The first step in building a piece of leaded glass is the creation of a full-scale drawing.  As individual pieces are cut, they can be numbered and checked against the drawing for size.

This piece is Sooz's "English Cottage", during the early part of its construction.  She built the cottage element first. The original, from which this design is adapted, is evident in the book to the left.

On the assembly bench, Sooz puts individual pieces of glass into their proper positions and cuts lead came to fit between them.  Ultimately, she'll use solder to connect the pieces of lead and the border (lead or zinc) into a rigid network.  For larger pieces, steel rebar adds strength.  Putty is forced into all of the joints, to take up any play in the fit of the lead and glass, and to weatherproof the piece.  Finally, a patina treatment darkens the lead and gives the piece the desired "antique" finish.