Date(s): 3/10/09. 1 - 24 of 59 Total. 8637 Visits.
1 It's finished! Simply stunning!!
2 Adopters Larry and Kathy Granucci (with their Ratbone babies Scarlet & Tara) are here to help with the drawing.
3 Scarlet wants a closer look at what her Mama's doing with all those little bits of paper.
4 The winning number: 701!!! That's Michelle Staab, a two-time Ratbone adopter!
5 One view of the lamp; I see one Rattie standing, one digging and one laying down.
6 Here's a Rattie that's treed a squirrel!
7 Here's our Artist (Susan Cadell), designing the Lamp Shade.
8 "I will use the lightest colored glass on the top of the lamp background and slowly phase into the richer colors as I get closer to the bottom of the lamp. The ratties, being black and white, will stand out nicely against this rich background of color."
9 Close up of some of the Ratties who will be featured in the design of the Lamp.
10 "Fitting the vellum on the mold. Note the other lamp molds hanging from the ceiling behind me. I'm in my garage workshop."
11 Here are some of the Artist's Models, hanging out in the shop.
12 "I am fitting a brass ring on top of the pattern so I know exactly where it will go. All of the glass pieces are fitted up against this ring and soldered in place. The ring with the finished lamp attached is then placed over a brass wheel, which is attached to the lamp base. The finished lamp is supported by this wheel."
13 Another shot of the Artist's inspiration - her Ratties!
14 "The pattern is placed on a sheet of fasson (contact paper made for stained glass work). This will become the pattern and what is installed on the lamp is now called the cartoon'."
15 "I color the cartoon so I don't make mistakes when placing glass on the mold."
16 "The colored cartoon being transferred to the fasson."
17 This is the sky glass. The pattern is actually stuck to the glass and will remain on the glass all during the next stage, which is grinding to fit. Note the "ring mottles" in the glass. Some people call the little round rings in the glass "cats paws". Actually, there are salts in the molten glass which cool into these ring mottles. It adds interest and character to the finished piece."
18 The cartoon has been covered in waterproof vinyl tape and is installed on the lamp mold.
19 The pattern is cut apart and each piece, starting at the top of the lamp, is placed on the glass. The glass is lightest at the top of the lamp.
20 "The work table. Pieces of cut glass ready to be ground. A pile of "doggy glass" has been selected. My tools. My cutter sits in a small jar with kerosene in the bottom. The kerosene lubricates the cutter as I 'score' the glass. Scoring the glass puts a scratch on the surface of the glass and aligns the molecules so you can snap a piece of glass off where it has been scratched. If you do not break the glass off within a few minutes of scoring it, the glass may 'heal' and not break in that location. The pliers are called 'groziers', and are used to gently break the pieces of glass away from the larger sheet. The red handled groziers have smaller jaws for inside cuts. Glass should be room temperature to cut properly, so my shop is heated. There is a piece of closed cell packing foam taped to the table. This cushions the glass as I score it. Glass is not flat, and the pressure I put on it could cause it to break if I did not cushion it."
21 Note the brass ring at the top of the mold. The pattern is done and ready to cut up and put on the glass.
22 "Me grinding a piece of glass on one of my two glass grinders. One is for straight edges but the one I am using now is for curved edges. The bits are diamond coated and they grind the edges of the glass so you have a smooth edge and a nice fit."
23 Once the glass is "rough ground" you wash off the ground glass and the grinder fluid. Grinder fluid is a petroleum product which helps keep the glass from chipping during the grinding process.
24 After the glass is ground to fit, you cover the edges of the glass with a copper foil. This is what is called the "copper foil method". It is different from lead work. The high tin content solder adheres only to the copper foil and not to the glass. This solder work is the cage that holds the glass in place.
From a fused glass artist to a stained glass artist...WOW!!! If you ever feel the urge to branch out into Siberian Huskies, call me first!!! - Laura A, Thu, 27 Aug 2009 11:06PM
While I have done other handmade crafts, I was unaware of the incredible amount of detail and talent that goes into making a lamp of this quality. Stunning results! - Bobbi Lum, Thu, 27 Aug 2009 4:50PM
WOW!!! What a wonderful gift you have been given!! Your talent is awsome!!! Your lamps are beautiful!!! Keep up the great work!!! - Donna Beth McNeill, Thu, 20 Aug 2009 7:14PM
What a talented person you are. I cannot say enough about your lamps. I wanted to wait to see in in the final stages, I am glad I did. I want to get another Tang nightlight but this one has to be backwards,LOL - Kathy B., Wed, 8 Jul 2009 5:17PM
Wow- what a talent! Do you have a catalog, not only is the rattie lamp fabulous but your otherwork is magnificent as well. Thanks for what you do for Ratbone and shame on those who would try to thwart our mission!! - Becky Bredfeldt, Mon, 8 Jun 2009 11:35AM
Sue happy to see that you are still hard at work and getting better all the time. I'm still enjoying the two night lights that I got when I was out your way. They light my and my guests' way around the house after dark. - Alta Cooperman, Wed, 1 Apr 2009 9:24PM
WOW Now not only do I get to see your work which is so beautiful, I also get to see who I have talked to over the phone. Love those models you use. Where do you sell your lamps at or do you have a web site? - Sarah Foxvog, Wed, 1 Apr 2009 4:39PM
