Friday evening glass workshop — no experience required

Skip the shop-bought decorations this year and solder your own. In one focused evening session, you’ll build a small copper foiled glass wreath — robin, holly, mistletoe and berries included — using the same technique glassmakers rely on for Tiffany-style lampshades and detailed stained glass panels.

Copper foiling is one of the most approachable ways into stained glass work. Rather than fitting glass into lead strips, you wrap each piece in thin copper tape and solder the seams together, which makes it ideal for small, detailed designs like this one. Every shape for your wreath arrives pre-cut, so the evening is entirely hands-on: taping, positioning, soldering, and watching your wreath come together piece by piece under Karen’s instruction.

Bring a friend, bring a glass of something festive, and leave two hours later with a piece of glasswork you made yourself.

The Skills

• Copper foil taping — a clean, even wrap around each glass piece
• Soldering — building strong, tidy joints between pieces
• Layout and assembly — piecing your design onto the copper ring
• Polishing off — the finishing details that give it a professional look

What You’ll Take Home

A finished copper foiled glass Christmas wreath, roughly 14cm high by 14cm across, decorated with a robin, holly, mistletoe and berries. It’s soldered and complete by the end of the evening — nothing needs firing, so there’s no wait for collection.

Who It Suits

• First-timers wanting a taste of stained glass techniques
• Regulars looking for a festive evening session
• Anyone after a handmade Christmas gift with a personal touch
• Friends or colleagues fancying a different kind of night out

Worth Knowing

Copper foiling tends to suit beginners better than traditional leaded glasswork — it’s more forgiving, handles fine detail well, and the results look far more intricate than the process actually is. With the cutting already done for you, this session is really about enjoying the craft: no pressure, no rush, just a relaxed couple of hours making something for your own mantelpiece or someone else’s Christmas tree.

Please use the calendar above to select the course date and book

Can’t make the date? Please email us to register your interest at jen@cheshireschoolofglass.co.uk and we can let you know when further dates are added