The final design for the stained glass

Working on the patterns

Checking the blueprints enlarged from the Illustrator Files

Preparing the blueprints and building a 12’x10’ table

Michelle begins to lay out the patterns

Sizing and positioning the patterns

Stretching to work on the center of the composition

Michelle performs some difficult gymnastics, working on the patterns.

Generating the diagonal lines.

Michelle working on the pattern

Michelle drawing pencil lines on the full-size pattern

Continue work on the pattern

Beginning to think about the glass is part of making the pattern.

Calculating the materials that will be needed to manufacture the stained glass panels. Our glass is mouth-blown in Waldsassen, Germany and shipped to us through New York.

Work continues on the patterns.

Michelle cuts the first piece of glass.

Michelle, in one of the glass rooms, starts choosing the colors and sheet glass to use for the windows.

Michelle working in her studio surrounded by expanding piles of scrap glass, samples and full sheets.

Work proceeds one piece at a time.

The pieces are laid out on a duplicate of the pattern as they are cut out.

Working on the full size pattern.

The window grows as Michelle cuts the pieces.

All the unresolved questions need to be answered now.

Michelle among her piles of glass.

The window continues to grow as Michelle continues to cut.

Michelle continues the process of choosing each piece of glass, beginning the second panel. Apparently,, Michelle is making the window. David’s time will come.

But until then, it’s just Michelle.

Michelle working in her studio

Michelle cuts a piece of glass for the windows

Newly constructed glass easel for easier display of colors.

Pieces are laid out as cutting continues.

The cutting of the leaves begins in order to apply the painted decoration.

Michelle at her table covered in scrap.

Michelle bends over the cutting table while she cuts out the leaves.

Leaves are laid on the pattern.

Beginning of a new panel.

Leaves are covered with resist.

Proliferation of colors and mounds of scrap.

Scrap glass.

A window takes shape on the 12’ long work board.

Michelle, meanwhile is in the glass room working on the light table, cutting glass.

The fourth panel begins to take shape as Michelle cuts out and lays down the pieces of glass for it.

Detail of the assembly shows the pieces of lead came forming the matrix of metal to hold the glass together.

A window on the assembly table.

Cutting continues.

Partially assembled panels

David is assembling a panel.

David works on preparing the leaf pieces for painting.

Working on the preparation for painting.

Two panels laid out during cutting.

Another panel laid out ready for assembly.

Michelle showing off her cutting skills.

Michelle applies paint to the leaves after the composition and lay out has been burnished on and cut out with the xacto knife.

Resist is pulled off and the painted letters are touched up.

Michelle examines a leaf while touching up the paint.

A leaf is painted and ready for firing in the kiln.

Michelle in the cutting room

Pieces of panel #5

David working on the assembly of a panel

A panel under construction

David hammers a nail while assembling a panel

Panels under construction

David soldering a panel after the assembly is complete

Leaves having been fired in the kiln are waiting to be unloaded

Panel #5 is completely cut out, awaiting assembly

Two panels moved outside to make room for the next assemblies

Detail of the stiffening pipe which is wired to the surface of the window in order to provide the rigidity necessary to move the panel into its opening on installation day.

Window with surface-mounted stiffening pipe.

Michelle continues to cut out pieces

Beginning the construction of the crates. Each panel will be installed into its crate for cleaning and then storage and finally delivery and installation.

The first completed panel with stiffeniing pipe is installed into its crate.

Michelle continues cutting the hundreds of pieces of glass that make up the whole composition.

Three panels under construction.

David works on the assembly of a panel.

The letter shin rendered in gold leaf.

Working on the golden shin.

Panels in various stages of completion with regard to the cutting of the glass.

Michelle just keeps cranking out pieces.

Here is a panel covered in whiting, part of the process of glaizing the panels after assembly.

Here is a panel with the stiffening tube attached.

Here’s David, putting windows together, like a machine.

Transfer to box

Detail

Cleaning

crating

Raising window in crate with winch

moving

storing

Three panels nearing completion.

Four panels crowd the assembly room.

Completed assembly, ready to crate.

Getting ready to put on the border channel.

Four windows completed and crated, ready for delivery and installation.

Panel covered in whiting, part of the glazing process.

Michelle lays out pieces as she cuts out the next panel.

Pieces laid out for panel number seven.

Michelle works with the glass samples, getting ready to plzce a glass order.

A partially assembled panel.

A panel under construction.

Getting ready to turn a panel over. Two boards are clamped together with the panel in the middle.

Turning a panel over.

David attaches the stiffening pipe by twisting the copper wires tight.

A panel, in its box, is clamped to a table for cleaning.

Wheeling a crated panel into storage.

Completed panels in storage.

Panel #7 in its crate is on the table for final cleaning.

Panel #8 is layed out after cutting awaiting the return of the leaves from the kiln.

Leaves are painted and ready to go into the kiln.

A set of leaves for panel #9 loaded into the kiln.

A close up view of panel #8 under construction showing the leading prior to soldering.

Seven completed panels in storage ready for installation.

Michelle give the thumbs up after moving panel #8 into storage.

Michelle begins cutting out panel #9

Panel #9 partially assembled

David works on the assembly of panel #10

David working on the assembly of panel #10

Beginning of the crate for panel #9

Preparing the leaves of panel #10 for painting

Panel #10 laid out during cutting with the leaves taken out for painting.

Panel #9 in its crate on the table for final cleaning

Michelle works on cutting out the pieces for panel #10

Nine completed panels in their crates in storage.

Panel #10 completely cut out and ready for assembly

Michelle begins cutting out panel #11

The first pieces fo panel #11 laid out on the table

Michelle continues to work on cutting glass for panel #11

David completes panel #10, ready for crating

Detail of panel #10

David is cleaning panel #10, prior to crating.

Panel #11 under construction.

Ddtail of panel #10

Detail of panel #10

Panel #12, the last panel is being cut out.

Michelle completes cutting the last pieces of glass for the project.

Eleven of the twelve panels are in their boxes ready for transportation to Davis.

Beginning of the assembly of the twelfth and last panel.

David adds the last piece to the assembly of the 12th and final panel.

Meausring the last piece of lead.

Cutting the final piece of lead border channel.

David and Michelle Plachte-Zuieback

The 12th panel on the table for final cleaning and crating.

The final panel crated for delivery.

All twelve panels in their boxes ready for transport.

Backed up to the storage room where the completed windows have been stored in their individual crates.

Moving the truck out to eye ball the loading plan.

Truck with six of the twelve windows loaded for transport to Santa Rosa, there to be staged until the July 5th delivery to Davis

The second truck load of window panels and tools for the installation leaves the Sherwood Ranch Studio.

Our truck loaded with windows and install materials and equipment arrives at Bet Haverim.

Unloading the truck into the sanctuary.

David and Clint working on the install

David putting on finishing touches on one of the panels

All the panels on the left side installed

David touches up the paint on the stops.

Windows on the left side

Windows on the left side

Transferring a panel from the box to the opening

Transfering a panel

Install team

Windows on the right side

Windows on the right side

Michelle Plachte=Zuieback, artist