It was Open Shed day way back in May….and the day had already got off to a good start. The Brewery Arts Centre in Kendal had just phoned me to say I was one of the lucky reserves (i.e.. I answered the phone!!) to get tickets from the waiting list for ‘The (beautiful) South’ performing that very night.

And then Liz turned up with a most wonderful commission under her arm! (We had first met at Rheged when she admired my work there and now here she was again, all the way from Dumfries!)

She also thought she was having a good day as that very morning she had viewed my blog to find my latest post featuring her beloved Belted Galloways!

And so the connection was forged.

From a wee bundle of photos and a couple of dimensions, I later set to drafting up Liz’s panel. The brief was it had to include Liz’s new farmhouse and a belted galloway.

We to-d and fro-d for a bit and soon a couple of saddle-back pigs were to join the scene. Some time was spent getting the layout just right and selecting the glass colours and then with sizes finalised I started cutting.

Simple shapes were to be enhanced with painted detail.

The vitreous paint was built up in many layers to create depth, intensity and detail.

Then it was fired…….leaded…..soldered…..grouted and polished.

Liz came down to collect it last Saturday and I hope to hear soon that she has successfully fitted it above her new front door.

Yes, a truly belting project….enjoyed from start to finish!