It is sometimes said that glass in very old churches is thicker at the bottom than at the top because glass is a liquid, and so over several centuries it has flowed towards the bottom.
This is not true. In Mediaeval times panes of glass were often made by the Crown glass process. A lump of molten glass was rolled, blown, expanded, flattened and finally spun into a disc before being cut into panes. The sheets were thicker towards the edge of the disc and were usually installed with the heavier side at the bottom.
Other techniques of forming glass panes have been used but it is only relatively recent that the float glass process have been used to quality flat sheets of glass. For more fascinating reading, check out this website.
For more educational reading online, we present the Hot Glass Horizons Portland 2007 Trip Report, written by the employee we got rid of for a week in late October. Lots of pictures of HGH, Portland, Oregon and of the Uroboros glass factory.
Uroboros is the Americanized pronunciation of Ouroboros, an ancient word that means something about a Dragon going in a circle eating its own tail. Dragons, of course, breath out hot flames, which are required in the production of stained glass.
We have booked Patty to return to teach two high level fusing workshops in March 2008, Advanced Fusing Techniques from March 6th to 8th, and Very-Advanced Fusing Techniques from March 9th to 11th. Both classes are already full. We do have a waiting list just in case there are any cancellations in either class. Feel free to drop by and see magical things being made with glass.
The biggest stained glass show of them all in Las Vegas is now online and accepting class registrations. Go to: http://www.glasscraftexpo.com/ to check it out. Patty Gray and Kent Lauer's classes are already full, so you'll have to sign up for a class with one of the over other 80 instructors. The show runs from Wednesday, April 2nd to Sunday April 6th. The exhibition hall is open from Friday April 4th to Sunday April 6th. If you have nothing planned for the spring of 2008, this is a worthwhile trip to make. If you have to drag a spouse along, there are just a few things to do and see while in Las Vegas that could keep them busy while you are at the show.