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Welcome to July!
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I am sat writing this tonight whilst looking out on rather a lot of rain. Not quite sure if I should be writing a July newsletter or a January one! But anyway here we are, and oh boy the news from the studio this month!
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What's been happening in the studio?
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Normally I share lots of photos of newly finished stained glass work each month, and whilst I have a few pieces to show you, the big news is the studio itself.
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Let’s start with a before photo of the studio... a quite serviceable space, but after almost 6 years it’s looking a little tired and in need of a spring clean.
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Saturday June 18th dawned early, but far from bright, rain was threatening, the kids were crazy, however it was the only fully free day. Mr Poppy glass and I set a gazebo up on the decking outside of the studio and proceeded to empty the entire space. The kids opted to stay indoors and create some cardboard masterpieces, and we got to work with paint brushes!
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The beautiful custom built central workbench ( made by the very talented B Wellstead Property Maintenance) was far too heavy to move out of the studio, so it was actually a blessing in disguise that I had opted to save money by buying the flooring as two off cuts rather than one whole piece (Mr Poppy Glass was initially not in agreement on this matter). One side of the studio painted, new flooring installed and workbench moved over, then onto the other. We finally finished putting everything back away, at around 12.30am!
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What else has been happening? I’ve been the other side of the table so to speak, on a glass painting workshop with Creative glass guild in Bristol. Aside from the somewhat embarrassing part of being recognised (and not by the lovely staff at Creative who know me far far too well) it was an incredible day. I exploring mixing paint, working with a variety of tools, including paint brushes but also porcupine quills and light boxes.
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I have held off in sharing the finished work as it needed to be fired in a kiln and posted out to all the students, which means newsletter subscribers are getting an exclusive. 3 different pieces completed, and it’s safe to say that a kiln could very well be ok my Christmas and birthday list this year.
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In the studio itself I am busy working on the main piece for the Tyndale Arts show I will be part of at the beginning of October. I am keeping it under wraps until the show itself, but a small part is discussed further on in the newsletter.
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Away from this we do still have the very popular suncatcher scheme. Now past the halfway mark for 2022, I won’t go over the rules again, this months design is shown below, and could be the perfect teacher gift if you order quickly.
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Looking forward
July is already looking very busy. The regular classes are all fully booked with a waiting list currently, however people are snapping up the one-to-one studio sessions, and the one day workshops where we can fit them in.
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I have two craft fairs I will be appearing at this month, then I won’t be anywhere until October. (I am taking a break from all classes and craft fairs for August)
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My bookings for commissions now takes me to the end of September, so if you have been pondering that Christmas gift, now really is the time to get in touch and get added to the list to avoid missing out.
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Dates for the diary
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July 2nd - Dursley craft fair, 9.30am
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July 16th - Hatherells yard, Chipping Sodbury 10.00am
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October 1st and 2nd - Tyndale Arts trail
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October 2nd - Dursley craft fair 9.30am
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These have been in the back catalogue for some time, but it is always an hour to do a piece such as these. Any colour of paw, and with the option of a hook should you want to hang a tag.
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Rainbows are always a good choice when you want to really show off the sunlight coming in the window, and what better way to thank the teacher who has given so much to help your offspring? Snap them up fast, end of term is just around the corner.
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If window space is at a premium, these lovely stylish designs would look perfect on a shelf or table.
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Working with glass top tip
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Making that piece of glass fit when working with lead can sometimes be a huge challenge. I encountered just such a challenge whilst trying to get the blue glass to nestle within the green here.
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If copper foiling I could simply slot the piece down into the gap, however lead doesn’t work like that. Lead, if looked at end on, looks like a capital I, with the glass held in place by the top and bottom horizontal bits of lead. Therefore to fit the blue into place I first made the lead came fit around the inside curve of the green. I then cut and pried the hidden side of the lead away from position to allow the blue glass to ease into place before using a fid to push the lead back into hold it all together. Once the joints are soldered this won’t be visible at all.
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So now I bid you farewell for the month, those crossed fingers back in June clearly worked, let’s see if fingers crossed once more brings a newsletter for August!
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Poppy Glass Studio, July 2022
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