Frequently Asked Questions
DO YOU TEACH ANY CLASSES?
Yes! I am happy to say I'm an Instructor (and Staff Member) at the Bloomington Creative Glass Center! I most often teach Beginning Stained Glass, which is a great place to start for anyone, regardless of skill level or experience. You can also take classes on Blown Glass, Fused Glass, Torchworking, and lots more! At the BCGC, glass education for the community is what we're all about. You can learn more about taking a class here!
WHAT SORT OF STAINED GLASS TECHNIQUE DO YOU USE?
Known commonly as the Tiffany Technique, or the copper foil technique, the strategy we use for our suncatchers and wall hangings are the same used to create the iconic and historic Tiffany lamps. Popularized by Louis Comfort Tiffany (the son of Charles Lewis Tiffany of that Tiffany), the technique uses copper foil tape to create a framework that a lead/tin alloy solder can adhere to, joining the pieces of glass together. This allows for more precise shapes and lines than traditional leaded glass while still offering lasting strength. Depending on the size and shape of the piece, I use either a beaded edge, lead came, and zinc or wooden frames to achieve the appropriate support.
WHAT IS YOUR RETURN POLICY?
Every piece that is sent out is crafted with love and care, so we want you to love it as much as we do. Therefore, we accept all returns within 2 weeks of the time you've received your non-damaged piece and will offer a full refund once the piece has arrived wrapped with similar care it has left in (with secure bubble wrap and paper cushion). We do require that you cover your returning shipping costs.
WHAT IS YOUR SHIPPING POLICY?
For all domestic orders, we provide complementary tracked shipping for every piece. While we take extreme precaution to keep our pieces safe while in transit, and have only once had a piece arrived damaged in over 300 orders, we are prepared for the day that a piece will not make it to its new home safely. Should your piece arrived damaged in anyway, please send a photo within 24 hours of receiving your package and send it back our way for a complimentary repair.
We are currently only offering international shipping to Canada, though unfortunately we are not able to offer complementary shipping to the Great North at this time.
CAN I REMAKE YOUR PIECE MYSELF?
While we love sharing information and tidbits about the stained glass process, all our patterns and designs are copyrighted, and therefore we expect no remaking for sale or display (even if you aren't profiting directly). However, should you like to recreate a design to keep privately yourself as a part of your learning process, we welcome you to use our work as inspiration. Please remember that many stained glass artists do not feel the same way, and that plagiarizing an artist's design devalues their work and deeply harms the independent artist community. Thank you for supporting your fellow artists!
DID YOU MAKE THIS PIECE BY HAND?
Stained glass is one of the visual arts where every piece is an original. While stained glass artists can certainly remake designs they've done before, every item is handcrafted. This means that no two pieces are perfectly alike. Much of my work incorporates one-of-a-kind glass finds, and every piece of glass (even by the same maker) can have significant variations. For custom pieces, we will always send you a Mock-up of the design with as much detailed information as we can provide. Of course, I'll never send you something very unlike what you've asked for, and every element that makes the piece special will always be there. You might just get a slightly different texture of yellow glass, or a streakiness with different shapes. You also might notice small "imperfections" (small bubbles, waviness, etc.), but this is, in most glass artists' opinions, what makes the medium wonderful. So rest easy knowing your piece will be as unique as you!