Rafter Double U Ranch Cattle Brand West Country Alberta

Filed under Cattle Brands, Panels by on July 28, 2017 at 5:30 pm {one comment}

The Rafter Double U Ranch Cattle Brand commission measured 16 inches high x 40 inches wide. The brand was inserted into a china cabinet door frame. This was an interesting commission as we combined 2 inch sq bevels and Spectrum # 451-20W Ruby Red Waterglass for the border and brand.

For the centre portion we used Spectrum # 100B Clear Barnwood, however it was a tricky layout and cutting of the barnwood glass as we wanted to match it across the brand. The barnwood glass is raised and all of the pattern had to be laid out on the reverse side of the glass where much time was needed to ensure that the glass matched. When one is doing this kind of matching one only has one chance to figure out things and cut the glass accordingly or no more matching and or starting all over on a new sheet of glass.

We were most fortunate to have been able to obtain the Spectrum glass our clients wanted before the closing and sale of Spectrum Glass Company last year.

To help us with this design we once again enlisted the design help of Martha from Paned Expressions Studios in Edgewood Maryland.

The panel had to fit exactly into the reverse side of the cabinet door and the outside was surrounded with Cascade Zinc # ZB 932 which has a width of just over 1/4 inch.

The first picture shows the completed design before being inserted into the wooden cabinet frame.

The cabinet frame had a 30 – 40 year old came stained glass panel which our clients did not want. We had to remove it, then clean out the old glue/cement and we found new rubber replacement material to hold in the new brand. Before installing the rubber, we used a clear silicone cement, then carefully hammered in the rubber material into a thin slot in the wooden frame.

The following picture shows the brand installed into the cabinet door frame.

The last photo is the brand and frame all installed in their ranch home.

Their Cattle Brand is a Registered Alberta Brand

Brand Panel designed by Paned Expressions Studios

Beveled Transom Window 2017 Olds Alberta

Filed under New Windows, Windows by on May 17, 2017 at 5:30 pm {no comments}

This beveled cluster transom window measures approximately 12 inches high x 36 inches wide.

We made the same design a couple of years ago for our clients farm home SW of Olds using the same bevel cluster with Spectrum’s Sky Blue Wispy in the centre with the border made from Spectrum’s Clear Artique.

This time our clients wanted to have the border made from Spectrum’s # 100B – Barnwood and for the centre Spectrum’s #6022-82CC Congo Pearl Opal. We fortunately had sufficient lead time from our clients that allowed us to obtain these Spectrum’s glass before their closing and selling of their business last summer/fall of 2016.

The next picture shows the window installed in a new duplex in Olds Alberta, initially a temporary piece of molding was employed until additional material could be obtained and it is now all properly completed.

Design by Flory & Bob Wilkins

Alberta Rose Transom Interior Window 2017

Filed under New Windows, Windows by on February 12, 2017 at 5:30 pm {no comments}

Once again we were given the opportunity to make an Alberta Rose interior transom window for a new duplex in Olds Alberta. The window measured 36 inches wide x 12 inches high. For the border we used Spectrum’s 6022.82CC Congo Pearl Opal and in the centre we were fortunate to obtain a full sheet of Spectrum’s 100B Clear Barnwood which we matched across the window.

We previously made a similar Alberta Rose window using different glass which we featured on our website a few years ago for the same clients farm home SW of Olds, Alberta. (see link below)

The first photo shows the completed window prior to installation in our clients new duplex.

stainedglassalbertarosetransom2017

The next photo shows the transom window installed above the bedroom door way.

stainedglassalbertarosetransomolds2017

We use the Morton Layout Block system when building windows to ensure a precise fit. This photo shows the layout blocks holding in place the 3/8 zinc came border, with the border glass fitted along with the Alberta Roses foiled and burnished.

stainedglassalbertarosetransomconstruction2017

It is somewhat time consuming to fit and match the Barnwood glass, as all of the patterns are traced using white freezer paper that we obtain from Safeway, then glued on the smooth reversed side of the barnwood. There were five separate pattern pieces for each panel. We started on the left side and did each section ensuring that we cut and continued to match the barnwood glass across the whole window. The best advice we can offer anyone doing this is to take your time, measure and check numerous times before glueing your pattern to the glass and then scoring, breaking, grinding, fitting and foiling each piece. On each of the 3 panels we started at the bottom and worked our way to the top.

When making a window like this using clear glass, where the solder lines will have black patina applied it is imperative that black backed foil be used. For cleaning we use Kwik Clean after soldering, again after the patina is applied and then apply Clarity Stained Glass polish, using soft cloths and toothbrushes to clean and polish the panel.

stainedglasstransomreadyforsoldering2017

Design by Bob and Flory Wilkins

Alberta Rose Came Window # 2 Restoration

Filed under Old Came Windows, Old Came Windows, Repairs, Restorations, Windows by on August 2, 2016 at 12:26 pm {no comments}

This is the 2nd Alberta Rose Came Window restoration. In the first one we combined pieces from the second one to have one that was all original glass. We believe these windows are 100+ years old.

The wow factor in regards to both of these restorations is that when we delivered the 2nd window we were informed that both were going to be installed in a new home on Negril Beach in Jamaica, sometime in the not to distant future,

In the second one we had to put in all new glass for the stems, the amber across the bottom and new leaves for the left and right roses while the centre rose leaves remained original glass. Also the roses and background granite clear glass is also all original. It took us quite sometime to find the best replacement glass, but well worth the effort.

StainedGlassRoseCameWindow#22016

The following 3 photos show the left rose with new leaves, the next one is the centre rose all original glass and the last photo is the right rose with new leaves. The pink petals of the roses were a very pretty glass which was quite thick.

LeftRoseNewLeaves

CentreOriginalGlass

LeftRoseNewLeaves

Although the next photo indicates window #1 it ended up being the second one as we took pieces from it to be able to have one with all original glass.

StainedGlassRoseCameWindow#2

The last photo is of the 1st restored window.

AlbertaRoseCameWindowDecember2013

Designer unknow

100 + Year Old Came Window Restoration 2016

Filed under Canadiana, Old Came Windows, Old Came Windows, Repairs, Restorations, Windows by 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.

StainedGlassBrendaCameWindowJuly2015-001

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.

StainedGlassCameWindowBrenda2015

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

DSCN7200

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.

StainedGlassBrendaCameWindow2016

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.

StainedGlassBrendaCameMay2016

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.

Page 3 of 8«123456»...Last »
"The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten." -- Benjamin Franklin