Math!

I'm grateful to be working on several commissions at once because one project is on hold due to backordered supplies and another needed time for a solution to work out in my mind. About a month ago, I received a call from a client in Boone who wanted two stained glass pieces to fill the arched windows you see in the photo above. When I initially went to measure the windows, the client said that someone else would create wooden frames for the stained glass. With that in mind, I took some basic measurements, assuming the frame maker would handle the precise shape of the arches. My task would be to craft the stained glass to fit into those frames. However, shortly after, the client changed his mind and decided against using wooden frames. That left me with the challenge of figuring out the exact curve of the arches. Knowing the height and width of the window wasn’t enough—I needed to calculate the precise shape of the curve at the top. Thankfully, my client provided a helpful clue: the arc was part of a circle with a 13-foot radius. While I understood the math, translating that into a real-world drawing required some extra thinking and hands-on creativity. My husband and I used an old-school method: I tied a wire to a pencil, measured out 13 feet with a tape measure, and drew the arc right on the floor of my studio. Now, we're bending zinc to match the curve, and soon I'll head to Boone to test the fit. Hopefully, all the planning pays off and it fits perfectly. Then the drawing can be finalized and construction can begin. In the meantime, the backordered supplies for the other project have arrived too!