Sapphireblue.com Presents: Adventures in Dangerous Art (The June Update)

I either have no excuse whatsoever, or so many excuses that you may take your pick.

The last session of my 3D class at The Art League was four weeks ago today. I did not, in fact, come home with a finished lamp. That was because, on that same day, I realized I had an exam the next day. A typo in the syllabus had led me to believe that I had something more than the twenty hours I actually had to study for said exam. So I went to my glass class that night, asked Jimmy to show me the parts I didn't already know how to do myself, then I went home and crammed.

Today was my final exam for that same class . The class was on art history from Paleolithic cave paintings through the Gothic cathedrals, which were covered in a rush on the last non-exam day of the class, which means I didn't get to do nearly so much lingering over monolithic-scale stained glass as I might have liked. Although now I'm having these goofy jet-set fantasies of actually putting my high-school French to use someday, on a trip to Paris to see the stained glass at Sainte Chapelle. Because, just, wow.

In between Monday four weeks ago and Monday today, I have accomplished zero stained glass work. My poor lamp is probably just a couple of hours away from completion and I haven't touched it. I'd like to think that my schedule will let up a little bit now that my art history class is over, but I have another class beginning next week, and work is still bonkers too: the project that was supposed to end a month ago refuses to die, and the project that I thought would never happen is happening in a big way, and the project that I was terrified of pitching seems to have a very real chance of becoming the project that I'll be terrified I won't have enough time for.

Hope springs eternal and all, but where my schedule is concerned, I can only feel very, very relieved that I didn't sign up for a summer stained glass class.

Posted by Michelle on June 30, 2003 02:53 PM

Sainte Chapelle is amazingly beautiful. I thought I had pictures of my visit to Sainte Chapelle online, but I apparently left them off. I think I remember why. I think I planned to stitch the panels together, but never got around it it.

Go to Paris!!!! I know I want to go back.

One can see the spire of Ste. Chapelle in this pic though :)

Posted by: scully on July 3, 2003 10:59 AM

Hi! I am where I was, which is to say, crazy busy. I had this great plan of working half-time and going to school half-time, which has turned into an actuality of working overtime and going to school half-time.

I was actually just wondering last night if I had, prior to the end of May, reached the critical-mass point of learning decent, basic stained-glass technique; i.e., the next time I go down to the basement and my dusty, ignored workbench, will I still remember how to do what it is I want to do?

Oh, the Updike poem---apparently it was online at some point, as a Google search for "'Evening Concert' Updike" brings up a link to the New Yorker's online contents page. But it's changed since and their website stinks so I'm out of luck... if you cared to send it to me, I'd be grateful, even taking into account the possibility of some sort of death-by-ecstasy thing, wherein too many good things combined all into one proves too much for human endurance and simply ends me on the spot.

(For the other four people on the planet suffering from incurable Updike fetishes, a snippet of the poem is on this garish but incomparably thorough site, just enough to provide a visual taste [heh] of the synesthetic quality of the work. That Updike is a sly old fox, he is.)

Posted by: Michelle on July 25, 2003 01:51 PM

What is this ... 'snail mail' of which you speak? Isn't that the sort that generally contains the phrases "Account Balance" and "Due By"?

Hi, Roe :) I guess I should do a real update tonight, now that it's about to be August, huh? Not that I have anything to say but it's never stopped me before.

Posted by: Michelle on July 31, 2003 03:12 PM


I'm learning the art (or is it a craft?) of stained glass. At this weblog, I record progress, note useful links, and document flesh wounds. Links The Art League Where I took a lead class and a 3D construction class. Weisser Glass Studio Where I buy supplies, and where I took a foil class. Virginia Stained Glass Co. Where I buy supplies if I happen to be in Springfield and if they happen to have what I want. Warner-Crivellaro Great prices on supplies, a lively and helpful Glass Chat message board, and excellent Technical Tips on stained glass tools and techniques. Glass Galleries Links List A list of Glass Chat users who've uploaded photos of their work. The StoreFinder: Stained Glass Store Front Lots of articles. ArtGlassArt.com Tutorials Even more articles. Particularly recommended: "Anatomy of a design" and "Wood frames." rec.crafts.glass Courtesy of Google Groups. Nancy's Beginner Tips and Tricks Scoring, breaking, soldering, finishing, and more. Splinter Removal Tips Crucial. Syndicate this site Someone out there is using XML for something... right? Movable Type Powered by. Archives By Date November 2006 October 2006 May 2006 June 2004 October 2003 September 2003 August 2003 June 2003 May 2003 April 2003 March 2003 February 2003 January 2003 December 2002 November 2002 October 2002 September 2002 By Project Beaded Unity Candle Crocus Panel Dogwood Windows Green Tiered Lamp Lilypads/Lotus Panel Transoms Xmas Ornament		« Parts Is Parts \| Main \| Are You Just Naturally Rude, or Is It a Professional Skill? » June 30, 2003: The June Update I either have no excuse whatsoever, or so many excuses that you may take your pick. The last session of my 3D class at The Art League was four weeks ago today. I did not, in fact, come home with a finished lamp. That was because, on that same day, I realized I had an exam the next day. A typo in the syllabus had led me to believe that I had something more than the twenty hours I actually had to study for said exam. So I went to my glass class that night, asked Jimmy to show me the parts I didn't already know how to do myself, then I went home and crammed. Today was my final exam for that same class . The class was on art history from Paleolithic cave paintings through the Gothic cathedrals, which were covered in a rush on the last non-exam day of the class, which means I didn't get to do nearly so much lingering over monolithic-scale stained glass as I might have liked. Although now I'm having these goofy jet-set fantasies of actually putting my high-school French to use someday, on a trip to Paris to see the stained glass at Sainte Chapelle. Because, just, wow. In between Monday four weeks ago and Monday today, I have accomplished zero stained glass work. My poor lamp is probably just a couple of hours away from completion and I haven't touched it. I'd like to think that my schedule will let up a little bit now that my art history class is over, but I have another class beginning next week, and work is still bonkers too: the project that was supposed to end a month ago refuses to die, and the project that I thought would never happen is happening in a big way, and the project that I was terrified of pitching seems to have a very real chance of becoming the project that I'll be terrified I won't have enough time for. Hope springs eternal and all, but where my schedule is concerned, I can only feel very, very relieved that I didn't sign up for a summer stained glass class. Posted by Michelle on June 30, 2003 02:53 PM Comments Sainte Chapelle is amazingly beautiful. I thought I had pictures of my visit to Sainte Chapelle online, but I apparently left them off. I think I remember why. I think I planned to stitch the panels together, but never got around it it. Go to Paris!!!! I know I want to go back. One can see the spire of Ste. Chapelle in this pic though :) Posted by: scully on July 3, 2003 10:59 AM Slightly random, but there's a poem by John Updike (I know you love Updike) entitled "Evening Conert, Saint-Chapelle" in the 30 June issue of The New Yorker. If you want it, let me know and I'll mail it to you :-) Posted by: Kim on July 7, 2003 08:07 AM Where art thou, dearest Michelle? (Hope all is well!) Posted by: Kim on July 23, 2003 10:12 AM Hi! I am where I was, which is to say, crazy busy. I had this great plan of working half-time and going to school half-time, which has turned into an actuality of working overtime and going to school half-time. I was actually just wondering last night if I had, prior to the end of May, reached the critical-mass point of learning decent, basic stained-glass technique; i.e., the next time I go down to the basement and my dusty, ignored workbench, will I still remember how to do what it is I want to do? Oh, the Updike poem---apparently it was online at some point, as a Google search for "'Evening Concert' Updike" brings up a link to the New Yorker's online contents page. But it's changed since and their website stinks so I'm out of luck... if you cared to send it to me, I'd be grateful, even taking into account the possibility of some sort of death-by-ecstasy thing, wherein too many good things combined all into one proves too much for human endurance and simply ends me on the spot. (For the other four people on the planet suffering from incurable Updike fetishes, a snippet of the poem is on this garish but incomparably thorough site, just enough to provide a visual taste [heh] of the synesthetic quality of the work. That Updike is a sly old fox, he is.) Posted by: Michelle on July 25, 2003 01:51 PM I'll drop it in the mail this week, along with an old-fashioned, hand-written letter. Woo-hoo! Snail mail! Posted by: Kim on July 28, 2003 03:04 PM She's alive! Kim's alive! You're BOTH alive! w00000t! Posted by: roe on July 30, 2003 12:05 AM What is this ... 'snail mail' of which you speak? Isn't that the sort that generally contains the phrases "Account Balance" and "Due By"? Hi, Roe :) I guess I should do a real update tonight, now that it's about to be August, huh? Not that I have anything to say but it's never stopped me before. Posted by: Michelle on July 31, 2003 03:12 PM Comments are closed. Contact me via the email address at the bottom of the blog pages.
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