Exceptional Times

Whilst the world is on hold, and we wait in self isolation to hopefully slow down the virus and give the NHS a fighting chance…

Lets look at some of the recent creations from workshops, courses and those who have carried on at home. Help keep our spirits up, maybe inspire each other to create and make, whilst I wait to re-schedule post-phoned workshops and courses.

I am starting to re-orientate how to precede with work and life in general. Usually Artists are quite good at lateral thinking, but this, as for many, is being quite a challenge. Talk about bringing communities together in shared experience.

It was almost funny discovering this Tuesday lunchtime that the studio would close by 6pm having just had word that someone wanted a commission, Yay and Ooh! I tried to decide in a short space of time whether I should attempt to set up a home studio or not (space issue’s, free roaming cat Dr Seuss). I rushed around, my brain in muddy confusion, collecting tools and a choice of glass together, squishing it into my small car. How much and what glass and lead would I need…..how long is a piece of string type question. I decided to problem solve the lack of space, workbench and cat later, one problem at a time. Today is Saturday, I have a wee home studio, bench as well, set up and ready to go! My hope is I can take small commissions, depending on the suppliers still open online….watch this space or send me an email if interested.

I hope this slide show will keep those creative juices flowing. Do email any lovely pictures of stained glass and copper foiling you have recently made or are making, I will post them onto the Facebook page to keep us all going.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

March 28, 2020 0

Christmas Gifts and AWOL ICE

Christmas Gift experiences in Stained glass and ICE at AWOL Studios, Hope Mill Ancoats.

With the importance of less waste and changing the way we consume goods, being at the forefront of our minds, buying less ‘stuff’ and locally is the thing to do now. I don’t feel too bad saying please buy local from makers and artists this Christmas. There is a host of exciting workshop experiences out there, where one takes home not only a beautiful creation but a lovely memory that lasts.

Why not look at the workshops and courses I run as gifts for someone this Christmas. I still have spaces Introduction to Copper Foiling workshop Stained glass for beginners weekend workshops Evening and Daytime classes Do have a look and please do feel free contact me and ask questions.

Monday evening course

Evening course panel in progre

Finished panel from beginners weekend

Evening Class

Intro Copper foiling workshop

A piece in progress, being leaded

The workshops I run are based at AWOL Studio’s in Hope Mill Ancoats Manchester, where a few of us Artists who teach and run workshops have pulled together to create ‘ICE’, ‘independent Creative Educators’. “We offer unique creative experiences in a Unique Grade 2* listed venue – Hope Mill. So far we you can try, drawing, painting, crafts, photography, stained glass with other culturally creative activities coming soon. We are are group of artists who are proud to embrace the independent spirit of a creative Manchester.

Check us out, maybe buy a workshop for that someone special or for yourself, we all deserve down time to be creative. Follow us on Instagram @iceawolarts watch out for open days and see what we are up too. Thanks for reading

December 16, 2019 0

New Stained Glass courses for 2020

Stained glass courses and workshops in Manchester – New dates for 2020

Come and learn a new skill and create your own stained glass panels. During the short winter months be up-lifted by the beauty and colour of glass, whilst learning how to design your own pattern, cut and lead glass and solder the panel.

Courses are 9 weeks long on a Monday evening or a Wednesday morning, with only 4 people giving plenty of quality time with the tutor, that’s me.

There are also workshops held on the weekends, Stained glass for beginners and Introduction to Copper Foiling.

Have a look at the slide show to see some work in progress and previous stained glass made during courses. Some is made by people who have returned for a second course. The courses are also suitable for beginners with no previous experience, just a willingness to have ago.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

December 3, 2019 0

Jane Eyre, the Peaks and Hathersage Parish Church

A somewhat tenuous link between Stained glass workshops for the New Year, Jane Eyre, The Peaks and Hathersage Parish Church….

Recently I went on a walk in the Peaks, wanting to soak in the golden amber, orange and red eye candy of autumn colours before big winds or rain carried it all away. I knew I should have been busy writing about the New Courses and Workshops I have coming up in the New Year!

Instead, or rather along with enjoying the autumn colour I discovered the connection Jane Eyre has with Hathersage and the lovely stained glass in Hathersage parish church, St Michaels and All Angels.

copy Hathersage Church stained glass 2 — Stained glass Hathersage Parish Church

More here with the east window by Charles Kempe.

We walked or I followed a friend who knows the area much better than me, from Hathersage up to Stanage across to Longshaw estate for lunch and back across Over Owler Tor and through ghostly silver birch woods back to Hathersage. I possibly may have got that right.

Starting in Hathersage, I of course had to have a peek inside the small but certainly not diminutive parish Church, visit the famous ‘Little John’s Grave’ and see the beautiful windows.

P1320789 — Stained glass Hathersage Parish Church

P1320792 — Stained glass Hathersage Parish Church

Inside the church my friend spotted a postcard telling all about Jane Eyre’s wanderings in the area (which I hasten to add I did purchase before taking a picture of it). If you search the church you will find the ‘Eyre brasses’. We didn’t stop for long enough to do this, a longish walk ahead of us and not enough daylight at this time of year to pause for too long.

The walk took us past Thornfield House where Mr Rochester lived in the novel, in the real world it is North Lees Hall and not a Mr Rochester in sight, only a gently green vista rolling towards Stanage Edge.

I didn’t manage to capture the beauty of the moors and woods with the grand colours on camera, but it was a pleasure to walk around this beautiful area and discover more. Not sure I would fancy being lost wandering around the moors as Jane Eyre did. I’m content to be much more familiar with the area and know how the original local Eyre family inspired Charlotte Bronte to name her heroine ‘Jane Eyre’.

The actual purpose of writing this blog was to let people know I have New dates for the New Year workshops and courses in the art of creating stained glass. Do, if interested, come and learn the art of stained glass, enjoying the colours and year round beauty of glass. I cannot promise your first panel will be for a church but you will make a lovely panel to take home. Thank you for reading.

Hathersage parish church — View of Hathersage Parish Church

November 16, 2019 0

Autumn Workshops and a little video

September Stained glass – Workshop Dates

We are now half way through the Summer Holidays, although my kids are nearly grown up my mind set and routines are still governed by the school holidays. Bringing a sense of new beginnings in September, new uniform, new class room, new college or University and maybe new set of skills in Stained glass?