The last couple of months last year were pretty hectic with work, to say the least. For me it is a time of many awards and presentations as well as Christmas gifts large and small. Many I had no time to photograph.
I did take a few though and I have added them below. The Guys Hospital Trust awards took place as normal, I have completed their awards for a number of years now, smaller monthly Care awards as well as the major annual awards. This year, being the Olympics, they had run an extra group of awards and I had to create some engraving with quite tricky hand painted colour infill. The colours blended with a rainbow effect for the logo and then I had Gold Silver and Bronze to include. I mixed my own bronze colour by adding a little of the black paint to a deeper gold paint. I sandblasted deeply first to contain the paint. These paints are NOT permanent and would not be suitable for anything which would be washed regularly.
These are rather lovely heavy lead crystal whisky decanters, they make excellent presentations. They are £47.36 before engraving.
An interesting subject to engrave, a daddy-long-legs, but with maximum accruacy as it was for a serious bug expert, to put it lightly! This is an optical crystal cube.
On several occasions I have been asked to re-create a major award, where the original is handed back and the winner gets a small token as a reminder, or when the same piece is awarded to two people to share. Once I engraved large crystal bowl for a winner of the Chelsea Flower Show, this one was for The Francis Elkin Award. The glass is a piece I had in my showroom for some time, a spectacular large hand blown and very old trophy shape vessel with the most beautiful sounding ring, it even rang when I sneezed on one occasion!!! I had been looking at it an waiting to be inspired with a masterpiece, but had not come up with an idea before my dear friend spotted it and decided it would be perfect for what they wanted!!! I had bought it years ago off a deceased estate of an engraver (who no doubt had also been looking at it and waiting for something special to engrave)
I did not really want to part with it yet but I had no choice but to give in, it was indeed perfect for the job, it was its destiny if you like. I wonder if magnificent glass objects have a special soul?
I love engraving the subject of trees, why I don't know, so I was delighted when I was asked to engrave these for a gentleman in the UK by his daughter who lived overseas. Quite special.
I was asked by a returning customer, to engrave another special gift for her husband. They have some meaningful memories regarding the subject and it was well received according to a lovely email I got from the recipient which brought tears to my eyes! What a sop I can be sometimes! This is a stunning heavy Atlantis Crystal decanter.
I had this gentleman ask if I could copy this old engraving. It had been broken whilst being framed. I had not heard of the engraver and aparently it was pretty old. It appeared to have been engraved with a diamond point, very neatly, so I engraved it in a similar style but with my drill, copying it as acurately as I could. The glass used was non reflective 3mm glass. An interesting exercise. I signed it with both my name and the original name.
Sometimes a simple monogram on a beautiful delicate Dartington Crystal port glass is just the job!!
These are great little glasses which I have in stock, the Glencairn Glass. I have my Scotch out of one at home, especially shaped for the nose.
Then it was December and we were OFF!!! 5 weeks holiday in New Zealand, to spend valuable quality time with my 2 sons, my grandson, friends, sunshine, golf,....and more golf!
....oh boy, then back with an icy bump!
My golf experince will be rather different from now (once I can get back onto the course) as I am now very proud and delighted to be the Lady Vice-Captain of Halesworth Golf Club
(18th white...I mean green...pictured below).
(18th white...I mean green...pictured below).
My morning dog walks of late are pretty spectacular!
....and pretty chilly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
...anyway, then I decided to do a quick new video whilst things were not too busy yet, I have been thinking of this theme for some time. I am FAR from an expert at filming and just enjoy playing with the very old camera (with remote control) and some decent software (which I know about 10% of how to use)
It is a light hearted look at basic glass engraving.
Stay safe out there and be happy!!
CLICK HERE to go to my main website Lesley
Pyke Limited - Glass Engraving
