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New Workshop Dates – Get Booking!
Finally, I’ve managed to arrange some dates for forthcoming workshops.
If there’s a workshop you’d like to do, but cannot do the planned sessions, please get in touch, as there might be a few of you wanting an alternative date – so long as we can get the numbers, and I am available, I am happy to work with you on this.
I’ve tried to plan in a mix of dates, my new taster sessions are proving really popular, but I’ve had a lot of requests for the full fusing days too. Of course, we cannot ignore a forthcoming in December, so with that in mind, I’ve also planned in a Christmas decoration session. And if you’re struggling to find a unique present, and feel like you’re running out of time, there is the DON’T PANIC session in December, where there’s just enough time to make something special. Details below.
Introduction to Glass Fusing (SORRY, SATURDAY 3rd DECEMBER IS NOW FULLY BOOKED) – during a glass fusing day, I will introduce you to the world of fused glass. We get stuck in early with learning how to cut glass during the first part of the morning, practicing your skills with plain window glass – many students like to make a something like a wall hanging or panel from the shapes they’ve cut. Once everybody is comfortable with this, we move on to using coloured art glass, and I will show you a variety of methods for creating your own unique pieces by using layering techniques, inclusions, frit and more. All materials, tools and equipment are provided, including access to Dawn’s vast array of glass! You’ll get the chance to make a some small pieces, along with perhaps a small window hanging, free-standing panel or coaster or two. The day lasts around six hours or so, and does require an element of hand-strength and dexterity for the cutting. Suitable for all adults, and possibly mid-teenagers by arrangement. Work to be fired after the day, ready to be collected at a later date.
Half Term Fun – a recent addition to my range of sessions, during this short workshop, you will get a chance to make a sun-catcher/colour stick or postcard sized wall hanging. No glass cutting required, all items will be ready cut, but you choose your designs, and will decorate your blank with a variety of coloured glass pieces. Suitable for a much wider age range, or people with hand strength/dexterity issues. Why not bring along your young ones and make something together? Charge is per item, not per person, although adults must stay and help/supervise. The session allows around two hours, but many people make something in a shorter time, depending on complexity of design, or if they’ve made their mind up! Work will be fired after the session to be collected at a later date.
Make Your Own Christmas Decorations (SORRY NOW SOLD OUT) – similar to the glass fusing day, you will start off my learning to cut glass – but we will restrict to cutting simple shapes and straight lines, so should be able to move on to the good stuff quicker. As in the introduction to glass fusing day, I will then explain and demonstrate a variety of techniques for you to use on your own designs. The workshop will last around four hours, and provides enough material and kiln space to make 8 or 9 decorations each. I will make sure the work goes into the kiln quickly so you will get it back in good time to hang on your tree or give as a gift.
Don’t Panic! If you’re anything like me, you sometimes find it hard to find the right present, and all of a sudden, you’ve left it rather late to shop for a unique gift! Why not make your own? There can’t be anything more special and thoughtful than something you have made yourself. I’ve planned this in for an a weekday early evening, the session is planned for up to two hours, although many people will make their item quicker than this. Similar to the half term fun, you won’t need to learn to cut glass, only clean it, design it and decorate it using my vast array of colours to make a sun-catcher or wall panel from a pre-cut glass blank. Work will go into the kiln straight after the session so it will be ready in plenty of time to go under the tree.
Samples of work make in previous sessions
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The Glass Forth Bridge!
Well, that’s what it’s felt like I was doing!
This weekend, I am running one of my glass decorating workshops over at Burton-upon-Trent, so I have spent the last few days, collecting, scraping, washing and drying what seemed like a never ending supply of jam/coffee/sauce jars
There’s potentially a LOT of visitors to this event, and it’s a drop-in workshop so I have no idea how many people might want to have a go, so I have to be prepared in case everybody does! I am loathe to risk running out like I did one year within the first hour….
Next week, I will be doing it all over again with Sun-catchers, so between washing and drying glass jars galore, I have been bending wire hangers and cutting endless rectangles of glass for fusing in the kiln this week.
I do love offering these workshops though – it’s lovely to see the children who always enjoy having ago, some get so absorbed and are wonderfully creative in their designs. Best of all, it’s popular with all ages – a few weeks ago, I stood in at Haywood House, a respite care centre in Nottingham for their craft sessions, and almost everybody had a go, including the patients who don’t usually get involved. Then again, who can beat a bit of stickering and colouring in?
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New Workshop Dates
I’ve just added some new dates to the workshops page, and I am trying something new – this year, you can book and pay for your fusing workshops directly through an organisation called Eventbrite – it’s ever so easy to use, you can book here:
Saturday, 28th September:
Sunday, 6th October: