This project started with a visit to the site in Tehachapi, California. Walking the site with the client, it became clear that the subject of the window would be the old Oak trees that grew from rock out-croppings with a background inspired by the sweeping landscape of Central California.

Theodore Ellison has partnered with Tiger Rug to create a line of high-quality wool and silk designs handmade in Nepal. While the team and production facility in Kathmandu survived the earthquake, the recovery effort will require international assistance. Through the month of May, all proceeds from the Theodore Ellison Collection for Tiger Rug will be […]

As our 16th year comes to a close, we’d like to thank everyone for their enthusiastic support over the years. All of us wish you the best in the New Year! This gnarled pine tree window surrounds the corner of a dining room in Mill Valley, California.

Last spring I was contacted by Ariana Makau of Nzilani Glass Conservation to see if we could assist with finding a glass for the restoration of a window by Bruce Porter for the Swedenborgian Church in San Francisco, a National Historic Landmark. At that point I was deep into researching and documenting the stained glass […]

I’m pleased to introduce The Dunsmuir Door, a new collaboration between my workshop and Shawn Kammerer of The Craftsman Door Company. We’ve worked on many projects over the years and I can say without hesitation; his work is the best there is. He’s got that combination of aesthetic sensitivity and outstanding craftsmanship that is too rare these days. […]

This week I learned that a portion of the Glasgow School of Art had been damaged by fire. My first thought was if the library had been damaged. As it turns out, it’s completely gone. More than the obvious losses; the original hand-carved woodwork, the dinged and dented rush seating, the books, the inventive overhead […]

Anyone can walk into a 24 Hour Sign Shop and have a vinyl sign ready the next day. However, if your message is ‘I am in business and will be here for a long time’, nothing says that quite like leaded glass signage. On a recent trip to Memphis I saw this unbelievable terracotta building […]

I got a call from someone asking for help replacing damaged glass with old-looking wavy window glass. Normally this isn’t the sort of thing we do, but since he lived in Oakland and wanted to do the right thing for his historic home, I agreed to take the job. Most glazing contractors can’t be bothered […]

In coordination with Oakland Heritage Alliance, I’m hosting my first-ever open studio! Theodore Ellison Designs has been making historically-inspired art glass, lighting and mosaics for homes all over the country from his East Oakland studio for the past 15 years. This studio visit will include a presentation of his work and approach to design, a […]

I made this window for the kid’s room of a long time client. They had an issue with too much light coming into the room after bedtime so we came up with the idea to make this window out a custom glass I had left over from another project. For added interest I added 3 […]