Dynamo Minsk for Jay

Hey Jay,

Check this out, I will see you at BNI tomorrow morning!!!

Arts and Crafts Blind for Warren and Chris final layout

Hello Warren and Chris,

Here is a video of the final layout proposal. If you want to make any changes, just let me know, but I think this is just right.

I can't wait to get started!!

Maureen's Project: etching the glass

Hello Maureen,

Here is the first step in your project: choosing and etching the glass for the vine leaves...

Hello Maureen,

Here is a video of how the leaves are cut...

Hi Maureen,

here is a video of the assembly of the vine leaves, and a quick look at how they are soldered...

Maureen's Project: Preliminary Layout of Panels

Hello Maureen,

Here is a preliminary layout for the corner pieces. I have adjusted the outside Wine border to reflect a better frame for the new interior of vine leaves. Let me know if this works for you and I will do the cutting of the glass to size and do a near final proposal layout for you and get that off. I think it looks beautiful and can't make up my mind between green leaves and no green leaves...

Arts and Crafts Blind for Warren and Chris

Hi Warren and Chris,

Posting a preliminary layout of the blind along with a brief video. I want to foil everything and lay it out again, so please think of this as a concept for colours and we can make changes as we go before soldering. Also please excuse the blurry video..camera focus problems (wacking it on the table seems to help but doesn't seem quite the right thing to do to a camera!) (yikes). Also I see in the video that the very middle of the panel has green blue/ blue green...good thing this is just a layout...would have noticed eventually...so please disregard THAT!!! So, we are on our way, and I will get a new video off to you for new layout possibilities. Please feel free to comment here and let me know any of your preliminary feelings...this is a great forum to define what you like and what you want to change.

Talk to you soon,

Warm regards, Christie

sepia Sidelights for Dwight and Arvella: colours to etch

Hello Dwight and Arvella,

Here are the colours we are working with, and I found some new beautiful shades for us to include in the panels. Please watch the next video, as it has the process of the copper templates and how I create the designs on the glass.

Let me know what you think, and I will go on to the next step of layout for you..

talk to you soon..

Sepia Sidelights for Dwight and Arvella: copper templates

Hello Dwight and Arvella,

Posted here for you is the process of creating the copper templates for the glass we are using in your sidelights. This is the final phase of getting the glass ready to cut and lay out for you. I will send you a video of the layout next.

Warm regards, Christie

Rose Corner Pieces for Maureen

Hello Maureen,

I have sent the sample set of glass for you to have and see how the colours fit at home. The colours are in "cells", and you should feel free to take the cells out of the book and tape them to the window, and add and subtract colours as you wish. This will give you a better idea of the colours as they change during the day.

All the colours are labled, and I have included a couple of choices for you.

I think I have just enough of the Medium Wine H20 for the corner pieces, but wanted to give you a sample of the "new" Medium Wine H2O to see. I also put a sample of another glass in: Wine English Muffle. Look at these colours as a first, second and third choice. You may even like the other two colours better.

Also included are samples of finished leaves along with some of the frosted colours I supplement with. If you feel the need for other colours, any blues or ambers, just let me know.

The bevel sample for the leaves will give you a good idea of the colour, and it is really beautiful with the clear bevels.

Also, just for reference I put one of the straight line bevels in the back of the book.

I did have a chance to talk to Edel, and she said she had the set in the shop (center piece included) for $1200.00 (the center piece in the shop has been sold, so I am really glad both you and I took photos for general layout and shape). I think the only difference in price would be the leaves for the corner pieces which would be $10.00 each. If we use 6 or 7 per side (we want to keep it subtle, there are enough leaves in the centerpiece) that would add an aditional $140.00 to the pair. I would not use the globs (which are in the original pair) along with the leaves as I think that would really be over kill.

I did not include the German Hand Pressed Gems as I have some on order and will propose them to you as we continue. I think maybe some squares in the corners of the corners of the corners (if you know what I mean!!).

So look everything over, and please keep the sample book until we are ready to finish the project, as this will help you to help me keep the colours in balance.

You may wish to keep some of the colours, and if so the prices are on the bill of lading.

Please call or email with any questions and I will get started as soon as you have made some choices.

Talk to you soon and have fun!!

Warm Regards, Christie

Corner Border ideas for Maureen

Hello Maureen,

Well, I have combed all my sources and I am sending you off the colours that are available for the wine border. I have a very particular eye, and want you to have the colour that will work best. So I am going to get these off to you tomorrow morning.

In the mean time:

Yes the bevels in general are clear, but the green leaves you see in the video are beveled, and the only coloured ones I use (they are so beautiful!!). We could certainly use the green leaves in the corner pieces and in the center piece, as that would bring them together as a set.

Do you want the centerpiece that is in Edel's? or do you want me to start from scratch. I could give you the corner piece there for her shop price...a custom one would be more, I will outline this later.

I am going to send you a small square that I sometimes use instead of bevels, called German Hand Pressed Jewels. They come in limited colours, but are very pretty. I usually use them as corner colour within a beveled border...see what you think and all this will come clear during the layout process.

We can also add small tiny circular GHPJ to the wire work and leaves if you wish...also layout decisions.

I am assuming from your letter that you like the border setup in the photo you took, except for the tapered edges you want to use. I had two examples for you, a three border window and a two border window. In your description of what you preferred I have this:

1. Outside border with beveled glass (this would need to be a square ended border as in the photo)

2. Secondary border with confetti

3. Third border with wine.

Did you want to have outside beveled and inside a mix of wine and confetti? I have two schools of thought: Keep the dark border on the outside and "frame" the panels, or do what you have described and make the panels very light and airy.

I decided to post ideas here for you, so take a look and we will go from here.

They are about to fix the internet so I have to go!!

illumination inserts

Hi Loretta, Here is a quick video of the Illumination...home stretch!!!

Hello Susan and Joe,

Here is a video of the cutting and layout of one of the panels. I wanted to really do these videos as more of a documentary of your illumination. You do not have to write me back..and thank you for all the kind words, by the way, but these are really about the construction of the lamp and not about me. This will be the last one, as I want the rest to be a surprize.

Talk to you soon, Christie

Hello Maureen,

I thought I would respond to you in a video, as all the questions you asked were great, as were the ideas you had. Please watch this at your leisure, and when you get a chance please send me your address, and I will get colour samples off to you.

I look forward to hearing from you and getting your feedback. I can't wait to get started, and let me know if there are any questions you have or I have left unanswered.

Warm Regards, Christie

Hello Joe and Susan,

here is a quick video of the leaf process, I have a great variety of colours that I think will work with the objectives we want: Illumination of Loretta's artwork with minimal dark tones transferred onto the painting. I can't wait to start working with the background and sky, finessing the glass is my favorite part!

Talk to you soon and thank you for your patience..Warm regards, Christie

Hi Susan and Joe again,

In keeping with being a posting dynamo, I figured I should post the still photo here also. I hope all this helps and in this post I actually posted a photo with the colours at the bottom of the structure with the vellum in place...looks great so far!

Hello there Dwight and Arvella,

Here are two photos of the very very rough layout of one of the panels we are working on. I have put a piece of white paper down with the mullions delineated, and the piece of paper is as long as the top 4 panels on your window.

The first photo is the non distracting photo of just the panel, and the other photo is a photo of the work area with all the colour samples I am working with. Please note: the colours are going to appear darker as they are on a white table which always reflects back the colour of the glass. But this is the only way to give you a modicum of translucency, and we are really talking about colour "ratio" as opposed to colour density. If you would like, I have no problem sending you samples of what you see here: for instance, I am using a beautiful emerald green, true green and pale green, but you might want a really pretty bright green also.

I do tend to use all the tones of a colour, for instance: there is no teal green or pea green in this one, just true green colours, just to keep the panel from being too monochromatic. We are working with: blue, green, smoke, amber and tan, but I am using 2 tans, 4 blues, 4 greens and 4 ambers (example only) and I really like how this accentuates each colour without being too overt.

I have also added a little design aspect to this: I really think filling the 3 center panels is a great idea (we really don't need this panel all the way to the bottom) BUT: I think I should put a little "square" (hanging on the diamond) at the top. This will finish off the area nicely and at the same time top off the panel. The square you are looking at here is just an example (for instance, we might choose to do one or two colours and make it a very dramatic design element) and is about 5" x 5"...really just to fill the top rectangle a little bit. The long panel would hang from this and I will get you my ideas on that when I know this is OK with you.

So, let me know what you think so far, and note again this is a rough layout. I will be laying out both panels at the same time for continuity, so this will change the final layout. I may also want to cut some more of certain colours, and you may say: mostly tan and gold with blue and green highlights, please. Not a problem, but giving you a visual is the first step in getting us to where we want to be.

After we decide on colour ratio, or additional colours, I will set up the panels closer to a final layout and then send you a photo and we can do a little editing. I think you will see that I take time and carefully create a beautiful image using colours people recommend, and sometimes over editing can throw a panels off. For your comfort level in letting me use my best judgement with colours, I will certainly send you a "pre-soldering" photo for any last minute changes, just in case I have missed something during layout. We always say three sets of eyes (in this case 4) are so much better, and keeps one set from getting tunnel vision.

If you have any questions please let me know.

Talk to you soon, Christie

Video #2: design process for dome illumination

Hello Susan and Joe,

Here is Video #2, covering design process and eureka moments...Let me know what you think.

Video #1: Making the Mold for Joe and Susan's Illumination

Dear Sue and Joe,

This video is about the first step in my part of the process for your "illumination". This is Video #1, the next video is for the design process. I hope you like this, I really like to do documentaries of my commission work, hopefully I am problem solving for other artists and can share my progress and process. Have fun with this!!

Amber and Grey Sampler for Dwight and Arvella

Dear Dwight and Arvella,

It was so nice to speak with you day before yesterday, and I rushed right down to get the sampler from Edel, and a good thing as she said someone was looking at it...

Here are some photos, and the colours are true (the close ups have some back reflected colour) so I hope this gives you a chance to see the panel in your home and make some decisions there. The measurements of this particular sampler are: 27 x 4.25. I think this is a great size for your sidelights, but check with a paper cutout just to make sure.

I also included a photo with a nice detail of the etching.

I will wait to hear from you about the size before I do any wire layout for you (I will probably just do it on this piece and experiment and photo for you). I am noodling around the best way to incorporate the wire as we discussed, as we want it to be a compliment to the window and not just for the sake of adding wire. I think the idea of adding it to hang the window and at the bottom might be a good start.

Edel also mentioned that if it is all right with you, she would like me to do your corner pieces and "connector" as she doesn't work with these colour tones and thinks the overall look would be better with one artist. I will make a presentation to you as we move along if that works for you.

Following this post are photos of corner pieces and connector I did for someone, along with corner pieces in use in a kitchen. I hope this helps explain the nature of how a connector can really add to a corner pair without overwhelming a window. I like to keep it simple and elegant, and my motto is less is more.

I look forward to hearing from you, and please feel free to ask questions and post here.

Talk to you soon (I might even do a little video of the process and that is always fun!!)

Warm regards, Christie

Hello Dwight and Arvella,

Here are some photos of connectors and how they work. Please note that the concept is to make a framed connector to associate with the corresponding corners by adding complimentary work off set in the center, just enough to have the connector compliment the corners but not be overwhelming. I like to think of this as an accent piece. I hope this helps describe how they hang and what a nice "space filling" addition to the corner pieces they are.

Again if you have questions please post here if you like, and I will talk to you soon!!

Thanks again, Christie

Chimera Special for Joe Videos 1 and 2

Hello there Joe,

Here are the videos in order, have fun watching them, and when you get to the bottom of the page, please hit the button that says "older posts" to continue. They may not show the whole series on this page but will on the next pages...please feel free to comment right at the bottom of each post using the "comment"button....talk to you soon, Christie

Chimera Special for Joe Videos 3, 4, and 5

# 3, 4, and 5....

Hey there Joe, here are 6, 7, and 8.

Hello Brian,

It was a pleasure to meet you at the Thursday Nauset BNI meeting. I wanted to post here for you the evolution of a concept to a finished installed panel. These are the Minton windows, and we had a great time working on these together. Please feel free to view older posts, and also Face Book Gallery for ideas, sizes and prices. If you have questions or would like to talk to me about concepts for the bathroom you are doing, just give a call.

Mandala Windows for the Minton's