Tom Bishop Show Chicago 2012

I didn't buy very much at the show in Chicago this year. I did order several things, it may be six months before I see them though.

I brought home a candlestick made by Scott Hughes. I asked Scott if he would custom make two lamps for two beautiful glass shades Frank Whittemore blew for me many years ago. I still have 12 or more of Frank's shades I want to do something with.

From Gerd Felka some more wine glasses and another decanter.

I fell in love with a Blue Jay sitting on a ('chipped, rusting, metal') bowl of peaches made by Mary McGrath. I thought it would be fun to have it sitting on an open window in the kitchen over the sink. You may not be able to see that the Blue Jay has pecked into one of the peaches. I tried very hard to photograph it with very little success I'm afraid. It is just one of those pieces you have to see in person.



I also got a gorgeous working clock for the kitchen made by Malcolm Hall. I love his work.




I was very pleased to find lots of supplies I needed. Several tools and paper thin leather.

New Copper Teapot and Brass Bucket For...

I am not sure if I will be using this in the house I am designing but the stove did need a few things. I made another brass bucket for the coal it uses and a much smaller copper teapot to go on the back burner today. Now I must make a coal shovel for it.

This was once the plastic the Chrysnbon parlor stove. It was in my very first post. I thought it was sort of sad looking in plastic. The kit it had lots of bright silvery "nickel" parts. I thought about casting those pieces in nickel silver for a duller look but decided against it.

I also wasn't very happy about the fact the stove was so plain. I wanted to add a lot of decorative embellishment to it. That was done by pulling molds off of tiny brass findings and injecting wax into the molds I made. Then... Those waxes had to be welded (with a hot needle) to the plastic kit pieces, before I cast them all in bronze. Some plastics burn out very well just like casting wax does.

The kit came with a sheet of acetate for the glass inside the stove. I use mica sheets instead which make the stove look like it has been used.

THE EXTRAORDINARY STORY OF....

This story is about a woman (in England) who single handedly dismantled her 15th -century cottage to save it from being demolished.

What a amazing labor of love and hardship. You can see all the photos and read this magnificent story here....

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/property/article-1185210/Moving-house-How-little-old-lady-spent-23-years-single-handedly-dismantling-cottage-brick-brick-rebuilding-100-miles-away.html

In case the link does not translate...

Moving house: How a little old lady spent 23 years single-handedly dismantling her cottage brick by brick and rebuilding it 100 miles away