Spring is the time of the flowers.  The attached picture is of a tulip in the rain.  One of my most recent listing of small panels I added for sale on my etsy shop  https://www.etsy.com/listing/166029056/tulip-in-the-rain-stained-glass-large?

Just a note for new glass artists about copper foil tape.  Copper foil tape comes in a variety of widths, the most common being 3/16", 7/32" and 1/4".  The width of tape on your glass determines how wide your solder line will be.  I prefer the 7/32" most of the time, as it is wide enough to hold the glass pieces together, but narrow enough that you notice the glass more than the solder.  If you buy Venture Tape, the color of the roll base determines the thickness (mil) of the tape.  I prefer the 1.5 mil (white roll base) because it is heavy duty enough that the soldered tape will not tear or crunch up with cleaning of the stained glass panel after soldering and during the polishing of the panel.

I prefer to use copper backed tape for glass that is opaque, and silver backed tape for clear or transparent glass and mirror.  The silver backed tape will tear easily if you don't use a thicker mil tape.

  

The following is a post that was posted back in 2009.  Sadly, this very cross was placed in my 28 year old son's hand in his casket, before his burial in October of 2011.  He and I, the year before, placed one in the hand of his best friend from pre-kindergarten, when he passed away suddenly.

I have an interesting story about these crosses.  Several years ago, a neighbor of mine's 30 something son died.  Of course she, and the rest of the family were devastated.  She came to me as asked if I could make her a cross to put in her son's casket.  I promptly made 3 crosses, with beads attached.  One for the casket, one for her youngest son, and one for her.  They were a gift, free of charge to her showing my sympathy for her loss.  I believe she will associate that cross I gave her with comfort of feeling her son is being protected by a higher power, giving her some peace in her heart.

I have wanted to list some of these crosses on etsy, but haven't been able to make another since this time.  It is a very comforting gift for the family of a lost loved one.

I have another picture of this cross hanging, and a gorgeous blue cross (this was the cross JC and I put in Michael's hand in his casket). There is one more that was given to an uncle of mine, Roy, at a party for him.  Just very appropriate, I believe he liked it...he is now passed on also.

Fall is in the air...Wisdom comes with what you let go of, not what you hold onto.  The fall colors of this stained glass heart remind me of how wonderful crisp clear days makes me feel alive....

Actually, I will add Redbird too, doesn't it look like it's snowing outside?

The best styles and materials of early glasswork are to be found in churches where the purpose of the window was to enrich the building, creat emotion and depict scenes of Biblican history for the benefit of worshippers who could not read.

Tip of the week - Cutting Inside Curves

Inside curves are the most difficult cuts to score and break.  I still have difficulty breaking deep inside curves on the first try.  You might try the design on cheap clear glass (such as that used in picture frames) before trying on your actual pattern glass.

Trace your pattern piece onto glass, aligning outer edges of curve with edge of the glass.

Score the inside curve of the pattern piece.  Then make several smaller concave score lines on the outside of the design (similar to dress patterns when you have a seam line and a cutting line).

Using breaker or combination pliers, remove scallops, one at a time, beginning with the one closest to the edge of the glass.  Use a pulling action with the pliers rather than a downward motion.  Position jaws of pliers at either end of score line, not in the middle.

Continue to break away the scallops until you reach the initial sore line.  Remove it and proceed to score and break away the pattern piece from the larger glass sheet  (don't cut your entire pattern piece away from the larger piece of glass that you are using until you have cut this inside curve first.  There is less chance of breakage.)

This technique was (for the most part) quoted from Torlen & Shannon's "The New Stained Glass" book.  This book is a recommendation by me for the beginner stained glass artist.

Tip of the Week

I never thought too much about silica dust floating around while grinding until recently.  White speckles are dried droplets of water that contain ground glass (silica).  If they are brushed off your clothes, they usually become dust that is easily spread.  When inhaled, it can lead to a disease called silicosis, for which there is no cure. 

The severity of this problem is related to the length of time spent grinding, cutting and creating spatters.  The length of time being exposed and smoking both worsen silicosis.  Wearing an apron while grinding or cutting may help to keep the dust off work clothes.  Chang clothes before leaving the studio (place work clothes in a pillowcase to take to the wash, wash pillowcase too),  This helps to limit the spread of silica dust.--Dr. Fleming Fallon 

Tip of the Week

Ever wonder why pink glass is so expensive and hard to find?  Pink glass is expensive because it has gold in it.  It is hard to find because it is hard to make (and it's expensive).  The "gold" in "gold-pink" identifies the glass as being colored with actual gold.  It has nothing do do with the color gold.--Eric Lovell of Uroboros Glass

Fleur de lys

This is a commission piece. I had already done one for the lady as a wedding gift for her daughter. She liked it so much I had to do one for her, this time only the fleur de lys as a suncatcher. As I was piecing together, the 3 short bars near the bottom wanted to flip flop and not be stable. I tried thin flat copper pieces inbetween the pieces of glass and even on the outside, trying to stabilize the piece so as not to bend. Nothing worked, so I took 2 lengths of tinned copper wire and braced the piece on the back. I was afraid it would distract from the overall look, but it was the only thing that would work. It was challenging (beside the bracing problem) in that she gave me the piece of glass to make it from, and it was barely bigger than the end results. I only broke one piece cutting out, but I really do hate those inside curves. I don't use a saw, so sometimes it is difficult to get the shapes I want.