New window necklaces

As I mentioned in my last blog post, I needed to do some more stained glass window necklaces for Grace cathedral, so I finished them off today.

Three of them are utilizing the scenes from the St Matthew window in the Chapel of Grace, and the fourth - the largest - is from one of the more contemporary style windows in the nave of the church.

I will take them to the shop at Grace on Sunday when I sing there.

They vary quite a bit in different lights.  I like that aspect as when you wear it, you see different colors and suddenly, the vibrance shines through....but then you turn and it looks different again.

Hope you like them - and I appreciated your comments on the bangles. Thanks for that.

Vibrance and Grace

I took some of my 'stained glass' aluminum jewelry down to Grace Cathedral this week for them to sell in their gift shop.  I was delighted that they wanted to stock it.

The jewelry is all based on the stained glass windows in the cathedral (yes, I have permission to use it).  The colors are so vibrant, which is why I chose to call the series "Vibrance and Grace".

It'll be interesting if I see any of the congregation wearing it when I go down to sing on Sunday.

I heard that they went on sale on Tuesday and two pieces sold straight away!  How encouraging is that.

Now I'm working on some new windows - and it looks like I need to get working!

Stained glass window bangles

I finished off some more stained glass window bangles today, in blue colors!

As I'm now looking to link back to a previous post regarding the predominantly red window bangles I've made, I realize that I didn't blog about those - only showed you the window photos! 

Anyhow, today's bangles contrast with the ones you haven't yet seen (!!!) in that they are predominantly blue!  They are based on the windows in Grace cathedral, San Francisco. Beautiful colors and more traditional in design that the others.  I'll show you the red ones another day...soon!

I had good news this week that the Gift Store at Grace Cathedral is going to stock some of my stained glass window necklaces, earrings and bangles...just as soon as I get them there.  It'll be nice to have my work sold where I sing.

Father and Daughter collaboration - Stained glass windows

Today's bracelets are a collaboration between my father and myself.  Any of you who remember him as my guest blogger for a few years, writing "Sunday's spotlight" may well recall that he loves photographing churches/cathedrals and flowers.  Yes, a few other buildings get thrown in occasionally, but it's very rare to find people in his photos.

I was checking his Flickr site the other day as he had added some new photos and saw a lovely photograph of a stained glass window from Peterborough cathedral.  It was a beautiful bright window, with such rich colors. 

Photo by Pete2010

Immediately, I thought it would make a wonderful color anodized aluminum bangle.

And indeed it, I think it does! The richness of the reds, blues and greens contrast so nicely with the silver of the aluminum and the black.  It is just rich!  You can see the saint with a bird here in this bangle (- maybe my dad knows the background to the window and who this is?):

I'm loving wearing one. And yes, it's shiny!  Quite a contrast for me who normally wears matt!

I think I'll be taking some down to Grace cathedral when we start singing there again next week and see what reaction I get.  What do you think?

Thanks Dad. It was great to take something you created and use it in one of my creations.  There may well be more of these in the future!

Stained glass window bangle

I have been trying a different style in my color anodized aluminum today - looking for a more painterly effect.  My subject was a stained glass window:

So this is just a work in progress, trying a new technique and seeing how it works, what I need to change, etc, etc.

I was hoping for more vibrancy in the colors but I guess painting them on leaves them paler. Maybe I need to use more concentrated colors for a painterly effect?  Or maybe I need to try this not on a matt finish aluminum, but on polished aluminum...

Hmmm. I like the idea.... it encourages me to keep going with it.... What do you think? Soooo many possibilities!!!

The Sistine Chapel of San Miguel

My parents and I went out to El Santuario de Atotonilco at the weekend to see what is called "sistine chapel of San Miguel". The church is a place of pilgrimage and penitence and people travel from all over the country to pray and meditate here.

The building of the church began in 1740 and took more than 35 years to complete.  All the walls were painted by one local artist at that time - who worked there for 30 years!  I can't imagine working on one project for all that time!

The church is dedicated to Jesus of Nazareth and the priest and painter seemed to prefer the bloodier events to depict so there is a heavy focus on suffering and blood!

 

For centuries the church was then neglected until about 15 years ago when the World Monuments Fund added it to its list of "100 Most Endangered Monuments".  With money from American Express and the state, the building's facade and murals are now being restored.  The church is now designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The day we were there, there were two weddings taking place. It was lovely to see.

The restoration is still in progress, but you can get a real sense of all the work that has gone into it.  I still can't get over how one man would keep painting there for 30 years!  I get bored on one project after a week!!!

Sunday's spotlight - Sunny Memories

By guest blogger Pete.

After a few days of rain today, Friday has seen, I hope, the return of sunshine and summer.  Welcome back!.  The week before this one was a real scorcher; just the sort of weather you look forward to on those cold freezing Antarctic days of winter.

That spell of hot weather, though, made me look back to hot days that I've enjoyed in the past.  It must be my advancing years!!

Photo courtesy of AllyBally

The first "hot weather" trivia that comes to mind must have occurred something like 52 years ago.  At the time I was a theological student at Salisbury.  The college was situated in the beautiful Cathedral close and once a month or so there would be a concert in  the Cathedral.  On this occasion the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra were visiting and their programme included a particular favourite of mine, Dvorak's "New World Symphony".  Being a poor student  - altogether now ..aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah... - I couldn't afford to buy a ticket but on that hot Saturday evening some seven or eight of us sat or lay on the grass outside the Cathedral and heard the full programme in much better or more comfortable surroundings that the hard seats inside the Cathedral would have given.

Photo courtesy of AndrewR

If you ever get to Salisbury then the Cathedral there is a "MUST" to visit. Externally, I would classify it as one of the best in the country - after Lincoln, of course.  Unfortunately most of the interior leaves much to be desired.  There are tombs aplenty placed in prominent positions either side of the nave.  This makes the whole building look rather like a glorified cemetery!

Photo courtesy of AllyBally

They had a great choir in the Cathedral when I was there.  (They might still have a great choir; I just don't know).  The main bass singer was outstanding and to hear him reach some of those low notes or when he was in full flow was an experience never to be forgotten.  Unfortunately, when  I was there they had a notice in the main entrance which read, "Members of the congregation are asked to join in the singing silently".  Oh dear!  There go, for ever, all the Salisbury Cathedral members who used to be readers of this blog.

 St Thomas' Church Photo Curtesy of AndrewR

I like to have a good sing so I used to go to St Thomas' Church in the city, where congregational singing was permitted.  (If you are ever in the city there is one of the best cakes shops I've ever come across next door to that church that I have ever had the pleasure to visit).  Any way, back to St Thomas' Church.  I must have gone there most Sundays for about 12 months and for the life of me I can't remember anyone speaking to me during all that time.  Perhaps they knew where I was from!  Oh Dear!  Here we go again!  There go all the St Thomas' Church readers of this blog along with their Cathedral compatriots.  Sorry, Ruth!

 Inside St Thomas' church photo courtesy of Jim Linwood

Listen to music outside in your garden - if you have one - on a warm summer's evening.  It's a marvellous way to relax.