On this page...HOW TO WORK IN STAINED GLASS

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Beginning Glass Blowing

By Edward T. Schmid
published by Glass Mountain Press
ISBN0-9638728-2-6
Priced at £26.77

Manipulating Molten Glass is like no activity in the world, its hot, it's challenging and it's rewarding.

These are the opening words in what can only be described as an amazing book.


Beginning Glass Blowing is a reference for students, teachers and glass enthusiasts alike.
It is handwritten and produced in a zany but very readable sketchbook style.
You won't be able to put it down.

It covers in detail the techniques and concepts involved in the time honoured tradition of glass blowing including

• GATHERING
• SHAPING
• TUMBLERS
• GOBLETS
• HOW TO SET UP YOUR WORK SHOP
• HEALTH & SAFETY

How do we rate this book:

	Degree of Difficulty	This is a text book but VERY readable
	Quality of Paper & Print	# # # # #
	Colour pictures	Black and white sletches
	Overall	# # # # #

Available from Decorative Glass Supplies

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STAINED GLASS
by Pere Valldeperez
published by B.T. Batsford
Member of Crysalis Books PLC
ISBN 0-7134-8783-6
Price £

This is the best reference book on how to work with stained glass that we have ever seen.


It was originally published in Spanish in 1999 and then in English in 2002. It covers every step of working with glass and has, for example, a most comprehensive section on cutting glass with pages of colour photographs to illustrate the various techniques.

History of Stained Glass
Materials and Tools
Glass and how it is produced
Paints and Structural Materials
Cutting Tools
Soldering Tools
Kilns
Technical Aspects
Designing the Project
Full scale drawings
How to cut glass (71 illustrations!)
Working with lead came (75 illustrations)
Cementing windows
Patinas

Step by Step Instructions
Stained Glass panels (4 examples)
Stained Glass painted with enamels
Stained Glass using copper foil
Stained Glass with cement (using cast glass)
Stained Glass using silicone!
Restoring Stained Glass Panels

An incredible detailed book covering all the aspects of working with stained glass. We are unable to fault this book in any way, except to say that its copper foil section is not so comprehensive. The techniques of assembling complex lamp shades are not covered.

We would classify this as a technical reference book for stained glass artists.

How do we rate this book?

	Degree of Difficulty	Comprehensive book
	Quality of Paper & Print	# # # # #
	Colour pictures	# # # # #
	Line drawings (patterns)	N/A
	Project Interest	# # # #
	Overall	# # # # #

Available from good stained glass suppliers and book shops.
Review copy supplied by the publisher.

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The Basic Guide to
SELLING ARTS AND CRAFTS
by James Dillehay
published by Warm Snow Publishers
ISBN 0-9629923-0-5
Price £12.96

This is an American Book, but what is has to say is almost all relevant to trying to get going selling your stained glass work right here in the UK.

• Finding buyers
• How to price your work
• Succeeding at Art and Craft Fairs
• Selling to shops and Galleries
• Selling at Wholesale Shows
• Selling to Corporations and Interior Designers
• Build up a Mail Order business
• Additional markets for craft work
• Basic Business Practise
• Writing a Business Plan
• Promotional Material
• What to do if your work is not selling
• Spin-off opportunities

It's all there and caters for small or large ambitions!.

How do we rate this book?

	Degree of Difficulty	Comprehensive book
	Quality of Paper & Print	# # #
	Colour pictures	N/A
	Line drawings (patterns)	N/A
	Project Interest	# # # # #
	Overall	# # # # #

Available from Decorative Glass Supplies who sent the review copy.

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INNOVATIVE ADORNMENTS
An Introduction to Fused Glass & Wire Jewellery
by Jayne Persico
published by Wardell Publications Inc.
ISBN 0-919985-35-1

Wow! This book calls itself an introduction, but its really a very comprehensive manual.

It covers the making of glass jewellery using fused stained glass. I think it covers everything:

• Getting Started on the Glass Fusing Process.
• Compatible Glass: What it is, and why you need it.
• Working with glass, and glass tools.
• Preparing glass cabochons.
• Kiln Set up and Firing
• Wire wrapping tools and supplies.

There are also literally dozens of projects and excellent colour photographs to guide you every step of the way.

How do we rate this book?

	Degree of Difficulty	The book makes it all look easy!
	Quality of Paper & Print	# # # # #
	Colour pictures	# # # # #
	Line drawings (patterns)	N/A
	Project Interest	# # #
	Overall	# # # # #

Available from all good stained glass merchants.
Copy autographed by Randy Wardell (publisher) sent for our review.

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STAINED GLASS DESIGN SECRETS:
THE COMPONENT METHOD
by Alicia Larson
published by Crystal Images Stained Glass.

I want to make a stained glass window, but I have to tell you, I cannot draw! This book shows people like us, who think like this, how to design a stained glass panel.

This book uses what it calls "The Component Method" to construct window designs. It takes part of a pattern, that can be traced or even drawn, adds it to others, and builds up the design.

The book builds on this basic stepping stone with many excellent design and construction tips throughout and has a number of well illustrated examples of all the points it raises.

Includes a number of design components in full size components

How do we rate this book?

	Degree of Difficulty	MEDIUM
	Quality of Paper & Print	# #
	Colour pictures	# #
	Line drawings (patterns)	# # # #
	Pattern Interest	# #
	Overall	# # #

Available from Decorative Glass Supplies and all good stained glass merchants.

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THE COMPLETE STAINED GLASS COURSE
by Lynette Wrigley and Marc Gerstein
published year 2000, by Apple Press, London
ISBN 1-84092-274-5

This is some book. It covers every aspect of Stained Glass that you can think of. It will allow a budding artist with a knowledge base of zero to take on any aspect of our art:

Foil work, leaded panels, painting and kiln work, glass appliqué, sand blasting, selling your work.


There are chapters covering the types of glass available, cutting glass, foiling, working with lead came, soldering, glass painting, sand blasting, appliqué techniques, stained glass design, and how to turn a hobby into a business.

Technique sections are comprehensively covered with excellent clear photographs
(The best I've seen)

Plus 13 projects with patterns

How do we rate this book?

	Degree of Difficulty	EASY
	Quality of Paper & Print	# # # #
	Colour pictures	# # # # #
	Line drawings (patterns)	# # # #
	Pattern Interest	# # #
	Overall	# # # # #

A bargain at £12.99
Available from your stained glass merchant or good book shops
(quote the ISBN number)Reviewed 10th December 2000

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Now this IS a good book!
Mostly pitched at Window panels.  Suitable for beginners, but with plenty of inspiration for experienced artists.

It has about forty seven designs, all shown in colour and with black and white line drawings.  The theme is mostly modern, but with strong traditional influences.  The book has a superb section on how to make your own window designs, hence the name GRIDS.

My favourite designs are the Light House on page 12, and the Fruit Floral side light on page 4.  This latter is a very detailed panel and will take some making.  Two fantastic designs.

How do we rate this book?

	Degree of Difficulty	BEGINNER to INTERMEDIATE
	Quality of Paper & Print	# # # # #
	Colour pictures	# # # #
	Line drawings (patterns)	# # # # #
	Pattern Interest	# # # #
	Overall	# # # # #

Available from DECORATIVE GLASS SUPPLIES LIMITED

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If you are a UK supplier, or a book publisher, and have a book that you would like us to review, please send the book to us with appropriate permissions.  We reserve the right not to review all books sent.