A few months ago I was approach by one of my long time customers and friends to create glasswork for her new craftsman kitchen. This included stained and leaded glass cabinet panels, and glass mosaic for the back splash. We have been creating stained and leaded glass projects for members of her family and their business for over 35 years. These projects are always different, challenging, and fun. This was no exception.
We were given an example that she had borrowed from a tile store. It was clear from the start that we could improve dramatically on the design and glass selection.
The first step was to acquire the fiberglass mesh and glue used to mount the glass. With the internet this was no problem. It is available in long rolls or cut to size. I opted to get the large section and cut it to our needs. We first made a small sample. Our design differed from the original in a couple of striking ways. The original was made up of straight 3/8" high pieces of varying lengths. I decided to present a wavy design resembling strata in rock formations. This was accented by larger rectangles of contrasting color. The second change was glass selection. I used a varied pallet of Kokomo, Bullseye, and Uroborus glass(different manufactures) for color, texture, and density. This glass gave the feeling of a handmade look rather than an off the shelf plastic product.
Once the sample was approved we began cutting and assembling the tile. The concept was to assemble the entire wall section. In all there were three section that were approximately 5 1/2 feet long and 20" high. This worked like a charm. We glued the pieces on top of a plywood pattern(with electrical cutouts). We used plastic wrap on the plywood so the glue would not stick to the plywood. The sections were transported to the home and tilted up from the plywood. They were then set to the wall with thin set cement, and grouted.
The end product met with great raves all around, and we have another product to offer my customers. The pictures below show some of the creative process.
.
A
