Epic Stained Glass Project

I would have never dreamed that I would be doing a massive 200+ piece, 3 window stained glass project this last fall/winter. But Heavenly Father knew I needed something, and my friend Melanie was inspired to ask me to fill three windows in her home with a mountain/barn/cow scene out of stained glass. The project began with a little sketch that, with Melanie's approval, expanded to a full size pattern...

 And it wasn't too long before the pattern was coming alive with actual glass. I turned our attached storage room into a workshop and spent many, many happy and productive hours working there. This first window had around 95 pieces. I LOVE the red glass, how it pops.

 The kids were so excited to see this come together that they actually hung out with me and helped for a while. After I cut and ground each piece of glass, they would take off the pattern paper, dry off the glass, place it in the appropriate space and write the correct number on it. The boys especially were great helpers.

 I admit I was incredibly nervous about installing the piece once it was finished. To install stained glass, you just put it in front of the existing glass and then put trim around it to keep it in place. But my three windows were way up high and I was SO worried that I would drop the glass, or accidentally shoot a nail through it and shatter it. My dad was willing to be my installation expert, so we went together to Melanie's around the first of November and had it up in under an hour. I was so relieved when nothing went wrong.

 The second, or middle window was much simpler. It only contained about 36 pieces and they were all much bigger - no little barn or truck or cow pieces to mess with. We installed it at the beginning of December.

 The third window had around 95 pieces like the first one. But it had a few pieces that were more complex to cut. For example the green piece between the two legs of the cow on the left was my fifth try. The other four pieces cracked when I tried to cut that curve. Good thing it was a small piece.

 At the beginning of February we installed the final window! It was an exhilarating moment when they were all in place and Melanie turned on the light behind them so I could see how they lit up. It felt amazing.

Now that Melanie has turned me into a stained glass artist I am excited to fill more windows with colored light! It is a blessing to be able to create.