Inserts for Stained Glass Cabinet Doors

by PAMELA
(ILLINOIS)

I am making cabinet door inserts for relatives in Florida. How would I go about incorporating real shells in the glass? Have seen it done with agate and such but don't know how. Will be designing the stained glass window inserts myself with measurements approx.10x24. I'm a little apprehensive since this is my first shot at designing my own...wish me luck! Love your site!

Milly's reply:

Congratulations on biting the designing bullet. You don't say which techniques you're using, so I'm assuming leading? In which case, you need to make sure that the shells you are using lie pretty much flat, otherwise you won't be able to lead them into your panel. Also, they would need to have a flatish edge to them, so that you can get the lead came around them. You may have to use high heart stained glass lead came to make this easier - it's deeper than the standard to accommodate thicker or less than flat objects.
If all that is ok, then you'll have to be guided by the shape and size of the shells when you make your cutline - lie them where you want them and trace around them. It may leave some tricky spaces to lead in between, but I'm sure you can do it!
It is so weird that you should ask me this question now, as I have just bought a book featuring Sigmar Polke's church stain glass windows in Zurich, and most of them are beautiful slithers of agate leaded together to make the most exquisite series of windows (see one pictured). Published by Parkett Publishers, if you're interested.