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Abstract Panel Wedding Present 2016

Filed under Festive, Gifts, Panels, Wedding Gifts by windows on July 31, 2016 at 5:30 pm {no comments}

In June of this year we made this for clients in Central Alberta who were giving this panel as a wedding present. The panel measures approximately 17 inches high x 31 inches wide.

Our clients found the design on the internet and lucky for them we were able to obtain the Spectrum Glass that they wanted.

We used Spectrum’s Clear White Baroque, Pearl Opals Congo & Hawkwings, Clear Crystal Ice, Brown/Gold and 1 x 1 inch bevels.

The first picture shows the completed panel before the zinc frame was attached.

The following photo was sent to us from the Bride & Groom showing their Abstract Wedding Gift Panel hanging in their new home. They were very impressed and thankful for the panel gift that will last a life time.

The next picture shows the start of the panel construction.

The next photo shows the panel nearing the end of construction.

The final photo of the completed panel.

Spectrum Glass Pattern of the Month

Geometric Abstract from the book “Americana Past and Presents”

Suzan Vrba-Stacy

Abstract Cat 2016

Filed under Gifts, Mammals, Sun Catchers by windows on July 21, 2016 at 5:30 pm {no comments}

A local client wanted one of our Abstract Cats. This one was made using Spectrum’s Black White Clear Baroque Glass. We also used Spectrum’s Pale Green/Aqua Blue Waterglass for the collar. Unfortunately with the closing of the Spectrum Glass Company later this year, many neat varieties of stained glass will eventually no longer be available.

The first picture shows the cat, foiled and ready for soldering

Here is the finished Abstract Cat.

Designer unknown

Tiffany Style Lampshade Restoration 2016

Filed under Lamps, Repairs, Restorations by windows on July 19, 2016 at 5:30 pm {no comments}

Clients in Central Alberta had this large Tiffany Style Lampshade, however it had been damaged and they wished to have it restored for over their kitchen table. Fortunately for the lampshade the top ring of glass was bent flat down on the top of the shade but no broken glass.

The next picture shows the inside of the lampshade before being reinforced with wire. This was a very large Tiffany Style lampshade and was quite heavy. If these lamps are not properly reinforced they eventually will come apart and fall due to the heat generated from the light bulbs. Then the crossed centrepiece would pull away and send the lamp crashing to the table.

The photo below shows the removal of the top crown, also note the condition of the glass. Before taking the crown apart we number and photograph in detail to ensure that it all goes back together as originally made.

One of the side panels was badly broken and had to be replaced. Unfortunately do to the age of the lamp it was impossible to obtain and exact glass match.

To reinforce the hanging portion of the lamp we soldered in pieces of wire attaching them to the various seams along with the copper cross portion. The picture belows details the wire being attached and before the soldering was completed.

Before attaching the crown we cleaned and started the polishing of the lampshade.

Here is the lampshade nearing completion.

In the next photograph the top crown has now been attached and in the same original order.

The fully restored lamp now hangs proudly in our clients home above their kitchen table.

Polar Bears 2010

Filed under Canadiana, Gifts, Mammals, Sun Catchers, Wildlife by windows on July 6, 2016 at 5:30 pm {no comments}

A local client who’s dad loved polar bears wanted to give him a small polar bear panel. The design originated from Paned Expressions Studios Inc on their pattern disk titled “Nature’s Bounty” – “Polar Motherhood”. We used the bears design while putting them in a panel that measured 10 inches high by 12 inches wide. The original panel design measured 2 ft wide by 3 ft high.

Original Design by Paned Expressions Studios

100 + Year Old Came Window Restoration 2016

Filed under Canadiana, Old Came Windows, Old Came Windows, Repairs, Restorations, Windows by windows on June 17, 2016 at 5:30 pm {no comments}

Brenda & her husband who live in Central Alberta, brought us this 100+ year old came window which is a family heirloom that they rescued from a century old family farm home.

This is what the window looked like when it was brought to our studio.

The following picture shows the window after it was cleaned and before removal from the the wooden frame. Unfortunately there were 3 broken pieces in the rose colored border, 4 greens in the center were all cracked and or broken along with one center clear.

In the next photo the came window has been removed from the old wooden frame.

In the next photo the numbered pieces # 2 top left – 4 top left center- 15 bottom right center (rose border pieces) 26 (clear center piece) 28 – 29 – 45 – 47 (the 4 center greens) were all broken. The best alternative we could come up for the dusty rose border glass was an English Muffle Dusty Rose #4902. Our friends at Rubaiyat Stained Glass Studio in Calgary helped us to locate an older piece of clear as well as a very close matching green.

We take lots of photographs of these old windows before taking them apart, as well we number each piece. We set up a frame then start in one corner and work our way across the window, cleaning each piece of glass as we go along (we also re-number after clean each piece to ensure that it is put back in the window in the exact manner that the original stained glass artist installed them. Having good photographs certainly helps as we can bring them up on our computer to ensure that we have replaced each piece as it was originally placed in the window.

What we did was replace the 4 corners with the new English Muffle #4902, then carefully working with 2 of these unbroken border pieces we used them to replace broken border pieces # 4 & 15. The 4 green pieces in the center were also replaced and the 4 center clears were all replace to even out the look of the panel.

Our clients were most appreciated of our work in restoring their family heirloom panel. They have now found an old photograph of the 100+ year old farm home and it shows 2 of these windows. They plan on residing it and there is a possibility that the 2nd window could still hidden away behind the siding. If so and they find the 2nd window there is a very good chance that it might be there in its original state with no broken glass, but no doubt will need to also be fully restored.

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