Hooked On Glass
One of my greatest joys is helping clients realize their stained glass dreams.
Nanci's Stained Glass Story - Hooked on Glass
I have always loved the play of light in the world around me. Nothing captures my imagination like the dancing rainbows produced by the myriad of crystal prisms that adorn my windows. Perhaps it was Pollyanna and "the glad game" or maybe it was my aunt Glenora who gave me my first cut glass piece. When my children were little one of our favourite games was winding up the music boxes and then twirling all the prisms in our kitchen window. Our smiles would then light up the room.
So it is not surprising that in 1982 just after my third child was born, I happened to take a stained glass night school interest course in Tweed. It was just one of those cathartic moments. I had always loved stained glass windows and sun catchers and suddenly there was a course in our local school and I really needed a night out. Since the course was only 10 weeks I pushed our teacher to the limits by pressing her for help in replicating all the flat pieces I already had in my house as well as learning how to do three dimensional boxes and flower pots. I managed to find a lady who would let me use her facilities during the week, so could bring in lots of projects for the teacher's inspection and advice.
This course changed my life forever. The seeds had been planted and a stained glass artist was born!!!! Somehow my creative instincts took flight and I discovered the joys of working in glass. I would like to thank my mother for giving me the gift of working with my hands. I began knitting when I was 5 years old and grew up using my hands to create. The hand eye co-ordination that came from this upbringing enabled me to develop the mechanical skills needed to produce quality stained glass pieces.
Once I started doing glass I needed money to pay for supplies so I took figure skating pieces into the arena where my kids were having lessons and hung them up for sale. Pretty soon I had my picture windows full of sun catchers and a list of orders up on the bulletin board. Then I found stores to take my work on consigment and started taking out booths at art shows. At one point I considered buying a stained glass business in Belleville.
Now 25 years later, my passion for glass is alive and well. It has given me a raison d'etre and an amazing feeling of joy when I see the pleasure my pieces bring to my clients. Every piece has a "personal" story to tell. I did a piece for Dr Roberta Bondar, first Canadian woman astronaut, one for our 24th Lieutenant Govetnor Lincoln Alexander, one for a private eye firm in Toronto, one for a law firm, one for a woman who was dying in her daughters home as a gift from her to thank her daughter after she was gone. Recently I completed a seven window project depicting Canadian scenes. Check out The Hiller Collection. It is no wonder that I call my business Hooked on Glass. The projects never end and the ideas are constantly brewing in my subconscious.
One of the not so great "joys of glass" is moving studios!!! I have had that pleasure 5 different times in the past 25 years, most recently moving from Brockville to Elmira. During the past year my husband built me a funky studio in a big room over our garage. It is wonderful to have such a bright cheery place to work. In April 2008 my daughter Amber and husband Arthur made me some wonderful stained glass shelves to store the glass on and I am ecstatic - no more slicing fingers, can easily find and access the glass when choosing for projects. Don't know how I lived without this for the past 25 years. The wood cost almost $500 and they created four units for easier moving etc. It is amazng how heavy they are. I am very grateful.
My brother Kevin who lives near Boston, has written a nice article about my work.
I can be contacted at nanci.phelan@gmail.com if you want to get glassed!!!!
Browse to view some of my Stained Glass pieces online.
More recent projects and descriptions can be viewed in the following blogs:
Stained Glass Pieces made in 2009
Stained Glass Pieces made in 2010
Stained Glass Pieces made in 2011
Stained Glass Pieces made in 2012
Stained Glass Pieces made in 2013
Stained Glass Pieces made in 2014 and 2015
Stained Glass Pieces made in 2016
Stained Glass Pieces Made in 2018
Stained Glass Pieces made in 2010
Stained Glass Pieces made in 2011
Stained Glass Pieces made in 2012
Stained Glass Pieces made in 2013
Stained Glass Pieces made in 2014 and 2015
Stained Glass Pieces made in 2016
Stained Glass Pieces Made in 2018
Stained Glass Pieces Made in 2022
The Hiller Collection
Stained Glass Work by Students
See additional Free Stained Glass Patterns (this site is currently closed)
The Hiller Collection
Stained Glass Work by Students
See additional Free Stained Glass Patterns (this site is currently closed)
Nanci's Stained Glass Story - Hooked on Glass
I have always loved the play of light in the world around me. Nothing captures my imagination like the dancing rainbows produced by the myriad of crystal prisms that adorn my windows. Perhaps it was Pollyanna and "the glad game" or maybe it was my aunt Glenora who gave me my first cut glass piece. When my children were little one of our favourite games was winding up the music boxes and then twirling all the prisms in our kitchen window. Our smiles would then light up the room.
So it is not surprising that in 1982 just after my third child was born, I happened to take a stained glass night school interest course in Tweed. It was just one of those cathartic moments. I had always loved stained glass windows and sun catchers and suddenly there was a course in our local school and I really needed a night out. Since the course was only 10 weeks I pushed our teacher to the limits by pressing her for help in replicating all the flat pieces I already had in my house as well as learning how to do three dimensional boxes and flower pots. I managed to find a lady who would let me use her facilities during the week, so could bring in lots of projects for the teacher's inspection and advice.
This course changed my life forever. The seeds had been planted and a stained glass artist was born!!!! Somehow my creative instincts took flight and I discovered the joys of working in glass. I would like to thank my mother for giving me the gift of working with my hands. I began knitting when I was 5 years old and grew up using my hands to create. The hand eye co-ordination that came from this upbringing enabled me to develop the mechanical skills needed to produce quality stained glass pieces.
Once I started doing glass I needed money to pay for supplies so I took figure skating pieces into the arena where my kids were having lessons and hung them up for sale. Pretty soon I had my picture windows full of sun catchers and a list of orders up on the bulletin board. Then I found stores to take my work on consigment and started taking out booths at art shows. At one point I considered buying a stained glass business in Belleville.
Now 25 years later, my passion for glass is alive and well. It has given me a raison d'etre and an amazing feeling of joy when I see the pleasure my pieces bring to my clients. Every piece has a "personal" story to tell. I did a piece for Dr Roberta Bondar, first Canadian woman astronaut, one for our 24th Lieutenant Govetnor Lincoln Alexander, one for a private eye firm in Toronto, one for a law firm, one for a woman who was dying in her daughters home as a gift from her to thank her daughter after she was gone. Recently I completed a seven window project depicting Canadian scenes. Check out The Hiller Collection. It is no wonder that I call my business Hooked on Glass. The projects never end and the ideas are constantly brewing in my subconscious.
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One of the not so great "joys of glass" is moving studios!!! I have had that pleasure 5 different times in the past 25 years, most recently moving from Brockville to Elmira. During the past year my husband built me a funky studio in a big room over our garage. It is wonderful to have such a bright cheery place to work. In April 2008 my daughter Amber and husband Arthur made me some wonderful stained glass shelves to store the glass on and I am ecstatic - no more slicing fingers, can easily find and access the glass when choosing for projects. Don't know how I lived without this for the past 25 years. The wood cost almost $500 and they created four units for easier moving etc. It is amazng how heavy they are. I am very grateful.
My brother Kevin who lives near Boston, has written a nice article about my work.
I can be contacted at nanci.phelan@gmail.com if you want to get glassed!!!!
1 comment:
This is such a great story, Nanci. I loved the "history" of your path into being such an artist, and the references to all the people along the way who've helped you. The click-thru version of your pictures gets you to where you really can see the special wire-work that you did on the masterpiece for Joanne's 60th. Bravo!
[I actually made the above comment on November 13, 2007 11:22 AM but am reCopying the comment into your new reworking of this post which is now so much more orderly and easy to follow. Bravo!, and Good Work!]
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