Anyone here do stained glass

[ilovepcot]

professionally or as a hobby? For me, it's purely a hobby.

 

[Duchie]

I picked it up as a hobby many years ago. Got my brother hooked on it as well. The biggest thing I ever made was a custom designed window for our house. DH is still upset that we didn't bring it with us when we moved. Since having kids I haven't worked with it much, though.

 

[doxdogy]

I have always wanted to do this as a hobby. Is it hard? What is involved in doing it?

 

[Robinrs]

I know, shoot me, I do FAUX stained glass...

I use the liquid paints and leading and I get the look without cutting myself!

 

[ilovepcot]

Robinrs......BANG! BANG! Sometimes when some of my projects have gotten a bit overwhelming, I've asked myself WHY didn't I settle for the faux stuff, too? You know, you're close to Armstrong Glass and I DREAM of making a visit there!

Duchie......how could you leave that window???!!!! Maybe you can get back to glassing before long and make your most gorgeous piece yet.

And Doxdogy......stained glass isn't hard to learn...... I'm even teaching myself! Takes longer that way but it can be done. The main thing is, you can't get in a hurry and must have a great deal of patience. I'm told that glass as a hobby is quite costly when compared with many other hobbbies. If you're really interested, take a look at the Warner-Crivellaro website. They even have a chat board for anyone needing help. I've relied heavily on them the past couple of years! PM me if you'd like to know more.

 

[Robinrs]

I've been to Armstrong Glass many times! Mostly to get ideas and copper lead tape which I use on windows. I got an impromptu class one time that CONVINCED me that I'm not CUT out for the real thing!!

BTW, Gallery Glass is fun and looks authentic! I used it on the windows of my garage and all of my neighbors asked about it. I've since sold the house and 6 years later the new owners still have it up!

 

[Micca]

DW used to do to quite a bit with stained glass. She would make some really nice stuff. Then about 21 years ago, twin DDs came along and DW ran out of time(and the stained glass room turned into the nursery).

 

[Lisa F]

I did stained glass as a hobby when I lived in Houston. I took a class at a wonderful little shop and they let anyone who wanted to come in, work in the shop and use their more expensive equipment (grinders mostly). You had to have your own toolkit of glass cutting tools and soldering irons. The best part is that you could buy glass as you went and they would let you lay out your templates on the glass, cut that piece off and buy just what you needed, so minimal scrap (they sold their glass by the pound). Actually, scratch that.. the best part were the wonderful people there! The second best part were the supplies.

I also used to do quite a bit of work at home (mostly foiling and soldering) when we had a house, but since we left Houston we have been living in tiny apartments in the DC area, so my glass is packed away. I somehow managed to collect TONS of glass (literally, that stuff is heavy!) and I think I was addicted like people who sew are addicted to fabric, buying pretty glass whenever I saw something that struck my fancy for a "later project." My husband's grandmother, who I loved dearly as well, passed away a few years ago and I inherited all of her glass as well and I would like to make something otu of it someday as a tribute to her. She is the one who got me into doing stained glass.

We are buying a 130 year old house that has stained glass in every room (it's not leaded, just squares but it's everywhere)! When I saw that, I knew it was meant to be my new home... plus there is a large garage and basement with plenty of room for a workshop for me, yay! I'm hoping to be able to work on stained glass again because I really miss it. Some people like to do needlework but I just like culring up in a chair in the evenings with a pile of cut glass on my lap (edges ground so no cuts!) foiling away. I really miss it!

 

[ilovepcot]

Micca.....time for that "nursery" to be turned back into DW's glass studio! She'd be amazed how much easier glass is to do now than 21 years ago......great new tools!

Lisa F.....All glassers dream of a shop like the one you visited in Houston! Your new home sounds like a dream! Read in your profile that you're an architect.....so's my Dad! Do you have any major structural changes for this new home or are you content to pretty much leave things as they are? Will be verrry interested in hearing all that you do with this wonderful new house. Sheer nosiness makes me curious as to how an architect sets up her very own glass studio!!! Definitely want to hear how you tackle that! And.....CONGRATULATIONS!!!

 

[BHFan25]

I took lesson also. It was one of the hardest, frustrating things I have ever tried. I still have my project though. But before I lost my religion, I gave up stained glass!

Like RobinRS I stick to gallery glass. *bang* bang*

I did it on my beauty shop's front door window and after about 7 years I peeled it off. My clients thought I replaced the window!

 

[PenskeSth1]

I use to do stained glass alot. Now it is all packed in boxes in our shed DS came along 5 years ago and I haven't touched it since. It is alot of fun along with alot of work. Maybe someday I will go unpack it.

 

[Snowwark]

I have a dear friend who does some wonderful stained glass work. He does it in his basement and has recently started getting paid for some of his work.

The following picture is his lastest piece. He designed it (Celtic knots) too. It was for a friend of his, and is sitting in a specially built frame, in a skylight.

The picture really doesn't do it justice at all, it's a gorgeous piece!

 

[Lisa F]

ilovepcot, thanks! Actually "architect" is the short version of what I do. I am finishing up my master of architecture with a certificate in historic preservation and I can't technically call myself an architect until I am licensed (after 3-5 years of practice under my belt) buuuuut close enough for most people I suspect!

As far as any structural changes, since I'm a bit of a preservation nut, probably not! Maybe someday we will do an addition if we need the space but for right now we can barely afford paint and a wallpaper steamer after buying the house. We're buying in metro NY and it's REALLY tough for a young couple buying their first house to break into the market, but I'll quit whining for now.

If you want to see what the house looks like now, here is a website I put together to share with people on a decorating forum in order to get some feedback on some of my ideas. As you can see, the stained glass is very plain, but it's everywhere and positively sparkles. our soon to be house. We are closing on thursday but the process has been extremely painful and uphill so keep your fingers crossed that things go smoothly. NOTHING has gone smoothly so far! As far as a glass studio, after all of the wallpaper is down!

Snowwark, that's gorgeous! I actually haven't done any larger pieces myself, mostly small ones. I would love to tackle something more ambitious!

 

[Nancy]

I do the Gallery Glass too. I have made Christmas ornaments and mainly suncatchers. Joannne Fabrics sells small glass shapes that already have a hole drilled in them. I have used the larger glass blanks for suncatchers. I enjoy doing this, it is relaxing and I like how they look.

 

[Mamu]

Took a class in stained glass many years ago (over 20) Haven't touched it in years though.

I did a lot of repairing of old windows. Would find windows at flea markets that had broken glass. Took them apart, replace the broken pieces, relead them then frame them.

My children have taken them for their homes. I still have a few that are hung in some of my windows.