comes sizzling on an iron platter with shrimp AND chicken AND sausage AND onions AND bell peppers can't possibly be bad---unless you're one of them there city-slicker New York vegetarians, I suppose. Can't beat that plus a large, quiet, rarely-occupied smoking section... speaking of Ways New Yorkers Are Different From Us. :D It is a mark of how lonely and bored and sad I was in Jacksonville, that sitting at Applebee's, smoking and reading and awaiting the delivery of a steaming-hot mass-marketed meat-feast, ranks right up there with my happiest memories of that period. guh. Posted by: Michelle on May 7, 2003 06:56 PM Ah, my being a snotty-poo is irrelevant of my being vegetarian or being a NYer. Blame it on inherent snotty-poo-ness ;-) I will confess, though, to loving diners (I did time in NJ, after all) for their cheap, heaping plates of onion rings, overly loud table-side jukeboxes and register-side bowls of stale pastel mints :-) Posted by: Kim on May 8, 2003 08:25 AM Yaaack! The whole Applebee's thing wasn't a comment on your glass-assembly skills, Michelle. I tend to think of this site whenever I encounter stained glass .. I just happened to be sitting in that particular restaurant at the time. God, your stuff is tons better. Posted by: Adrith on May 8, 2003 08:56 AM aww, s'okay, Adrith, I knew what you meant :) And it's a good thing. I've got branding! I've got eyeballs! I've got... mindspace ! Diners can be nice. Fried food makes me warm-and-fuzzy inside. Onion rings have to be battered though... none of that weird dry, flavorless, crumb coating stuff, which is a scourge akin to that of Miracle Whip, which, don't even get me started. Posted by: Michelle on May 8, 2003 09:07 AM Comments are closed. Contact me via the email address at the bottom of the blog pages.
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