Stepping Out: A Stained Glass Journey (Part 2)

Last month, we explored how Stepping Out began, from the original concept and full-size pattern to selecting, cutting, and fitting hundreds of individual pieces of glass.

Now it's time for those pieces to finally come together.

The Puzzle Comes Together

Once every piece has been cut and carefully ground for a perfect fit, the panel begins taking shape on the workbench.

This stage is a bit like assembling a giant puzzle. Every piece has already been individually fitted, but seeing the full design come together for the first time is always exciting.

Wrapping Every Piece

Before the panel can be soldered, every single piece of glass is wrapped by hand with copper foil.

This thin strip of copper creates the surface the solder will bond to, and it's one of the most time-consuming steps in the process. With hundreds of individual pieces, it requires patience, consistency, and attention to detail.

The First Lift

After everything has been foiled and checked one final time, soldering begins.

Molten solder is applied to each seam, permanently joining every piece together. Once the first side is complete, the panel is carefully lifted from the work surface for the very first time.

It's one of our favorite moments in the studio. After spending weeks working flat on the bench, you finally get to see the piece standing on its own.

The Finishing Touches

The second side is soldered before the zinc border is added to strengthen and finish the panel. For Stepping Out, clear architectural glass was incorporated into the final design, adding texture and depth while beautifully framing the artwork.

More Than Glass

When people admire a finished stained glass panel, they often see the colors, textures, and design.

What they don't always see are the hours of planning, the careful glass selection, hundreds of precise cuts, endless fitting and grinding, meticulous foiling, and the craftsmanship required to bring every piece together. That's what makes handcrafted stained glass so special.

We hope you've enjoyed following the journey of Stepping Out from its very first sketch to the finished panel. Thank you for joining us behind the scenes at Glass Dragon Studio.

We look forward to sharing the next project with you!