Whattaya Think?
UNPUBLISHED RESPONSES
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WHATTAYA THINK • SGN #67
UNPUBLISHED RESPONSES • page 9
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I am new to the art of stained glass and I am loving it! I think the most important information for beginners is to practice with the soldering iron. I have been so frustrated wanting my bead to look right. My instructor keeps telling me that I am my worst critic and that with practice, it will become easier. Maybe put some tips in the newsletter about the basics of stained glass. Also, I don't think you can stress enough the safety issues with the glass, hot iron and kiln. Last week in class, I was being very careful with the soldering iron. I was attaching the rings to the back of the piece so I had moved it to the edge of the table. Some of the hot solder dropped off of the gun and landed on my sock which of course burned my leg. It was not too bad—just enough to make me hop around for a minute. So we should always remember to be very careful.
– Barbara Baker
After many years of working with glass, I wish someone would have been more encouraging to me about the ups and downs of starting in stained glass. When I would watch others who had been doing it for a couple of years, the soldering looked so easy. But when I would try it, it became so frustrating and never looked smooth. Cutting the glass looked so easy for them also. It seemed to take me hours to get one piece cut and to fit on the pattern.
Take your time and don't quit. It will work out. We were all there once and believe me, one day it all seems to fall into place and the soldering starts running smoothly, and the glass does fit into the pattern. Start small and keep going, it will become like second nature after a while. The beauty of stained glass is that, even for the beginner, all your pieces will be beautiful. Remember, you never will learn it all. There will always be something new to learn. That’s the beauty of working with glass.
– Patt B
I would tell a beginner to make 3 or 4 smaller windows early in their stained glass career even if they don’t need or want them, to improve on their technique. Get the basics down well, then move on to “bigger and better." The practice will reinforce skills and help with experience. Then they can donate the small windows to a charity auction. Everybody wins!
– Susan M. Brown