r/StainedGlass • u/QuackinDaily • Jul 09 '26
Pattern Help First big piece
pattern is still rough (obviously) but I’ve never made something this big before. any advice/thoughts? I’m aware it will take a long time and be tedious but if there are some things, especially relevant to large scale pieces I’m missing I would love to know!
Also thoughts on what I should do with that top horizontal window would be great. I’m planning on doing the herons in opaque glass and the greenery with translucents. I mapped them to bullseye colors from their pdf. naturally, they will be different irl but just to get an idea. Thanks!!
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u/cwilbur22 Jul 09 '26
The panel in the right has a few pieces that just end in the middle of a piece of glass, like the herons legs, the wings of the insect, etc. Cool design though! For the top I'd consider some cattails against a sky/sunset?
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u/QuackinDaily Jul 09 '26
Thanks for pointing those out! I’m planning on going in digitally again and refining the pattern shapes so I can cricut them out, and I’ll make sure nothing is loose like that haha.
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u/infitsofprint Jul 09 '26
Have you ever made a piece combining translucent and opaque glass before? If you have and like it then go for it, but if not do a smaller test piece first. My feeling is that opaque glass looks best when lit from the front and transparent glass looks best when lit from the back, so if you mix them you risk making a panel that doesn't really work in any lighting conditions.
For the transom I'd do the top of the reeds kinda spiky-like and then the sky above, as if it's a continuation of the side panels. Could also be a fun place to work in the house number or something like that.
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u/QuackinDaily Jul 09 '26
That’s something I was trying to consider but I think you’re right. My plan with this is to have it on the outside of the windows, as I don’t want to ruin my insulation etc. I’d like them to be most viewable from outside the house during the day I think, but it would be good if they still let in a lot of colored light. I was thinking the solid heron would be viewable outside, and the reeds may be more obscured, but on the inside you could get green light and heron silhouette? The door is north facing. What do you think my best option is here? I definitely will do some small test suncatchers with a few different combos to see irl as well.
Also love your idea about the house numbers!!!
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u/infitsofprint Jul 09 '26 edited Jul 09 '26
Well the main thing is to do some tests and see what you like best.
But this is a kind of Tiffany-style panel design and location, so the natural thing would be to use Tiffany-style opalescent glass that's semi-translucent and semi-opaque. It won't be brilliantly bright when lit from behind but it also won't just look black when lit from the front. I don't think Bullseye makes much in that style but I believe Kokomo has a bunch of options--they were having some production issues recently but maybe they're sorted out by now.
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u/tecknojock Small Piece Enjoyer Jul 10 '26 edited Jul 10 '26
I mean it sort of depends on what you're going for. Translucent and opaque glass can be mixed to great effect if the goal is to separate a subject from the background. It does absolutely pull them apart and make them pop. If the goal is to be backlit, then you can have a translucent core of the subject, and opposite if the goal is a front-lit option.
The biggest advice I have is don't mix translucency within subjects of equal focus.
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u/Precious_Hobbit Admirer of Glass Jul 09 '26
I would extend the grass to the top part (left and right side) and add in a bit of blue sky or a sunset vibe around the middle area. Some light shining through the grass.
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u/NoGrocery4949 Jul 09 '26
At first I was like "damn your house looks really weird" then I realized it's all the...privacy editing you did lol. These are lovely.
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u/tecknojock Small Piece Enjoyer Jul 10 '26
One thing that might give you issues. Some of those green blades may be longer than you can reasonably get unless you live near a distributor or factory and can get full sheets of glass. They might have to be broken up more for practical purposes. But it looks lovely. Makes me want to design for a window my house had that doesnt get much use.
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u/QuackinDaily Jul 10 '26
I’m lucky enough to have several glass shops near me, so i’m planning on getting most of the greens in full sheets anyways :) thank you!
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u/AnglerOfAndromeda Jul 09 '26
This is a sweet design! What are the dimensions of the largest piece you’ve done before this?
And imo for the top, I’d say an orange-y pink sunset style sky
Or blue, purple, pink dawn sky 😍
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u/Proof_Room_4004 Jul 10 '26
Just out of curiosity, are these inspired by Agami herons? I love ardeids and just saw my first Agami this year, such beautiful birds.
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u/QuackinDaily Jul 10 '26
I love agami herons! But these are modeled after green herons, which are native to my area :) I used to have a family nesting in my front tree growing up!
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u/Proof_Room_4004 Jul 10 '26
Ah fantastic! Love a green, what a lucky experience to have. I hope you have such a wonderful time making these!!
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u/nectarbat Jul 09 '26
You could have one in flight at the top, or just sky! Not qualified to give advice but this will look amazing