| Back in 1985, I had an experience which really was a | | | | a very nice round pattern of a scene with ducks in it |
| set back for me. It was at a time when a lot of | | | | for his first project. He enjoyed the process of |
| pressure was building. I wasn't sure which direction I | | | | selecting the glass and really understood the concept |
| wanted my stained glass art to go. We had | | | | of cutting out his pattern pieces and tracing them out |
| experienced a house fire and I needed to | | | | on glass. Then he began to cut his glass.Now, we had |
| concentrate on rebuilding. I had sold the video rental | | | | already taught him how to cut glass before he laid a |
| part of our business, which was also the part that | | | | cutter on glass which he had purchased and he had |
| brought in income on a consistent basis. But I still | | | | done okay, but as he began to cut his pieces out, he |
| loved stained glass, it was just that the shine was | | | | varied from the instructions we had given him. I told |
| starting to wear off, it wasn't as fun | | | | Milo, he should push the cutter away from himself so |
| anymore.Someone once told me that anything you | | | | he could see where the wheel on the cutter was |
| do to earn your living will eventually become a job. | | | | going, but Milo felt is was easier to pull it towards |
| And I guess that was happening to me, my art was | | | | himself. Then, I had taught Milo to tap under the |
| becoming my job and I spent more time trying to | | | | glass to get the score to run so that he could tap |
| make money, than trying to make good art.But it | | | | directly under the score and get a nice, clean break. |
| was still fun, there was always a renewal of | | | | Milo figured it was easier to turn the glass upside |
| excitement when we began to teach a new series | | | | down and lay it on the table and tap it from that |
| of classes because the students would bring their | | | | side. Consequently, his tapping was often not directly |
| enthusiasm with them and Jeanne and I would be | | | | under the place scored and his glass often broke in |
| reminded all over again about what a great and | | | | the wrong place.Mistakes happen when learning a |
| fantastic art form stained glass construction | | | | new skill, but Milo wouldn't listen. As hard as we tried, |
| was.Then Milo came and took classes. He walked into | | | | Milo was going to do it his own way. I said push, he |
| the studio in his "Missouri Tuxedo." That's a pair of bib | | | | pulled, I said tap from the bottom, he tapped from |
| overalls. He wore no additional shirt over his quite | | | | the top. When he broke a large piece of glass which |
| large frame and he was barefoot. He looked a little | | | | would be the sky in the window, I offered to give |
| like Santa Claus on vacation with his white flowing | | | | him a new piece of glass. But of course, Milo refused, |
| beard and round tummy. He began to ask us about | | | | instead he just jovially said, "No, that will just be |
| stained glass and he caught the excitement of the | | | | another lead line." And so his project went, one badly |
| vision of being able to create his own work of art. | | | | broken and shaped piece after another, with "new |
| So we invited him to join with us during our next | | | | lead lines" springing up whenever a mistake was |
| class and he came. We were happy to have him, but | | | | made.Milo was having so much fun, he decided to |
| we cautioned that you have to wear shoes in a | | | | take his project home and foil and solder it there. At |
| stained glass shop and that a shirt was also a good | | | | that point, I figured it couldn't hurt, he didn't listen to |
| idea.Milo showed up at the appointed hour, full of | | | | a word of advice anyone gave in class.I was wrong.A |
| enthusiasm. He brought his wife along, just to watch. | | | | day or two passed and Milo returned with his |
| That was a common occurrence in Missouri, a way to | | | | completed project. He had foiled and soldered it at |
| get good value from your dollar and give your | | | | home. |
| spouse a chance to get out of the house. Milo chose | | | | |