Have you seen hand crafted stained glass items and wondered if you were getting a good price.  Decide for yourself after you read what it takes to make a suncatcher.  Glass runs between $4.00 and $6.00 a square foot, red is the most expensive.  The other items needed like foil, solder, flux, patina's and polishes, the cost is minimal.

Glass likes to break in a straight line, so a piece with straight edges, cuts easier than a piece with curved edges.  For example if cutting a piece shaped like a diamond, you can make 4 cuts, if cutting a piece that is a half circle you make 1 straight cut and 5 to 6 cuts to make the circle.  We will use the star I make as a example of the time it takes.

1) The star has 5 pieces and all need 4 cuts per (you score and break 1 cut at a time)  (2 minutes)

2) Now you grind all 5 pieces (this is to remove any sharp edges) (2 minutes)

3) You wash and dry the pieces to remove the grinding dust (2 minutes)

4)  Time to foil each piece and rub down the edges to make the foil stick to the glass (4 minutes)

5) Now you are ready to solder the piece together, you apply flux and tack the pieces together and than solder both sides, the edges and solder on the jump ring. (5 minutes)

6) It is now ready for another cleaning and drying, this takes less time because now you have 1 piece instead of 5 (1 minute)

7) I apply a black or copper patina to almost all the pieces I make (2 minutes)

8) Now apply a polish and let it dry, take a clean cloth and polish the piece till it shines. (2 minutes)

That comes to 20 minutes, what is 20 minutes of your working time worth?  If you find a piece of hand crafted stained glass you like, remember the time it took the person to create it and decide for yourself if you a getting a good deal.  I think stained glass items are very beautiful, so many different kinds of glass and they take on a different look depending on the time of day.  Some of the clear glass has a beautiful glow in the moonlight.  I have a stained glass window we made in our bathroom, it is of fish swimming in the ocean. I made the fish out of clear textures oranges and reds and at night they just glow, I just love it every time I see it.

Thank you for taking the time to read my guide and I hope it helped you in some way.