New to this forum - Pics of my hand painted stained glass windows

17 years ago

Hi! Great forum, glad I found it! A lot of talented people on here with informative tips. Thought I would attach a couple of pictures of my hand painted stained glass windows I've done. The rooster and hen scene has been done on an old arched window that is 6 ft wide and about 25 inches in height. The other 2 are of a lighthouse and one of a sea trout. I draw all of my scenes and paint them on the windows. Any comments are welcome! And thanks for making this forum an interesting one. I have use tinypic.com to upload my pics for you to view. Copy and paste to address bar to view.

Rooster and Hen - http://i5.tinypic.com/23gzbbq.jpg

Lighthouse - http://i2.tinypic.com/23h2i49.jpg

Sea Trout - http://i3.tinypic.com/23h2f6q.jpg

Comments (16)

gw:craftylady-2006
17 years ago
Debbie - Great work. I especially love the Rooster & Hen, as that is my kitchen motif. If you don't, you should consider selling your work, it's extraordinary - fairs, craft bizzares, etc. I'm envious. - Sal
anjabee
17 years ago
You did a terrific job! They are all beautiful.

Keep posting your work please! ~Anj
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Gee, thanks everyone for all the kind words. Designing the room and the farmers porch was a lot of fun with the software. My contractor even had me print out copies to use for the permits. cady, you are right; I am sure I will actually save money on heating with the addition, because it is better insulated than the old house (even though there is blown-in insulation in all the old walls) and because those two, drafty plank doors are gone. They looked cool, but they were terribly inefficient and were not even used as entrances. As for a house tour, Id love to host anyone willing to drive all the way up here. With my travel schedule and location Im never able to attend all the great functions everyone coordinates on this forum (sniff). There are five bedrooms (and two barns), so plenty of crash space. August is the best garden show time up here, because all the big players e.g. phlox, rudbeckia, echinacea, heliopsis, etc, are in bloom. Unless everyone likes snowshoeing in the winter. claire, pokeberries I have in abundance. I should take some pics of them before they die back. Now, regarding cadys ideabeing a bachelor, I am intrigued by the idea of having a tarted-up hussy at the house, at least for a while. Is it possible to rent a variegated Artemisia? White wood asters sound nice. I have something that looks kind of like a faerie garden. There is a path off of the lawn through a copse of evergreen trees down to the pond. It is not very large, but it is kind of cool, with almost an enchanted feel. There is not much under the trees except for ferns and a few struggling brambles. Id love to add some woodland plants that could provide some interest and color. Any ideas? diggerdee, we dont have termites up here, but do have carpenter ants. The wood pile is now up on pressure-treated posts, so it is probably safer than it was when it sat right on the ground. But, I do spray around the house perimeter as a precaution. When we tore into the old walls, we found some evidence of carpenter ant activity, but it was not recent and didnt affect the integrity of the walls, fortunately. As for repair of an old house vs. a 1950s cape, Id have to say that they dont make them like this anymore. The house is pretty much built like a tank. Except for the fact that it is irregular in its measurements and has the original horsehair plaster on most walls, it is great to work on it. martinetct, your husband is totally spot on. One of the exterior walls (on the el that houses the kitchen and garage) was/is 2 ½ inches wider at the base than at the top. Try lining up trim against that. And, the floor in the kitchen slopes such that the new room is level through the French doors into the kitchen, but there is a 3 ½ in step up into the dining room (yet you dont notice it in the kitchen). The wall behind the farmers porch weaves like a drunken sailor, which made it fun to line up. And, of course, nothing is level and nothing is square. But, thats part of the fun and certainly part of the charm of an old house. As for the windows, they are Harvey replacements with the grill between the panes. Not practical to try to match the existing windows. When I bought the place all the storm windows were shot and all the main windows needed to be reglazed. I had the option of having the work done or just replacing the windows for the same price. I wanted to keep the look, so opted to have the old windows redone. But, even with the new storms, they are not very efficient. And, they are a royal pain to clean, they stick in the summer, some are missing hardware so dont stay open, and in general they are not fun. Now that weve put in these matching vinyl replacement windows that have a snug seal and that tilt in for cleaning with no grills to get in the way, I see how much easier they are to use and to maintain. Despite the cost, I think that, once I redo the kitchen (this winters project) I will bite the bullet and have all the windows replaced. True, they are real 12 over 12, but they are not original to the house (they are the kind that have the two metal buttons on the sides you push in to open and that lock into slots in the frame at two locations). There is only one place where there is original glass over the front door. The door is original and even has the bar across it to fend off attackers (as in "Katie bar the door") as well as the original skeleton key still in the lock. Over it are six small panes of glass. They are wavy and bubbly, and I believe have been there from the beginning. As for the original family being upstanding, yeah I think they had some money. The rooms are really big for a true colonial with the all the front rooms on both original levels being approx.15.5 x 14 feet and wainscoting pretty much everywhere. There are closets in almost every room, and if you remember that the British taxed houses based on the number of rooms and considered closets to be rooms, the owners either had a lot of money to spend, or, being in northern New England, just thumbed their noses at the British and figured no one would ever collect the tax from them. I prefer to believe the latter. I'll pass on your congrats to my contractor. I may come up with the ideas, but he does all the work. He was my house inspector, a carpenter, and it turned out he liked to work on old houses. We hit it off, and he has done all the improvements (or GC'd them) over the past few years. Another project I did not mention was one we did the first year I bought the place. It is a tradition that my entire family comes up for Thanksgiving two parents, sister, brother-in-law, six kidlings and a dog. It is an invasion on the scale of the Allied landing in Normandy with similar, if not greater, logistical requirements. Anyway, I needed places to put everyone and the house only had three bedrooms on the second floor (one space was converted years ago into a master bathroom, a guest bathroom and a laundry room). So, I talked it over with my contractor and we took that attic and converted it into a finished third floor. There are two bedrooms and a full bath with tub up there. It hardly ever gets used, except when my sister visits and we throw all the kidlings up there. We kept the massive roof beams exposed and used V pine for the ceiling. It looks pretty neat. We did get rid of the trap door to the roof, since it was covered anyway by the metal roof, and we also eliminated the musket holder in one of the windows that was there to steady the gun for plunking Indians or British, I assume. People have asked me if the house is haunted, especially since I live alone (not counting Cord, The Wonder Chow). I figure I am at least the 12th generation to live in it, so there is some history in the place. But, I have never been bothered by anyone or anything. Before I bought the place, it was in a state of semi-disrepair and no one had lived in it for a number of years. I figure that, when my whole family, from three to eighty two, is gathered around the dining room table for Thanksgiving laughing and talking, the house is happy. Anthropomorphic and stupid, I know. But, I feel like a steward and hope to eventually pass on the house in better condition than when I bought it and ready for another 200+ years. Of course, if one day I suddenly stop posting to the forum, youll know that the house got me. narcnh
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designsbydeborah
Original Author
17 years ago
Thank You Sal and Anj! You have no idea how much that means to me. Actually, I must confess, I have been pumping art like this out for years and never have the nerve to put it out there to sell. I hate the word "fear" and that is what holds me back. Otherwise, I would be selling my arts and crafts to the public. Everyone tells me I should be showing my pieces and the public would buy them. Do any of you out there ever go through this or do you just jump right in with both feet? I have tried several ways to market my work, but either I give up or just say - know one will be interested. One place I wanted to show my work was in the "Show Homes" market. Especially where I live, there is a housing boom and thought what a great way to feature my window painting. All it would take is for someone to see it in one of the show homes and who knows, maybe it would take off. I guess I need to believe in myself alittle more and what others tell me. Any boost would be helpful!

Thanks for reading!
Deborah
gw:craftylady-2006
17 years ago
Debbie, My exact thoughts. I too have been told to sell my crafts (decorative paintings, things I make) but that "fear" is always there. Do you too feel like your work is "not good enough?" I tell folks I mostly do it for fun. Had an offer to paint flower pots and sell them at a friend's veggie stand and just backed off. Funny, while visiting my sis across country she had one of my painted flower pots in her home and as I looked at it my first thought was, "wow, that really looks nice - in someone else's home." I see so much more that I think is way better than mine, and it is, and then again, I see the so-called hand painted things they sell in lower priced stores and think, my things are way better than that, why don't I just do it. Attached is a pic of a huge farm mailbox I painted (almost done, had to "erase" some things). I was going to put it in my yard and have a planted flowering vine of some sort in the inside flowing out of the opening. My youngest sis wanted it, said it was "beautiful." Really surprised me as I always thought, she thought, my stuff wasn't good enough. So, after finishing it, I said she could have it. She, in turn, (first asking me), gave it to our other sis (who is sick and needing some cheering up) and who absolutely adores it.

I guess, for you and I, it is overcoming that fear and, as you say, just jump in. Good luck to you (and myself I'll say) at "jumping in."

Sal

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:127569}}
gw:craftylady-2006
17 years ago
P.S. - Debbie, we have the same birthday - September 21.
How's that for "it's a small world."

Smile, smile,

Sal
designsbydeborah
Original Author
17 years ago
Sal,

Thanks again for your reply! Your sister must be very proud to display your mailbox, it's beautiful, I know I'd be happy to own it! You think the same way I do! I believe in my work and love every piece I do, as everyone else does, but, I critique it to the point that the project is never - "JUST DONE" - there is always something about it, that I'm never happy with or if I'm told it's beautiful, I find it hard to except the compliment and say thanks! But, that is who I am and have to work on that! (That's a whole other discussion group, ha ha) Not on this site!

I've just moved to a new city, Edmonton, Alberta actually, from a small town in New Brunswick, population about 70. When I moved here I thought, OH this will be a piece of cake to sell my creations. Yes, I'm looking for work, doing something in the creative field, and approached the local Micheals store. They wanted me to teach craft classes and after I filled out all of the paperwork to get hired on, they told me their night & day classes were all filled up - BUT, if I wanted to leave my list of craft ideas, they would see about fitting me in somewhere! YAH, I DON'T THINK SO! It's cases like this, that make me wonder if I will ever get it right! I don't give my ideas away for free, so someone else can make the money! There is a market and niche out there for me. Like the saying goes "Don't wait for your ship to come in, swim out to it"
Cheers! Sal!
Awesome, same birth dates!
Deborah
designsbydeborah
Original Author
17 years ago
Melissa,

Thank you for your comments! I viewed your website, and enjoyed my tour through your garden and all of your unique art work. Very creative, goes to show that gardening can be fun at a whole different level, by putting personality into it. Not to mention, a new use for old, disgarded objects. I will save your website and check back to see what you have added later on.

Cheers!
Deborah
pattico_gw
17 years ago
Can't get the pics....Can you post them here?

patti
designsbydeborah
Original Author
17 years ago
Patti,

Sorry! I'm not familiar with how to copy pics to this page for you to view. I'm am surprised that you are unable to copy the link and paste it to your address bar and click enter. It actually took me some time just to figure that one out. Again, my apologizes.

Deborah
wichitarick
17 years ago
hi
WOW just envious of the talent .
I think you said to yourself a lot of the things you need to hear. we all do that and it works but you still the place to show off a little.
how much time you figure you have wrapped up in say that trout?
do you have access to some antiquey windows ,mirrors??etc.
if you are wanting the work you said about a housing boom
buyers are suckers and have cash and want certain things
for their their new purchase .
find a friend that is a realestate agent .
the tops of entrance doors exit doors sliding glass doors etc. are natural places for this work . the tops of mirrors also .
have a friend/family selling a home ? just set something up and put a price on it .
run an ad that you can do this on a mirror/window that someone allready has ?
donate one for a church, doctors office, mini mart, cafe,
burger stand, meeting hall, ??? someone where folks congregrate and someone else will say the thing s said here and pay up gladly . envious Rick
designsbydeborah
Original Author
17 years ago
Rick,

Thank you for your encouraging words! It took me about 2 days to do the Sea Trout Pic, the lighthouse the same, and the Rooster pic about a week. When I say 2 days, I mean about 4 hours per day, and a week, might be about the same 6 or 8 hrs per day, but the Rooster one was a big job. Drawing out the pic first is time consuming, but I loved every minute of it, and proudly display it in my kitchen. Everyone who enters our home is in AHHHH over it. Makes me feel good.

Your advice on the marketing, great suggestions! and I appreciate you taking the time to pass them along. I do have a real estate agent who would be willing to promote for me. I also made up brochures, if I could copy one for you to see, you would agree that I am on the right track in getting this started. I'll try to copy it for you to view!

Thank you again!
Deborah
kathi_mdgd
17 years ago
Those are great,my son,"the fisherman" would love that trout.
Yes try and sell your things.My son also paints and draws and has since he was a little thing.When he was a teenager i tried to encourage him to go down by the harbor and set up his stuff to sell.But like you,he was too unsure,insecure,whatevre and never did it.I know he would have done well ,had he tried.
My DD is a very good photographer,so she used to go to the beach,harbor and any place tourist congregated and take pictures.The chamber of commerce in some of the cities would buy her pictures to hang in their office ,to help convince people what a great place it was to visit.She supplemented her income very well this way.

I my self always did crafts,so i sold at a lot of craft fairs and by word of mouth for years.

As Christopher Lowell says"Without fear,there is no creativity".

So put on your selling hat and see what you can do.Don't sell yourself short.What you do is a million times better than all that junk from China!!
Kathi
luvstocraft
17 years ago
Ohhh, they are all beautiful! And you created your own designs--that is talent! My favorite is the rooster one, but all three are wonderful. Isn't it a great feeling to take a "blank" object and turn it into a thing of beauty? I predict that you will have great success when you finally start selling them.
designsbydeborah
Original Author
17 years ago
To Kathi mdgd and luvstocraft,

Many thanks for your encouraging words! So glad you enjoyed my paintings. Comments and suggestions are appreciated.

Deborah
iris21
17 years ago
Deb, your work is just wonderful! I've thought about painting on glass. Are some of those windows in your own house? How did you learn? Tell all!
designsbydeborah
Original Author
17 years ago
Hello iris21,

Thank you for your compliment! If I can paint on glass or anything else for that matter, YOU can! My husband and I bought an old schoolhouse and turned it into our home. We had coatrooms in each classroom and in one room we set our counter, stove and fridge back into the coatroom, and above that work area we were installing a wall up to the 11' high ceiling. He set the window into the wall above my work area. (I found this window in someones garbage it is 6' wide and about 24" in height, I placed a florescent light behind it and we use it for a night light in the kitchen at night or just turn it on when company comes for a wonderful effect. (I have other pics of our home if you wish to see them) We all love renovations! The Sea Trout pic is coming up in a local auction in my town on Sept 4 & 5.

I taught myself how to do the gallery glass painting and love a good challange. Nothing less!

You should invest in a few bottles of the paint and give it a try! This is only one of the many, many crafts and ideas that I have, and love to share!

Thanks for asking!

Deborah

New to this forum - Pics of my hand painted stained glass windows

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