The story of the Northern lights

So this is a story of a window thats for my Auntie Sue and her husband Bob.
Whilst thinking about how to put together a photo story, I got the notion to revisit the past and why I wanted to make Stained Glass windows in the first place.
A very long time ago I lived on the West coast of Ireland in Connemara near a place called Spittle.
One of the things that gave me joy at that time was a church that overlooked the Atlantic Ocean that contained the most beautiful Stained glass window.
It depicted the sea and the storms and had such beauty that i wished to learn how to make a stained glass window.
I found myself living in America , and in the evenings attended a Stained glass course to do just that.
Skip lots of years and many other stories to the present day.
To pay the dreaded bills I spent a lot of time participating in festivals, events, farmers markets, putting my work in Galleries and so on.
Some success and the work did and does sell, However , have come to the realisation that a lot of these things are way to expensive and spending all day manning a stall is just not for me so have come back to commission based work.
There are some that I will always want to do because of seeing friends,listening to good music and those that support hand made work such as Musicport, Shrewsbury folk festival, Whitby folk festival and various local events here in Leeds.

Chose this particular window as Auntie Sue wishes very much to see the Northern lights and I am sure one day soon she will, Bob?
Here are the pictures : From the idea to the cutting out of the glass.
More will be added when painted and leaded.
Hope that for all of you that are mystified by the process this will clarify.

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Playing with water colour

and again....

and again.

Looking at actual dimensions 1

and 2

First go at design but I wasn't happy with it so back to the drawing board

Getting there

This is what i will go with

Working "cartoon"

The first cuts

Not happy with bottom left

Next step will be painting and firing glass

The first painting

Start of Leading

Leading

Finished Leadwork

About to solder all the joints

Now this side is soldered, the panel turned over and other side done.

Cementing the leads.

Cement applies

Start of cleaning.