Issue 007

Welcome to all of you 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.

Thank you to everyone that helped after the last ezine. A special thanks to Theresa for the 8 blogs she recommended. I couldn't believe my eyes as her emails kept coming. Also, I was very impressed with the answers you gave to the question about hanging a zinc framed panel. You people are a real blessing to me. :-)

Anne Ryan Miller Glass Studio be sure to look at her Metal Overlay work...it's a great source for inspiration. To find it, click on the second leaf on the bottom row. And Here is a brief description of how she does her metal overlays.

Do you know of a web site that you think others would enjoy? Let me know about it here.

Here's how to do it: How To 1 and How To 2

Also, here's a Slide Show well worth looking at. Tony Banfield shows his overlay techniques and how to make wire trees for overlay. Tony posts on quite a few forums. I have come to know him through the Warner-Criv forum.

Robert Oddy's The Anatomy of a Commission Robert talks about a custom design he did with copper overlay. There are pictures showing how he does it. It's an interesting article to read, full of good information about making a stained glass window.

Cathy Claycomb's Class Pictures will give you some ideas of what's involved. Cathy teaches classes about her technique called "Hidden Images". It's about choosing a sheet of glass that has unique streaks and swirls, and using it as the background for her copper foil overlay.

Here are some great pictures of Copper Overlay and a short description of how and why it's done Description

Cathy Claycomb's VHS "Hidden Images" is available from her web site. She also has patterns for sale.

Solder Sculpting and Beyond by Kay Bain Weiner is a book that I've had since 2002 when I took a short workshop with the author. This book has many fun projects in it, all of them involving solder. There are sections on Embossed and Textured Copper Overlay, decorative soldering, and a lot of other techniques to make your work unique. I recommend this book to anyone that wants to make one of a kind pieces.

The Score, Spectrum Glass Summer Issue is now available online. It is full of patterns and ideas.

For anyone that enjoys looking at medieval stained glass windows The Medieval Stained Glass Photographic Archive is a new website featuring over 10,000 images of (mainly French) stained glass. The focus is on glass before c.1320.

If you use DiamondCRETE cement for your stepping stones, I recently received this notice: Due to circumstances beyond their control, DiamondCRETE has had to discontinue production.

Delphi Stained Glass Supplies is a place I have bought many supplies from over the years. Some very helpful people work there. I once needed a sheet of a particular Kokomo streaky glass that had the color distribution in a particular sequence. While I was on the phone, the sales person was in the warehouse pulling out glass and describing it to me. When it arrived, it was exactly what I wanted. You can't ask for better service than that!

"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. "Make a Box With a Hinged Lid"

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

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.

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 8 on Sunday, August 16th.

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."