Tiffany Butterfly

Posted October 1, 2019 by David Kennedy

Pictured above is an original Tiffany Butterfly which was the inspiration for this little project. Tiffany’s hanging butterfly and moth ornaments were hung from the side of lampshades as a decorative addition. Here is a link with some further information https://www.theneustadt.org/collections/collection-catalog?id=67 . Dragonflys were also widely used for these ornaments which were produced circa 1910 and can now command high prices at auctions. Examples here https://www.christies.com/lotfinder/lot/tiffany-studios-a-dragonfly-leaded-glass-and-5154561-details.aspx?from=salesummary&intObjectID=5154561&sid=86e9b97b-aa9b-4469-89b9-624da5f76ee0 . Coming back to my project I thought this would work just as well if it was hung in a window. Where it would enhance the view and also make quite a posh sun catcher.

This was the design I came up with and I would have to say it involved quite a lot of work. There are sixty- nine pieces of glass here and quite fiddly keeping them together while I soldered them into place.

All the glass used here is Uroboros which I thinks works quite well. The body is 00-74 Emerald, Yellow Green and Light Green, the eyes are 00-21 Ruby, Golden Yellow, Red on White, I cut the centers and surrounds from the same sheet. The inner wings are 00-78 Light Green with Spring Green, one of my favorite glasses. Finally the red tips are 60-25-5 Red,Orange and white.

Tiffany Butterfly completed and hanging in a window

At this point I’m not sure if I will make another as time was a big factor here. It was a good way of using up small pieces of glass though, those pieces that are just to good to throw away. I used a 14 swg tinned copper wire to make the stamens which also serve as hooks from which to hang the chain.

Koi Fish and Maple leaves

Posted September 26, 2019 by David Kennedy

Koi Fish and Maple leaves

Koi Fish and Maple Leaves is a 17 inch diameter panel made with Wissmach Glass.You can check out their website here where you will find a comprehensive selection of glass. https://www.wissmachglass.com/ .

It is made using the copper foil method of construction and edged in 4 x 4 mm lead came. Add a chain and hang it in a window of your choice to fully enjoy the bright, vibrant colors.

On a sadder note this is only the second post on here this year, due mainly to a number of deaths in my family.Whilst this has been a very sad and difficult time, at some point I feel you have to try and move on.

Koi Meaning

Which brings us to this design. In Japanese culture the Koi Fish represents good fortune, luck and abundance and we all could do with some of that .This panel is inspired by the story of the koi swimming upstream in the fall, hence the maple leaves. Legend has it that if it succeeded in climbing the falls at a point called rainbow gate on the yellow river, it would be transformed into a dragon. Based on that legend , the koi fish has become a symbol of worldly aspiration and advancement.

Koi Pattern

It is now available as a free pattern in the latest edition of Glass Patterns Quarterly, along with a step by step tutorial .This is the Fall edition and is packed full of patterns and projects to try, all for the bargain price of only $6. Stained glass, fused glass, tips, latest news from the world of glass. I think they have covered about everything here along with a 16 page pattern sheet. You will have plenty of inspiration for the holiday season.
Don’t miss it, here is a link to their website https://www.glasspatterns.com/index.php?option=com_mijoshop&view=product&product_id=1402&Itemid=49

Clematis foil and solder

Posted June 23, 2018 by David

Clematis foil and solder

I am now starting to foil the pieces, I do this by removing them one at a time and then replacing them as I proceed. I find this method works very well as you are able to make minor adjustments as you work across the panel.

Here is the panel with all of the foiling complete and I will now proceed with the first soldering. Once this has been completed the template can be removed and the first solder can be repeated on the reverse side. It is important to be very careful with the panel during these stages.

First soldering completed on both sides and the perimeter lead added, you can see the two pieces of black tape securing it to the panel until it is soldered into place.

The final bead solder can now be added to finish the panel. Bead soldering completed and patina added and you can clearly see the difference the bead solder makes to the panel, gives it a nice finish.

474 mm Clematis being cut

Posted June 8, 2018 by David

474 mm Clematis being cut

One is never sure how a color scheme is going to pan out so I have started this panel by cutting a flower, some background and leaves.After having tried a few different colored centers for the flowers I have settled on Youghiogheny ” Laburnum ” glass. This may yet change as the panel develops.

I have added more of the background glass now which is Youghiogheny stipple glass, code NO 57 ” Neodymium Pink with Peach Gold & Bubblegum “.

More background, and leaves now in this picture. Flower glass is Youghiogheny code N367 ” Neodymium Pink, Dark Purple and Blue”. Leaves are also Youghiogheny code 1431 ” Lime and Emerald Green “.

I have taken the background glass down the left hand side of the panel here and am thinking of introducing some fracture and streamer glass on the right hand side.

Owl in the Moonlight GPQ

Posted December 13, 2016 by David

Owl in the Moonlight

This panel is featured as a full size pattern in the latest issue of Glass Patterns Quarterly along with a step by step tutorial, we are very proud to be able to contribute patterns to this excellent publication, here is the link https://www.glasspatterns.com/current-issue.html should you wish to purchase.

Clann Credo presentation.

Posted September 25, 2016 by David

Clann Credo Logo

Clann Credo recently celebrated their 20th anniversary as Irelands leading provider of community finance, Since 1996 they have supported over 800 projects with almost €80 million of social finance.

We were approached by the CEO to create a panel based on their logo for presentation to Sister Magdalen Fogarty, one of the founder members.

The panel was to be small enough to hang in a window and framed in wood, this was the first draft of the pattern which was the CEO’s idea.

The idea was agreed and the I made the templates and proceeded to cut the glass, the outside of the panel has been constructed using lead came. This seemed to work better with the design, the lettering will be wrapped in copper foil as it is fairly intricate.

Panel is now ready for soldering and framing.

Panel framed and finished, I used Wissmach glass for this project, finished size is 400 mm x 520 mm.

Glass Patterns Quarterly

Posted June 11, 2016 by David

Back in January we posted a small panel ” Scene with Poppies ” Shortly after we were contacted by GPQ , and as a result this design has been published in the current issue, along with a pattern and tutorial on how to construct this small panel.

Glass Patternshttps://www.glasspatterns.com/ Quarterly — Glass Patterns Quarterly

BD22

Here is the finished panel .

Round Apple Blossom

Posted May 28, 2016 by David

Apple Blossom Pendant

This piece has been cut and sitting on the workbench for the past two months so I am delighted to have it complete and able to post pictures. Staying with the ” Tiny Tiffany ” theme this time I have gone for an Apple Blossom Pendant design. The background glass here is a Uroboros fracture glass code 10-55 Cobalt Blue, White and Green, this is the reverse side and you can clearly see the fractures in the glass.

I think the fractures prove very effective when viewed from the front adding a sense of depth to the composition. This pattern is now available in the Patterns Store © David Kennedy 2016.

Scene with irises

Posted February 18, 2016 by David

Scene with Irises

Effort number three in my ” Tiny Tiffany ” series is another scene, this time using irises which just work so well in stained glass. Getting some small pieces of yellow in here was a bit of a challenge but like to think I managed it ok. I find using the water glass really adds another dimension even though the piece is so small. This design is now available in the Patterns Store as a downloadable PDF pattern.