To begin, let me just say that Stained Glass is a “catch all phrase” that we commonly use to describe a whole variety of materials and colored glasses that you can bring together to craft into many objects that you will find, not only beautiful and decorative and I hope, will include items that are extremely useful, a pleasure to own and display. You can create anything if you have enthusiasm. With time, practice and determination then it is possible to achieve true works of art. What can you create in your mind?
Are ready to get started and what should you start with?
Perhaps a mirror?
A trinket box or a pen holder?
A lamp or a suncatcher?
A wall hanging or what about that “ying and yang” thing and so on and so on.
Anything that you can create in your mind you will be able to make in reality.
Through trial and error you will succeed and you will have learnt how to create lovely objects.
I am sure, and I truly hope that your biggest disasters will become your favorite pieces by which you will recall that exciting journey of discovery. I made my first wall hanging more than twenty years ago and it still survives outside on my garden wall and I often look at it with pride and that sense of achievement.
What do I need to get started?
There are a number of basics tools that you will need and some of these you may already find in your garage toolbox although there are a few essential tools that are unique to this glass craft. These will be listed in the “Stained Glass How To” book.
Also listed are the basic consumable materials that you will need, depending on the type of work that you wish to get started on, and these will include for example stained glass patterns and all the other materials you can find by speaking with your local stained suppliers.
Where can I work?
Apart from the tools above you will need a place to create your works of art and that doesn’t mean a fully dedicated and equipped studio-workshop (wouldn’t that be nice) but you will need a sturdy and uncluttered work space offering plenty of light because light is the essence of this whole art form. It can be a rough sawn wood frame with a heavy plywood top roughly nailed and or screwed together. Above all it should be of a convenient height, big enough, flat level and strong! It will get dirty, hammered and battered I hope! You might have an old desk that you were meaning to throw out, although you might want to raise it up a bit to provide the best working height for you. Maybe you already have a workshop bench in your garage whatever, it doesn’t matter and indeed should not matter as the only important thing is to get started right now!
Stained Glass How To
by Rosemary Nettleton
