I credit this book hands-down with inspiring and introducing me to the beautiful art of glass etching. Page after page of breathtaking sophisticated etched glass carvings are interspersed with photos of smaller examples easily within reach of a beginner. The authors have had over 25 years in the business and now hold beginner through master level classes at their art studio in New Mexico.

This is a thorough book describing the various methods of etching, the materials, types of glass, types of techniques, etc. For example, etching cream - which is what I'm learning to use as a beginner is only capable of surface etching. Even so, this simple technique can make very beautiful designs on different types of glass. I've been practicing on jelly and juice jars I keep after finishing off said jelly or juice. That way, if or when I mess up it doesn't matter as much like it would had I practiced on an expensive wine glass or bowl. Soon I'll be ready to move on to the next project and type of glass to practice on. The authors discuss in particular detail surface etching, carving and shading. Applying and cutting various types of resists and etching creams, numbering patterns so you know which order to etch for a proper 3-dimensional effect, beveling, how to hold the carving/blasting wand, etc. is all here. Most of these techniques can be done now (at least on a small scale) with a small air compressor like the ones used for airbrush, portable blaster and tabletop sandblasting cabinets. Chapter 8 gives extensive advise on the various types of equipment (from hobbiest tabletop units to industrial room-sized) used for sandblast etching along with each piece of equipment's pros and cons.

I'm looking at one tabletop unit that is moderately priced (less than $270). With this one tabletop unit (which the book shows a photo of and discusses) anyone can start recreating even the most sophisticated designs and projects included in this book for beginners and beyond. Detailed step-by-step photos for each project are shown in each chapter and the patterns for each project are provided in Appendix B. The other Appendices cover a glossary of terms, suppliers of etching machines, stencil sources, sources for glass, further reading and handy reference charts covering Moh's hardness scale, volume/linear/pressure measurements and abrasive grit sizes including microgrit powders. It really presents a very broad overview of everything one needs to get started making beautiful glass etching/carvings.

And I want to stess again that page after page is a visual feast of gallery designs of what professional glass etchers can do. The cover of the book does not even begin to show how beautiful the artwork displayed inside really is. I can not stress this point enough. The artwork shown inside is truly worthy of anyone's coffee table. The fantastic thing is that I'm having a ton of fun learning this beautiful art - and all thanks to this one comprehensive book. Bravo! I want a sequel!

It was a boon to have this book Mr. Dobbins!! I have been able to etch and carve glass successfully and beautifully just with the help of the detailed instructions in the book! Today, if I am successful it is because of this book. Thankyou Mr. Dobbins for putting in your heart and soul into this book!! Aarti Jhawar(India)

As a collector of venetian chevrons and trade beads for a little over 15 years, I find that this book, like all of their books (7 in all), is the best published reference material about chevrons yet. There is not one other book that comes close to having the amount of information or pictures that this book possesses. A MUST for any beginning collector; a very important tool to help you from becoming prey to the many frauds that have recently infiltrated the hobby. All you serious bead traders should already have these books.

This book offers a comprehrensive insight in the colourful world of the many types beads used in the trade with West Africa. With about 3000 diffrent colour combinations of glass beads. A must for every collector of beads. And fun to recognise the collected beads.

My daughter is 12 years old and was never really interested in coloring books, but she picked this book up at a recent book fair an she can't put it down!! She likes to draw and be creative, and this Stained Glass design book allows her to be creative with the wonderful designs. The vellum paper that the designs are printed on gives each page a realistic appearance of glass. It is a great book and I would highly recommend it!!!

I bought this book at my school book fair and it's a GREAT collect of art designs that if you color and put by a window, it will look like stainted glass! I scaned them and printed copies for myself( I didn't want to tear them out of my book)

I have several coloring design books that I use to help me relax and express my creativity when I feel the need but don't have the time to write alot. Most of the designs are fun to color and have enough variety to make you want to move onto the next one. However, some of the designs are rather large in terms of the space between lines and this eats up pens, pencils, or markers like crazy. I also don't think this larger pieces are as relaxing and as entertaining to color.

I loved this book because you had so many ways you could color it. Each person would look at it differantly and color it differant. i love this book, i am almost finished with it and, i got it just a couple, of days ago. it would be a great gift for a teenager, i am 14, and i love doing these things even though i am not very good at art. i stongly recomand this book.

A fun to do coloring in book! Do lots of fun, cool designs

This is a good book for American or "recent" slag. It was informative, especially with the recent pricings in the back.

Outstanding book on slag glass. Any one thats in slag glass will find this very helpful. Excellent pictures, tells the year it was manufacture, and tells what its worth than and now.