As many of you know, I love making special commissions in stained glass for birthdays and other events. One of the best requests recently was to make a unique lamp for a fan of the animated character, Totoro. Totoro has become something...
Naturally, a lamp made from stained glass weighs quite a lot. Add to this the weight of the solder required to hold all the glass pieces together, and you definitely have a heavy structure. Therefore it is not a surprise that...
An unfortunate accident led to another client needing a Tiffany lamp repair. This precious standard lamp was toppled by the lady's husband, resulting in a lot of damage and a big dent. She was keen to have it repaired because her son had...
We all like to receive a gift that has been chosen with care - and handmade gifts are the most precious. A handmade gift will always be unique. This month I have been adding to my handmade gift...
Recently I made a special birthday card to mark my mum's special birthday. It was a present within a present really, as I made a small light catcher as the focal point of the card. It brings new...
There is no doubt that the past year has been tough for physical retail outlets. Small, independent businesses, in particular, need our support, now that retail premises are opening up again. We...
Some Tiffany-style lampshades are made using large panels of curved stained glass. I have repaired many traditional Tiffany lamps, which are built up from a lot of small pieces of flat glass, but...
People's homes and gardens have become even more important over the last year. We have all spent much more time at home and in the garden during the various lockdowns as a result of the pandemic....
We all love a bargain and the chance to buy something beautiful and unique for a great price. With this in mind, this month there is a new feature in the website Shop offering a different piece at a...
Spiritual art has become even more popular in recent times, so if you want a unique artwork that reflects this trend, take a look at the new moon wall art pieces that are available now in the Shop....
A new flock of stained glass birds has arrived in the shop to join the ever-popular Quirky Bird sculptures. These new flying birds are light catchers, designed to hang from a ribbon or cord in a...
There is no doubt that the last year has been hard for everyone in so many different ways. But with lengthening days, sunshine, daffodils, and vaccinations, the future is looking more positive. In...
It is always satisfying to work on a badly damaged stained glass window and bring it back to its former brilliance. This was the case with a pair of traditional style panels I had to restore...
One of my favourite challenges is to create truly unique gifts and artworks for customers. A recent stained glass enquiry came from a lady and her brother who wanted a special anniversary gift to...
A lady contacted me to see whether I could repair her two treasured Tiffany-style lamps. Sadly, they had been damaged in transit when she returned to the UK from a period of time in Sweden....
If you are going to send your loved one a Valentine's Day gift, it is sure to be extra special if you show that you have considered your present choice and taken the time to research and buy...
Recently I was invited to a lovely home, with equally lovely owners, to carry out a stained glass window repair in situ. The stained glass window in question was one of several contemporary glass...
A lady who loves dragonflies brought me her two damaged Tiffany lamps for repair and refurbishment. They had both been the victims of energetic grandchildren and the smaller lampshade had a big dent...
You may remember I created a contemporary stained glass window for a couple's home on Hayling Island recently. It was a fun project to do and I was pleased with the result, so it was great to be...
For a long time I have wanted to branch out into making stained glass artworks and sculptures for the garden and I am pleased to say that I have started making some at last! There is something...
Quite often, the damage sustained to a Tiffany-style lamp is a dent to the overall shape, or a broken off area where the copper foil has pulled apart. This was the case with this Tiffany lamp that I...
It seemed like everyone decided to tidy up and sort out their homes in 2020 - with many people finding damaged or dented Tiffany lamps in dusty corners, sheds and garages that they wanted to restore...
I was given some old pieces of stained glass by a generous lady whose late husband had had a stained glass hobby many years ago. She was having a clear out and wanted the materials to go to a good...
One of my favourite recent projects was this stained glass window featuring seagulls in flight. It was based loosely on a wallpaper design that the client liked but had been unable to use in her...
Recently I was asked to create a bespoke Christmas decoration for a customer who wanted one to match an existing stained glass window in his home. He wanted a special decoration to adorn his...
This year has been totally unlike any other, with a lot of misery and distress for many. Let's hope that the new vaccines will ensure 2021 sees us beat the virus and regain some normality. Hopefully...
Another interesting stained glass challenge recently was the creation of one new stained glass window out of two old stained glass windows that were still in their wooden window frames. The two...
Pool table lamps are like buses, it would seem. I have never had one to repair in my (long) career as a stained glass artist, but then I received three at once that were all in need of attention....
One of the great things about being an artist is that you have the opportunity to work with customers to make their visions a reality. This was the case when I had an enquiry for a bespoke birthday...
Now the weather is getting colder I don't feel so bad about sharing photos of these cheery stained glass snowmen! I used glass paints to create the black coal eyes and bright orange carrot noses....
Every year I launch a new range of stained glass Christmas decorations and this time I have made some elegant 3D Christmas trees in a variety of colours and two sizes. Each unique Christmas tree is...
This beautiful, colourful window has an interesting tale to tell. It was unloved and destined for the skip of someone who was renovating their home until my clients bought and rescued it. True, it...
Sadly, I am often brought 'Tiffany'-style lamps to repair. While these shades look very attractive, a discerning eye can tell that frequently the copper foil they are made with is very narrow and...
Your home is the place where you can be free to express yourself and your personality to the full through the interior design choices you make. But don't stop at the wall coverings and furniture....
Stained glass comes alive when light is added and what could be a better way to show off its beauty than in a rainbow of colours? This rainbow was commissioned for use on the set of a new TV series...
One of the first stained glass window designs I created was for a pair of tall, narrow windows in the side wall of a 1950s house. The elegance of the long stems and leaves of the iris struck me as...
It is no surprise that the arts have suffered greatly as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. Events and venues have had to shut, restricting opportunities for face-to-face sales and testing of new...
What do you do when you need a unique anniversary gift in a hurry? Ask a creative small business owner. To be fair, the man who commissioned this decorated vase was not requesting or expecting me to...
In the current economic uncertainties, the housing market has stalled. House prices are reported to be down on the same time a year ago. This, and the fact that so many of us are spending more time...
This Russian nesting doll stained glass piece was made for someone who collects the real wooden 'Matryoshka' dolls. I bought the little Russian doll charm a while ago with a plan to make a glass...
What gift do you give to someone who lives in Brighton and loves the cool vibe and creativity found in The Lanes and generally around this popular seaside destination? Well it must be a unique gift,...
I am excited to report that I have been chosen as the editor of the Contemporary Glass Society's (CGS) new publication, Glass Network digital. This online magazine will be launched as part of the...
While all my usual craft fairs and exhibitions have been cancelled, I have been busy making pieces ready for when we can show our work to the public again. My stocks of small items, like Quirky...
I am sad to report that another major event in the art calendar has had to be cancelled because of the coronavirus, COVID-19, and that is the popular Hampshire Open Studios. While August, when this...
Sadly, the COVID-19 restrictions continue, with little prospect of us being able to visit friends or loved ones in the near future. While many of us can participate in video chats and phone calls,...
Koi carp are revered for their colourings and markings in Japan, as well as for their tenacity for swimming up rivers against the current. In Japan they are a symbol of good luck, representing...
It is always distressing when cherished objects around the home get damaged. It is even more upsetting when they are made of glass. While Tiffany-style lamps are generally quite hardy, sometimes...
Do you love to sew or do you know a keen stitcher? Even if you have never picked up a needle or threaded a sewing machine, perhaps you still enjoy the positive energy and happiness generated by...
How different things have become for everyone in the past few weeks. Every day there is more bad news about the effects of COVID-19 and how countries around the world are trying to cope with the...
There are many iconic buildings in New York, reproduced in New York skyline pictures and emblazoned on souvenir T-shirts, but I'm not sure how many times they have been recreated in stained glass!...
With Spring in the air and daffodils popping up outside, I was inspired to create some new stained glass Easter gift ideas. I can't remember whether I made the chicks, chickens or eggs first. I...
Unfortunately, as greater controls are placed on movement of people across the UK each day, several art and design events have been cancelled or postponed. In my case, this means that the March 2020...
You know someone is mad about red pandas when they dye their long hair red and add a black tint to the ends! This red panda picture was made for that person. It features a lovely, rich, red-rust...
If you haven't taken a trip to the Sir Harold Hillier Gardens in Romsey, Hampshire, they are certainly worth a visit. As well as the spectacular 180 acres of gardens, there is a cafe, gift shop,...
The respected annual contemporary art and sculpture trail AppArt, held in Godalming, Surrey, attracts interior designers and art lovers to view and purchase unique artworks in an inspiring Arts and...
This fun Union Jack stained glass commission was the result of a request to create a modern table lamp for a lady who is mad about everything 'Union Jack'. She even has Union Jack cupboard handles...
If you are looking for something a bit different to the usual flowers or chocolates for your Valentine's gift this year, a handmade stained glass sugar mouse could fit the bill. These pretty stained...
This commission for a canal boat sculpture has proved very popular in online posts. Clearly there are a lot of people across the country who enjoy a canal boat holiday - or choose to live on a...
Like many other crafts, sewing is seeing quite a revival - just look at the popularity of the tv series The Great British Sewing Bee! This vintage sewing machine sculpture was the ideal gift for one...
When you have designed a new product it is great to see how it fares with customers in the real world marketplace. The recent Christmas fairs I attended presented a perfect opportunity to get...
One of the most enjoyable aspects of my job is rising to the challenge of an interesting commission from a customer. You never know what they will ask you to make in stained glass. Here are two...
Tiffany lamps are generally quite hardy overall, being constructed from lots of small pieces reinforced with lead-coated foil. However, when someone fell on this one at a party, it literally split...
These shiny, stained glass stars can hang anywhere around the home, with their large hanging loop. You could add a ribbon to match your colour scheme and hang it over the fireplace, on a wall, or in...
On Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th December, why not take the opportunity to do all your Christmas shopping under one roof in the historic and picturesque city of Winchester at the Crafty Women Handmade...
Southampton University is hosting its popular annual Art, Craft and Gift Fayre again on Sunday 24th November 2019 and I’ll be taking part for the first time, alongside several other members of the...
As well as making my own stained glass lamps using traditional methods, I am often asked to repair Tiffany-style lamps that people have bought elsewhere over the years. I always find it interesting...
Everyone likes a good deal - especially with Christmas coming up! So check out some great glass pieces in the Black Friday section of the website between 8am on Friday 29th November and midnight on...
We are fast approaching the festive season, when thoughts often turn to others who are less fortunate. Therefore I have decided to hold two events in Woking at the end of October that will be...
I was sworn to secrecy until now about a special commission to create a pair of art deco-style glass lamps for the winner of Interior Design Masters tv series, that has just finished on BBC2 and...
A new art gallery in Wickham is offering my Quirky Birds and Owls for sale. Sarah Featherstone is a talented nature artist and recently opened the Wild Art Gallery in the Warwick Lane shopping...
The Wessex Guild of Craftsmen exists to promote excellent craftsmanship and design among the artists and craftspeople of Hampshire and West Sussex. As such, it has a rigorous selection procedure for...
These days, outside spaces are increasingly being transformed into “garden rooms”, extending the indoor environment rather than being left underused and unloved. A well-designed outdoor space can...
Nothing beats the beauty of real stained glass windows – with each piece of glass cut and fitted by hand, they really sparkle in the light. With different textures and undulations occurring...
One of the things I love about my business is receiving requests from customers that are a bit different. I like to really listen to what they want – and why – and then take up the challenge of...
One of the perks of my job working with stained glass is that I am asked to make new and different artworks by customers. One such request was for a garden artwork to fit on a narrow upright of a...
When I was researching the market before I set up Orchid Stained Glass, I came across a competition to have glass works of art shown at the lovely Cumbrian Arts and Crafts house, Blackwell. Having...
This tree design was a special birthday present for a man who loves J R R Tolkein’s famous ‘The Lord of the Rings’ books. He wanted an Elvish feel to the tree of life-style panel, so I collaborated...
The home is a great place to express your individuality and personal tastes, whether you like a minimalist space or collect Victoriana. Whatever your interior design style, there are ornaments,...
Another totally unique commission resulted from a request from a mother of a bride for a special wedding present for the happy couple. She wanted a gift that would reflect the surnames of the bride...
A lovely lady asked me if I could make a very special Christmas present for her partner. He is a big music fan and, if you look at the subject of this stained glass panel, there are no prizes for...
One of the more unusual gift commission requests I had was when a man brought me a pair of blue glass candlesticks. It turned out that he had bought them for his wife when they first met but...
I am often asked to refurbish or repair stained glass windows that have been dented, cracked or have sections missing. Often they also need a jolly good clean. Mostly, these windows have been made...
It is always valuable to visit a customer’s home to discuss a potential commission as you can get a feel for their personal tastes and style. This can be a starting point for a new stained glass...
One very interesting stained glass window commission I received was from a very spiritual lady. She has a life-sized unicorn sculpture in her beautiful garden, among many other artworks and...