This picture was from the Jan. 11, 2003 issue of Sioux City's Weekender, depicting the Steps in Simple Stained Glass Technique. Photos were taken by Jan Dehner.

1. Create the design and draw the pattern. Make a hard copy of the pattern by tracing the pieces on stiff paper and cut out using a pattern shears. this special scissors cuts a width between the glass pieces that will allow room for the lead without changing the overall layout size. Each piece is numbered to allow for easy replacement in the overall pattern.

2. Cut each piece of glass using a glass-cutting tool. The actual cuts of the glass are said to be the most important step, and are a reflection of the quality in the composition.

3. Replace each piece of cut glass back into the "cartoon" pattern.

4. Wrap the lead "came" around the individual pieces of glass, working within a frame to keep the overall piece from moving. Solder the joints where the head strips meet. The outside strip of frame is often composed of zinc, a much more rigid strip of metal that hold everything together.

5. Glaze and grout the entire piece, a three-step process, making sure the glaze gets under the lead to hold it together and seal it from weather elements.

6. The grout whiting is pushed into all crevices and excess is brushed away to dry.

7. Final cleaning is the last step before the art glass can be hung and admired.