🦇 HALLOWEEN COLLECTION
Coming September 27th @ 5pm EST!
FAQ
How is the glass made? Do you make it yourself?
Making glass is an industrial process that requires HUGE warehouses and tools! Metal oxides are mixed with silica and melted/fired at extreme temperatures. It's during this process that the glass becomes "stained" with color! Different metals yield different color results, and the price of these oxides is reflected in what I pay for my materials. "Not all glass is created equal."
Where do you buy your glass?
I buy 99% of my glass from physical shops in person! Picking glass in person is important to me, because photos online aren't always how the glass appears in person. Unless I know the SKU# of the type of glass I need, I travel for my materials. Any time I'm in a new city I look for glass shops!
Florida Shops I recommend: Glass Crafters, Sarasota Glass Duchess, Port Charlotte Akala Studios, Clearwater West of the Moon, Tampa Lead Lines, Dunedin Blue Springs Marketplace, Orange City D&L Art Glass, St. Augustine
Do you ever get injured? Is this something I can do at home? Is it safe?
Working with glass, lead, and chemicals is mildly hazardous, and should be taken into account if you're wanting to try this at home.
It's not often that I'm injured by the glass, but we *are* dealing with broken glass, shards, and large pieces of it. Accidents and splinters do happen!
Lead exposure is no joke. Leaded pieces are safe to display in your home, but when working with lead and glass I recommend having a designated area to setup in. I have a separate studio room, and wash myself thoroughly before touching anything else. The flux used for soldering and the patina used to stain the solder lines are chemicals that also need to be contained to your work area.
PPE FOR PROTECTION: Glasses for during cutting & grinding Gloves when soldering Fume mask with a particulate/charcoal filter when soldering Smoke absorber when soldering De-lead soap (the orange stuff)
Advice for wanting to start/tools used?
Stained glass art can be broken down into four basic steps: CUT (SCORE & BREAK), GRIND, FOIL, and SOLDER. PATINA is optional.
Full starter kits are available online from several glass distributors, or check FB marketplace!
What they don't tell you is stained glass art is like 30% WIPING AND CLEANING. Rags and paper towels are our friends! "You clean the glass before you cut. You clean the glass after you grind. You clean the glass after you solder. And you clean the glass after patina. And its probably not clean enough!"
