Safety First in the Studio and Class

Written By Kim Joy

One of the first things I teach every new student is that stained glass is an incredibly rewarding craft — but like any craft, it comes with safety considerations. Protecting your eyes, hands, and lungs is not optional; it’s part of working responsibly with glass and solder.

Basic protective gear is simple but essential:

  • Safety glasses or goggles for cutting and soldering

  • Gloves to prevent cuts

In the studio, I demonstrate how to hold glass correctly, how to score and break pieces safely, and how to position your hands while soldering. Students who follow these guidelines can focus on creating instead of worrying about accidents.

Safety isn’t about fear — it’s about confidence. When you know how to protect yourself, you can fully enjoy the magic of stained glass.

This safety foundation is part of every beginner class — I guide students step by step.

Kim Joy

Kim Steinmuller Joy has been a stained glass artist and teacher since 1982. Most of her pieces are in the traditional style and starting to experiment to incorporate materials not usually found in the medium. She believes that through her pieces she can grow and learn more about the world around her and where she came from. She hopes that her work will inspire and encourage others in their artistic endeavors. She loves working with commissions that allows her to create one of kind pieces for the commissioner.

She belongs to Stained Glass Association of America and National Capital Art Glass Guild. Her work can be found at the Community Council of the Arts in Kinston NC, Arts Council of Wayne County Goldsboro, NC, and Wilson Arts in Wilson, NC. She teaches Nash Community College Nashville, NC, Wilson Community College Wilson NC. Her works are in private collections worldwide.

Kim Steinmuller Joy was raised in upstate New York and now lives and works in Wilson, NC.

https://www.kimsjoy.com
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Beginner Mistakes