If you've ever looked closely at a handmade stained glass piece, you may have noticed little bubbles in the glass, variations in color, or solder lines that aren't perfectly identical.
That's normal. And honestly, it's part of what makes stained glass interesting.
Every Piece of Glass Is Different
Some of my favorite glass has swirls, streaks, bubbles, and textures running through it.
Even two pieces cut from the same sheet can look completely different.
That's especially true with marbled and textured glass. One section might have a beautiful streak of blue running through it, while another has more green or white.
It's one of the reasons I enjoy working with glass. You can make the same pattern several times and end up with pieces that have completely different personalities.
Handmade Means Made by Hand
When I make a stained glass piece, I cut each section of glass, grind the edges, wrap them in copper foil, solder everything together, and finish the piece.
There are quite a few steps between a sheet of glass and a finished ornament hanging in your window.
And every one of those steps involves working by hand.
Solder lines may vary slightly in thickness. A curve may not be mathematically perfect. Two handmade stars may not be exactly identical.
That's different from a manufacturing defect.
What Should You Actually Look For?
Handmade doesn't mean poorly made.
A well-made stained glass piece should still have secure solder joints, properly attached hanging hardware, and glass that fits together well.
Loose pieces, sharp exposed edges, cracked glass that wasn't part of the design, or weak hanging connections aren't things I'd dismiss as handmade character.
There's a difference between natural variation and poor craftsmanship.
Why I Love One-of-a-Kind Pieces
I especially love using glass that has a lot of movement and texture.
Sometimes I'll pick up a sheet of glass without knowing exactly what I'm going to make with it. I just know the colors are too good to leave behind.
And sometimes the glass itself ends up determining the design.
That's one of my favorite parts of making stained glass.
So if your handmade piece has a little swirl, a tiny bubble, or a variation you haven't seen in another piece, that's not necessarily an imperfection.
It's part of what makes that particular piece yours.
