I spent last weekend at The Vinery in Madison, for the Intensive Stained Glass Class, spent both Saturday & Sunday all day from 9 in the morning in class.  Denny himself taught the class, which was great!  He has well over 30 years experience, and was so informative.   I’ve been wanting to buy a circle/strip cutter (for glass) but with the different choices on the market, and never using one, I didn’t know what to buy.  Denny brought out different ones, and I was able to ‘try them out’!  He explained them, and helped me make a desicion.  I also learned a few new tips and tricks to use back in the workshop.
Everyone worked diligently all day, so we could get our projects finished by the end of Sunday.
I had all my glass cut and fitted for the panel I was making, then  sat in my hotel room Saturday night copper foiling all of the pieces getting ready for solder work on Sunday back in class bright and early at 9a.m. again.
Everything went well, I put the frame on, then washed the panel, (to remove flux residue) and patina/wax in the end.  While I was waiting for the wax to dry before buffing it off, of course we all had time to do a bit of shopping out in front of the studio where the store part is.  We all had the store to ourselves because they are closed on Sundays, woo hoo!   
Here are a few pictures of what I made in class, hope you enjoy it as much as I do!  It now hangs in our front window, and gets the afternoon sunlight.  Love those colors!!!!       

Showing some of the detail,…. this is one of my entries for the 8 Counties Exhibition, through the JMKA Center here in town.

We did 2 photo shoots of my panel, both outdoors and in the rec. room, trying to show the true color of the glass, which always proves to be difficult.  I went in to the Art Center in person and dropped off my packet with photo CD, and application.  I was a bit nervous handing it over!     ;D    Thinking ‘this is it!’
The Art Center will take the month of November for the jurying process, deadline was 4p.m. yesterday (the 30th of October).  I had to also submit a self-addressed stamped envelope for them to send back my CD which contained my photos, so when they are finished they return it, and also the letter telling me their decision, if my work got accepted or denied for the 2010 exhibition called 8 Counties.  Not sure how many entries they expect, but the competition I am sure will be steep, considering this covers a 8 county spread of people eligible to enter.
This is exciting just the fact that I entered some of my work for something so BIG!  This exhibition only comes around once every 3 years.
Fingers crossed!  now I wait…………….

Here is my BIG project now finished…..whew.  All my pictures, and application form have now been turned in to the Art Center

  This is what 6 3/4 hours of soldering looks like!  Yikes!  I managed to spend the day in the workshop, only taking a few brief breaks.  About 1 1/2 lbs. of solder stuck into this thus far. ( Keeping track of time spent soldering and amount of solder used out of curiosity) 
  At least this was the bulk of the work front and back finished now.  Working the area with the glass globs was the most time consuming, and that really ate up the solder there!
  I have glass cut for the top 2 corners that will be put into place above the brass rod, then the top section of the frame will be soldered into place.  That piece of zinc is all fitted and cut ready to go.  Then soldering in the fittings for hanging.
  After that the finishing touches, apply patina to all soldered areas to darken them, polish the zinc, and apply wax.  Buff everything until it has a beautiful shine,…………wallah!  THEN I will be done.  So plenty more work to do.
  Keep checking back on my progress……….

I bent and hammered these brass/copper wires ready for solder work to be done.  Where ever these wires touch a seam they will be attached.  I am getting anxious to get this put together and get it off the workboard, to get some light thru the glass.  That will change how everything looks again!……………  

I’ve cut more of the pieces for the panel, they are now fitted and copper foiled getting so much closer to the soldering stage.  The glass globs are in order, and ‘what you see is what you get’…..lol  The bottom section is now finished, as far as the glass pieces are concerned.  I need to finish the top area that will contain a chunky thick glass doughnut, in an arch within the frame with a heavy brass rod.  I bent the brass rod in my came bender, to assure a nice even curve.  Getting it fitted properly and cutting it at the right length, that too will be soldered into place.  Next photos to follow will be the arch area, and the top of the panel.  So stay tuned for updates!   

Here are a few pictures of the big project, this can and probably will have a few changes, and be tweeked here and there before solder work will begin.  Love that impressive piece of drapery glass!  This is a beautiful piece of glass……..wouldn’t you agree?  I plan on adding some hammered flattened copper and brass wire yet, so this is not by far what the end result will be.
 

  I won’t be at the art market anymore this season.  Broken canopy, I am diligently working on a BIG project for a exhibition that is due by the end of October, and a few prior stained glass commitments………plus going to work full time in between.  Just not enough hours in a day. 
  It’s been a great season, and hope everyone has enjoyed it as much as I have!  Thanks to everyone      
  Keep checking back on here, for current posts/pictures of what I’ve been up to and what’s happening in the workshop. 
  Be great to hear your comments too!  

  It was a beautiful morning for the market, on our drive out the ground fog was so impressive, coming over the hill right before Road America on Hwy. 67  off in the distance only the tops of trees were poking out of the fog.  Awesome and a bit of a eerie feel to it, would make for a pretty neat painting.
  We set-up and this week our canopy frame broke….    good thing we only were due light winds for the day.   Another vendor gave us a velcro strap to use as a band-aid on the broken cross piece for the day. 
  The crowd started turning up earlier than usual,  the wasps had to make an appearance and were a minor nuisance, the sun was out and things were getting busy.  It was a nice day, great to have everyone turn out, and do a bit of veggie/flower shopping, and thanks to everyone who stopped to browse and buy stained glass at my canopy!  Bet none of you knew our frame was broke!  LOL