The Process

1.  The first thing I do when I want to make a stained glass piece is draw a design.  I have learned from experience how to make shapes and lines that will work for stained glass.  Notice how the lines connect to each other.

2.  The second step is to decide what glass I want to use for my piece.  I chose to be true to the red of a maple leaf in autumn, but chose the background glass (on the right) because it was so pretty and unique, like a painting.

4. Putting in the patina chemical that turns the solder black

5.  Then I use a diamond head glass grinder to make the shape more accurate and "roughen up" every side of the pattern piece.  This gives the copper foil some tooth to grip onto.

6.  This is when I put the cut glass pieces together to see if they fit and if I want to change something.  I changed one of the cut pattern pieces because it was too small and I didn't like the color.