Before you apply any patina, be sure all flux residue is removed. This can be done using a commercial flux remover or washing the stained glass piece with dish soap and baking soda.

Steps for Applying a Patina

• Use a brush, rag or cotton ball to dab patina onto the zinc frame. Do not use a brushing action, as this can leave streaking or patchy coverage.

• Next, apply patina to solder lines. Be sure all edges of solder lines have been covered.

• Then, turn project over and repeat the process on the second side.

• Lastly, thoroughly rinse the patina off the stained glass piece. After it is completely dry, no less than a minimum of 24hours, finishing compound can be applied.

Tips and techniques for Applying a Patina

• Safety – Always wear rubber gloves when applying a patina to protect your hands from the chemicals.

• If the patina appears spotty, use super fine steel wool to clean the area, and then reapply the patina.

• To avoid oxidation, clean and apply patina immediately after project is soldered.

While patinas will mask some inconsistencies in solder lines, others will still be noticeable and take away from the professional look of your Stained glass piece. With patience, practice and the correct tools and supplies, you can have professional solder lines.

Most patinas come in an 8 oz bottle. Avoid contaminating the liquid in the bottle by never dipping your applicator back into the bottle. Pour out a lid full of patina, and use this as your dipping tray.

You may experience different end results with the use of different brands of patinas. One common brand is Novacan. It is available in different formulas for different metals.  As you experiment with different brands, you will notice that the varying brands will give you different results, and some will be more to your favor than others.

Most patinas can be removed by using steel wool, if you feel that you do not like the look, or the result of applying the patina.  With experience and time, using patinas will become a natural part of making stained glass, and will enhance the look of every piece that you make.

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Louis C. Tiffany is the founder of Tiffany Lamps and Stained Glass Windows.  It was his original design of lamps being created from discarded stained glass from large windows he had created and designed.  But it wasn’t until Clara Driscoll, who went to work for Mr. Tiffany around 1988, that the most stunning and artistic lamps were created under her direction.

Clara Driscoll was born Clara Pierce Wolcott, 1861 in Tallmadge, Ohio.  Clara and her three sisters were bright and ambitious.  After their father died, Clara was 12; her mother encouraged her daughters to excel and to pursue higher education.  Clara excelled in art and design and attended design school in Cleveland.  She then moved to New York in search of better opportunities to use her skills.  She attended the Metropolitan Museum Art School and from there was employed by Tiffany Studios in 1988 and remained at Tiffany for 20 years.

Very little is known of Clara’s activities and duties in her early years at Tiffany, but after a series of events, Mr. Tiffany put Clara in charge over the Women’s Glass Department.  The department had formed out of a response that the Lead Glaziers and Glass Cutting Union had gone on strike.  The male only union had forced them to begin hiring young women students from the art schools.

This new direction had proved to be profitable.  The women were much more adept at handling the glass, more adept at the detailed work required to manufacture the lamps.   It was in this position that Clara’s designs became realities.  It was here she designed the now famous Dragonfly Lamp.  In one instance Mr. Tiffany attributed this design to Clara when it was on display at the Paris World’s Fair in 1900.  She worked closely with Mr. Tiffany, as both were inspired by a love of nature and appreciation of fine material.

Much of Clara’s influence and design’s was unknown until as recently as 2005 when Martin Eidelberg, professor emeritus of art history at Rutgers University, was approached by a man who claimed to be a descendant of Ms. Driscoll.   In his possession were letters written by Clara to her family around the turn of the 20th century.  Also, about this same time, independent scholar Nina Gray, who was working on a Tiffany book of her own, went to Queen’s Historical Society and found a treasure chest of numerous letters written by Driscoll to her sisters and mother while she was at the studio.

Through a series of co-incidental events, Eidelberg and Gray’s paths crossed.  Eidelberg invited Gray to dinner where they began to pull resources together and compare notes.  They each had established and realized that it was Clara Driscoll and her “girls” that had designed and made the most prized and stunning lamps.  Driscoll attributed the renowned Wisteria shade to herself as the designer, “all of which goes down to my credit, it being my design” in a letter dated March 16, 1905.

Through her letters we gain much insight into her life and influence as the head designer at Tiffany Studios.  We begin see the real mastermind behind the stunning designs and valuable lamps that are common in the reproductions of today.

About the Author:

Pat  Schroeder is the owner of TiffanyLampsMarket.com.  One of a kind, hand crafted, and hand cut, high heat hand soldered stained glass lamps.  No higher quality, factory fresh Tiffany Style Lamp available.  Visit www.TiffanyLampsMarket.com for all your Tiffany Style Lamp needs.  Free shipping and discounted pricing.

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Today, people are becoming more concerned when it comes to protecting the environment. As a homeowner, you can do your part in saving the environment. Look at your windows. Do you know that windows waste up a lot of energy? For example, during summer months, windows allow sunlight into your house, which causes you to turn on your air conditioning system. During winder, heat escapes through your windows, and this causes you to burn more fuel to keep the whole house warm. Glass is a very poor insulator; that is the ultimate reason that heat can pass through it without difficulty.

Much of the heat that enters into your home comes in the form of sunlight. Since the sun can damage you furniture and can bring so much heat into your home, covering the windows with conventional shades, blinds, and shutters are employed by most house owners. Unfortunately, these traditional window treatments also prevent light from entering into your house, causing you to consume more energy since you are forced to turn on the lights.

There is another way to approach this problem without completely blocking light and heat—fashion your windows with window tint film. Also referred to as wallpaper for windows, decorative window films are very thin sheets of vinyl that are adhered on flat, non-porous surfaces for decorative, privacy, and energy-saving purposes. Think of a window tint film as a pair of sunglasses—they allow light to pass through your glass doors and windows but the glare and the harmful UV rays are reflected outside. You can also compare it to a car’s tinted window but the tint is more colorful and more exciting.

Window tint film can lower your energy bills by as much as 25 to 50%. Since it blocks UV rays from entering your home, you provide a healthy environment for your family (and your furniture too!). As research reveals, radiation can cause eye damage and skin cancer. Did you know that the sun can also damage your furniture? Remember the first time when you installed your carpet. After a few years, despite regular cleaning, the color has faded as a result of sun damage.

Aside from the practical applications of decorative window films to your home, these films also give you some sense of privacy. Did you ever check your home from outside during the night? You might be unaware that your neighbors might be prying on you at night. With window tint film, you give yourself privacy from your nosy neighbors.

As the name goes, decorative window films are wonderful décor for your home. They transform your dull room into a colorful space. Choose from various styles and designs—from stained glass films, to etched and frosted glass effects, to decorative accents and borders.

Some may think that this is an expensive investment. It is actually otherwise. Window tint films used as decorations are very economical. You can easily find them in your local home depot or you can browse catalogs online. If you are already having a headache because of too much heat, maybe it is time to consider removing your dust-gathering curtains.

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A surge in stained glass popularity accompanied the Gothic age, alongside the construction of Europe’s great cathedrals. Stained glass windows portraying naturally illuminated, intensely colored images not only fashioned an artistic, visually rich atmosphere, but introduced a means of conveying biblical tales to the widely illiterate audience of the time. The depiction of God in stained glass was thought to bestow a spiritual experience rather than a mere interpretation of a story.

With the creation of new coloring methods and artistry, stained glass became an art form more similar to artistic painting in the 15th century. Focus shifted to emphasize the visual image rather than the atmosphere created, and stained glass craftsmen instead became glass painters. The Renaissance marked a time period when the grandeur of stained glass seemed to be crawling toward obsolescence, with designs becoming simpler illustrations on transparent backgrounds. Stained glass became common in homes, churches and other public buildings in plainer form. Stained glass windows even began to be removed from churches and destroyed.

The diminishing interest and phasing out of stained glass was short lived, with England showing a revived interest in Gothic architecture in the 1800s. Artists revisited and unfolded the stained glass techniques of the past, and soon the first stained glass studios were established in America by English immigrants.

Two American painters, John LaFarge and Louis Comfort Tiffany, separately became interested in the art of stained glass. The two men soon became competitors, with LaFarge copywriting opalescent glass and Tiffany becoming the frontrunner in its popularity. More advanced techniques were established, such as layering glass to depict depth and utilizing copper instead of lead to enable the creation of more detailed images.

Exploiting the emergence of electric lighting, Tiffany began adapting his technique to produce intricate lamp shades to be used in the homes of the wealthy. After the deaths of LaFarge in 1910 and Tiffany in 1933, stained glass suffered decreased popularity in the United States, aside from common use in church windows.

Stained glass art has seen a recent surge in popularity in the United States, being incorporated into the decor of new homes, church windows and lampshades reminiscent of those created by Louis Comfort Tiffany many years before.

About the Author: John Billington is the president and CEO of Five Rivers Inc., a leading online provider of home lighting, bathroom lighting and decor. For more information, please visit www.fiverivers.com.

Stained glass windows are used and loved because of their amazing ability to filter sunlight and illuminate a room; therefore it is imperative to keep them clean.  Cleaning stained glass is not difficult; however, it is important to know how to do it correctly. Remember when cleaning, always start with the least intrusive method and work progressively until you reach your desired result.

1. The first step in the cleaning process should be to use a soft cloth and dust the glass thoroughly.
2. If a film remains, you will need to use water. You want to use distilled water, as it is free of impurities and tap water is not. Soak your soft cloth in the distilled water, and wring it out completely. Gently wipe the surface of your glass to clean it. In order to reach smaller areas and corners, use a moistened cotton swab. A lot of dirt and residue can build up in these hard to reach areas, so it might take some time to really get them clean. When you are finished, wipe with a dry cloth to eliminate streaks.
3. If you still are not happy with the condition of your window, you have one more option. You can use a non-ammonia, non-vinegar glass cleaner or Orvis horse shampoo. Always wet your cloth with the product first, then wipe the window in a circular motion to clean it. Again, you will want to wipe with a dry cloth to get rid of any streaking that might occur.
4. Always keep a smoke free environment! Smoke is a sure way to cloud up your stained glass causing a dull appearance to your windows.

Once your stained glass is cleaned you can truly appreciate it for all the luminescent value it is able to bring into your home. Let the sun shine in and watch your windows come to life! Regular dusting with a soft cloth should be all they need now for many months to come.

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A night light is a small source of light that offers comfort or convenience in the dark. Earlier people relied on long-burning candles kept in a fireproof metal cup and tealights for illumination during the night. But with the advancement of science and technology, they have been replaced by other products. Today electric lights, such as stained glass night lights have become the main source of light after dark.

The sense of security offered by night lights is one of the main reasons that they have always been used by people. Moreover, they are of great help to nyctophobics, who have a morbid fear of the dark. Decorative night lights also serve in reducing the fear of darkness, found commonly among children. Nightlights prevent you from tripping over stairs or obstacles by showing the layout of a room even without having to turn the main light on. Besides, they are also used to mark an emergency exit.

Dragonfly Stained Glass Night Lights from WindowAlert are decorative night lights made from stainless steel. These artistic decorative night lights display unique artwork with intricate stainless steel designs and incandescent stained glass. This makes these night lights equally attractive whether on or off. Dragonfly Stained Glass Night Lights come with an on-off switch. The four watt bulb of these lights lasts up to 3000 hours and gives you value for your money. They are 5-1/2 inches tall and are UL listed. The Dragonfly Stained Glass Night Light makes an attractive and useful gift for any occasion.

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What it comes down to is that we are the kind of people that enjoy the compliments we receive from working hard on making each area of our house entertaining. We don’t necessarily go overboard, but when purchasing something like the Four Aces Stained Glass 40 inch Lighting Fixture, it’s supposed to make a statement to all our visitors. If it doesn’t go over well, we take it back, if there’s a bunch of positive compliments then we keep the Discount Lighting Fixture.

Sure, it may sound a little strange but we don’t care. All we want is for everyone to say our place is the best one to host one of these Unique Lighting Fixtures. So far, we’re doing good and if memory serves me correct, we’ve only had a bad compliment about a fixture once. It had to do with this neon clock that we purchased from a weekend flea market. To make a long story short, you basically get what you pay for, which is the only time we did that after this incident.

Reading back through what we’ve wrote, it must seem so trivial to you, but we’re a couple of 50 year olds who strive to be the best. We were high school sweethearts and it had that movie type feel. He was the basketball star, I was the head cheerleader, and the rest as they say is history. So you can imagine how competitive we are, which is why getting positive comments is important to us.

When it came down to it, though, we really didn’t have much to worry about when we bought the Four Aces Stained Glass 40 inch Lighting Fixture. It is completely hand made with stained glass (you already knew that), the appropriate length of link chains, a three bulb setup, with red on the top and black on the bottom in color. In the middle are the words, “Four Aces” with cards (pair of aces) on each side. Then each corner has one suit in a deck of cards.

That’s about as best as we can explain it. The Four Aces Stained Glass 40 inch Lighting Fixture is in a league of its own and when you see it, it will remind you of those old billiard table lights in local bars and restaurants. For us however we placed two of them in our recreation room. One over the craps table and the other over the Hold’em side. We can’t wait to find something else like these Home Lighting Fixtures real soon. Actually, we’ll go take a look now.

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Stained Glass windows and glass doors do far more for a room’s decor than just look good. They also impart an eye-pleasing spectrum of colored light that adds a wonderful, energy to a room. As a decorative element, stained glass is something many would like to use, but with stained glass costing hundreds to thousands of dollars, most of us do not get to enjoy the beauty and benefits of stained glass.

An affordable alternative to expensive stained glass is decorative window films that look like stained glass. Wallpaper For Windows!™ is the leading decorative window film manufacturer, but there are a few others. This unique, adhesive-free static window film creates the look and effect of stained glass at a fraction of the cost of the real thing. From sidelights and storm doors, to arched and standard windows, to patio doors and everywhere in-between, these designs complement many color motifs and decorating styles to easily transform the ordinary into the extraordinary.

For rooms that are dark because the blinds are kept closed for privacy, decorative privacy window films can bring a room out of the darkness and into the light. The artwork obscures visibility through the glass, so instead of living behind closed blinds, everyone enjoys beautiful stained glass; a room filled with light and privacy is maintained.

At night, light from the room illuminates the artwork to create a beautiful exterior effect enjoyed by neighbors and passersby.

The best decorative window films are adhesive-free vinyl films. They have more benefits than just aesthetics; they filter UV rays (protecting furnishings from fading), reduce heat and save energy. Adhesive-free films are an easy do-it-yourself project to apply and when it is time to redecorate (or move) the adhesive-free static film can be removed in seconds.

(Beware of low priced adhesive films that are decorative. Regardless of what the manufacturers would like you to believe, removing the film is no easy task. For more information on adhesive and adhesive-free films, read my article “Decorative Window Films – Adhesive vs Adhesive-free” )

If you want to add color or privacy to a room, using decorative window films that look like Stained Glass is an easy and affordable solution.

We recommend Wallpaper For Windows!™ decorative window film. The variety of designs, quality and sizes available are the best on the market.

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Stained glass windows have been around since the late Middle Ages, often hidden within the great churches of western Europe and the British Isles. The purpose was not so much to hide the view, or even to brighten up an enclosure, but rather to control the light as a form of artistic expression. For this reason stained glass windows have also been called “illuminated wall decorations”.

Stained glass as an art and a craft requires not only artistic skill and technical knowledge, but it is also time consuming and costly. The stained glass film offers a low cost decorative solution to spruce up your home with very little effort. Different types of window glass films are available to create the look of stained glass windows for several purposes while still illuminating the room:

• Hiding a dreary view without shutting out light

• Solving privacy issues in front doors, windows or bathrooms

• Decorating a room or a house to match your style

• Enhancing a view with window films which allow to see outside

But the most compelling reason for me to choose a stained glass film is that the vinyl film is adhesive-free. There is no mess and no permanent commitment. Should your taste change for whatever reason it comes off quick and clean. And since it is so affordable it is easy to change the design of a window glass on the fly.

Decorating a window with stained glass film is so easy, even a total novice can do it in a few minutes. A great resource for stained glass films as well as tips and ideas is Wallpaper for Windows. Go and have a look to see just how affordable and easy it is to decorate with stained glass film.