A cosy Sunday afternoon of festive making!

Spend a Sunday afternoon making an icicle wreath in glass – a starburst of fine frosted spikes radiating out from a central ring, made to hang in a window where the low winter light can catch it. It’s a genuinely striking piece, and it comes out every December for years to come.

It’s a relaxed, sociable sort of afternoon.

What You’ll Do

• Cutting and shaping icicle forms – creating the fine, tapering spikes that give the wreath its shape
• Building the radiating structure – arranging your icicles so they fuse into one strong, balanced piece
• Adding colour, if you want it – drops of colour or berries can be worked in, though Jen’s own preference is to keep it purely icy
• Understanding the kiln – how the pieces bond together and what happens to the edges during firing

Jen guides you through every stage, so there’s no prior experience needed at all.

The Frosting

Here’s the part that makes this piece. After your wreath comes out of the kiln, Jen takes it to the sandblaster and frosts it for you – which is what turns clear glass into that soft, snowy, genuinely icy finish.

It’s a professional studio process you couldn’t do at home, and it’s included. It’s also the difference between a nice glass wreath and one that genuinely looks like it’s made of ice.

What You’ll Make

One fused and sandblasted glass icicle wreath, approximately 28cm in diameter, ready to hang with a ribbon.

Hung in a window it catches daylight through the frosting and glows softly; hung against a wall or a tree it picks up whatever light is in the room. It packs away flat in tissue paper and comes back out every year.

Perfect For

• Anyone wanting a Christmas decoration they’ll keep rather than replace
• Complete beginners – no experience needed, and the technique is very approachable
• Friends, couples or small groups looking for a festive night out that isn’t a meal
• Anyone who likes their Christmas decor on the elegant, icy side rather than the red-and-gold side
• Anyone who’s been meaning to try glass and fancies starting with a short evening session

Why This Course?

Most Christmas decorations are bought, put up, taken down and eventually thrown away. This one you made yourself, and it’ll still be going up in fifteen years’ time.

It’s also just a lovely way to spend a Sunday afternoon in November – warm studio, festive music, a drink, and two hours of making something with your hands before the Christmas rush properly starts. By the time it’s hanging in your window, you’ll have forgotten you ever had a to-do list.

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 Glyndŵr 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.

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