Stained Glass Swallow

I tried to post this yesterday but I couldn't upload any pictures. Now that I can, here is the post!

Bird suncatcher hanging up

I can't believe it's over two weeks since my last post, how time flies! Anyway, I've been off this weekend which has been lovely and today I've been getting back to my stained glass. It was my Nana's 80th this week so I wanted to make her something and I decided on a bird suncatcher. I did this design a while ago and decided it would be perfect for the occassion. I did swallow type colours as I had lots of bits of blue and a few bits of red and I love swallows. I think the red really finishes this bird off. I've also done the soldering on a leaded piece I started months ago. I will eventually finish it! Again, it has a bird theme (but I'm not obsessed, I just like the shapes and colours!)

Design and cut glass

The finished suncatcher

Catching the sun(!)

Butterflies

Butterfly in the window

I was working for Carlisle Day Services today in one of the units. One of the service users asked me if we could make butterflies, which sounded like a good idea to me. So, I cut some templates (two identical 'outlines' for each butterfly) and got the service users to cover one of the outlines with bits of different coloured tissue paper. We then stuck the second outline over the top, sandwiching the tissue paper in, and added pipe cleaner antennae. I think the resulting butterflies are quite beautiful and cheering, especially on such a wet and miserable Monday!

Person responsible for butterflies!

Proud butterfly maker

Another completed butterfly

Stained Glass Owl #2

So, this is my second stained glass owl. I made him much simpler than the first one (learn from your mistakes!) and the combination of practice and a simpler design has led to a better finish I think. I'm really pleased with his eyes, which are glass nuggets held in place with wire. My course has just finished but I'm looking forward to carrying on and improving. I've almost finished my first leaded piece as well so I must crack on with that.

Stained glass owl

Last year I started a creative glass evening course at Trinity (Carlisle.) I really enjoyed it as it is quite different to anything else I've done. I've just finished the piece I was working on and although it is far from perfect I'm very happy with how it has turned out. It's done using the copper foil technique, as favoured by Tiffany, and is about 25 cm high. I'm looking forward to the course re-starting this week and having a go at leaded glass. In the mean time, I'm off to design my next copper foil project!