Making a custom 'Morning Coffee Girl'
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Making a custom 'Morning Coffee Girl' 〰️
1. The Brief
Some clients have a clear idea of what they want, while others look to me for guidance in shaping their concept. This stage is all about collaboration and ensuring we’re on the same page to create something truly personal. For this bespoke piece, my lovely client and regular shopper of MONTI Girls, Kristine, already had a clear idea of what she wanted and how this new custom piece would sit amongst her wall and window art gallery in her home!
‘The idea is to have a Monti coffee girl (me) sitting on a turquoise couch that is in front of a window with curtains. Hanging from the window is another Monti piece. The person sitting on the couch, I would like in undies and a bra, kind of sitting on one leg/foot and the other leg has a knee bent with her foot on the couch….’ .
2. Template Sketch and Colour Palette
Once I had a good understanding of what Kristine desired, and working from a few photos she provided of her lounge, window and a few furnishings she wanted to include, I started sketching a few template layouts for her to choose from. This stage is important to work out the size, shape and any additional personal details, we changed her seating position, the position of the cushion, plants and arm rest before choosing a final template. Next comes the best bit….picking a colour scheme! She wanted to keep similar colours to her surroundings, a teal sofa and curtains, pink cushion, brown hair, fair skin, green house plants. I sent a selection of options from my stained glass inventory and after some changes we landed on the perfect shades and textures. Including my all time favourite aqua water glass (the rippled sofa glass). This is where the personality begins to take form and we can move onto the next stage!
3. Cutting , Grinding, Foiling, Soldering
With the design finalized, it’s time to bring this MONTI Girl to life! I carefully cut each piece of glass by hand, shaping each section to fit perfectly within the design. This part of the process requires patience and precision, as stained glass is delicate, and each cut needs to be just right. Once the pieces are cut, I spend some time grinding the edge of each piece before I can begin the copper foiling process ready to assemble ontop of the the drawn and laminated template ready to solder. The mini Monti in the window was quite fiddly to get as I wanted to get as much detail in that little shape as possible.
Soldering and Finishing Touches
Soldering is where the piece truly starts to come together. I use flux, gloves and a hot soldering iron to carefully fuse the foiled edges together, creating strong, clean lines that hold each piece securely in place. After the soldering is complete, I apply a patina to the joints, adding depth and character to the piece. Finally, I gave her a thorough clean and polish to ensure maximum shine!
5. She’s Gift Wrapped and Ready To Ship!
Before packaging, I added a chain, inspected the finished piece carefully, checking each detail to make sure it meets my standards. I take a few (a million) photos to share with the client as a preview (if requested) and for social media content. It’s always exciting to see their inital reaction and hear how the piece resonates with them.
Each and every MONTI Girl gets the special gift wrapping treatment. I strive to use as much recyclable and/or biodegradable packaging as I can (no bubble wrap or plastics in sight). Now she’e been polished I carefully add padding to the chain, wrap her in corrugated cardboard, white tissue paper and finally add some custom pastel printed tissue paper (the tissue paper is covered in an archive of MONTI Girl illustrations!). I always add a little hand-written note on the back of postcard. Special gift wrapping from a small business adds a personal, thoughtful touch that makes the unboxing experience feel unique and meaningful. Another reason to shop with independent brands! I use ample protective packaging to ensure it arrives safely whilst staying beautifully presented.
You’ve got mail! The Joy of Unboxing
Every custom MONTI Girl is created with care and passion, and my hope is that every customer feels this when they open their package. It’s always an honor to be part of this moment, knowing that each piece is treasured and unique to its new owner. Creating custom MONTI Girls allows me to share a piece of my art with each client in a truly personal way, making the process just as rewarding for me as it is for them. And who doesn’t love a ‘treat yourself’ special something in the post.
Why are people drawn to bespoke art? The most compelling motivations often revolve around uniqueness, personal expression, emotional connection, the value of craftsmanship and taking pride in supporting someone’s passion and livelihood. I enjoy this side of MONTI as I get to connect with customers, bring their ideas to life and create something that embodies a personal journey that they can cherish forever.
Creating a custom MONTI Girl can be a long but thoughtful process filled with detail, colour palettes, 1st, 2nd 3rd drawing drafts, emails, precision, and continuous personalisation. Each piece is unique, crafted to reflect each client’s vision and capture their most treasured moments infused with the vibrant colours and designs that make the MONTI style so popular.