Curious about glass fusing but not ready to commit to a full day? This affordable 2-hour taster gives you a perfect introduction to the magical world of kiln-formed glass.

In just two hours, you’ll create a beautiful wildflower-themed candle bend – a curved glass panel that glows beautifully when a candle flickers behind it. It’s the ideal first project: simple enough for complete beginners, but with enough creative choice to make it uniquely yours.

You’ll get hands-on experience with the key materials and tools used in glass fusing – coloured frits (crushed glass), stringers (thin glass threads), and mosaic cutters. By the end of the session, you’ll understand the basics of how glass fusing works and whether you want to explore further with our full-day courses.

When does the course start and finish? This course runs from 2pm – 4pm on Thursday afternoons.

What You’ll Learn

• Basic glass fusing principles – how different glasses work together
• Working with frits – creating texture and colour gradients with crushed glass
• Using stringers – adding fine details and patterns
• Design composition – arranging elements for beautiful results
• Kiln firing basics – what happens to your piece overnight
• Slumping process – how flat glass becomes curved

What You’ll Make

You’ll create a wildflower candle bend (small curved panel) in your own design. Choose your colour palette and arrange delicate wildflower elements using:

• Colourful glass frits for texture and background
• Fine stringers for stems and delicate details
• Clear base glass

Your finished piece will be slumped into a gentle curve, perfect for standing with a tea light behind it. The light catches the colours and details beautifully – it makes a lovely decorative piece for your home or a thoughtful handmade gift.

Perfect For

• Anyone curious about glass fusing but unsure about a full-day commitment
• Those wanting an affordable introduction before investing in longer courses
• Gift experience recipients wanting to “try before they buy”
• Busy people who only have a couple of hours to spare
• Anyone wanting to make something lovely without a huge time investment
• Testing whether glass art is your thing!

Why This Taster Course?

Not everyone can (or wants to) commit to a full-day course when trying something completely new. This 2-hour session gives you a genuine taste of glass fusing without the pressure or time commitment.

You’ll work with real glass fusing materials and create an actual finished piece – this isn’t just a demonstration or “have a go” session. Jennifer guides you through every step, and because class sizes are tiny, you get proper individual attention even in the shorter timeframe.

Many of our full-day students started with this taster and got hooked! But even if you don’t continue, you’ll have created something beautiful and learned a fascinating new craft.

Collection & Firing

Your candle bend needs two kiln firings – first to fuse the glass layers together, then to slump it into its curved shape. It’ll be ready for collection approximately one week after your course.

You can collect it from the studio (and see it transformed!) or we can post it, though we recommend collection as glass is fragile in transit (postage at your own risk, £8 minimum).

What Happens Next?

Loved your taster and want more? Many students progress to:

• Introduction to Glass Fusing – Full-day course covering more techniques (£190)
• Coral Bowl Workshop – Half-day advanced project (£125)
• Other glass fusing courses exploring different techniques

We’re always happy to advise on which course might suit you next based on what you enjoyed most about the taster.

Your Tutor: Jennifer Barker – Lead Instructor & Founder

Jennifer has been working with glass for over 30 years, having discovered her passion for the medium while studying at Wolverhampton and Staffordshire Universities, where she completed a BA and MA in Glass.

Her expertise spans the full spectrum of glass techniques – from delicate kiln-formed pieces to large architectural installations. Jennifer’s specialist areas include kiln-formed glass, surface manipulation, and kiln-casting, but she’s equally passionate about traditional techniques like stained glass and copper foiling. For 12 years, Jennifer was Head of the Glass Department at Glyndwr University, where she discovered that teaching glass art was almost as addictive as making it.

What sets Jennifer apart as an instructor is her genuine love for sharing knowledge. She believes that anyone can learn to work with glass beautifully – it just takes the right guidance, encouragement, and plenty of hands-on practice.