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So you want to get started in Stained Glass....

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Stained glass/art glass items are becoming more popular. You see them everywhere - lampshades, decorative panels, windows, mosaics and other items are becoming more available. You want to make some creations of your own, so where does one start?

First take "inventory" of what you have in your own locale. The Internet can be a great help to find the information you're looking for. What studio and retail establishments are in your area? I like Switchboard.com's business search by category to do a first run. The category "Glass-stained and leaded" should produce any resources in your area. You can specify the city too, so if you're near a larger metropolitan area, or have one you like to visit, check that out too. You can get the address, phone number and a map through them also. I like to check out the Switchboard listings when I'm going on a trip so I can do some prospecting while I'm in the area.

Check the Art Glass World site for local studios, retailers, free patterns and more. Also check with your local arts education groups, art museums etc. Some of them offer classes or know who does. Ask your friends if they know of anyone in the area working in glass. Word of mouth is an excellent resource. Some studios are small and use that as their main advertising mode.

There are many larger catalog retailers who have an Internet presence are well. I've had experience with Delphi Stained Glass in Lansing MI, Sunshine Glassworks in Buffalo NY, Stained Glass Workshop in Syosset, NY, and A & A Products in Seguin, TX. Spend some time with your favorite search engine and you'll come up with many more. Some catalogs have beginner packages designed to get you set up with everything you need to get started......No I don't own any stock : ) .....

Many retailers of all sizes give out a free newsletter to their customers called Stained Glass News. You can't subscribe to it, so ask your retailer to contact them if they don't have it. It has good articles, especially for beginners and a free pattern comes with each quarterly issue. Stained Glass Workshop has a free pattern of the month you can download.

There are many facets to glass work. Do you want to work in lead or foil? Panels, lampshades, mosaics? Exactly what you like to work with and what works for you will be learned by doing. I found a local studio that gives lessons and started from there. Some people will be successful a using a book and don't necessarily need the on-site class experience. My favorite overall book so far is How to Work in Stained Glass by Anita and Seymour Isenberg.

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