I like your chutzpah! I think it sounds like a fine solution to the gaping hole problem. Maybe you could give us a picture of what the open space looks like now. How long would this project take you? (I agree about some of the cloying, pretty flowers and vines—and waterfalls—that make up so much residential stained glass window work.)

In other news: have you contributed to Kiva? Care to share your experience with it?

That would look perfect! I also liked Legacy Vineyard on page 3 too.
I need to come over and watch you and learn lol.
Pablo, the space looks just like the one in the link. I would say even the same size, right Kate?
I am so going to work on getting off of work this Saturday Kate. I think it would be the best day to go. Sunday could be hectic but if it is the only day then I say we do it lol.

Yep, Pablo I think chutzpah is the right word. It’s an ambitious project for a rank novice, but I guarantee I’ll be a better stained glass maker when I’m finished.

If I worked steadily at it a little bit every day, I figure it’ll take me a month to just get all the glass cut. I need to go slowly and work carefully and stop when I’m tired. There’s not much forgiveness in a design like this and I get careless when I’m tired. Then I need to grind each piece, which, depending on my hands’ steadiness, may necessitate more cutting. Add another two weeks to a month. Then each piece has to be wrapped in copper foil which is tedious and exacting. That’ll take another two to three weeks. And then it’s time to start soldering it together, which is probably the fastest part, but I still would estimate a couple of weeks. After that, I’ll need to wrap the outer edges in something called came which is a stout copper or other somewhat malleable metal that wraps (frames) the edges of a large piece, lending suppport to it and also making it possible to hang a heavy piece without putting stress on the seams and joints. I have never done caming before, so that might take some tries and misses before it comes out right. My glass guy will help if I need it, though. All together...I estimate about three months before it would be finished.

My glass teacher last year told us that her best advice was not to be afraid to jump in and do large projects. Glass is relatively inexpensive and we learn by doing. Just do it, she said. That’s how we learn. So...I’m gonna.

Re Kiva...you can take a look at my lender page. I’ve loaned to four individuals and they are all repaying. Most of the loan repayment agreements are 12-18 months, so it takes a while for the loans to be repaid. Kiva’s loan repayment percentages are very, very high (upper 90%). Far better than standard lending institutions. And I like being able to choose who I want to lend to. Kiva notifies me by email when each payment is made. Once the loans are repaid, Kiva will either cut me check for the amounts I loaned or I can turn the money back into new loans for new people. The latter is my plan. My experience has been totally positive. I’d unreservedly recommend it.

J, I thought you’d like that design. It really is a perfect fit for the space. Hope my vision of it turns out the same in reality. You are always welcome to come over and watch and learn how to do it. It’s really fun. I think you’d be good at it, too—especially with your eye for color, texture, and design.

When the time comes, I’ll have before and after pictures of the gaping hole. Provided, of course, that the panel doesn’t turn out looking horrible.

I hope you can get Saturday off. (J has invited me to go up to New Hampshire this weekend for the Highland Games. Whoo! Men in kilts!!!) If not, Sunday will be fine, too. I can’t believe that I never knew Highland Games existed this close to home. I’m so looking forward to it!