Monday, February 18, 2013

The Art of Stained Glass

by Nancy of DesignsStainedGlass

I have always admired the beauty of stained glass, the beautiful colors, and the wonderful textures. I never thought it was something that I could make in my own home. I’d like to share with you some of the steps that are involved in making a simple stained glass panel.

First you need to start with a pattern. There are many available on-line, at the library, or if you are feeling creative you can design your own pattern.

Once you find the pattern that you would like to use, the next step is to purchase the glass. Glass is sold by the square foot or by the pound. Choose the colors and textures that you like and you feel will complement each other in the pattern you are working with.

For most patterns you will need two copies – one you will use to trace your pieces on the glass and the other will be for placement. I number each piece in the pattern which makes it easier to identify each one after they have been cut.  To transfer the pattern to the glass, if it is transparent, you can lay the glass on top of the pattern and trace it with a special marking pen. If your glass is opaque and you cannot see the pattern through the glass, then you need to cut out your pieces from your second copy of the pattern, place them on top of the glass and trace around the edges. After each piece has been copied onto all the glass it is time to cut.

There are different types of cutting tools. I prefer a brass handled carbide cutter. With this style you place the tip on the glass and pull the cutter towards you. Starting at one end of a drawn line on your glass, position the cutter and pull it towards you. You can hear the scratching cutting noise – this is a good score. Do not go over the line again – only one cut is all you need. The next step will be to use breaking pliers or running pliers to separate the piece from the sheet of glass. Align the pliers with the scored line and carefully pull down on the pliers and the glass will break off. After you have scored and cut all around the lines of one piece it is time to use the glass grinder.

An electric glass grinder has a diamond bit and a tray of water underneath. It pumps water up to a sponge that keeps the glass dust down and the glass cool so it doesn’t break. You need to grind around all of the edges of each piece.  After each piece is done, place it on top of the first copy of the pattern – very much like making a puzzle. You also need to keep your pattern from moving and make sure it is squared. There are squaring bars and pegs to use to secure the pattern on to a work board.

The next step is to apply copper foil onto each piece. I take out one piece at a time and clean it to remove any powder from the grinder. The copper foil comes in various widths, depending on how thick your glass is and how you want your piece to look will depend on what size foil you use. The foil has one smooth side and one sticky side. The sticky side is wrapped around each piece of glass making sure it overhangs each side of the glass equally. Then you use a burnishing tool to smooth and press it against the glass all around the edges, top and bottom. Return that one piece to the work board and repeat this process until each piece of your pattern has been done. You may find that you need to grind a few more pieces in order for them to have a nice tight fit against each other.

Next and most important is the soldering. This is the one step that takes a lot of practice and patience. Using flux, which is a cleaner that prepares the copper foil to accept the solder, apply it with a brush onto the copper foil. With your soldering iron and solder you will join each piece by melting the solder into the joints and on top of all the copper foil. Reapplying the flux, adding more solder to build up a nice smooth line.

Turn your piece over and repeat this process – again this takes a lot of practice to get the back side looking as smooth as the front side.

Framing your piece will be the next step. It can be placed into a window, wood frame, or lead or zinc channel. For most of my panels I use zinc channel.  After measuring and cutting the channel it is soldered into place around the edges of the panel. Hooks and chain for hanging are attached at this time.

Almost done – but it needs to be cleaned. Washing is very important and there are different chemicals that can be used.  Some artists use special glass cleaning solvent others use dish washing liquid. I have a secret for cleaning my panels.  After cleaning and drying the panel, you have a choice to leave the solder lines in their natural silver state, rubbing them with steel wool to give them a pewter look, or apply black or copper patina. This is done with a brush and then washed off.  Apply stained glass wax and buff it until it shines.

Hang it in your favorite window, stand back and enjoy its beauty for many years.

Monday, February 4, 2013

A New Crafting Year -a fresh start , search for improvement or just something new ?



By Sewsouk



My fresh start was 4 years ago when I moved to Morocco. Each New Year is now part of a lifelong journey of textile discovery. My love of sewing and craft took a new twist which helped me to settle in my new home and enabled me to fulfill a dream ,I didn't know I had until it popped into my head, of having my own etsy store sewsouk


Now the Medina- or old city- with its narrow streets full of artisan workshops and small businesses carrying on ancient traditional crafts has become my draw and is surprisingly where I feel most alive. I can still only speak limited Arabic and my French is poor too but the people speak my language- they make things- and the ability to create and craft is a universal language which garners respect and appreciation whatever your origin.

The braid or sfifa  ( in Arabic) suppliers are grouped together with floor to ceiling shelves full of yarn of every hue ,wound on to bamboo spools, sparkling like jewels in the sunlight. Long poles with hooks on are used to pull the spools from the upper shelves- sometimes resulting in bamboo tumbling to the floor or hitting you on the head! Colours are matched, small pieces are spun with hand spinning bobbins to check the colour of cord and braid as the thread is darker when spun. Other customers are consulted for their opinions. Sometimes there are disagreements but everyones’ views are considered.

 I asked my yarn supplier what was his most popular colour- his answer was  a little baffling- the colour I don’t have. Did he mean he never seemed to stock what was popular or that he sold out quickly of popular colours? Or was he tired of checking colours all day? Tailors, their runners and those that sew for themselves all bustle about on their mission to match the 2 or 3 colours in their fabric.

Morocco is one of the few places on the planet where you can design your own braid, cord or trim and have it made in the colourway of your choice- in relatively small quantities – 5 or 10 metres for a minimum order. Some but not all the shops have small machines attached to their premises where they make the braid using techniques that have been used for hundreds of years.  Some are actually braided by hand. Cord is spun in the street- a nail in the wall used as a hook and metres of yarn wound round it and down the street– at head level so watch out!- a tiny gadget then spins  the yarn at high speed before the maker winds it back on the bamboo bobbin. Looms can also still be seen in places where fabric is woven on hand looms often using a mix of threads and yarns.  . These are places in our modern mass produced world which should be treasured but are taken for granted. The options and choices are almost limitless but in many more developed countries it is hard to even find trim let alone have such a wide choice!




Behind closed door s in workshops and homes people work with the yarn to create handmade items for furnishings, celebrations and special occasions and here people still go to their tailor for a new suit, a new djellaba- loose outer garment a cross between a cloak and a coat -or a new party dress- and the tailor creates the vision for the customer- often using techniques and stitching and embroidery that has evolved over hundreds of years-most is still sewn or finished by hand. There are fashions too of which the tailor must keep abreast- my sister in law tells me tiny art silk buttons are old fashioned and bigger ones are now the trend- both use techniques that were used 300 to 400 years ago!

The level of fine hand work would be respected in a Saville Row suit or an haute couture design house – and reflected in the price too!-but somehow here it is taken for granted.

Passementarie – elaborate trimming- is engrained-it’s on furnishings, clothes and everyday objects.  
Moroccans still have a love for the detail and ornate style that the French love so much – Morocco was once a French Protectorate- but Morocco has developed its own textile style incorporating tribal and Arabic designs, shapes and colours too.

The Medina always has a surprise- there is always something new or different-it is a mix of colour, noise and smells. A week or so ago I went to the same street I have been going to for the past few years but turning the corner I was almost bowled over by a strong smell- lavender!  The grinding store which usually grinds grain was grinding lavender and the smell was magnificent! Purchasing my braid and trims that day was a real treat.  



                                                               

Friday, February 1, 2013

Treasury Challenge- TopazTurtle

We decided to introduce a new feature to our Treasury Team Challenges for HHU and Friends of HHU Teams. The new challenge is to choose an item from the chosen  featured shop and build a treasury around it taking inspiration from the featured shop's item.

Since she suggested this great idea we selected TopazTurtle's shop to be the first  to be featured . She has a beautiful shop on etsy selling handmade Australian resin bangles, jewelry and home wares.

The colours of her pieces are so beautiful and very inspirational! We had quite a few entries to the challenge and have chosen 3 to feature here which highlight and compliment the beauty of  the chosen pieces from Topaz' shop.

Before you scroll down to look at the Treasuries please take time to browse TopazTurtle's  shop. It truly is stunning.

Here are the treasuries-


'Chocolate mint' by DesignsStainedGlass

Friends of HHU team treasury challenge featuring Topaz Turtle


Mint Green Resin Bangle...
$41.00

Trebel Clef Music Purse...
$14.95

Ocean Photography - Bir...
$30.00

Milk Chocolate Brown an...
$38.00

Seven Day of the Week M...
$10.00

Mint Circus Tents - Pas...
$28.00

Faux Chocolate Mint Cup...
$45.00

Elegant mint earrings s...
$15.50

SALE soft green art si...
$4.00

Chunky Knit Short Scarf...
$56.00

12 6mm Bicones Chrysoli...
$3.20

Canvas Abstract Paintin...
$230.00

soft neutrals beach dec...
$25.00

Chocolate Mint Cold Pro...
$6.00

Slow Fade, Soft, whimsi...
$8.00

14mm Chocolate Brown Gl...
$1.75




'Sea of Love' by mikwexford

Think warm, sunny beaches and cool refreshing surfs!


Resin bangle bracelet c...
$30.00

Tropical Fish Home Deco...
$47.00

Lisner Feather Brooch P...
$11.99

Bright, Sandy Pacific O...
$20.00

Argyle love heart baby ...
$25.00

Doll Clogs to fit Ameri...
$8.75

Wall Mount Magnet Board...
$43.00

Sea Horse Necklace, Blu...
$12.00

Pima Cotton Spa Mini Fa...
$11.00

Trinket Dish - Jewelry ...
$20.00

Aqua Turquoise Blue Art...
$58.00

Oceania Sea Creature Oc...
$12.00

Royal Bayreuth, Vintage...
$81.00

Tropical Blues hand pri...
$105.00

Green Woven Handmade Po...
$14.90


and another



'Ice Blue' by JeanieBeanHandknits



Square cut resin bangle...
$48.00

forest white pearlescen...
$9.99

PMC Iolite Necklace
$44.00

Ivory Origami Lotus Lan...
$10.50

Vintage Fortecrisa Mexi...
$20.00

Personalized Wedding Th...
$180.00

SALE light monarco blue...
$4.00

Organic Baby Blanket - ...
$25.00

Linen Home decorative p...
$35.00

Vintage French Enamel P...
$46.00

Winter White set of fou...
$40.00

Twinkling pale blue and...
$25.00

Wheel thrown pottery Ya...
$36.00

Winter White - Set of 5...
$4.00

Vintage French Pale Blu...
$22.00

Pine Cone Photo, Dreamy...
$20.00



Please leave a comment in the comment box here on the blog immediately beneath the featured treasuries. We love hearing your views!