Stained Glass Butterfly Art

by Debra Variano
(CA)

Butterfly stained glass in window

Editor note: This is broken out into dialog that went between Debra and ourselves. The initial contact went as so - more of a testimonial...

Thank you for this web site. I only recently became interested in stained glass art. I read articles and am receiving lessons via e-mail.

One of the suggestions made was to take a class if uncertain whether I wanted to take up this hobby. I started a class today, and I'm having a great time. So, thank you for the suggestion.

I am a little slower than the other students so far, but perhaps more meticuluous. I am also reading Randy's lessons via e-mail and have watched video lessons.

No questions or input so far, as I am so new, just noticing some differences in the teacher's techniques and Randy's techniqes that's all (we made the point that there really is no wrong way to create stained glass). Just wanted to say Thanks...Debra

This is Debra's story after she submitted us her work...


I am on my third class of six now, and feeling more confident, and enjoying this very much. I am taking classes at Ocean Stained Glass in Seal Beach, California. I haved finished a small window catcher (a blue butterfly).

I had wanted to use copper patina, but somebody had said that there was no more, so used black. A few minutes, somebody found some more, darn it!

So, I'm not quite so happy with it, but I attached a couple of pictures anyway, not sure how to best display the piece (and also threw in a picture of myself).

I have started another piece, but have just started cutting out pattern pieces. It is a larger piece about 15" long by 6 " tall.

This will be a gift to my husband, a surfboard window piece, with the words, "Surf's Up!", in the colors of his surfboard.

The surfboard was in a pattern book, and then my instructor showed me how to place the lettering on the surfboard.

Lettering is proving to be difficult to simply cut on paper, I can imagine how it will to be cut and grind on the glass???!!... to be continued...

More great images to enjoy...