Welcome to the Glass Shed!

One of my favourite childhood memories was standing was standing watching, fascinated by the glass blower manipulating the molten globe of glass on the end of the blowpipe. I was entranced. I could have stood there all day, the glow, the heat, the skill and the wondrous end results... I've always loved the way light and colour works with glass, it probably started there. I mean, there were other visits, to places like tomoatoe farms, but I've never really felt the same pull for a tomoatoe! 🍅

Many years later an opportunity presented itself and I got to "do something you've always wanted", a recommendation from my lovely neighbour later and I was booked into a weekend glass fusing course at Creative Glass Guild in Bristol. Not only did I get two nights (two whole nights!) to myself, but I got to learn about melting glass! The place was fabulous, packed from floor to ceiling with kilns, glass and friendly staff. The course kept us moving introducing all sorts of techniques,we produced a ton of items and I was sold. The next 18 months were spent saving money, gradually collecting materials and learning, learning, learning. 

The biggest issue was finding somewhere to practice my new hobby. My usual place of residence is in our small bungalow filled with small children, husbands, fish and the most bouncy yellow Labrador ever. However, my genius husband is exactly that... And he set about transforming an old shed into the haven of glassiness I had in my imagination.

Introducing the Glass Shed

My dream house? Those found at the base of the White Mountains in New Hampshire. So we thought we might as well take the opportunity to make a mini New England House on the edge of Southampton, why not?!

We had a solid concrete base, so the walls were removed, boarding painted and replaced with a bigger overlap. Sheeting was put inside as extra protection and insulation installed with a 50mm air gap. This was then boarded everywhere with fire board (you can never be too careful!) and I had the tedious job of filling in the gaps, sanding and painting. Not perfect, but not bad for a shed!

I managed to source an awesome upvc double glazed window from gumtree and an old 1907 stained glass window from a house in Winchester ♥ Dan built the other window frames and a unique Dutch door, which personally I think is the best thing ever! I especially like the top security door lock and star on the door handle (little things). 

Lights were from special offers at John Lewis and Dunelm and the shelving and desk built from steel pipe threaded and painted with wonderful scaffold boards from Southampton Wood Recycling Project .

I also have the most middle class drinks fridge as our 18 year old old Smeg fridge finally decided it couldn't stand multiple repairs and family living anymore, but it'll still make the ideal drinks storage. 

Subconsciously I seem to have copied the colour theme from The Walking Dead, the original house for Rick and the Group as they arrive at Alexandria. So it seemed silly not to finish it off with a few geeky details. It's OK to love glass, light and zombie shows, I promise! 

Now I have the space, it's time to get creating...