September 20, 2009
Issue #009 All About Holiday Projects
Welcome to all stained glass enthusiasts. These Stained Glass Gems
have been found during my frequent browsing and deep digging for helpful and or unusual stained glass web sites, as well as other information pertaining to stained glass. I have a long list that I will share with you over the months ahead. I do hope that there's a gem or two that will brighten your day and be helpful during your stained glass journey.This month's issue is about holiday projects. With the holidays just around the corner, it's time to start
making decorations and gifts. In the next 3 months we will have Halloween, Thanksgiving, Chanukah, and Christmas.
Over the past year I have scoured the internet for every free pattern available and sorted them into categories.
All of the patterns can be found at: Free Pattern Search
Here are the Christmas Patterns
All other Holiday Patterns are here: Free Holiday Patterns
There are many ideas for presents in every category. The woman in your life might like a panel or suncatcher with her
Favorite Flowers.
Is there a sports fanatic in your life? Sports Patterns or
a Car, Train, or Motorcycle might be just
what they would love to get.
How about a Mirror or Picture Frame,
Clock or Terrarium, or
Lampshade.
Do you want something for The Children?
You'll find nursery rhyme characters among a host of other things appropriate for small children. There are also
patterns for Cartoon Characters.
The animal lover would adore a panel depicting their favorite animal. At Animal Patterns
you'll find a pattern for almost every breed of cat and dog, plus a long list of other animals (both wild and tame).
Have a browse through the categories. There are 59 of them, so I can't possibly mention every one, but I'm sure you'll
find something to make for that special present or to decorate your house.
Here are two web sites that might interest you for projects to make as a gift or just for yourself. This first one has
unique products called Stained Glass Sculptures.
I wish I had the time to make the peacock.
The second one has nothing to do with stained glass, but it is a site I frequently go to. I have made quite a few of the
items. They are very professional looking, and a lot of fun to make. Most of them would make unique gifts for children.
The Toymaker's Workshop. All you need to make any of these is
a color printer, heavy paper, and scissors. Be sure to check out everything along the top of the page. All though everything
is free, the page titled "Free Toys" has many fun and useful things to make.
This web site is actually a blog. I find it amusing as well as inspirational. You might
get some ideas for your own designs, but remember, we can not copy patterns from a web site
unless it states that the patterns/designs are free to use. The designs on this blog are
not free. Art Running Wild shows interesting techniques
for making stained glass panels for outdoors use. I love her sense of humor with her "Feral Glass" pieces.
Glass Campus Forums This forum covers Torchwork, Warm Glass, Stained Glass, Jewelry, Teaching, Selling Your Work (there's a great discussion on how to sell your original patterns), plus other glass related topics.
Warner Crivellaro carries a huge range of Bevel Clusters. Here is their holiday and religious range. You can make up suncatchers and ornaments in a few minutes just using these clusters. No glass cutting involved! And here is their Brass Filigree which can be soldered on to a single piece of glass to give you an almost instant decoration. Angel Wings filigree will make any stained glass angel very special with little extra work. Here is a list of the other Filigree that they carry.
Before you start cutting out pattern pieces that you'll be using more than once, cover the pattern with clear contact paper on both front and back. Those pattern pieces will hold up for a very long time.
I need your help. Within the next year I will be producing downloadable videos on "Learning How To Do Stained Glass". I would much appreciate it if you tell me what areas you struggled with when you were learning stained glass work. What do you feel wasn't covered? What would you have liked more help with? Anything else you want to add? You can send me an email Here.
Here is the Fall SCORE from
Spectrum Glass. As usual, it's full of patterns and glass news. Once you get to the web site you can download
a file that has a fused project guide and 2 patterns of the month.
"Make a Box With a Hinged Lid" is an
ebook that will walk you through making a stained glass box. Read about what is included in the book and how it will
simplify box making. You will get a free gift when you order.
Delphi Stained Glass Supplies
is one of the few places where I buy my supplies. I have certain criteria for where I will shop. Customer
Service and Competitive Prices are at the top of my list. I have found both of them at Delphi. Click on the Art Glass Supplies logo to the left to see what Delphi has to offer.
Do you need a pattern resizer or a design program? I can highly recommend
Pattern Wizard and Rapid
Resizer. They are reasonably priced and you get a fairly long free trial before you
have to commit to paying for them. You have the option of buying one or the other or
both.
Have a look at SmartFlix.com How-To DVDs
You're going to find hundreds of "How To" DVD's for rent. They have some very interesting
stained glass tutorials which can be found at Glass
Just in case you don't know, the Stained Glass Gems ezine is
mailed out the third Sunday of every month. Be on the look out for [Stained Glass Gems] Issue 10 on
Sunday, October 18th.
I want to encourage you to have fun and experiment with your glass. Try new things and different techniques. It's amazing what you can do when you "think outside the box."
Stained Glass Patterns and Tutorials
This is where you can Contact Me