Hestia and Some Blummin Awkward Shapes

Pretty!!

No, dear Reader, I have not taken up interpretative dance and tried to throw a few shapes on the dance floor.  I have been at a day-long workshop on Cutting Awkward Shapes in glass and it was fantastic.

There was minimal use of elastoplasts.

Very little swearing.

And FLAMES!

So let me set the scene.  There is a lot of this.....

And this....

And here is my corner of the work bench....

Clear glass is a bugger to photograph.

There are 1cm wide clear glass stringers on the wooden board.

Trust me, they're there.

I haz cut out a birdy shape, yes I haz!

An hour-glass shaped bit of glass.

I give you the Maltese Cross!!

 You start off with your cartoon beneath your bit of glass....

And you start by making a nice, firm, single run at one of those deep curves.

Then you put in other cuts (as per dotted lines) to take the stress off the glass.

And nibble away at them until you get this:

If I were a dog with two dicks, I could not be more pleased with myself!

Of course, it doesn't ALL go to plan - 4mm glass is tricky to cut a circle and a disc from.

*whispers* There was a slight swear leakage at this point.

How to cut laminated glass - involves spirits and flames!!

Photo does not do the flames justice.  We were squeaking with excitement, reader!

A colleague cutting a circle for a design that she's doing at Evening Class.

So, there were circles, flames, blood, mild swearing, curves and even a bit of cake.

Cannot think of a better way to spend a Saturday!