Basic Stained Glass Making All the Skills and Tools You Need to Get Started Stackpole Basics
April 6, 2009 by Stained Glass Crafting · Leave a Comment
Basic Stained Glass Making All the Skills and Tools You Need to Get Started Stackpole Basics
This highly detailed guide contains everything the beginner needs to know to make beautiful basic stained glass projects — presented with lavish colour illustrations and precise instructions that eliminate the guesswork from each step-by-step activity. Expert techniques and tips for cutting and polishing glass, tracing patterns, soldering, and more are explained with the beginner in mind. Included is an indispensable section on tools and materials used to make each of the pieces — from classic flat-panel creations to a Tiffany-style lamp. Other topics: setting up a good workspace, safety guidelines, and project variations.
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars Excellent book
I bought this book for a friend who is just starting stained glass and he loved it. Said it is very informative, easy to use, lots of good information, absolutely a great asset and absolutely recommend buying.
5 Stars Great Book
Excellent layout and binding that allows you to leave it open to the page your following. Easy to follow instruction and pics for the visual learner. Love it and looking forward to the projects!
4 Stars Excellent Beginner Book
Very detailed and organized. I am glad I bought the book. As a beginner in stained glass this met my needs.
5 Stars Just What I needed
The title says it all. I went from never having worked with stained glass to completing the first two projects in the book - and it was fun! Now, I’m working on my first original stained glass design. This book is great for anyone new to stained glass - the step by step instructions would probably be excrutiatingly slow to someone who already has a lot of experience, but they were exactly what I needed to get started! I also really liked the explanation of all the most common tools and equipment.
5 Stars Good Fast Read
Quick, easy and lots of pictures. Binding allows all the pages to turn easily, preventing the pages from ‘closing’ up on you while you try to follow the instructions.
Your Home A Living Canvas Create Stunning Faux Finishes and Murals with Paint
April 6, 2009 by Stained Glass Crafting · Leave a Comment
Your Home A Living Canvas Create Stunning Faux Finishes and Murals with Paint
Uncover the glory in your home! Use paint to create inspired living spaces that reflect your style and your home’s character.
Once upon a time, there was a sad little Victorian house on the corner, abandoned by its previous owners and abused by time. Your Home, A Living Canvas is the Cinderella story of that house and its transformation into a charming, historic home, thanks to the loving care of acclaimed decorative artisan, Curtis L. Heuser.
From the grand staircase to the cozy third-floor master suite, this book takes you along on the complete floor-to-ceiling, room-by-room makeover. You’ll learn about the design concepts and inspirations for each space, along with real-world how-to’s behind the wall treatments, ceiling features, architectural highlights, and other exquisite details.
- A series of 25+ step-by-step demonstrations show how Heuser used murals, trompe l’oeil and faux finishes to blend old with new, reclaiming the spirit of the house’s former glory, while incorporating unique personal touches.
- Covers a range of decorative styles, from the exotic crackle-finish bookcases in the study, to the Italian country villa-inspired kitchen, to a sophisticated dining room that embodies the Old World ambiance of classic European interiors.
- Offers a wealth of expert decorating advice on using color to evoke mood, displaying your collections, mixing and matching eclectic furnishings, and more.
Whether you’re interested in a simple faux finish technique or are dedicated to preserving the architecture and charm of your own historic dwelling, this book will help you create a living environment rich in color, texture and atmosphere … a place called “home.”
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars A Glimpse Into An Artist’s Soul
Reading Heuser’s book was like taking a journey into the artist’s soul. The book is an exploration of his restoring a delapidated and cold house into a dwelling rich in comfort and character. The tips given within are simple, straight forward, economical and encourage even the most extreme novice to try and turn their own home into a living canvas that expresses their own individual style. This unique book is ideal for personal enjoyment, or would make a wonderful gift for the artist or do-it-your-selfer.
5 Stars Ideas I just have to copy
Ive bought dozens of decorating books over the yrs but this is the first one I am reading. The author is full of fantastic ideas I can use in my own home. Love the story behind the book >>>also great before and after pictures. Look forward to his next book!!! Sheree Brown Harris
5 Stars Get lost in his world!
Get lost in the world of art Curtis creates throughout this lovely home featured in this must have coffee table book ‘Your home a living canvas” His murals and step by step well explained ideas will transport you to a whimisical beautiful place you will not soon wish to leave. This book remains on my night table. Richy photographed and thoroughly inspiring! PUT THIS ON YOUR WISH LIST!
Sass Lassley
Owner/Artist Fe Fi Faux Studio’s Inc.
5 Stars Need some inspiration? Get it here!
Decorative Artist Curtis L. Heuser will take you on a true-to-life journey of his purchase of a forgotten historic house in disrepair to it’s reclaimed glory. A chance meeting between Curtis and the art director for the book’s publisher resulted in this journey being documented for the benefit of creative thinkers everywhere. Where to begin? What to tackle first? How to proceed? Curtis allows us to enter his creative thinking process as he provides the reader with his inspirations, initial preparatory drawings, as well as tips and tricks, materials lists and instructions for executing many of the exciting painted and plaster finishes that he used in this stunning home. From the elegant chinoiserie-inspired garden mural on the cover to the creation of a faux-rusted vanity, Curtis hasn’t kept much to himself. He allows the reader generous access to this handsome home and to all of the secrets of it’s restored beauty. Your Home, a living canvas will inspire you to rethink your own living canvas and if you like, will hold your hand along the way.
5 Stars Beautiful book and home
This is a delilghtful and beautiful book for artists or those of us who appreciate others’ talent. Curtis has created a labor of love first in his home and then in his book. I was fortunate enough to tour the finished product and it is truly gorgeous. I’m able to relive the experience by revisiting his book from time to time. This book is a winner on all counts.
Introduction to Glass Fusing
April 6, 2009 by Stained Glass Crafting · Leave a Comment
Introduction to Glass Fusing from Wardell Publications fused art glass introduces practical fusing skills while creating from the first project, automatically mastering the techniques of glass preparation, assembly and kiln firing methods. Introduction to Glass Fusing by Petra Kaiser is an illustrated tutorial on the techniques of art glass fusing, geared toward the absolute novice in the craft. This all color book is filled with hundreds of step by step photos, useful tip sidebars, and complete project instructions. The reader will learn terminology used regularly in fusing, as well as the basic skills that are the building blocks of the art. From tools and material descriptions to glass cutting and shaping, to more complicated procedures such as mold making and kiln operation, everything is covered in detail. Chapter titles include Warm Glass Processes and Temperatures, Glass Tools And Equipment, Kilns and Controllers, Basic Glass Cutting Techniques, The Kiln Firing Process, and more. Each new skill is introduced via the creation of an actual project. Project 1 Tangram Puzzle teaches cutting glass to a pattern, Project 4 Window Ornament instructs the use of shelf primer. Additional projects include a Night Light, a set of Soup Bowls, Jewelry Pendants, etc. enabling the reader to master a new skill while creating an item to wear, display or use in their home. A total of 15 Projects are included in the book.
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars A Great Workbook!!
Someone said that fused glass artists need to learn to live with disappointment and if you experimented with glass fusing, you know what they mean. That said, this book is a great way to get started and do projects which will get you past many of the mistakes you would have made stumbling about on your own.
When I bought my kiln, I had the idea that I would be able to start making my own glass from scraps and be on my way to using up all that scrap and creating great art. I imagined cranking out dishes every day.
Many broken and fractured pieces later, a friend recommended this book and I immediately began to get a better understanding of what fusing glass was really about.
4 Stars Glass Fusing
Not really a how to book. Has overview’s of what I consider complex instructions. Nice pictures and a pretty book.
5 Stars Great book for beginners!
I have just started fusing glass this year and this is an excellent book. Many “hot tips” listed that are extremely helpful. Very easy to understand the instructions. I highly recommend this book to all glass beginners.
5 Stars Begginner or not, Liked the book
I have had this book a couple of weeks and have gone through it several times reviewing projects that I want to do. I realize that many reviewers consider this a beginner book but I am enough of a newbie to appreciate it. I had purchased Petra Kaiser’s earlier book,Fuse It, liked it well enough to want to read this one. I enjoyed the projects in the second book a lot. I will certainly be making several of them. I had not worked with fiber board before and looking forward to experimenting with it.I was reather disappointed one of her cover projects were not really detailed at all in the book. There was a small picture with a three or four lines under the pic about it. That happened to be one that I was interested in but I am certain I can work it out myself but would have liked to have a bit more about the projects.
All in all I liked the book and as I said, will make several of the projects. I will also push myself into playing with creating my own molds with fiber board. For me, a successful addition to my library of books on this subject.
3 Stars Just so so
It was a disappointing book. I’m just getting started in fusing and slumping. I was wanting more instruction and more ideas than this book gives. I wouldn’t not recommend it.
The Stained Glass Garden Projects and Patterns
April 6, 2009 by Stained Glass Crafting · Leave a Comment
The Stained Glass Garden Projects and Patterns
How to best combine two passions–in this case, gardening and stained glass? In their fifth book, Shannon and Torlen team to produce 28 different projects, all worthy of emulation. Breezing through the fundamentals squeezed into, unfortunately, too few pages, Shannon and Torlen feature elegant nature-inspired designs in two waves: one for lead came, the other for copper foil. Regardless of the technique, each project includes dimensions, number of pieces, glass required, other materials and tools, step-by-step instructions, a ready-to-enlarge template, and notes and tips (for instance, never leave a burning candle unattended). Applications are varied, such as window and garden panels, jiggle stakes, lanterns, mobiles, bird feeders, torchieres, garden sprinklers, even a Zen garden. And nature is well represented, from a bee and butterflies to snowy egrets and spiderwebs. Too bad the layout is cramped and the photographs way too small. Barbara Jacobs
Copyright
Beyond Basic Stained Glass Making Techniques and Tools to Expand Your Abilities Stackpole Basics
April 6, 2009 by Stained Glass Crafting · Leave a Comment
Beyond Basic Stained Glass Making Techniques and Tools to Expand Your Abilities Stackpole Basics
Build on the basic stained glass making skills you already possess. With straightforward text and a wealth of colour photos, this book will show you how to master more advanced stained glass making techniques such as: making complex cuts with a table saw and repeating cuts with a jig system, making and installing hinges, foiling glass jewels and nuggets, creating and fastening mosaic pieces, using a lamp jig, applying patinas to lead and zinc, installing reinforcing wire properly - all skills that will allow you to expand your creative horizons. It also offers step-by-step instructions for creating a tabletop box, a large hanging lampshade, and a decorative mosaic - along with a host of expert advice on how to improve your stained glass making skills.
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars Beyond Basic Stained Glass Book
This book is fantastic! I love the step by step pictures and the detailed instructions. I have purchased other stained glass making books but this is by far the best one. I look forward to making some of his projects because he makes it look so easy.
5 Stars Beautiful book
Very nice layout, easy to follow instructions. Love the binding. Looking forward to the projects.I would recommend this book to anyone interested in stained glass.
4 Stars A good addition for your stained glass library
This is a very good book with outstanding photography and functional book binding. The basic skills reviewed are a bit redundant and don’t advance the readers knowledge very far but it is a good review for beginner stained glass artists. The author should consider writing another book which assumes basic skill sets and focus on taking the reader further into advanced techniques and project design.
5 Stars Beyond Basic Stained Glass Making
Excellent book which includes techniques, tools and tips to improve the stained glass beginners abilities. It also has very good pictures by Alan Wycheck.
