glass update

Morning ladies!  Well, it's been snowing for hours - yay!  I hope it either snows so much that they let us go home, or doesn't snow that much as they won't let us go home and I'll end up trapped in Lufbra (i.e. the arse-end of nowhere*) all weekend...

* my apologies to people who live in Loughborough, I may be being a bit harsh so bear in mind I work on the industrial estate and don't really leave that area other than to flee back to Nottingham.

I didn't get a chance to show you my stained glass window update yesterday as my internet connection was being an arse.  I often have to turn the computer and modem off and back on again several times (record being 10 times) but after 4 times yesterday I got bored and watched Hoarders instead.  I love that programme!

Without further ado, let's have a look at WIP #1.  This is where I was at before Christmas.

When I cut the pieces, I didn't cut the curved bits for the leaves and nuggets, so all that is having to be done as I go along, slowing me down considerably.  Also slowing me down is the necessity of having a good old gossip with the other glass classers every week.

Here's where I got to in the first class of the year, last week.

Oh dear, did I really only put two pieces in?  I must have been gossiping madly!

Yep, definitely only two pieces!  Below are some terrible photos showing this week's work.  I'm so sorry the photos are rubbish, there's the usual excuse of not seeing daylight, also my downstairs windows have a special film on to stop people staring in and it does block the daylight a little.  Because of this, I tend to take photos upstairs, but I can't be lugging this upstairs for a photo op - it's over a metre wide!

Now that feels like progress.  I have to spend the first 10 minutes of each lesson replacing bits of glass and lead pins as the board no longer fits in my car.  It fitted in the boot of my Focus, lying down.  It clearly doesn't fit in the boot of the Mini, but it also doesn't fit on the back seat.  It ends up tilted to one side and over the course of my journey (I live in speed bump city and it's windy, hilly roads to Lufbra) it ends up propped up behind the front seats, pulling out pins as it goes!  I think I'm going to have to borrow the Focus off Mr CA next week, I'm sure he'll be gutted! 

Not bad work there, I even did that nugget.  Piece number 1 - the green one on the left - is the first piece I've found that's actually cut to the right shape and size and doesn't require bandsawing down!

Before I go, I've been awarded a blog award by Anna.

There are rules ...

1. Answer the 11 questions posed by the person who nominated you
2. Give 11 facts about yourself
3. Nominate 11 other bloggers for the award
4. Post 11 questions for your nominees to answer
5. Tell them you have tagged them and pay it forward

I'll answer the questions, after all I know I'm just completely fascinating, but I'm not going to pass the award on, there are too many bloggers that don't like awards and I don't want to risk offending anyone.

So, here are the questions Anna asked me:

Sweet or salted ? Sweet, though I do love salt too and could drink soy sauce out of the bottle if it weren't deemed socially unacceptable

Day or night ? Night, I'd be nocturnal if I could

Happy or sad ? I'd like to be happy but I'm often sad

Generous or selfish ? I hope I'm not selfish...

Winter or summer ? I live in England, winter and summer are the same thing.  I'd pick a real winter over a real summer anyday, I hate the hot weather.

White or black ? Black, I'm a fatty!

Beach or mountain ? Neither.  I don't do lying on the beach (I'm very blond with very white skin.  The sun burns me without the tanning stage.  I have to wear factor 50.  In England) and I don't do crazy exercise like mountain climbing

Warm or cold ? Right now I'm quite chilly

Religious or not ? Absolutely not

Crochet or knit ? I think you all know the answer to this question!

Champagne or fruit juice ? Hmm, I don't really like alcohol, though champagne is the exception.  I can't stand fruit juice, it's gross. 

So, 11 facts about me.

1. I'm allergic to oranges, plasters (band aids), detergent and soap.  Oh, and anti-histamines.

2. My first pet was a Russian hamster called Dribble.

3. I got shouted at by a Russian soldier for having my hands in my pockets while viewing Lenin's body.

4. I now own 7 Cath Kidstone mugs.  Yes, I like the designs but I also love the massive size of them.  I love Orla Keily but won't buy her mugs as they're the silly little ones.
5. I can't use a pen without getting it all over my hands.  I'm like a child.
6. I only own three pairs of work trousers.  The zip is broken on one and I have to keep it up with a paper clip, or spend all day zipping it back up.
7. I love chips, cheese and gravy.  English chips and English gravy - not the American versions which would be crisps with some kind of grey sauce.
8. I have nearly 12,000 pins on Pinterest.  No, I don't intend to make them all.
9. I am currently eating a mini chocolate donut.
10. I am only 5"1.  I used to be 5"2.
11. Onions are the work of the devil.