Here's the other project that came in as a last minute gift that I was happy to shuffle projects around in order to complete on time.  As a surprise 25th anniversary gift for his wife, this client asked that I make a window featuring St. David's lighthouse in Bermuda where they went on their honeymoon.  How could I say no to that!  I also took the opportunity to photograph it at different stages of construction (see the photos below).  

After he approved the design, I hand-cut all the pieces from large sheets of glass and assembled them like a puzzle so they all fit tightly together.  Then next step is to individually wrap each piece with copper foil. From there it is ready to solder.  Solder is the metal that holds the finished window together.  It adheres to copper but not to glass and is initially a bright, shiney silver.  (It also contains lead so don't lick your stained glass windows!)   The final step is to change that silver to black through the application of patina.  There is always the option to leave the piece silver but I think the black patina allows the lines disappear so the glass can be the star.  

Their anniversary is next week and I think she will be impressed that her husband commissioned this special piece!  I hope it brings back some of the joy of that day each time they look at it.