Exceeding A Pottery Barn Hack

Every time I receive a Pottery Barn catalog in the mail I pore over each page, cover to cover, looking for inspiration, and I always find a lot.

I had been looking at a light fixture that they have featured in their catalog and stores for a few seasons now – that one made with Ball jars gathered by their cords.  You know which one I’m talking about?

I’ve been wanting to change out the light fixture over the sink in our kitchen for a long time now.  For starters, we had one of those halogen numbers and it was also a bug catcher.  Even though the fixture was up high and you had to ruse your body to look up to it, the thought of all those bugs caught up in there over my kitchen sink deemed a bit nasty.

Second, I wanted something really beautiful to hang over the sink.  Something with character, and something I could possibly make myself.  After all,  how hard is it to drill some holes in the lid of jars, run some cording through the lids and attach to the electrical box?  All aside, Sean would be doing all that electrical work.  Naturally.

So I set out to find really old jars, thinking that would be my spin.  The older the jars that I can repurpose, the better.  But as I was looking around one of my favorite salvage shops, I came across this cool, awesome looking glass cloche that would be the perfect fixture for over the sink.  Only problem – I would need to figure out how to drill a hole in the glass ball at the top.

I took the cloche to a glass place nearby; showed it to the glass guy that worked there, and he pretty much shooed me out of the place like a bad habit.  He wanted no part of it and said it would break in an instant.

But I wasn’t deterred.

I needed to find someone who specializes in glass and was as passionate about repurposing my now treasured cloche.  So I did what anyone else would do.

I packed it and brought it on vacation.

Yes, along with the 1200 water balloons, buckets, towels and enormous amounts of other gear, I carefully packed the cloche and headed off to hopefulness.

Enter Shane Dorey.  He is passionate about glass and an extremely talented and gifted glass blower.  I showed him the glass cloche and told him what I wanted to do and where I wanted it to hang in our kitchen.  I told him all about the glass guy back home and how he told me drilling a hole in the top would be impossible.

Shane shot me a smile and said to me “You know, I’m really good with a diamond drill.”

I’ve never gotten that line before..

I handed him the cloche and a few minutes later, Shane returns holding the cloche looking mighty proud.  I knew immediately he successfully drilled a hole in that fragile glass and didn’t break it.  Good with a diamond drill he is.  Not a chip nor a crack; just a perfectly diamond-drilled hole.

Back home, Sean ran the cord and wired it up.  And we’re good to go.

This beautiful glass cloche is hanging over our kitchen sink.  What started out to be a Pottery Barn ball jar hack was exceeded by a stunning glass cloche.

Do you have a glass project that you need Shane’s help with, or would you like to give a lovely blown glass gift?  Reach out to Shane.  He is a Glass Master in my book!

ShaneDorey2000@gmail.com