Let's see.. a one..a two.. LOL!! I remember that commercial!

The hardest part of stained glass is learning to cut more precise. That said, I taught myself through library books. There are also lots of DVD's that teach too.
If you wanted to take the classes, I doubt it would take you long to pick it up. Of course some of that would depend on the teacher too.
Does she talk S..L...O..W? Or is she one of them fast talking Yankee's? LOL!!

learning to cut would be good - I need that. yep!

I didn't meet her, but from her work I see a nouveau/boheim type.

To me more hours were spent at the procrastination
level. I was terrified to cut the glass. Then when
I broke down and stole my daughters mirror from
her bedroom door then took to it with the glass
cutter and running pliers, everything fell into place. So to answer your question: about 20 minutes.

NT - since I aquired all that glass recently, I decided to take a stained glass class, too! I found one through my local parks and recreation program - they have an "arts studio" with all types of classes. Mine is $88 for 5 classes - 3 hours each. I figured I couldn't go wrong with that. My first class was Thursday evening, and I already feel more comfortable cutting glass. I'm so looking forward to working with glass. oh, and there's only 5 people in the class, so it seems like we'll be getting enough individual attention. Maybe you've got something similar available?

boheim is my middle name...(at least that's what one friend insists!)
but I have no clue about the time to learn...
sure would be worth an entire class schedule, for at least one finished project and probably more.

have fun.

Lyndalu, no such luck - I'm in a very rural area. No programs or even parks here.

I reckon buy a tutorial dvd and the tools and practice, practise, practise!! I remember when I was learning (still am after all these years) my teachers provided heaps of 3mm clear glass and we would go for our lives. Give yourself a day and you'll be able to cut most shapes.
xxx

OOps...sorry. I miss read your original post nice.
Must have been too busy picturing the owl and
his tootsie pop. Got the "stained glass" mixed
with "glass" in general...doh.

Well, take a couple, see how it goes. Maybe you can do it on an as needed ( or as you have funds basis)

Maria

While cutting shapes would be nice to learn, I am intrigued by soldering mostly. I'm not even sure I want to make stained glass panels. I really want to melt metal together!

I'd suggest trying to learn to cut on your own from books and tapes. There are even some great directions in some of the stained glass web sites. Then take a couple of hours and have her answer any questions on cutting, and show you how to foil, place your pieces, and solder. After your piece was tacked and soldered on one side, you could finish at home. I'm the type that needs to SEE some thing done to get it. After practicing on your own, it's better to go for help. It doesn't take long to show you how to do it. It's the practice that takes a while to learn.

YEAH! I'm taking a class in January. Cutting is my biggest problem and I want to learn how to be more precise, etc. The great thing about this class is she provides the materials and tools, so that if I don't like this medium I haven't invested in tools I'll never use again. There is a whole lotta difference in seeing someone work in person vs watching a dvd.

I'm a hands on, gotta have human instruction kinda learner too, so a class like Rosie mentioned was for me, except I ordered EVERY TOOL I could before the class was over and now have tons off lead tools and such that I haven't used!!! Yet.....Hey, it's only been 5yrs, ya can't rush some things!!!lol!

You know, we are all so much alike that it's almost scary. When we state these sometimes weird? things we do, there's always a few more than chime in, Me too! Me too!

Linlee - you said "To me more hours were spent at the procrastination level. I was terrified to cut the glass." Me, too! Me, too!

Bama - Like you, I teach myself so many things through library books. Me, too! Me, too!

CJ - you said "I ordered EVERY TOOL I could...." Me, too! Me, too! I am so much a tool hound!

NT - bummer that you don't have that kind of a program in your area - but living in a rural area must be sooooo cool. And as quickly as you've taught yourself everything AND perfected all of it, I'm sure you'll do well at this new endeavor, also.

I paid $75 for 8 hours, and it was just my daughter and I in the class. We had 4 two hour classes. We were a little quicker to pick it up, than most of her students, so
we got to do a leaded projct too. It would be nice if you
could skip the cutting and grinding lesson part, and just
speed on ahead. I took the class to learn to cut glass, I was a real newbie to glass last year.

Hazie

My class was at a stained glass shop for 85.00 one a week for 7 weeks.we made 3 things including our own stained glass piece.Mine was the cat and we bought our supplies.It helps to learn how to not be afraid to cut for me anyway.the 85.oo was for the full 7 weeks.

Well, Lyndalu, I've been waiting to hear what you had done with all that glass. So we will be seeing some SG from you in 2008.

My cousin taught me over time as we would do one project then another so I can't say exactly how long. She is a very good teacher, but at times I think a class would help just to learn little tips and tricks from others. I read tips in newsletters, etc and get some ides. InlandCraft has some great booklets to print out for tips on working in SG. My biggest complaint with stained glass is the lead. I've tried the no lead solder but it sure is harder to work with. I'm not very good at soldering anyway.

Debbie - It will probably take me the rest of my life to use up all that glass!! What fun! I'm anxious to see how I do with the soldering - I get the impression that it takes some time/practice to get good at it? I'm looking forward to using the glass in mosaics, too, of course - after seeing all the beautiful mosaics with glass here. And would LOVE to do a GOG. So many things I want to do...would love to retire early so I can do it all full time!!!

Yep, like anything, the more practice, the better you become. Just don't get frustrated and give up!
Soldering an even seam is a skill. But once you get used to it, no limits to the decorating you can do.
Here is a link that shows some decorative soldering. Notice the stone look towards the bottom!

Here is a link that might be useful: Decorative solder

I used to both take and teach stained glass classes, and the best part about the class was not so much learning technique, which of course you can do on your own with or without DVDs, as learning how different glass reacts differently to cutting -- clear red vs. blue, glue chip vs. flat, etc., since some glass is "soft", others are very brittle. Since there were many scraps from other classmates, I didn't have to buy all kinds of glass to learn on.

I also discovered the joys of copper foiling much sooner than I would have on my own. And my teacher was great with all his tips and tricks for great soldering.

I'd love to solder like that! I gave it a try once, and didn't do anything but make a mess. I thought learning to do that, would cover up what I feel is bad soldering. Great site Bama!

Hazie

Nice- I have full confidence in you being able to learn to do stained glass, heck I give you a month and you'll be setting up shop to have your own classes!!!!

I also am one of those-learn it from a book person!! I took the leaded glass classes, even though I really wanted to learn copper foil and then taught myself copper foil. Soldering on lead is so much easier than copper foil because you just solder the piece that touch each other...that to me was an eye opener. I didnt realize there would be a difference. Lead has its own challenges though.

Im really surprised you are unable to find a class...I know your rural but do any of the glass shops that you go to (I know you usually order on line) offer classes??