Tag: WIP

The MK Panel: Installed!

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Last time, we reported, happily, that the MK Panel had been assembled. In the time since, we’ve gotten it sandwiched between two sheets of Lexan (for superior resistance to damage from the elements and the occasional kicked-up rock), framed (using a rough cedar), and installed!

In situ, obverse
In situ, reverse
In situ, in detail
Photos by Kevin Elliott

Every indication we have is that the client is happy about the work we did–and we’re pretty pleased with it, ourselves! We’ve got every expectation that the piece will stand up to what the Hill Country might throw at it–and if it looks like something’s coming in that might put that to the test, or if the panel needs a good cleaning, it’ll unhook from its housing with ease!

Now, with the MK Panel done and in place, we turn to other projects. Perhaps one of them might be yours? If you’d like that to be the case, give us a call at 830-890-1509, or message us through the form below!

And, for your writing needs, get in touch with Elliott RWI!

The MK Panel: Progress Made

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The process of putting together the MK Panel has progressed since last week. Where we left off, Kevin had cut all of the pieces of glass and done something of a dry-fit to ensure that they would all lie together as planned. The next step was to fit the came–the metal channels that hold the glass in place–to the panel, work on which is shown below.

Came-laying in progress.
A detail of the came-laying at work.
More of the progress.
And here, came in place and ready to trim, solder, and putty.
Photos by Kevin Elliott

The panel is surrounded by a zinc came, a harder metal that adds significant strength to the panel’s structure. Within the panel, a lead u-channel is used to allow the glass to settle in on both sides of the lead. We stretch the lead before applying it, narrowing and straightening the channels and making the ductile metal even easier to work with. And that flexibility matters; it allows for the window to shift ever so slightly against changes in temperature, without which the glass might well break under the strain of being in the Hill Country sun. We don’t want that to happen, of course; we stand by our products, so we make sure we make them right!

If you like what you see and would like to see it for yourself, please, give us a call at 830-890-1509, or message us via our “Contacts” page or the form below to see what all we can do for you!

And, for your writing needs, get in touch with Elliott RWI!

The MK Panel: Getting Started

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Yes, it’s been a while since we’ve updated here. But we’re back again, and we’re glad you’re here, too!

At the moment, we’re at work on a piece for someone we’ve known for a long while, now. And what we’re doing for him is setting up a panel that will be on display outside–which makes for some interesting design challenges that we’re happy to address.

Front view of the installation site
Back view of the installation site
Photos from the client

Broadly, we’ll be putting together a panel to fill the frame. The panel frame itself will be rough-cut cedar, and the glass-work will be sandwiched between protective layers to help keep things from breaking. It’ll hang on a system that will allow it to be removed, too, in case one of the Hill Country thunderstorms that pops up now and again will be a bit more…intense than normal and would be a bit more of a threat to the panel. (We’ve seen baseball- and softball-sized hail come through these parts, and one such hailstone’ll ruin your day quick.)

As might be guessed, the client we’re working with at the moment’s a musician. The panel reflects that profession, and we were happy to put our own art to work representing that art:

The plans begin
Laying out the pattern
The plans composed
Photos by Kevin Elliott

We’ll be updating with progress on this as we can–and if you’d like us to compose a panel for you, give us a call at 830-890-1509, message us via our “Contacts” page, or use the contact form below. We’d love to hear from you!

And, for your writing needs, get in touch with Elliott RWI!

The Untersee Lantern: Getting Started

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We don’t just do windows, you know!

Recently, we were contacted by a client who wanted us to take a look at and repair some lanterns in their possession. There’s a lot of damage to address, both to the glass and to the structures of the lanterns themselves, as the pictures below show.

Photos by Kevin Elliott

What’s really interesting with these is that they are clearly oil lamps, and the smoke and soot that will inevitably come from using them will impose some things on the repairs; whatever we do has to be something that can be cleaned easily, for one thing. Too, while getting glass to match what’s in place should be relatively easy–while textured and colored glass gets made in individual batches, the plain glass of the lanterns’ panels is often mass-produced and thus easier to replicate–the etching will take some time and attention. Fortunately, we’ve got the tools and techniques on hand to make it happen–as we’ll show in the coming weeks!

We love a challenge. If you’ve got one, please, give us a call at 830-890-1509, or message us via our “Contacts” page or the form below and see what all we can do for you!

And, for your writing needs, get in touch with Elliott RWI!

The Frey Repair: Framed In

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We continued work on the Frey Repair, of course, moving past reinforcing the panel to cleaning it and putting it back into its frame. We’re pretty proud of the results!

The completed panel on our work table
A detail of the repairs done
A detail of the repairs done
A detail of the repairs done
A glimpse of what it will look like in the window…
How it appears without light coming in through it.
Photos by Kevin Elliott

Each batch of art glass is different, even when it’s the “same” glass; there are always variations and individuations involved, especially with textured glasses. But we think we did a pretty good job of matching what was already present as we effected the repair and replacement, and we’re confident that the panel will hold up well for a long time to come, increasing the value of the home where it will be reinstalled and adding beauty to the lives of those who live there.

We’re not the only ones, either! The clients had the following to say about it when they picked it up:

After a major hail storm, we searched for options to repair an exterior piece of antique stained glass and were excited to find and work with Heart’s Desire Stained Glass. Our piece was not only expertly repaired and antique glass expertly matched, but was also reinforced against future damage. Heart’s Desire Stained Glass communicated with us throughout the duration of the project to provide incredible restoration and repair.

The Freys

For now, though, on to the next project!

Think you’d like to have some of this in your place? Please, give us a call at 830-890-1509, or message us via the form below or our “Contacts” page to see what all we can do for you!

And, for your writing needs, get in touch with Elliott RWI!

The Frey Repair: Making Progress

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Things seem to keep coming up, but we get through them–and we continue to make progress on the work we’re doing. In this case, we’ve continued work on the Frey piece, having removed and replaced the broken glass and adjusting such joints as needed work. That much done, we took pains to protect the piece, adding reinforcing rods in a stiffer, more durable material, so that the panel will have the structural strength to face the world well.

Note the reinforcing rods in profile
Note that the reinforcing rods blend in when looking at the panel head-on
Again, the reinforcing rods in profile
Photos by Kevin Elliott

We make a point of strengthening our work whenever we can do so, all while maintaining the visual effect of the pieces we handle. Even relatively simple art glass adds quite a bit of appeal to the rooms where it is installed, and that appeal comes chiefly from how the glass admits and alters light. Keeping that flow of light open is important, therefore, and we take pride in being able to do so while enhancing the stability of pieces we work with, ensuring that they remain beautiful for years to come!

If you’d like to have out work in your home, please, give us a call at 830-890-1509, or message us via the form below or our “Contacts” page to see what all we can do for you!

And, for your writing needs, get in touch with Elliott RWI!

The Frey Repair: In the Shop

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After taking a bit of a break and clearing out some personal things that needed doing–all are well, thanks!–we were finally able to get the Frey Repair into our shop and get a good look at the panel for ourselves.

Now that it’s on the table…
A general view, showing the damaged glass
A detail of the damaged glass
A detail of the damaged glass
A detail of the damaged glass
A detail of the damaged glass
Photos by Kevin Elliott

As noted previously, the panel comes to us from Eldorado, Texas, where it was caught in one of the hailstorms that occasionally crops up in the Texas Hill Country. Our examination of it notes four pieces of the panel that need replacement; what we’ll end up doing, for starters (we may end up doing more), is

  • Remove the panel from its frame,
  • Disassemble the panel to the extent needed to remove the broken glass from it,
  • Remove the glass,
  • Select and cut new glass,
  • Install the glass,
  • Reconstruct the panel,
  • Clean the panel, and
  • Restore the panel to the wood frame.

It’s a fair bit of work to do, of course, but it’s work for which we are well trained and equipped. And we’ll be sure to show you what we do along the way!

If you’d like us to take a look at your art glass, for repairs or creations, give us a call at 830-890-1509, or message us via the form below or through our “Contacts” page to see what all we can do for you!

And, for your writing needs, get in touch with Elliott RWI!