Stained Glass Looking Through My Window

Creating stained glass windows is an art that has been around for centuries and really started to flourish around the 10^th or 11^th century. There are churches and monasteries in Britain that were using stain glass windows in the seventh century.

I myself have always loved the beauty of stained glass and decided after receiving a window hanging as a gift, to take a class to learn how to make a few pieces myself. At first I was all thumbs, but being determined to make a few creative pieces I persevered and after a few months of classes I achieved what I wanted making window transoms, a window insert for my front door, lamps, flowers, butterfly's gifts for people and more. 

Making any piece of art can be very rewarding, fulfilling and gratifying. For anyone that would like to try their hand at stained glass I would recommend taking a class at your local college or find out if there is a private stained glass workshop that offers classes. Many stores that sell stained glass will have classes with qualified instructors.

Once you know the basic techniques you can then set up a studio in your home with all the needed equipment. In my basement I have a workshop set up complete with all the tools needed to design and create stained glass art. Tools that you will need to set up your own shop include a glasscutter, grozing, breaking and running pliers, soldering iron with a ¼ and 3/8 inch interchangeable tip, and glass grinder. Ongoing supplies include lead solder, copper foil, flux, patina, and your glass. Safety glasses are a must when working with glass as shards and small pieces of glass can fly all over the place when cutting or grinding. All of these tools and supplies can be bought at a stained glass store or you can order them online at various web sites. Tutorials, free down-loadable patterns and many tips for designing and creating your own stained glass can be found online as well.