Work Space for Creating Stained Glass Stepping Stones

The “Air” Apparent

Choose an area that is well ventilated. While it is fine to have a fan going while you cut glass or arrange pattern pieces, you will need to turn it off while pouring the dry concrete mixture into your mixing container. The dust is superfine, and moving air will stir it up even more. Wear a dust mask.

The Table

Table height is an individual thing based on your height. If you’re using a workbench or a regular table, the height will be predetermined for you. But if you’re tall, you might want a higher surface. Just remember that you’ll be standing most of the time (I’ve never been able to cut glass while sitting in a chair or on a stool). And you’ll be bending over when you pour. At least I find it necessary to work in these positions. Men’s center of gravity is in their shoulders or upper body, and they can pour a bucket of cement into a mold on a table much easier than a woman. Women’s center of gravity is in their hips, so pouring is more of a challenge. At least it is for me. With time, you will find what works best for you. But in the meantime, save your back and find a comfortable height for your work surface.

Indoors or Out?

The majority of us will probably be working indoors most of the time. When it comes time to pour the concrete, I always move to an area of the basement where I can clean up easily, or to the garage where a little spill would not be a catastrophe, or outdoors when the weather is nice. Of course, the great outdoors may be where you conduct most of this stepping stone business anyway, in which case, avoid windy days.

Work Safely While Making Your Stained Glass Stepping Stones

This may seem obvious, but it is absolutely crucial that you wear shoes while working with glass. Not sandals, not slippers, not open-toed fashion statements, and certainly not unprotected bare feet, but real, honest-to-goodness sturdy shoes which enclose your entire foot. You might even consider steel-toed boots.

I speak from experience, my friends. One day, while trying to salvage glass from a stepping stone damaged by a clumsy customer, a hairline crack grew into something much bigger. Half of an 18” concrete stepping stone fell off my work table and onto my sandaled foot. Not pretty. It took a full year and then some for my toenail to reach its previously healthy and attractive state. Naturally, I was working alone, but I managed to crawl to my bed and elevate my foot on the headboard without passing out. But it was close.

I made two mistakes. The first was not wearing a real shoe. The second was trying to salvage this stone. Take it from one who’s been there. If your stone is dropped and/or cracks for some reason, don’t try to save any of it. Take it straight to the dumpster and move on.

My point is simply this. Use common sense, be extra careful, and have a healthy respect for the damage that concrete and sharp glass can do to the human body. Keep young ones at a safe distance and insist that they also wear shoes if they are watching or helping. Tiny little pieces of glass that you may not see might end up embedded in the bottom of a foot. A nice crunch is a better sound than screams of agony. Stitches are no picnic for the injured party or the family member or friend who is there to watch the doctors work.

So, be safe and keep focused on the work before you, and you will hopefully avoid serious injury.

How to Make a Stained Glass Stepping Stone

After receiving hundreds of requests for information and instructions on how to make garden stepping stones inlaid with stained glass, I decided to make this blog in order to explain the steps I take and the tricks I use to produce consistently successful results as seen here.

This blog is not meant to be an exhaustive resource, but rather it contains the secrets to my success. Included in future posts will be the brand names of the products I use, contact information for the companies which manufacture the materials needed, mail order sources, national retail suppliers which may be available to you locally, and techniques to help you make a beautiful stepping stone on the first try. I'll try to add a little bit each day, so keep checking back.

Upcoming topics:

• Tools and Materials List
• Instructions
• Sources for supplies
• Installation instructions
• Internet resources

Stained Glass is My Passion

Stained glass has been an almost all-consuming interest of mine over several decades. Approximtely eight years ago, I turned my interest into an Internet business. My company is called Glassy Lady. I'm strictly an Internet business although I do sell at the occasional art and craft show.

I get quite a number of requests to share some of my trade secrets. While I'm not inclined to share all of them, I have decided to make this blog a place where I can talk about stained glass and share a few techniques that I've used over the years. My first topic will be making stained glass stepping stones. Stay tuned!