Stained Glass

Working with stained glass is a satisfying and creative hobby that produces stunning results from the start. It is easily learned and once you have the basics under your belt, you can work on your own at home. The fruits of your labours are a continual delight and bring light and colour into any space.

We have all seen stained glass work on some scale. There are the elaborate windows in churches and cathedrals, which help create the sense of awe present in these places. They are a far cry from the brightly ?coloured sun catchers we see in craft shops and markets, yet both are made using the same basic techniques. It can be fun to make some small pieces at first, but before long most people would be ready to tackle a bigger project like a window. In fact, my first project was a small stained glass window, and with the help of my lovely teacher, it was a success and spurred me on to do more.

The term stained glass can refer to the actual glass which has been coloured in the manufacturing stages, or the work of cutting and constructing designs with it to create decorative pieces. It is an old skill which has grown an evolved over time, and still has a big following. Some skilled practitioners have made it their profession, and have developed ways of achieving significant objectives. Stained glass work is commonly used to bring light into a space in a controlled way as the colours filters glare and provides privacy, making it perfect for windows where both illumination and seclusion are needed.

The window’s theme can reflect the place it is in, for example, biblical scenes in a church, or a coat of arms in a stately home. Nowadays, you are just as likely to find new-age scenes or Eastern symbolism in practitioner’s rooms, or private homes. Many homes also have wildlife-themed scenes to complement their setting.

Stained glass work can be as simple or complicated as you like, and this makes it easy to choose a suitable piece to begin with. Have a look at some books in your library, or see the designs on the internet to get some ideas. See if there is a craft shop that deals in stained glass, or a stained glass studio where you can go and watch and ask questions.

It’s a really good idea to learn from a skilled person at first. I signed up for an adult education class, run by the local council. It was at a very reasonable cost, although I had to spend about $100 on basic tools and glass, but that was because I chose a relatively big project. Smaller pieces like a sun catcher would have been considerably cheaper .We spent the first classes learning the fundamentals and practising cutting glass, and planning and designing our venture. Then we had several weeks to complete our work in a series of stages which were explained and demonstrated to us by our tutor. We all finished our course with a completed project of some sort, and many of us signed up for another term of sessions. It was such a lot of fun, I met some lovely people and we all looked forward to our weekly get-togethers in the workshop. I was pregnant at the time, so I had to take a few extra safety precautions, but that in no way hampered me. It was a very creative time of my life!

Stained glass work is the sort of hobby that can change your life. It’s a great release for those creative urges that your job doesn’t satisfy. It gives you the scope to make beautiful, personal presents for friends and family. Your home will look completely different, illuminated with your works of art. If you have ever wondered how to do it, give yourself the chance to find out. Stay with us for more colourful experiences with stained glass.