Stained Glass: Step by Step

Rating:
Summary: One of The Best Self Teaching Books for Stained Glass!
Review: This is an excellent teaching/design book for the neophyte and intermediate stained glass worker. An outstanding feature is the above average quantity of color pictures throughout that will make it a pleasure as well for anyone who simply wants to enjoy the beauty of stained glass without going through the large group class experience. The book opens with descriptions and examples of various types of glass. The tool chapter demonstrates the basic tools needed and variations of them. Workspace setup and safety cautions are discussed with an illustrated design for a bench with glass storage. Next are true step by step sequential visual aids with 'build-along' patterns. The beginner will not be afraid to learn to cut glass as Daley goes through the process with step by step photos, the proper methods of handling, scoring and breaking glass. This is the same successful exercise she has taught for over 20 years to her beginning students. Pattern design is discussed with advice on choosing the glass for your project. Detailed information on lead came and copper foil construction follows with techniques for reinforcing the work. Stressed throughout is hands on experience. Daley has included the patterns for 'build-along' sessions for the lead came Fleur d'Lys, copper foil (demonstrating double glazing) Butterfly panel, and a stained glass box. Instructions for a kitchen clock, decorative mosaic vase and small table lamp (with extensive info on lamp hardware) are also projects that can be made from this book. Then as a finale (or prelude to further techniques) is a chapter on building a stained glass three dimensional project: in this case a totem pole light. This unique chapter touches on kiln fired molds, shaping glass and firing glass enamels.
This book is highly recommended. With so many purportive teaching books on the market all trying to get a piece of the action, this one stands alone as a class act. Daley is a contritubing artist to my own book, "How To Work In Stained Glass, 3rd ed".