Beautiful Bathrooms- A Look in Photos

A look at some beautiful bathroom ideas.

Bathroom Renovation Ideas - Be Prepared And Inspired

Are you tired of the look of your current bathroom layout and feel that it needs a total upgrade? If so you are one of the many people who don't particularly like the way their bathroom looks. The bathroom is probably the most overlooked room in your home because most people do not feel that the amount of time they spend there warrants the expenditure of money or energy on undertaking a renovation project.

This is in fact quite wrong as a recent study indicates that women will, on average, spend the equivalent of 2 years and 9 months of their lives standing in front of their bathroom mirror fixing their make up and ensuring that they look 'just right' before venturing out of the house.

In reality the bathroom is easily the best place to start you home renovation work as you can accomplish quite a transformation with a little imagination, a splash of flair and of course a few basic building skills. If you are interested in upgrading your bathroom, but really don't know where to start, do some research so you can consider the options that are open to you.

The ease of undertaking a bathroom renovation is due to the fact that the average bathroom is quite small in size and therefore a fairly modest remodeling program will have some marked results. Most bathroom renovation ideas are often centered on a replacement of wall and floor tiles as well as the inclusion of new fixtures and fittings. Don't be put off attempting the project if one of your bathroom renovation ideas includes enlarging the space. The chances are that extending the area of you bathroom will not be too difficult as it could be as simple as removing an adjacent closet or a dividing wall. You will be amazed at how even a relatively small increase of the bathroom area can have a remarkable effect on the look and feel of the room.

Summon Up The Courage And Implement Your Bathroom Renovation Ideas!

Don't be put off by the big jobs - stripping down the entire bathroom may look like a complicated job but, in all reality, it is quite simple and requires little more than some hard labor by you (and maybe a friend or two). If you are ever going to introduce some good bathroom renovation ideas then you have to get out of your comfort zone and learn some of the skills needed to undertake the work.

If you really are a novice when it comes to renovation work, then it may be in your best interest to engage a professional builder for some aspects of the job. This way you can observe how he approaches the job and you should also be able to throw a few relevant questions his way. Take time and study how to operate the particular power tools needed on the job. Quite often you can download from the internet some quite well presented instructional guides which show you how to use various power tools.

Before you start the bathroom renovation ensure that you put together a realistic costing for your bathroom renovation. Check some of the online specialty bathroom websites and put together a pricing list for the fixtures such as vanity, light and toilet fittings. We all dream about having gold taps and features in our bathrooms, however, the reality check is that the cost for most people would be prohibitive and well beyond their budget.

When deciding on the look of your bathroom just remember that for many people the bathroom is a private get-away where they like to relax and have a little solitude. If you want to create a sense of tranquility then you should consider going with a classic style that incorporates crisp colors with minimal clutter. By doing this you can create a soft feeling of light and space so that your bathroom becomes a welcoming retreat. If, however, you want to make a statement and don't particularly want to have to queue to get into your bathroom then go crazy with your creativity and splash around as much color as you like.

Before your bathroom renovation ideas get the better of you be aware that the whole project will take some time and, unless you engage a professional or take time off from work, there may be some inconvenience while you squeeze the work in at night or during the weekends.

A Word Of Caution

Try to adopt a patient approach and don't be put off if you initially make a few small mistakes. Even the experts make mistakes at times and even the best bathroom renovation ideas have some inherent problems that will need some corrective action at a later date. Be patient and most importantly, be happy with the thought you're your workable bathroom renovation ideas are not so difficult after all. With a little forward planning and creativity your new look private oasis can transform before your eyes.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/home-improvement-articles/bathroom-renovation-ideas-be-prepared-and-inspired-278495.html

About the Author:
For more details on Bathroom Renovation Ideas and other home improvement tips visit DIY Home Remodeling Tips

YouTube Bathroom Remodel

A great video I came across showing a bathroom remodel in progress. The end result is beautiful.

Marble Countertops- YouTube

A great video on choosing your marble countertops and how to care for them.

Marble - a Decorative Choice

Marble tiles and slabs stands as decorative natural stone flooring, which cannot be matched aesthetically. Marble has been reasonably sought by artists, artisans, and architects for about thousands of years, and is decisively rooted in the history of architecture, art and best of the development in Western Civilization itself. Marble is known as the best choice for art.

Marble was used to create memorable and literally massive artwork, which has lasted for centuries. Marble tiles stands as a material with integral associations of craft, creativity, and durability, making it more unique material for use in any sort of interior. With marble tile, an exclusive quality is gained, along with a part of the rich chronological inheritance with which marble is appropriately associated. The most common uses of marble in residential area comprises of window sills, fireplaces, pretty lobbies and best used in bathroom floors. Other bathroom applications also comprises of wall covering, backsplashes, tub decks and showers.

Some marble tiles and slabs are processed for a finished look recognized as tumbled marble. The process in fact involves tumbling the tiles with sand inside the large drum. After a certain period of time, the corners of these tiles become rounded and the edges slightly chipped, resulting in a well-worn, antiqued appearance.

The fame of tumbled marble has increased rapidly in recent times. This is particularly true when it comes to usage of bathroom countertops and backsplashes. With such a huge variety of shapes, colors, sizes and designs, tumbled marble could even be used uniquely or to accent other types of tile. It can create limitless number of stylish touches, sculptured trim, mosaic border and decorative medallions.

Benefits of marble

Marble could be viewed as hypoallergenic option for flooring. There had even been times when marble was used for flooring base in hospitals, before the usage of porcelain tile grew to its current level of popularity.

Marble is quarried on a very large scale, and then removed in large chunks by cutting it from the bordering rock and moving the marble tile to nearby mills where it is swan to be sized. The processing of the marble is actually done in order of its size. The largest marble slabs is been processed first, and then the smaller marble tiles, which are to be used as flooring tile and wall tile are processed at the last.

During summer months, the extraordinary cool base of marble could be quite amusing underfoot, adding a sure soothe value to the choice of marble tile flooring. Overall, marble tile flooring is an amazing way to accent an interior, with the extra added advantages of its more practical features. Marble is highly known for the best homeowner choice mainly for hallway and bathrooms.

As they are made from a natural substance, differences in color from tile to tile are both anticipated as well as preserved. The marble tile is polished elegantly and checked for “faults,” the small fissures, which could materialize in the stone, and filled if necessary, by pigmented resins to defend the structural value of the tile, as well as the appearance.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/sales-articles/marble-a-decorative-choice-148832.html

Uma is a Copywriter of Marble Countertops. She had written various articles in different topics on Marble Countertops. For more information visit: www.cangelosi.com. Contact her at cangelosi2@gmail.com

Kitchen Designs in Photos

It is often said that the kitchen is the true heart of any home. I have always felt that the kitchen and dining areas are quite special as that is where the family often spends quality time together. On that note. I wanted to share some of these beautiful kitchen decor photos that I came across today.

YouTube- Linens for the Home

Great video discussing the many types of linen for the home.

How to Choose the Right Fabrics when Decorating Your Home

Home decorating fabrics are meant to compliment a room. Beautiful fabrics can improve any space. Home decorating fabrics are used in upholstery, couch covers, slip-covers, bed coverings, window treatments, table coverings, etc. A room without fabric is plain with a cold feeling. Using fabrics, a space can be transformed into an inviting, warm and cozy place to relax and enjoy with family and friends.

Because they are an essential part of decorating a space, it is important to choose those that correspond with the other objects in the room. It's easier to pick fabrics if you are using advice and suggestions for a particular decorating design. Without any direction, your interior decorating project can become frustrating and discouraging. Instead of working toward your dream home, you'll find yourself caught up in a nightmare.

There are plenty of home decorating themes to choose from. Each of them has their own color and style. With a theme to guide you, choosing fabrics shouldn't pose a problem. For example if you choose a tuscan theme, the choices would include woven textures such as burlap, fabrics made from the abaca fiber and fabrics made from the banana tree fibres, savannah cloth and tobacco cloth. Tuscan fabrics tend to be heavier but they are very flexible and versatile. If you use the tuscan theme as your guide, these home decorating fabrics could be used for blinds, drapes, slip-covers and even perhaps even area rugs.

If you decide you like the cottage theme, you would include floral patterns and bright colors. Cottage decorating, with regards to upholstery and the various projects requiring fabric, suggests bold and colourful patterns. Although a floral pattern is the most popular in for the cottage theme, printed fabrics with vegetables or fruit are also quite often used.

Choosing the Victorian theme would suggest you choose fabrics such as velvet or brocade in rich colors of blue, green, burgundy and so on. Victorian fabrics are meant to be quite feminine as well as elaborate. These materials are used for curtains, bedding, slip-covers, etc. You might even want to trim these with lace, beads or ribbons.

These are just a few examples of home decorating fabrics used in relation to different themes. You must choose fabrics that speak to you. It's also important to remember that they can be quite expensive. Once you've decided on a fabric and purchase it to use in your home, you may have to live with it for a long time. For this reason it is best to be absolutely certain before making that final decision. Home decorating fabrics often require special care for washing. If you'd rather a fabric that is easy to care for, make sure this is considered when choosing fabrics.

Remember this is your space, your decision and it should meet your needs. There are thousands to choose from. By using available resources such as home decor magazines, home decorating catalogues, Internet websites and of course fabric stores in your area, you ought to be capable of making a sensible decision and appropriate choice for home decorating fabrics.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/interior-design-articles/how-to-choose-the-right-fabrics-when-decorating-your-home-301606.html

About the Author:

Gaetane Ross is a Home Improvement Consultant who has spent over 4 years focusing helping people remodel and improve their homes. She also specializes in Holiday Home Decorating. Please visit Gaetane's website at: http://MyHomeInteriorDesignIdeas.com

Home Decorating With Personal Photos

Are you looking for a way to decorate your home inexpensively and give it a warm and inviting feeling? Displaying photos of family and friends around your home immediately invites people to get a glimpse of what is important to you. It also helps to make them feel welcome in your home.

There are many items on the market right now to make this process easy. Wall ledges with grooves to hold frames in place can be found at many stores. Hanging two or three ledges on an expanse of wall and placing large framed photos on them is an eye catching way to decorate with your personal photos.

Sets of table top frames can be purchased. These sets contain two or more (sometimes even as many as 15) coordinating photo frames in various sizes to make decorating simple. Placing coordinating frames around a room - some on a side table, some on a mantle, some on top of a bookcase - can help give your room a pulled together feeling.

To complement your holiday decorating, buy some seasonal frames and place personal photos of past holidays in them. Place them around the house at holiday time. You can change out the photos from year to year, making this a very inexpensive way to change your decorating each year.

If you'd like to put a little more work and creativity into decorating your home with personal photos, try one of these ideas.

Create a Wall Collage of Black and White Photos

With today's digital technology, making copies, cropping, and color enhancing your photos is easy and affordable. Try using this technology to create an inexpensive collage of black and white photos on a large open area of wall space in your home.

If you have old black and white photos of relatives you can mix them with recent photos. Vary the size of the prints and purchase inexpensive mats and frames for them. For added pop and contrast, vary the width of some of the mats, also.

You will need to create a template for your collage. Measure the dimensions of the wall space you will be using. Tape together pieces of newspaper to the exact dimensions and lay them on the floor. Then arrange your framed photos on the newspaper until you find a configuration you like.

Once you've found an arrangement that pleases you, trace each photo frame onto the newspaper. Then mark the spot where the hook is to be placed. Tape the newspaper onto the wall, nail in your hooks, and then remove the paper. You're ready to hang your black and white photos.

Use an Old Wood Window as a Frame

Purchase, grab from your basement, or trash pick an old wooden window with grills. This makes a one of a kind frame for your personal photos. Clean up the old frame and paint it. Or, leave the old, distressed paint on the window for a vintage decorating style.

You will need as many personal photos as you have panes of glass. Make sure the photos are smaller than each pane, leaving some open glass to show the wall behind. This creates a mat for your photos. Affix the photos onto the glass and hang the old window securely on the wall.

With a little time and thought, you can bring photos that have been stored away in dark closets into the light. This simple, creative, inexpensive way of home decorating with your personal photos will make a big impact on those who enter your home.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/business-articles/home-decorating-with-personal-photos-76243.html

Fransis Rodrigues is the author of this article on Bedroom
Decor. Find more information on the subject at www.habitatdesigns.net

Beautiful Home Decor Pictures

Some striking home decor pictures that I came across this morning.

Meyda Tiffany Table Lamps

When decorating your own personal living space, the subject of lighting is quite important. More than just placing a lamp on a table or putting up a new ceiling fixture, lighting sets the tone for any home decor project. Lighting brings out details in walls, wall colors, wall textures, ceilings, floors, pictures, fabrics, furniture and so on.

Meyda Tiffany table lamps are an excellent choice to provide stylish and quality lighting for the home or office. The amazing thing besides the obvious that they are lamps and give light is that Meyda Tiffany table lamps are a true work of art that become within themselves a fantastic addition to any room decor. Here are a few of their beautiful pieces.

This is the Meyda Tiffany Wicker Sunflower accent lamp. Great attention to detail can be seen in the stunning stained glass shade. Truly a work of art!

The impressive Meyda Tiffany Fishscale table lamp.


Meyda Tiffany Romance Rose table lamp. A beautiful Victorian-inspired piece.

Beautiful Home Decor Photos

I love the beauty expressed with this decor scene. It projects a very ordered and clean feel. The use of earthy colors give an added touch of style.

Beautiful Wall Murals for Your Home

I have always admired the beauty and style of wall murals in the home. They add a touch of class and have the ability to transform a room from ordinary to spectacular. Murals Your Way offers one of the most definitive collections that I have seen anywhere. Here is a small sampling of their work.
Lavender Hills- A beautiful and calming pattern.

Castle in the Valley- Great for a child's room.

A Day in the Sun- This is both beautiful and relaxing.

Abstract Piano- Perfect for a music room.

There are countless designs to choose from. Check out their selection here.

Decoupage Art Wall Clock - Coffee Time

The Decoupage Art Wall Clock - "Coffee Time", 8-inch Versionis a unique and beautiful clock that would look great in a kitchen or coffee nook. From the description:

Add a spot of artistic pizazz to any wall with this wonderful "Coffee Time" clock. Each clock features a high quality reproduction of an original acrylic painting decoupaged on wood and embellished with eye-catching black and white clock hands. It easily compliments any kitchen with a cozy image of a steaming cup of coffee and a fresh combination of warm, inviting colors. Handcrafted in the USA; Requires 1 "AA" battery.

Clocks As Home Decor- Best Buy Novelties

I have always loved both the aesthetic and functional qualities that clocks provide when sprucing up my home. They are a great way to add a personal and unique touch to your living space.

I found the following article which discusses this at length and found it informative and interesting. If you have any ideas of your own, please feel free to share them here.

Clocks are more than just mere timepieces. They can be used as good decorative pieces in your home. They come in various sizes and shapes. Clocks also are made from different materials. The nature of the material used and the clock manufacturer are among the most crucial factors in determining the quality of the clock, including its price. For example, a simple digital clock might fetch you a few dollars, while those wooden and antique grandfather clocks generally cost up to thousands or more. Today’s clocks are do not just provide time correctly, but they also add glamour and beauty in your home. There are many clocks available, especially of the pendulum type. From miniature, table-accent clocks to grandfather ones, clocks are a gorgeous addition to your home. Don’t you think it is now time to think of clocks as not just mere timepieces?

1. Clocks In History

Clocks first came into existence in 1656 when the first pendulum clock was built by Dutch astronomer and mathematician Christian Huygens. Prior to his invention, clocks during Huygens’ time were not inaccurate. The most accurate clocks that time were off by several minutes daily. Thanks to Huygens, having a reliable clock everyday proved to be possible. Huygens used a pendulum as the timer of the clock. Before Huygens, however, Galileo was already doing some work on how to invent a clock! Galileo even had a pendulum system to keep track of time. Unfortunately, he died before he was able to complete his work.

2. Decorating with Clocks

Decorating a home using clocks is not exactly new. Since a few hundred years ago, home owners and good decorators have been choosing clocks as decorative devices in their homes. Ever since the pendulum clock was invented by Christian Huygens in the 1600s to measure weights and as a type of swinging pendulum, clocks have been known as good decorative items.

3. Modern Clocks

Compared with past ones, today’s clocks are stylish and sleeker in style aside from serving its main purpose. More than just telling time, clocks of today’s age, thanks to the state-of-the-art technology, are definitely more elegant and nice to look at than compared with their older counterparts.

4. When Choosing A Clock:

- Remember that the clock you are buying should reflect your personal tastes and serve as a decorative complement in the room you are putting it in

- One good tip in choosing clocks is to look for the fashion and style in a clock. When looking for a clock, choose one that makes a statement

- If you want to have a French country look in your home, select wall clocks that reflect country accents, such as having a patina finish on the clock’s face, wrought iron accents, or wood base that were whitewashed

- If you, on the other hand, want a contemporary look, why not try to shop around for a clock that has minimalist lines as well as chrome. There are also clocks that are sleek and have stainless detailing.

- You could also choose big and oversized clocks if you want to emphasize your timepiece, compared with a smaller one that could get lost in a clutter.

5. Large Clocks

- If you want to balance out an oversized lamp, try putting a traditional anniversary clock on the end of the table

- You could also put a wall clocked placed on a sturdy and decorative easel in your kitchen for quick and instant charm

- Having an antique grandfather clock in your den provides extra comfort and warmth. Of course, the grandfather clock should be in a nice condition. Otherwise, the effect is somewhat diminished

About the Author:

Paul Graham
For more great clocks related articles and resources check out http://clocks.homemanner.com.

Mirror Dynamics Beveled Mirror Wall Clock

Set a contemporary vibe in your home with this Mirror Dynamics Beveled Mirror Wall Clock. The clock features five strips of beveled mirror to provide depth and modern style to any decor. It has been carefully mounted on four strips of solid, two and a half inch wood and comes conveniently ready to hang. This unique clock measures 20 inches high x 20 inches wide x 1 inch deep. A truly unique piece!

Display Weight: 8 lbs.
Uses 1- AA Battery (not included)

This is one of out top selling clocks and is currently on sale for just $48.00. It's available at our website here.

How To Safely Make Your Home Smell Nice

Here is a great article discussing the many ways to use candles and scented oils to freshen up your living space. I have followed with a great video that I came across from Ask The Decorator showcasing some great tips on choosing the right scented candle for your home.

Ah, there is nothing more welcoming and memorable than walking into a nice smelling home. Do you want your home to smell nice and clean, but do you also want a better, and safer alternative to expensive synthetic air fresheners which can be unhealthy? Synthetic aerosol air fresheners and room sprays can be the cause of severe breathing problems in children and people with asthma. A scary fact is, that the manufacturers of these synthetic air fresheners keep the chemical composition a closely-guarded secret. They are designed to mask or cover up odors rather than remove the odor. However, it's far better to eliminate odor from the source by cleaning than trying to cover it up.

First, identify the source of any odors. Garbage can be taken outdoors and the other most common odor sources; the kitchen and bathroom can be cleaned with an non-toxic cleaner. Cooking odors from strong smelling foods will disappear after a short period of time.

Here are some safe and easy ideas to make your home smell great every day and when company comes calling too.

For all the rooms in you your home you can use a non-aerosol room spray made with all natural essential oils. These are safer and the natural scents will make your home smell nice, clean and fresh. There are a wide variety of scents available, try an energizing citrus, a warming spice, an exhilarating mint or pine scent to enhance the ambiance of your home.

Try this tip: Just before you expect your visitors to arrive, spray one or two pumps in your entry way or the first room they will enter. You just need to make a good first impression for your guest's. After one has been exposed to a scent for a while it become less noticeable, and our noses can't smell it any more that's why you can't smell your own perfume later in the day when everyone else still can.

You can give your home a wonderful appealing smell by simmering spices like cloves and cinnamon in water. It will smell like you've been busy baking all day. You can vary the scent by adding vanilla extract, orange or lemon peel to the mix. So, go ahead and raid your pantry or spice cupboard for these safe, economical and natural scents. You can use a special potpourri simmering pot, a mini crock pot or just a small saucepan on your stove top.

Scented candles are another alternative, look for the more environmentally friendly soy based candles with a lead-free wick as they burn cleaner. It's important to remember, never leave a burning candle unattended or near anything that could catch fire.

Try this tip: Light a scented candle half an hour before you expect your company to arrive so your home will smell nice when your guests enter. Then you can extinguish it and the lovely scent will linger. It's also more frugal to burn a candle for a short period of time.

With these tips and ideas you can safely and easily give your home a warm inviting ambiance for your family and visitors and enjoy a lovely smelling home everyday.

About the Author:

Melody Thacker enjoys helping people and marketing Watkins products part time. You can find more quick and easy cooking, cleaning and healthy lifestyle ideas at Watkins Home Products

Lamps- The History of Lighting

It seems that lamps have been around for a long, long time. Who knew? The following is an intriguing look at the history of the lamp and its evolution to what we see today.

Numerous references from olden ages have illuminated the fact that lamps have been used to spread light, even before electricity was invented, and lighting was given a new meaning. The use of lamps can be broadly classified into two eras: The pre-electrical era and the post electrical era.

The Pre-electrical Era

The invention and first usage of lamp can be dated back to 70,000 BC. At that time, there was no metal or bronze to make lamps instead the then civilization used hollow rocks and shells. These hollow rocks were filled with moss and other natural substances and then soaked in animal fat. Animal fat acted as oil and this is how the first lamps were ignited.

With the advent of pottery, and the bronze and copper age, humans started to make lamps that imitated other natural shapes. Wicks came into existence much later and were used for controlling the flame or the rate of burning. In the 7th century BC, Greeks started using terra cotta lamps, which replaced the handheld torches. The word “lamp” has been derived from the Greek word “lampas”, which means “torch”.

Design Change

There was a major change in the design of lamps in the 18th century, when the central burner was invented. With the invention of the burner, a separate fuel source was made from metal. Another small change made was the addition of a metal tube that could be adjusted to control the intensity of the flame or light.

This was an important discovery in terms of lighting because with adjustment, humans were able to diminish the lighting or make it bright as required. Another aspect was added to the new lamp, which was in the form of small glass chimneys. The role of the glass chimney was to protect the flame as well as control the air flow.

Swiss chemist Ami Argand used the hollow circular wick in an oil lamp for the very first time in 1783.

Fuels for Lighting

Different kinds of fuels have been used for lighting a lamp between 70,000 BC and now. Most of the early forms of fuel were beeswax, olive oil, animal fat, fish oil, sesame oil, whale oil, nut oil etc. These were also among the most commonly used forms of fuel for lighting a lamp till the late 18th century.

Around 1859, the first drilling process was initiated to find petroleum and with the advent of kerosene, which is a derivative of petroleum, lamp became more popular and usage increased. Kerosene enabled lighting was first introduced in Germany in 1853.

During the same time two other products were used for lamp lighting purposes and they were natural gas and coal. The first use of coal gas lamps was in 1784.

Electrical Lighting Lamps
Lamps have actually come a long way from usage of coal gas to electricity. In 1801, Sir Humphrey Davy of England invented the electric carbon arc lamp, which was the first of its kind. The working principle for this lamp was simple and included hooking of two carbon rods to an electrical source.

The carbon rods were kept at a distance from each other so that electrical current could flow through the arc and thus vaporize carbon to create white lighting. Around 1857, A.E. Becquerel of France came out with the theory of fluorescent lighting in lamps. In the 1870’s, the unthinkable happened with Thomas Edison inventing the first electric incandescent lamp. Since then incandescent lamps were used for lighting purposes in homes till about the early 20th century.

In 1901, Peter Cooper Hewitt patented his new invention, the mercury vapor lamp. This was another type of arc lamp that enhanced lighting using mercury vapors, which were enclosed in a glass bulb. The Mercury vapor lamps set the prototype for fluorescent lighting lamps.

The Neon lamp was invented by Georges Claude of France in 1911 followed by Irving Langmuir, an American who invented the electric gas-filled incandescent lamp in 1915. In 1927, Hans Spanner, Friedrich Meyer, and Edmund Germer patented the first fluorescent lamp. The fluorescent lamps provided better lighting as compared to the mercury vapor lamps because they were coated from inside with beryllium.

Since then we have been using different form of lighting in lamps, which includes Mercury vapors, incandescent lamps and even today, in some corners of the earth people still use the old wick and oil lamp for lighting their homes.

About the Author:

Moe Tamani is an importer of Moroccan lamps and contributes on several Moroccan related sites as well as a designer of Henna Lamps.

The Art of Stained Glass

A great article that I came across today on stained glass. Enjoy!

As with all forms of art, its beauty is defined by the sensations it arouses. Perhaps the most intriguing aspect in the art of stained glass is in its' versatility. It's durable, yet fragile, challenging, but yielding to the experienced hands of the artist. I discovered this form of art some seven years ago when my girlfriend and I decided to take a series of evening classes at a local stained glass retail store. We took six classes and I have been hooked ever since.

If you are in need of a way to take away the stresses of everyday life I would recommend stained glass as great way to download and at the same time get into a new hobby. It is a form of self-meditation. The steps you'll follow in arriving at your finished work of art will teach you self-discipline, and provide a great sense of artistic achievement. And if you're like me, you will not be able to get enough of it. That's when you'll want to expand out and begin doing projects for others.

But be careful, once word gets out that you're into stained glass, all of your relatives (you know the ones) will be the first to ask you to make them something. Actually, it's not so bad at first, because they make great test cases and you'll want to experiment.

Where to begin? I suggest a visit to your local stained glass retailer. While not all towns have one (here is a great business opportunity for you) a look into your telephone book should yield a location or two or you can perform an Internet search for local retailers. Start by inquiring into whether or not they run classes. Most retailers usually do because it's a source of increased revenues to them (they know that you'll probably be buying your supplies from them). Cost of classes will be relatively moderate for the same reasons. Check out your local County Colleges as well. My instructor also taught night classes there.

TIP: Bring a friend with you; it will add to the fun and you'll be able to compare notes.

The place you'll be taking the classes from will no doubt also provide you with the basic beginners kit, which will contain the tools needed to get you started. Expect to find a glass cutter; there a variety of types and you should choose the one that your most comfortable with. I have tried a variety myself but in the end settled for the basic non-oil filled type. A breaker, similar to pliers, is used to snap off the glass after being scored. A specially designed scissor is used to cut out your pattern, and of course a soldering iron is used to join the cut pieces of glass together. Expect to pay somewhere in the neighborhood of $100.

There are other items that you'll need along the way, but they will be available to you during your classes, such as the grinder, which is used to grind down excess glass, not removed by the cutting process and to polish off the edges of the cut glass. This last part is important because of the foiling process that takes after the glass is ground down. Foiling is a process whereby the copper foil is placed around the edges of the ground glass. The foil is sticky on one side allowing it to adhere to the glass. The purpose of the copper foil is to provide a surface for the solder to stick too.

A word on foiling. Most of us are familiar with the traditional form of stained glass that we have encountered in churches which employ the use of a lead came between the glass pieces. Copper foiling is an alternative to the lead came and is no doubt the first place a new student to the art of stained glass will begin. Only after one has mastered the foil, should you proceed to the came. Besides, foiling is a much easier process, especially for the beginner. I still prefer this method over the came method.

There is a little more to the art of stained glass than what I have described thus far, but the fundamental steps outlined below will give you a basic outline on what to expect.

Plan your design; will it be for a window, skylight... the possibilities will astound you. Let your imagination take you,

Sketch out your design or use a bought pattern available through your retailer,

Cut out the individual pieces from your pattern using those special scissors I mentioned earlier,

Apply the cut pattern pieces to the glass to be cut,

Using the glasscutter, score and break (not in the literal sense) each piece

Grind off the excess glass

Foil each piece of glass

Solder the pieces together

Clean your work, and

Display your masterpiece!

You will soon come to discover your own favorite step in the art of stained glass. For some, it will be in the designing stages, that challenge of coming up with your own unique design. For myself, my love for the art lies in the cutting of the glass. There is a final moment of truth that comes after you have scored the glass with the glass cutter; this is the part where I hold my breath. As you force the glass to run (I'll explain that in another article), you'll begin to see the glass crack along the scored line as you hoped it would. With all things in the universe being wonderful, the glass breaks as you had intended. Occasionally it won't; that's the breaks! But don't worry, glass is relatively inexpensive and you'll get it the next time.

About the Author:

Keith Londrie II has put up an informative web site about stained glass at http://www.stained-glass-info.info/
Please feel free to drop by the web site to learn more about stained glass.

Keith Londrie II
klondrie @ yahoo.com
http://www.stained-glass-info.info/

Article Source: http://www.Free-Articles-Zone.com