Latest Commission on it's way to New Jersey!

The panel was very fun and challenging to create! Thanks Shar! I look forward to working with you again very soon. Here's hoping this charmer makes it to your door safely. With gratitude, Laurie B.

A Black And White Issue

I am starting on a new commission for a client from New Jersey. She saw my original work on Etsy, a panel that is 8 x 12 entitled A Black And White Issue. She requested the same glass, baroque in black and white, but asked that I create the panel with dimensions of 24 x 18. Many times I can take a pattern from a pattern book and resize it via the computer, however, in this case the geometrics of the pattern would not resize due to aspect ratio issues. I decided to completely hand draw the pattern. It is similar to the original in the pattern book but did take some extra work. From there, I had to make a few copies and I have since cut the pattern, laid it on the glass and have 1/2 of the pattern cut and ready to grind. I will be loading pictures as soon as my computer stops acting up but for now, I wanted to let you know what MAGIC is happening at The Looking Glass. Please stop back in in the next day or two and check out the photos with more detailed descriptions of the stained glass process. With Gratitude, Laurie B.

Weekend Getaway

 

photo by Joseph Robert Patrick Beggin copywrite protected

I am back from a wonderful weekend trip with family that I have missed so much. While I was in the midst of it all I reflected on how much life, with all of it's wonderful quirks influences my creative juices, ideas for design and inspiration to continue growing as an artist. I am offically back to work full time this week in my art studio. Enchanting~! With gratitude, Laurie B.

PEACE

Hello friends,

I have been incredibly busy with glass commissions and life in general. I've had some ups and downs the past month but wanted to stop in and let you know that my Dove And Cross has been featured on a wonderful Etsy Treasury at http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list_west.php?room_id=49917

Here are a couple of pictures of the restoration I am working on for a woman in Iowa. She sent this lamp, well over 100 years old, to me via UPS and I was able to find glass to match. It's a tricky job as I've had to cut and clean up the solder joints prior to re-installing the glass. Deconstruction of stained glass work is always tougher than construction. As simple as this job seemed at first, it has proven to be quite the challenge. I continue to think of my blogging friends every day. With gratitude, Laurie B.

Anniversary Rose that will last!

 

This VERY special husband ordered his wife an Anniversary Rose Panel that will last forever! He was a joy to work with and is a wonderful woodworker too! He plans to frame this panel I created so we both had a hand in creating this special anniversary gift for his deserving wife. His sweet daughter also had a hand in the surprise. I met her in Decatur, Illinois and handed the gift off to her. From there she took it to her dad who patiently waited until their Anniversary date arrived. Congratulations to Deb and Bill!!! May you have many more decades of love to celebrate. Thank you for allowing me to contribute by creating this custom panel for you. With gratitude, Laurie B.  and as always:

THANK YOU FOR BUYING HANDMADE!

Completion of my first Hyde Park design

Good Morning friends! I have completed my first Hyde Park design and whew it was a challenge! I am very pleased with it's completion and am very happy with all of my glass choices. I used English Muffle for it's highly reflective quality. I searched and searched for a piece of special glass for the vase and I think the effort really paid off.

I will be listing this piece on Esty. I hate to part with it but it is lovely and I would love to share it with someone.

Today I have a completely free day to work in my studio on my next piece! I have started digging in; creating some items for the speaking engagement I have in April. Hope everyone is doing well. Winter is almost behind us! With gratitude, Laurie B.

DOVE AND CROSS

Good Morning friends, I'm still putting the finishing touches (patina) on my Dove And Cross panel, however, I snapped a couple of pictures this morning and wanted to share it on my blog. Onward and upward to my Hyde Park panel. Here's hoping your day is Blest! With Gratitude, Laurie B.

My Art has been featured in a couple of Etsy Treasuries

Please take a look at this lovely Etsy Treasury that Tamilyn created. If you hover over this blog post title and click it will take you to the Treasury.  She featured my Rose colored Mini Transom! Thanks so much! With gratitude, Laurie B.

Whirlwind

Good Morning Friends!

I have been wickedly busy. I was going to launch into all of the details of what I've been up to but decided that since it is Thousand Word Thursday I would let the pictures talk for me. My grand daughter is such a blessing and a joy, my Hyde Park Panel is "on my last nerve" the Dove and Cross piece is ready to be soldered at this point and last but in NO way least, we have a new addition to our family. I would like to introduce Sebastian. I have his schedule established and all is right with the world again. Word of advice....if you are thinking of getting a new puppy...WAIT UNTIL SPRING. I have never stood outside in the f r e e z i n g cold for so long in my entire life~ lol

With gratitude, Laurie B.

AS LUCK WOULD HAVE IT...

oooohhh....aaahhhhh......I can hear you!
One of my favorite sites to visit on a regular basis is http://pinkpigwestport.com/
The Pink Pig held a Christmas Tree photo contest recently and I submitted a few pictures and crossed my fingers. As luck would have it I won! And boy-oh-boy did I win! I was awarded a $100.00 gift certificate! I surfed to the Pink Pig site so fast it would make your head spin. I chose the enchanting painted sign shown above. It is perfect for The Olde Farmhouse and is hanging proudly in my dining room. I LOVE LOVE LOVE the Pink Pig! The well-balanced mix of antiques, furniture, signs, candles, and all sorts of home decor items makes it a fun site to visit regularly. It's wonderful eye candy and some high quality pieces! Go visit the Pink Pig! I'm certain you will find something you simply can't live without. The blog is also filled with wonderful writing, photos and more! http://www.pinkpigwestport.com/

Faith Smiled At Destiny

I

first heard this song the day my niece Tendai was born. Although she isn't pictured here the song keeps her close to my heart) The year in review is such an amazing journey for me to take. I hit some real benchmarks with my business, tackled some serious health issues, rekindle so many friendships from (gulp) 30 years ago by embracing Facebook, and had both my sons married within 6 weeks of each other! The gabmit of emotions ran from fear to pure joy. Being a human on the face of this earth can be such a challenge. The political climate was a tough one for me and drove me inward towards my art. Some burdens were lifted while new ones took their places. I continue to reflect most days on my blessings, enjoying small wonders and celebrating even the hardest moments this life hands me. I tried my best to honor the past, and live in the present and create the future. Did I stumble and fall, of course, but I told myself that at least I fell. That means I'm moving forward. I remind myself that as with anything in nature, when we stop growing, we die. So my friends, here's to continued growth! With gratitude, Laurie B

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Hello friends!

I am sending out best wishes for a happy and healthy Christmas and New Years! This year has been filled with many blessings for myself and my family and we are filled with gratitude! Laurie B. (newest completed lampshade photo above)

Prudence gets her first Christmas Tree

Angels Among Us 2 and Gold Van Gogh Cross

Here are a couple of new listings to my inventory on Etsy..and yes, that is the SAME cross in different lighting...The Gold Van Gogh Glass ROCKS! With Gratitude, Laurie B.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Photo by laurie beggin Happy Thanks and Giving to all of you who celebrate this holiday. From the Olde Farmhouse to yours, may this be a warm time for you filled with love and laughter with friends and family. With gratitude, Laurie B.

My Turnip Review is in!

CMF has finished their review and published it at http://cmfads.com/2008/11/21/review-step-through-the-looking-glass/ Needless to say, I've been holding my breath for the last 24 hours! Please visit. Thank you Turnip! Your blogging resources can't be beat. This concept is a good one. Changing Marketing Forever (CMF) With Gratitude, Laurie B.

Hyde Park Project Stage Three

Here are two pictures of the process of cutting each pattern piece to size prior to grinding. One photo shows the scoring process. I routinely use a green running pliers for all straight cuts and use the grosing pliers (shown in photo two) to make the breaks on any scores that are not straight. The deeper the cut, the more chance there is of an unintentional fracture. Deeper cuts take several narrower scores and nipping of the glass in several stages. My next post will show the pieces all cut down to size and ready for the grinding process. With gratitude, Laurie B.

HYDE PARK PROJECT

Hello friends, I've started on my Hyde Park panel (finished example shown in a prior post) and wanted to share the first couple of steps with you. I chose the various colors of English Muffle glass and purchased the individual sheets. I then took the pattern and cut each piece out and affixed it to the appropriate color of glass. This picture shows the glass panes cut down to a size that is easier to handle when cutting each individual piece. The goal is to position the pieces so as to have as little glass waste as possible while allowing the artist to make the cut as easily as possible. Remember that glass only WANTS to break in a straight line. I'll be cutting each of these individual pieces out tomorrow and then will start on the grinding process. I'll share a few photos of those steps in the days ahead. With gratitude, Laurie B.

HYDE PARK WINDOWS

Image from Marick Studio Patterns Hyde Park became a Royal Park in 1536 when the land was acquired by King Henry VIII. To this day, the name Hyde Park has been associated with elegance, style and grace. In London, New York, Chicago and many more places, majestic homes of affluence designed with stained glass accents are considered masterpieces of beauty and grace. These style have a timeless quality and are just as comfortable at the beginning of the last century as they are at the beginning of this one. (excerpt from Marick studios patterns) I recently started on my first Hyde Park design (shown above) and am excited to get the grinding process done~I'll be sharing each step of the process with you. Enjoy. With gratitude, Laurie B.

MY EARLIEST MEMORY OF STAINED GLASS

I walked passed these two homes every day from kindergarten through fourth grade. I will post their photos here along with their history. Early childhood memories really do shape our path if we listen! I loved these homes when I was young and I still do today. Give me a barrel, shovel and stucco....I'm there!

I hope Freeport, IL will take care of these homes and preserve them for history. The photos simply don't do them justice. They shimmer in the sun and create visual magic!

Here is an excerpt from the site listed below describing the houses. Thank you to Bob Beggin and Dave E. for sending me the site! With gratitude, Laurie B.

http://www.bibleplants.com/freeport2006.htm

...Freeport's glass houses, pictured both above share Beaver as a side street and are on the corners of Avon and Elk, near each other. F. A. Schulz had large flower gardens on land near these houses. He sold flowers to Chicago, and at one time had a grocery store in downtown Freeport. In about 1930 he started building these houses. His son said he made some of the glass decorations from the windshields of Model Ts and broken glass from the W. T. Rawleigh factory and S. S. Kresge's 5 & 10 Cent Store (later known as Kmart). Schulz crushed glass inside wooden barrels and used shovels to throw broken glass and rocks into wet cement and stucco. His kids and grandkids also remember not being so fond of the houses because he would sometimes steal some of their things (even toys and kitchenware) and embed them in his grotto or in one of the houses.