THE LOOKING GLASS

A BUSY FEW MONTHS FOR THE LOOKING GLASS!

noreply@blogger.com (Laurie Roskam) — Sun, 30 Jan 2011 19:06:00 +0000

It's been a whirlwind few months for me here at The Looking Glass. My sales did slow down a pinch but on the family front I was blessed to be present for the birth of my beautiful first-born grandson, Pax. The following month my divorce was finalized and I am now officially Laurie Roskam.

My workshop is being fine-turned and I am now in the process of replenishing my inventory and starting on lots of repair work that has been piling up.

I admit I have a terrible case of cabin fever and have been battling a tough cold for the past couple of months on top of it all.

Life is never dull but a crazy-wonderful journey. Peace! Laurie R.

My latest commission completed. Happy Birthday Emily!

noreply@blogger.com (Laurie Roskam) — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 20:13:00 +0000

Here is the latest panel I created for a local woman here in town. Her mother wanted to give her something special for her birthday this year and I was the lucky artist who was asked to create that "something special"! I am very pleased with this piece and even happier to know that mother and daughter shared this moment in time! Thank you Emily and mom for buying handmade! With Gratitude, Laurie B.http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/THE-LOOKING-GLASS/85733685674

MY NEWEST COMMISSION SECURED

noreply@blogger.com (Laurie Roskam) — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 17:48:00 +0000

Good Afternoon friends,

Here is a photo of the newest design I am going to be creating for a client. I simply adore this style of stained glass and I ADORE English Muffle stained glass which is what this pattern will be created with. I just wanted to share my excitement with you. Isn't it pretty! The Design Book is called English Muffle Book Of Design. It's worth every penny!

LIFT UP YOUR ART!

Laurie

Latest Commission Completed!

noreply@blogger.com (Laurie Roskam) — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 15:56:00 +0000

My recent New Glarus project has been completed! I am thrilled with the outcome. Here are some photos of the installation process and the clients. Thank you Marty and Greg! You are amazing people and so so SO fun to collaborate with! I trust you will have years of enjoyment in your beautiful home. Thank you goes out to Terry Bose. It was a difficult installation. It has been the trickiest one to-date. I appreciate all of your hard work friend! Thanks goes out to Jay Lamm at Freeport Glass for cutting the safety glass for me also. You did a fabulous job! I am so blessed to have such a wonderful support network. These people are the backbone for how and why I am able to practice my art! I am forever filled with gratitude! LIFT UP YOUR ART! Laurie Roskam

Studio Work in the Summertime of Northern Illinois

noreply@blogger.com (Laurie Roskam) — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 17:18:00 +0000

Hello friends,

I am cutting and grinding a beautiful Spectrum sky blue glass along with a Uroboros amber and green glass for the oak leafs today. The studio doors are open, the breeze is wonderful and saws are humming as Creative Treasures (link along my sidebar) continues to put the finishing touches on their new storefront. It is a busy time for both my studio and theirs as they prepare for the Stephenson County Fair and I continue to create my latest stained glass commission. The day is absolutely picture perfect here in Freeport, Illinois and I hope it is wherever YOU are today~ Lift Up Your Art And Be Blessed, Laurie

WARM AND MUGGY DAY FOR THIS STAINED GLASS ARTIST

noreply@blogger.com (Laurie Roskam) — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 21:35:00 +0000

Hello friends!

Wall Cloud photo in Savanna, Illinois taken by Laurie B

There is no breeze, large storm clouds on the horizon and the sky is beginning to rumble. She is talking! I am busy today in my studio working up the newest design I'm creating. The glass is ordered and it will arrive tomorrow. Thanks to the help of Creative Treasures I have managed to eek out a pattern that is ready to cut. My printer at home decided that now would be a good time to stop working. Last week it was my laptop. Things come in threes? What is next? I ask. I am looking forward to getting back to cutting and grinding in my studio. The time off was nice but two weeks was a bit too long to be away. My hands did need the rest so I obliged them. I'm back and ready to get busy! Thanks goes out again to Paula from Roughing It In Style!http://www.roughingitinstyle.com/ Working with these new clients has been a pure joy!! It makes the process of creating custom stained glass everything I hoped it would be. With Gratitude, Laurie

ON THE ROAD AGAIN!

noreply@blogger.com (Laurie Roskam) — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 13:57:00 +0000

I completed the church commission in Iowa and the windows were installed! A dedication ceremony will be held next weekend. The photos will be uploaded as soon as my laptop heals from it's "black eye!"
I head out today to another new client in New Glarus, Wisconsin. She has chosen a hexagon pattern containing oak leaves to adorn her front porch! I'm looking forward to this commission. It is smaller (26 inches) so it will give me some much needed instant gratification. I enjoy the large commissions but now and again it is nice to do a piece and be done in a week or so. LIFT UP YOUR ART! With gratitude, Laurie

THE LOOKING GLASS IN NORTHERN ILLINOIS

noreply@blogger.com (Laurie Roskam) — Wed, 19 May 2010 15:58:00 +0000

Hello friends,

It is a bright, sunny day here in Freeport, Illinois. My studio doors are open, the breeze is glorious and my grinder is humming away, finishing up the third (and last) church panel. My life is drastically different than only a year ago and I am daily blessed with new friends, new commissions and new challenges. My mother and sister recently visited my new studio and my mother exclaimed that "the Gods" have truly smiled upon me. I believe in karma, paying it forward, and I thank the Bose family daily for their generous spirit. I have a lovely space carved out in the work shop and it is more than I could every have hoped for. I have support for my love of this art process and with that, I feel like I've been given wings. They glass ceiling? I'm ready to bust through it! LOL...I will be finishing the church windows by the end of the month and plan on attending the dedication ceremony. After completion I will be starting on two windows for a friend in Evansville, Wisconsin and then a window for a client in New Glarus, Wisconsin. My summer is rapidly booking up and life is most definitely good. Thanks goes out to all of those special friends and family who have "had my back" during this past year. There have been some tremendously difficult days but they have always been followed by sunshine. LIFT UP YOUR ART! I will leave you with a few photos I took over the weekend. The joy is always in the small moments. I am sharing some of mine with you!
With Gratitude,
"Lorelei"

SECOND ELVIRA CHURCH PANEL IN PROGRESS

noreply@blogger.com (Laurie Roskam) — Tue, 11 May 2010 17:19:00 +0000

Hello Friends, I was able to complete the cutting and grinding process for the second panel last week. I will be copper foiling and soldering the panel this week to complete the second of three panels! LIFT UP YOUR ART! With gratitude, Laurie B.

SECOND ELVIRA CHURCH PANEL IN PROGRESS

noreply@blogger.com (Laurie Roskam) — Thu, 06 May 2010 19:50:00 +0000

Good Afternoon friends! I am working this week on the second stained glass panel for Elvria Lutheran Church. This panel is coming together more smoothly than the first one which is nice. There is always a learning curve with newer and bigger commissions. Here is a photo of the window in progress. It shows the panel being ground and laid in the zinc channel. The jig is an invaluable tool when working on larger commissions. LIFT UP YOUR ART! With gratitude, Laurie B.

Roughing It In Style panel

noreply@blogger.com (Laurie Roskam) — Mon, 03 May 2010 13:29:00 +0000

Hello friends, Here is a picture of one of the latest panels I created for the owner of Roughing It In Style. "Bo" is pictured here in his home with the new addition. Thanks goes to Paula for this very fun project!

PAYING IT FORWARD

noreply@blogger.com (Laurie Roskam) — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 17:00:00 +0000

Hello readers,

I have spent the morning fixing one broken piece in a very large panel. I am done and ready to put the frame back on. Repair work is my nemesis however the more I practice the more patient and relaxed I remain. On we go! Here are a couple of photos of a sweet 8 year old "temporary assistant" working on a new commission sign called Roughing It In Style. You can visit their website at http://www.roughingitinstyle.com/ It is a beautiful line of stores. I am going to be creating a piece for them soon. My temporary assistant was very very interested in this art form and since I was soldering and working directly with the glass I asked her to assemble the patterns for me. She did a wonderful job! Pay your art forward! Share your passion! LIFT UP YOUR ART! Laurie

PROGRESS ON THE STAINED GLASS CHURCH WINDOWS: TAKE 2

noreply@blogger.com (Laurie Roskam) — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 22:27:00 +0000

It has been a productive day at The Looking Glass Studio. Here is the first panel prior to patina applied to the solder lines. I would have taken the picture in full sunlight but it has been HORRIBLY windy day. I didn't want to push my luck! At any rate you are sharing in the first sunlight this piece has seen. LIFT UP YOUR ART!!
LOOKING GLASS FACEBOOK PHOTOS

THE JIG IS BUILT...AND UP!

noreply@blogger.com (Laurie Roskam) — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 19:46:00 +0000

Good Afternoon Readers, I am making good progress this week on the church windows project and am happy to share some updated photos. I am going to use a jig on this baby due to the size. Glass is very unforgiving when it comes to fudging on measurements. I've asked Creative Treasures to do some laser engraving on this project. I think laser engraving the farm implements into the glass will give it a more elegant feel. I'm hoping it will be a great look. Well, back to the grinder! With gratitude, Laurie B.

PROGRESS ON THE STAINED GLASS CHURCH WINDOWS

noreply@blogger.com (Laurie Roskam) — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 21:15:00 +0000

I am adding additional photos today of the progress being made on the church windows. It's going very well and I'm getting ready to grind each individual piece of the first panel. The photos I've added show some of the pattern pieces adhered to the sheets of glass and then the "pile" of pattern pieces that have been cut and are now ready to grind! Progress. One small step at a time. LIFT UP YOUR ART! With Gratitude, Laurie

PS. If you haven't already done so, please become a fan on my Facebook page! The link is at the top. I need to hit 1000 fans and I'm getting very close! Thank you so much for your interest in stained glass!

Blog Post #300

noreply@blogger.com (Laurie Roskam) — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 14:52:00 +0000

Hello to all of my Blogger Friends! I will be packing up my studio equipment and glass today. I'm SO excited to be moving into my new studio!!! The church windows will be my first commission in the new digs! WHOOT! With Gratitude, Laurie B.

IOWA CHURCH WINDOW COMMISSION IS A GREEN LIGHT!

noreply@blogger.com (Laurie Roskam) — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 19:30:00 +0000

My trip to Elvira Lutheran Church was a smashing success! I will be traveling to Madison, WI to make the glass and supply purchases this weekend. Heat is being installed in my new studio and I couldn't be happier nor more grateful for all of the continued support I am receiving for my growing business. Here are a few photos of the trip and church for those that are interested. With Gratitude, Laurie (Lorelei)

Year End Mad Rush for '09

noreply@blogger.com (Laurie Roskam) — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 22:04:00 +0000

Hello readers! I apologize for being absent for much of the tail end of '09 but when the end of the year requests came pouring in I was ecstatic! I've included a few photos below of commissioned items I completed for Christmas presents for people from as far as California, Texas and just across our timbers! I am thrilled that my orders have been picking up, my Facebook fan page is growing by leaps and bounds! Whoot! Here is to a healthy and prosperous new year for each of you. With gratitude, Laurie

2010....SWEET!

noreply@blogger.com (Laurie Roskam) — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 23:32:00 +0000

STILL IN ELF MODE!

noreply@blogger.com (Laurie Roskam) — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 11:51:00 +0000

Greetings readers! I am still a busy stained glass elf...getting out those Christmas glass orders! No Worries. They will all reach you on time thanks to Santa's helpers. I'd love photos of the items in their new homes to share with this great group of blog readers!

Peace Be Yours through the coming weeks!

With much gratitude, Laurie B.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

noreply@blogger.com (Laurie Roskam) — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 08:52:00 +0000

AUTUMN HARVEST PHOTOS BY LAURIE B.

noreply@blogger.com (Laurie Roskam) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 03:33:00 +0000

HELLO.....NEW JERSEY.

noreply@blogger.com (Laurie Roskam) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 21:39:00 +0000

New Jersey here I come! Lift up your art, Laurie B.

SOLDERING WITH WILMA

noreply@blogger.com (Laurie Roskam) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 01:54:00 +0000

Hello my friends! Oh how the time flies during the Autumn months. It always amazes me. Here is my latest update on Adam and Eve. This panel is read to be soldered and I will be starting that process in the next couple of days. As a side note, I've decided to dress as Wilma Flintstone for All Hallow's Eve. WHY???? I found a kickin dress at Goodwill for under $5.00! LOL So, in these hard economic times, hey, whatever works. Right? LIFT UP YOUR ART! Laurie B.

A THE BEAT GOES ON "BADA-BUMP"

noreply@blogger.com (Laurie Roskam) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 16:56:00 +0000

Good Morning friends! Ah, as my current client said, "Oh Laurie, haven't you learned by now that life always gets in the way of living!" Wiser words were never spoken! A big shout out thank you to Sharon, the most patient client I have had to-date! Here are photos of the current Adam N Eve panel, ready for foiling. Being in "transition" has been a real challenge (time management!) but a welcome one. Progress is being made so incredibly fast on my stained glass studio! I am truly "living the dream"! Autumn is upon us here in Northern Illinois. Firewood was delivered yesterday and is stacked snugly in the garage. The leaves are falling fast and furious and today is a MOST precious "Indian Summer" day. I am relishing every moment of it. Lovely warmth and sunshine, leaves rustling, pine trees waving hello to the sun, and little chipmunks running around with nut-stuffed cheeks! It just doesn't get any better than this in my book! I hope wherever you are you are able to connect with nature on some level today. Sending out warm Autumn wishes! LIFT UP YOUR ART, Laurie B.