BLDesigns

Bekki Levien

An Oregon Freelance Designer

theleviens@comcast.net | 541-760-3092

 

This is the process I went through to make a front door panel for Lucy and Chuck in 2002.

A design is created and then transferred to a sticky paper where the individual pieces are cut out and stuck onto the glass. The design work has been done, glass purchased, pattern drawn and cut out. I am now at the actual assembling stage - the best part! Below are the steps I have taken, assembling Lucy's art panel.

drawn pansy design
pattern drawing
transfer to sticky paper
paper stuck to glass
leaves

1) This was the original design. We found glass, but not the exact colors we wanted.

2) The basic layout before tracing and cutting out the pattern

3) After tracing the pattern and cutting out the pieces. Then they are labeled (color, position).

4) The pattern pieces are stuck onto the glass, cut out and edges ground, ready for copper foiling

As of Jan. 8, 2002, I have cut all the glass for the flowers and ground their edges. So far everything fits great. The pink, and to some extent the blue glass, was very difficult to cut. It rarely broke along the cut lines. Therefore I had to adjust several piece layouts a few times, but it looks good now! I started with the toughest glass so now, working with the green glass is like cutting butter.

cut glass
foiled
foil centers
patina applied

5) The flowers are cut out and ground. They fit very nicely. What you are seeing is the BACK side of the glass. The color and patterns of the glass are sometimes quite different on the other side.

6) Over the 4-day snow weekend, I completed all the foiling and lead border. Now I'm ready to start soldering.

7) 2-16-02 While Keith, Kyle and Cody are skiing and Quincy is at a birthday party - I can finally work on the pansies!! I cut out the foil centers and got them soldered on.

8) I aplied patina to the copper foil - this turns it black. I think the black centers makes them look more like pansies and gives them more depth.

cleaned-up

9) 2-24-02 Final step - apply putty and whiting to the leaded frame areas, clean with a toothpick, rag and nail, then polishing with a buffer (an old diaper). This sometimes can take a long time to get it squeaky clean.

I'M DONE! Ready to take to the glass guy to have it sandwiched between two pieces of tempered glass in order to protect it from the weather and angry teenagers who slam front doors!

Some day I will get out to Lucy and Chuck's house to take a picture of the glass installed in her door. She has reported to me that the door is so lovely she has had to redecorate her living room - rug, walls, furniture....