Rose Stained Glass

I'm going to make Sunday "Stained Glass Sunday" on the blog until I have my portfolio published. This is one of the first pieces I made on my own, about 1997, without the security of taking a class. See how rough the corners are? My dad helped me hide all my mistakes by making a custom, double-sided oak frame. It wasn't a simple task given the uneven depth of my project. I love the colors involved and kept this for myself for quite a while. When my adopted grandparent, Yank Dangerfield, a friend from our church in Salt Lake City, was sick with cancer, I gave this piece to her and she hung it near her bed. After she died, I asked her son if I could have it back. It's been in my kitchen for the last three plus years, and every time I stand at my sink, I think of my friend Yank.

Here's the pattern I used, courtesy of Creative Glass Incorporated, Salt Lake City, UT. Click on the image above to enlarge it. The project measures 8 1/2 inches square. If you'd like me to email a PDF version of the pattern to you, just drop me a note via the contact information on the blog sidebar.

What's the best gift you've ever made for someone, and what was the occasion? Relate your story to me in a comment.