These are two more views of the same Dancing Rainbow People piece. I just wanted to see them with different lighting. Too bad I didn’t think to raise the screen (snow pic) or put something white or cloudy behind the glass (fan lamp pic). But, they’re just for fun. Enjoy!  (snow photo March 2, 2009)

In The Snow

On A Fan Lamp

I’ve wanted a way to look at stained glass pieces without having to wait for a sunny day to back light it.

Backlighting With A Light Box

Building a light box seemed like a good idea, but I wasn’t sure exactly what supplies I’d need.

Look On Google, Of Course!

I finally Googled it, and found a really easy description, complete with photos.

Jim Sutton’s Quick & Easy Light Box

Make Your Own Light Box

These are the simplest, clearest instructions I’ve found. It was probably the illustration that put this one at the top of my list. Make your own light box.

Pink and Yellow People (on loan to a friend in the hospital)

Baby Shower Gift for use in a nursery decorated with pink and yellow

For sale in the silent auction at the local UU church Feb 21st

At first, I thought they’d be cute. But, I think they need a little height so the bulb does not show when you’re standing near it. I gave these to the kids for their bedrooms. They like them.   (Two night lights are shown here.)

I started these green night lights sometime in the past few days. It could have even been last week. But, tonight was the night I soldered the pieces, cleaned them, waxed them and attached them to the night lights.

I wanted to post photos of all three night lights with the light shining through, but my camera batteries died just at that moment. After they recharge, I’ll try again to take photos of these three new green night lights.

dhconcerts

That Spark of Joy That Comes From Creating Something

I wrote the other day about wanting to find the happiness in the midst of a difficult time, and of that spark of joy I feel when I create something. That day I decided to make a night light, my first one, simply because it seemed like something I could do quickly. I wanted to do something that would give me a bit of the joy I feel when I create.

The Joy From Creating This Week Is A Bonus

The external factors in my life this week are much happier than those I experienced recently. So this week, when I began a new stained glass nightlight, the spark of joy was a bonus. This week, I have had much to be happy about and much to be grateful for. The spark of joy from creating is a bonus, but it is still a joy.

I made this night light for my sister for her birthday.

I’ve not given it to her yet, but she does not read this blog, so I feel pretty safe in posting it! I don’t think she’ll see it before I give it to her (at a future date).

The front is a thick milky-blue cathedral glass. (If I’ve described this incorrectly, someone feel free to say so.) The corners are small clear glass pebbles (again, I should run this by someone to be sure I’m saying the correct words). They’re flat on the back and rounded on the front, and they’re not uniform in shape or size. The side panels are purple with no other color. They’re just colored glass with no special texture, and the color is light enough that the bulb can be easily seen through the glass.

dhconcerts

I’ve been feeling overly stressed, exceedingly tired and very sad lately. My life is much too busy (all my doing), and much too stressful (some is my doing). Yesterday evening, I decided to take a few minutes and just LOOK at the pieces of glass I have waiting to be made into something.

Looking at the glass. Feeling the texure.

I took out the pieces of glass and looked at each piece of glass, one at a time. I held each one up to the light to see how it looked with light shining through.

“Nightlights are easy enough,” I thought.

I have a handful of night lights and metal bands that connect the glass to the part that holds the bulb and plugs into the wall. I decided to make a little nightlight. It would be simple enough.

Red Granite and Bevels

I cut a small piece of red granite glass, equal to the size of the bevels I had, and put them all together.

A Spark of Happiness

It’s not perfect. It’s my first one.  It’s a very simple design. And, the bevels are scratched. I knew that when I started. It was just a practice piece. But, just doing it felt wonderful. I don’t FEEL wonderful, but working with the glass allowed me to feel that spark  of happiness that will help me get back to myself and generally good state of happiness and well-being.

Work With Glass Every Day?

I’m pretty sure I won’t do that. I keep myself too busy. But, I do know that doing something creative keeps me at my best. It makes me happy from the inside out.

Two views of my first night light

It looks better in person. But, this will give an idea of what it looks like.