If you’ve ever wanted to try something unique, a glass fusing workshop is an accessible, hands-on experience available in morning or afternoon sessions. You’ll discover the process, learn how to shape small glass pieces, and mainly have fun with a variety of colourful sweetie shop like glass to craft your own coaster or suncatcher, and a keyring.
I think it’s well acknowledged that being creative is good for us, takes the mind off the ‘to do’ list and a respite from the little lemon that life throws at us. It is a chance to engage outside our normal day to day tasks, in a vibrant, tactile way using our hands, transforming glass into art pieces.
I have been running workshops and teaching stained glass, copper foiling and now fused glass, for many years. What I have found is the journey of learning to make stained glass is not always about the obvious, but an array of different reasons for people.
One women who comes to the Wednesday morning course, has said ‘it’s her therapy’, and to be fair, we have a good laugh, and non-judgemental positive encouragement, recognizing ‘our wins’ is important. Meeting new people, fostering community in a creative slightly structured setting, learning a new skill, personal growth and confidence, whilst playing with beautiful glass, is hard to beat for the feel good factor.
With this in mind I have two new workshops which hopefully cater to peoples available time.
Fused glass – Cutting and Sticking with glass, one off workshops on a Wednesday afternoon or Thursday evening available. Just come to once to this workshop, or twice or thrice, learning more each time you attend.
Both are fun, creative and can give a bit of a buzz.
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Wednesday stained glass course
Wednesday Stained glass course
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Explore the workshops and courses, and feel free to contact me with any questions. Stained glass and copper foiling require various hand tools and involve standing at a bench to cut glass and lead. Creating fused glass can be accomplished while seated, provided that minimal cutting is involved.
Tuesday 19th March 2pm – 4pm or Thursday 21st March 11am – 1pm
Fused Glass – I am calling it ‘cutting and sticking’ with glass, not strictly true, but it reminds me of creating paper collages when younger. Instead of paper we will be using all sorts glassy fusing things called inclusions: stringers, confetti, dichroic glass and Millefiori pieces, a bit like being in a sweetie shop.
Come to a 2 hour workshop, learn about: the basics of glass fusing, have a quick guide to cutting and shaping small pieces of glass and how to use all the lovely ‘inclusions’. Make a fused glass tile suncatcher and a keyring if time. Your pieces will be fired in a kiln at very hot temperature, which melts the glass into one fused piece. Booking form dates and costs or contact me for more information
Ready for collection in about a week or two, times for pick up to be arranged.  This is a fun hands on workshop, with time to play with the glass and create your own piece of glass art with guidance from me, Sharon.
Last year saw me complete exciting community stained glass windows for Withington Baths, as part of their Heritage Project. I love developing designs in collaboration with different groups, it makes for a very dynamic experience.
Withington Baths Studio two
Withington Baths Cafe Window
This year needs to bring an ability to update my website with some of the commissions I have now made, but like a lot of creative makers, this often falls off the ‘To Do List’.
I think there is a resurgence in traditional crafts, which has been helped by many tv programmes hi-lighting the crafts. Stained glass has been noted as a ‘Endangered craft’ but there are lots of people wanting to have ago. Hands on making is like having a rest if you spend much of your time on screens for work, and it can be very mindful, according to people I have taught, taking your mind off that ever ongoing ‘To Do list’!
The January and February workshops sold out in a flash, mostly as Christmas gifts, what a fabulous gift to receive. I now have workshops for March through to early May. https://manchesterstainedglass.co.uk/classes/ There will be more workshops coming for Summer, if you would like to be on the emailing, and first in the ‘know’ for dates, drop me a message on Contact
Manchester Stained Glass 