Somehow i forgot to add it to the blog.

Here’s the interview on UK Handmade

http://ukhandmade.blogspot.com/2010/04/meet-steve-sheppard-of-cherished.html

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4bd59616eeb78eef178b8f36

I don’t really have a favourite as I love the small pieces just as much as creating the larger ones, like the lamps but windows do give you a chance to create something really eye-catching and I am always really pleased when a client asks for one to be designed. Especially so, when they give a free rein on the pattern.

I did have a guideline - This was to create a piece that fitted with their much-loved paintings of English Landscapes.

I began by looking at the paintings that they already have and picked out the style that was prominent in these. The way the trees were depicted and the gentle flow of the hills and sunrise in the background. I also had to take into account the light source as this was for a skylight above a the doorway into their lounge. It’s light source would be indirect and at times, from electric bulbs, for example during the evening. As it was a doorway the view also had to work from both sides and also be strong enough to withstand the occasional slamming or even the strong draughts that can blast through a home when the windows are open.

(Design Stage)

After a lot of scribbling, doodling, and two or three filled waste paper bins (Sorry Eco friends) I finally came up with this design.

I drove over to the client and went through some glass samples with them, to decide which would suit best and this also gave me a chance to test the glass samples for light sources etc. Once we had agreed on these I basically got on with the cutting and to finally decide on the sunrise – As you can see in the following pictures, the sunrise that we went with, does not match the original pattern.

(Glass cutting stage)

I began by working on the trees. The paintings that gave me my theme had trees in them that were more characteristic designs that fine art and I used this in my own pattern. Using different shades of textured glass I was able to show light and shadow to some extent, giving the feeling of depth, as you would find in a natural environment. Having the trees clustered also gave me a design which added strength to the windows structure, which is very important.

(Adding the landscape)

Once I had tackled the trees and was happy with the result, I got to work on the landscape, again thinking about how best I could give it a natural feel, with shading and depth. I did add a sample piece for the sunrise but this was just as an aid as I was already working on another solution to this area.

(Glass Cutting – Including Sun)

Finally , I decided on the best sun design and went for this one as it radiates better from a smaller globe. This was really the first time that the pattern came to life and  I felt that I could now get on with the actual construction.

The main detailed areas of the piece were constructed using the copper foil method, often associated with Tiffany’s lamps. As this was for a window and needed to be strong and stable I use a very wide copper foil, almost like ribbon, so that once I had wrapped the glass it gave a good thickness to solder onto. This, with some added copper wire set into the valleys helped make everything secure. The outside of the window was fully leaded, using the more traditional methods and to this I added cement in the normal way. This means that if ever the client wishes to removed the window and place it elsewhere, ie a house move, then it will come out in one stable and secure piece.

Gradually working across the piece, I wrapped all of the pieces of glass in copper.

With the copper foiling finished, I set on with soldering the pieces together.

All done – soldered and leaded and finished off with a copper patina – This does not show very well in the pic but gives the solder work a rustic but still very slightly shiny look. Roll on next friday when I get to install it in its new home…

www.ukhandmade.blogspot.com/2010/04/meet-steve-sheppard-of-cherished.html

Once in a while something catches your eye in a shop or suppliers that you simply can’t leave behind. Well this piece of glass is a fine example of that. A one of a kind , expensive and utterly unique sheet. I had no idea why at the time but found myself packing it into the car and bringing it home. 

A year later and I still had no project for it,  that I felt paid it the credit it deserved. It has so much going on in the pattern that just left as it was, would have been enough to pay credit to its beauty. If I’m honest, I was probably more worried about ruining a beautiful piece of glass and that’s why it sat there, occasionally muttering to me to be used for something….

I am a member of the IndieJunction community.  An online bunch of fantastic and very creative people from all over the world. As I was not finding any answers for a use of the glass I put it on the forum, to see what feedback or ideas they may come up with. (Maybe I was looking for the backing of others to give me the confidence to tackle it)

Here are some of the comments….

“You know it’s a sunrise over the ocean – you know that right? A bright blazing sun………..”

“Im not sure what it is but those colours are bloody gorgeous, It looks like a vase to me. But then also maybe an avant garde lamp, circa 1959″

“Oh wow the colors are beautiful. I agree,  this would be a gorgeous vase.”

“Pardon me, but it’s a Gothic window you can hang in your big Bay window. It’s classic Gothic shaped with the high arch at the top. Steve it’s so awesome,  cut it into intricate pieces, but keep the brilliant Bright Orange yellow for the top of the arch, as the sun streams through it, one feels an overwhelming feeling of positive energy and warmth.”

I have to say I was tempted with the Gothic Window idea as they really do drive a passion in me but The Vase thoughts seemed to be a good track to follow. I knew whatever I did had to be about the glass and not something with too much intricacy in the design, so cutting it up too much was a bad route.

This is how I reached the flat pannel idea – It is the best way to present the glass in large sections and how I felt would best show off what was going on within the glass. But this then threw up another question – “Which side of the glass to use?”

One side was bright and vibrant, as in the picture above, but when i turned the piece over I got a totally different image. One that was more uniform and with a finer pattern and lots of texture. On top of this I dont think ive ever been so worried about cutting a piece of glass – One mistake with the cutter or too much pressure and I could have easily broken the whole sheet.

Luckily, this didnt happen and I managed to find four sections from the overall sheet. Those with the best patterns rather than just cutting from four areas next to each other. Still undecided about which side to use, “Ok”, I thought, “ Back to IndieJunction and see what they think”, so I posted the two pics below to the site and asked for votes on it…

Original View

Second View

It didn’t take long to get a decision and the resounding result was for the second view, as it had more of a flowing image in the pattern, and one that would work well around a vase.  So I went with that. Switched on the soldering Iron and got to work on it. I wanted the solderwork to follow the rippled effects in the glass rather than trying to get a smooth line and added the solder in drips, so that I got this effect. Then, rather than leaving the solder shiny, which did look great, I decided to use a copper patina to finish it off. Its not too dark and still allows for a little shine to come through from the metal, highlighting the ripples.

Well here it is – The finished piece ..,

Oh and to finish it off,,,Just add flowers!!

And a last note: “A huge thank you to my friends on IndieJunction, who gave me their time and helped so much with this project!”

“PIECE NOW SOLD    !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

If you fancy a brief bash of history have a look at this piece on my main website
Click on the window…