This is the top frame nearly complete and everything lining up and looking good at the moment. Top frame now complete and first two panels of bottom frame in. Glad to see this panel go in as it represents the real focal point of the whole piece. This is the completed piece taken through the glass screen on the upper floor./www.pinterest.com/pin/create/button/”>

With all the panels and the two frames complete it was time to install the piece, first job was to fix the two frames into the window recesses top and bottom. The frames were designed to fit flush up against the window exactly matching the existing frames. Frames installed and first big sigh of relief, now for the panels. We decided to start at the top and work across and down, the top frame is actually six inches taller than the bottom frame.Here are the first two panels in situ, so far so good. This is panel no three installed, I think this is the largest panel so we were glad to see it in place.This concluded our first days work.

Magnolia Panel GPQ

Mid April now in Ireland and we are still waiting for spring to arrive, this magnolia pattern is available in the current issue of Glass Patterns Quarterly along with a full step by step tutorial. This magazine is packed full of projects and all the latest info on hot and cold glass, available in print and digital versions. https://www.glasspatterns.com/index.php?option=com_mijoshop&view=product&product_id=1204&Itemid=49

Once again I have started with the outside panels, I have added the flowers to introduce a bit more colour into the composition. The red and white represents the school sports colours as well as Fethard village colours. The right hand side has one panel and the two go on the left.
Here is the central panel under construction, there are a lot of curves in this panel which made it very labour intensive. Here is the panel completely cut and ready to be soldered at all the joints, followed by cementing. We now have all sixteen panels completed so its just a case of installing the frames and hoping everything lines up, Fingers crossed.

For the bottom section of the window I took a slightly different approach by making the side panels first, here are panels 9 and 10 in situ in the frame before being cemented.
The central panel was quite important in the overall appearance of the window and involved some tricky cuts so by doing it last I was able to line everything up Here is the central panel with panel no 12 the gap in between the two panels is 150mm which represents the frame,you can see now how everything lines up.
Here is panel no 10 showing the left hand side.This completes the third section of the window.

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In between commission work we like to create pieces for publication in ” Glass Patterns Quarterly ” This magazine contains all the latest news from the stained glass world and numerous projects and tutorials covering all aspects of glasswork both hot and cold. Cobweb Eddy is in the current issue with a full tutorial to help you construct this bad boy in time for Halloween.                                 © David Kennedy 2017

Here is the link : https://www.glasspatterns.com/current-issue.html should you wish to purchase.

With the top four panels complete I can move onto the next four, once again I have started with the largest panel which contains most of the detail of the lighthouse. For the triangular sections in the lighthouse I have managed to incorporate four plain bevels, three of which I have had to cut these are the only pieces of clear glass in the whole installation. They appear white here due to the paper pattern underneath the glass, this also effects the other colours in the panel and at times can be a little disconcerting. Here is a close up of the bevel pieces, I have used Spectrum waterglass on either side to add to the effect of shining light. English muffle and other textured glass were also used extensively throughout the window to give it some ” sparkle ” if you will. Here is a large image of the panel with the light coming through and you can clearly see the effects of the different glass textures, its also worth noting how the light changes the colours of the glass. With this panel complete I then move onto the three smaller side panels. Here they are in the process of being cemented and you can clearly see the different glass textures, after the cement is dry they will receive a thorough cleaning and polish before installation. With these eight panels finished that now completes the top section of the window.

After discussions with the board of management we submitted a number of designs and ideas for their consideration and the above design was eventually agreed upon. As this was based on a square shape we then had to make a working drawing of the whole window incorporating the design into the available space. A secondary frame would also be needed to house the glass panels.
This proved to be a fairly lengthy process and definitely worth taking some time over, once we had the working drawing complete the full size patterns could then be drawn, we had all the measurements to complete the secondary frame and templates could be cut for all individual panels. At this point I had a rough idea of the colors and glass types I was going to use so I figured it would be best to start at the top of the installation, it would then be easier to make any adjustments as I worked down the design. I prefer to work this way as it keeps everything fluid and fresh, I’m never quite sure how it’s going to look until it’s finished and I often get little ideas as I am progressing which I can then add. This was also the largest panel, the top section being 6 inches taller than the bottom section. Having completed this panel I then moved on to the side panels, making some slight adjustments as I now had the benefit of being able to view them placed next to the large panel. There is only one panel on the right-hand side so I have made this first, it is also important to remember that the frame between these two panels is 6 inches wide which is fairly substantial. The inner panel on the left is about 2 inches thinner than the outside panel and of course there are two 6 inch frame pieces on this side of the window, all these different size panels had to be taken into account at the design stage. Here are the three smaller panels together, two left and one on the right. It’s also important to note that the glass will completely change color once it is placed in front of the light. Here are the two left-hand panels with the light behind them spaced 6 inches apart to replicate the frame, as you can see from the previous photo some of the glass now looks clear, it’s just that it is very pale and when all of the window is done everything will blend seamlessly together ( hopefully )

Earlier this year we were commissioned to supply and fit a stained glass window in the new national school in Poulfur under the % for art scheme. This installation was to be placed above the entrance doors at the front of the building and would be visible from both the upstairs and downstairs, the space comprised of an upper and lower section overall size approx.12 ft high by 9 ft 3ins wide.

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The window viewed from upstairs.