Stained Glass Candle Holders

This is a wonderful set of stained glass candle holders for use with tea lights, and they also look awesome during the day reflecting the natural rays of the sun. When lit, the candlelight creates a beautiful shimmering backlight on the glass and produces brilliant colors and reflections. The vertical sections are 2” to 3”respectively on each side, and the clear glass base is about 3.5” square. These candle holders were comissioned as a set to be given as individual gifts, so I took the opportunity to use various combinations of glass.  One uses sea green hues in baroque and rough rolled, another is made with hues of blue waterglass and clear reed, and the other is medium blue and clear hammered glass.  Each type of glass reflects the light differently.  Which is your favorite?

Sea Glass Ornaments

One of my favorite things to do is walk the beach and look for sea glass.  These "treasures" of amber, clear and green glass roll in with the seashells and make a great find when you can spot them.  This ornamental suncatcher was made with sea glass from South Hutchinson Island and captures the beauty of the seashore year ‘round. I wrap each individual piece of sea glass with copper foil and lay the first coat of solder down to hold the design in place.  I clean the piece and foil the entire circumference then complete the final soldering process.  This approach gives the piece more stability and structure. 

Seashells and Nuggets

This beachy piece is an original design created with seashells and glass nuggets or globs.  It has brightly colored scallop shells, spiral shells with a beautiful cross-sectional design, and various tones of amber globs. The stained glass is a white-tan-clear wispy glass bordered by clear moss glass and 1 1/2" bevels. Framed in zinc, it measures 12"x18" and is finished with a pewter patina.   This was commissioned by Cathyann for a friend who enjoys boating and the seashore. 

Frank Lloyd Wright stained glass replica

I first admired Frank Lloyd Wright for his ability as an architect to integrate his buildings into the surrounding environment.  Then, I discovered that he designed and built many of his own stained glass windows and panels.  Here is a modified design based on an entry window in one of his Chicago homes. This is one of Frank Lloyd Wright's earliest asymmetrical designs. I used a large piece of rough rolled clear glass for many of the sections along with several other types and textures. 

Replica of entry window, Laura Gale House, 1909, Oak Park Illinois.

Seashells and Stained Glass

Though the cold New Hampshire snow can be seen in the background, this stained glass piece brings the warmth of the seashore to you. 

It was created as a Christmas gift for a friend and is made with champagne and white on clear baroque glass with two large scallop shells decorating the center.  Can you can imagine the seashells swirling in the ocean foam as you follow the curves and flow of the glass?

Agate Suncatchers

My stained glass work was on display at The Cider Mill Gallery in New Boston for the month of December.  Last week I made three new agate suncatchers, my signature piece, and you can find them at Eileen Belanger's gallery along with a nice assortment of ornaments and several of my other panels. 

Happy Holidays!

Working with Agates

"Fractured Agate" is a new piece that was commisioned by Loretta.  She is a local artist and saw some of my signature agate pieces when we were both showing our work at The Hunt Building during Nashua Art Walk.  She had an agate that had broken into several pieces that was precious to her.  It was from a place her family had visited years ago, and she asked if I could incorporate it into a stained glass piece. 

I love working with agates, and sea glass, and plan to incorporate sea shells and other natural materials into my work.  They add character to the piece and it complements the glass making it more earthy.  This agate, in particular, was fun to work with because of its brilliants colors and size.