ArdaLume

Ard aLume's unique stained glass suncatchers and window hangings make a wonderful gift, that captures the heart as well as the eye.
We will ship your purchases anywhere you wish. The shipping is free. Please contact us with any questions you may have.
We offer personalization on request.

Hello!

I design, make and sell stained glass suncatchers and window hangings.
I create the items in our studio which is situated at the edge of Connemara in the West of Ireland. I make handcrafted pieces in a range of vibrant colors, using the potential of glass and lead to capture the glimmer and beauty of light.
I work as a part of a husband and wife team. We have been working together for some time now. We complement each other. I'm the bust of energy, and he is the steadying influence. It has been both inspiring and exciting to be able to work in this environment.
With an engineering background, both me and my husband are very detail orientated. We make each window hanging with great care, and attention to detail. We wouldn't be satisfied with less than a product of the highest quality.
I've learned the craft myself. From the very start I knew what quality of the product I wanted to be able to create, and I spent long hours learning the skills.
I start the creative process by first picking up the colors. I use big sheets of colored stained glass. I like to use bold and vibrant colors. The glass looks exquisite when the sun hits it.
The method I use is called the Tiffany technique. I cut the glass into small pieces, according to our design. Then I grind each piece with a grinder to smooth the edges and define the shape. After that, I put a copper foil around each piece and put the design together, like a jigsaw.
The final step is soldering, which is the most satisfying, and the most important to the final result.
I recycle all the leftover scraps of glass by passing them over to my friend's studio. She is reusing them on her fusing glass classes.

This work is my passion and I like being responsible for the whole process, starting from the vision of the shop, through the designing and making of the items, and ending on the personally contacting my clients.
I have great feedback. My clients often let me know that they love my suncatchers. They are very content, that they received unique beautifully made the highest quality item or they've put a smile on a face of a person they gave one of my suncatchers.
Enjoy!