What to know before you start stained glass as a hobby

How we started as hobbyists and grew into a business

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Our story proves how a simple hobby can ignite a passion and become a full-blown profession. Heather and Keith, founders of Different Glass, stumbled into the art of stained glass as a casual creative pursuit. It all started with crafting a terrarium for Keith's mum, which sparked the inspiration to make other small stained glass items, each token of their growing fascination. With time, the scale of their projects expanded, evolving into large, stunning stained glass panels. Their love for the craft went beyond just creating, extending into the restoration and protection of historical stained glass works across Scotland, thereby preserving a piece of history with every restored stained glass panel.

Different Glass was born out of a passionate journey. We hope our story proves that you don't need an art degree or the ability to draw like Da Vinci to start exploring this craft. As you read this blog post, we aim to inspire you to dispel doubts about your artistic skills and trust your instincts. We want to help you discover whether stained glass creation is your perfect hobby, where your creativity can flourish and your unique artistic voice can be heard.

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Where did Stained Glass originate?

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This artistic practice has deep roots. Its peak period can be traced back to the Middle Ages when it was primarily incorporated into the designs of churches and cathedrals. The vibrant stained glass windows added to the architectural beauty and served as a visual narrative for those who couldn't read. Read more about Stained Glass History in our blog.

Today, stained glass isn't only confined to religious spaces. It has found its way into homes, public buildings, and everyday objects like lamps and jewellery. Over many years it has also evolved into a well-loved hobby that marries art & craftsmanship.

What makes stained glass so appealing is its adaptability. It's a craft that respects tradition while embracing innovation. From small ornamental pieces to large, complex window panels, stained glass art can be as simple or intricate as you desire. In short, stained glass offers a versatile, engaging, and satisfying creative experience.

The benefits of Stained Glass as a Hobby

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So, why is stained glass such a popular hobby? Here are a few reasons people get hooked:

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Creative Outlet‍

Love being creative? Stained glass is perfect for expressing your artistic side. Choosing colours and textures to design patterns is about making something completely unique.

Technical Challenge

‍If puzzles are your thing, you'll love the challenge of stained glass. Crafting each piece to fit perfectly into your design is like a jigsaw puzzle, only better because you can design it yourself.

The joy of Creation

‍Creating something using your hands is a unique thrill. When you take a moment to admire your completed piece, you're filled with a profound sense of achievement and pride, knowing it results from your creativity and effort. 

Calming and Healing

‍Crafting stained glass can be soothing; it allows you to disconnect from the hustle and bustle of daily life and pour your energy into creating something exquisite and artistic. Many hobbyists find it a fantastic way to alleviate stress and promote mental well-being.

Ultimately, stained glass is about more than just crafting visually appealing objects. It's a hobby that stimulates the mind, provides tranquillity to the spirit, and allows you to fashion stunning pieces of art that can be appreciated long after completion.

What you'll need to Get Started with Stained Glass

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Let's simplify things and start from the beginning:

Specialised Equipment

‍As with any new hobby, you must gather essential tools; like many hobbies, it requires an initial financial investment; if you are tight on money, then you may want to look for local classes that can provide you with tools. Essential items include:

• Safety glasses - To protect you from glass particles hitting your eye will breaking glass, we can not stress enough the importance of eye protection.
• Safety gloves - To protect you from the glass sharp edges.
• A glass cutter - To score a line in the glass surface in the area you want it broken.
• Breaking pliers - To help create a clean break in the glass.
• Glass Grinder: To smooth the sharp edges of glass, this is especially important for the copper foiling method, as the grinder will create a rough edge to help the foil stick better.
• Copper foil or lead came - To hold the glass pieces together.
• Tallow flux - To help your solder flow and stick better to the copper foil or lead.
• Soldering iron - To fuse you copper foil or lead together.

Choosing Your Glass

‍There's a rainbow of glass types, each with different textures and transparencies. Starting with something straightforward and cost-effective, like clear cathedral glass, can be a good idea for beginners. Once you get better at cutting, you can buy coloured glass without fear of wasting it. If you are located in Scotland, we recommend visiting our friends at Stained Glass Supplies in Glasgow, they will help you find the perfect piece of glass for your project.

Safety First

‍Working with glass means you need to take precautions. Always wear safety goggles and gloves, work in a well-ventilated area (especially when soldering), and keep a clean workspace to avoid accidents.

What's Involved in Your First Stained Glass Project

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Venturing into your first stained glass creation may feel like a huge step, especially if you need more clarification about the process. To help, here's a basic outline of what a beginner's project may entail to see if it piques your curiosity:

Conceptualizing

‍This is your chance to let your creativity shine, remember that this is a design process and your concept should evolve. You'd begin by choosing a simple pattern or creating a sketch. You must consider basic shapes with no sharp corners; this will make it easier to cut glass. During this phase, you'd plan out your individual glass pieces, their colours, shapes, and arrangement.

Glass Cutting

‍This is where things get a bit difficult. You'd use a specialized tool called a glass cutter to follow the lines of your design. This requires a steady hand and some practice; you will fail at first, but that's part of the learning curve. We recommend cutting straight lines to begin with and avoid textured glass like cathedral glass. Instead use flat sheet glass or finding 2nd hand, broken pieces of glass or very cheap glass as your practice pieces.  

Cleaning, Foiling or Leading

‍Each piece needs to be cleaned after cutting. If you are creating a small glass piece like a light catcher, then you would use copper foil tape and apply it around the edges. If you were making something bigger with more weight, like a small stained glass panel, then you would require lead came. 

Soldering

‍Using a soldering iron, apply a soft metal solder to the copper foil or lead to fuse the pieces together. This step is a delicate process that needs care and precision.

Finishing Touches

‍The final stage involves adding elements like a frame or a hanging chain if you were to make a light catcher. And just like that, you've got a completed stained glass piece. 

As you can see, creating stained glass art is a blend of artistry and technical skills. Each project is a journey, from the initial design to the final piece, and every step offers its challenges and rewards. But remember, it doesn't have to be perfect from the get-go. Like any new hobby, there's a learning curve, and your skills will improve with practice.

What to Expect When Diving into Stained Glass

So, you've got a glimpse of what goes into a stained glass project. But what's the long game like? Here's a heads-up about what you can expect as you dive deeper into stained glass creation: 

The Learning Curve

‍Stained glass creation requires a blend of artistic and technical skills. As with any new hobby, it'll take some time to get the hang of things, but take your time. Each project is an opportunity to learn and improve.

The Investment

‍Stained glass isn't the cheapest hobby to start. You'll need to invest in some tools and materials. But consider it a long-term investment—quality tools can last long, and the beauty of the pieces you create can be priceless. 

Time Commitment

‍Projects can take several hours, sometimes over multiple sessions. It's not an instant gratification hobby, but the satisfaction of seeing a project come together piece by piece is well worth the time.

The Community

‍Stained glass has a vibrant and supportive community. You'll find a wealth of resources, tutorials, forums, and groups where you can ask questions, learn new techniques, and share your creations. 

The Rewards

‍Besides the tangible outcome of creating a beautiful work of art, engaging in stained glass offers therapeutic benefits as you immerse yourself in a creative endeavour.

Diving into stained glass artistry is an enriching journey that challenges your creativity and technical skills while giving you a satisfying and therapeutic hobby. It might take some investment of time and money, but the rewards—both tangible and intangible—are genuinely worthwhile.

Are you ready to start a new hobby?

Starting a new hobby is like embarking on an adventure. It's exciting, a little nerve-wracking, and filled with possibilities. Here at Different Glass, the world of stained glass is an experience worth taking. It's more than just a pastime; it's a journey into art, history, creativity, and craftsmanship. From the thrill of designing your first pattern to completing a complex piece, each step in the stained glass journey offers unique rewards. Yes, there are challenges. Yes, there's a learning curve. But, as with any worthwhile endeavour, the benefits you reap—in skills, satisfaction, and stunning pieces of art—are invaluable. So, is stained glass the perfect hobby for you? Only you can answer that. But if you enjoy creative challenges and the satisfaction of making something beautiful with your hands, stained glass creation might be the fulfilling hobby you've been looking for.

Would you be interested in joining an online community of stained glass hobbyists? We are working on online courses to help hobbyists get into stained glass. Sign up here to keep up to date with our offerings.