Stained-glass panel gets new life

Hope Lyon, who bought the house at auction last October and is restoring it, found some broken panes in the window and decided to take it to Custom Glass Etchers in south Stafford.Owner Cindy Hughlett is in the process of expanding the business to include a stained-glass operation called Anchors Aweigh.The name is a nod to her naval officer husband, and their ability to drop anchor in one place after moving so frequently during his career.

At her studio, Hughlett will not only be doing glasswork, but also providing a source of supplies for art-glass enthusiasts who now must travel to Richmond or Northern Virginia to find items.

She said she hopes to offer classes on staining glass in the future.

Hughlett said the glass panel Lyon brought in was damaged, but very repairable.

"It's as old as the house," she said, calling it an example of English muffled glass. The wood frame was in decent shape.

The toughest part was matching the original pigment of the stained glass, but she's pleased with the result.

Hughlett took over the etching business from Howard Lee, who last year moved to Florida and open a glass-etching business there.