Surface Techniques & Copper Foiling Course
From: £120.00
Course Dates:
- Saturday 9th of January 2027 | 1pm – 5pm
CoURSE Description
A great start to the New Year!
Our Surface Techniques & Copper Foiling Course
“I’d love to, but I can’t draw.”
It’s the single most common reason people give for not booking a glass course – and on this one, it simply doesn’t apply. You don’t have to be good at drawing to do this course. In fact, you can do an awful lot of cheating, and nobody will ever know from looking at the finished thing.
This is a wonderfully diverse short course, and you’ll be surprised how many skills you pick up in a single afternoon.
You’ll start by choosing your main colour and your imagery, which could be anything you love. And if you arrive with nothing in mind, don’t worry – we have a wide library of images to choose from. Jen will then guide you through the tricks that get your image onto glass easily, using sandblasting, engraving techniques and coloured pigments to great effect.
Once your main image is made, our advanced tutor Karen takes over to teach you copper foiling and soldering. You’ll create a complementing border around your glass and two discreet hooks at the top – and it’s ready to take home on the day.
What You’ll Learn
With Jen
- Choosing colour and imagery – working from your own idea or from our image library
- Sandblasting – getting imagery onto glass
- Engraving techniques – adding detail to the glass surface
- Coloured pigments – using colour to great effect across your design
With Karen
- Copper foiling – the traditional technique for decorative glass work
- Soldering – creating a complementing border around your panel
- Hanging hooks – two discreet hooks soldered at the top, ready to go
What You’ll Make
One glass panel, 24cm square, with a soldered copper foil border and two discreet hanging hooks – ready to hang in a window or on a wall.
Because you choose your own colour and your own imagery, every panel that leaves the studio is different.
Perfect For
- Complete beginners
- Anyone wanting to learn several different skills in a short space of time
- Those who’d rather take a finished piece home the same day
- Anyone looking for a small, relaxed group
Why This Course?
It’s a lot of ground to cover in four hours – sandblasting, engraving, pigments, copper foiling and soldering – and you’ll have two tutors between you and the finish line, with Jen on the surface work and Karen on the foiling.
With a maximum of six people, there’s plenty of individual attention, and a January afternoon in the studio is a rather nice way to start the year.
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
FAQs
Q: What should I wear?
A: Just comfortable clothes you don’t mind getting a bit dusty, and closed-toe shoes (nothing open like sandals or flip-flops). Avoid loose sleeves if possible, but we have elastic bands if needed.
Q: What's included in the course price?
A: Everything you need – all glass, tools, kiln firing, safety equipment, tea and coffee throughout the day, and biscuits. You just need to bring yourself! The only extra would be if you want to make additional pieces beyond what’s included in the course.
Q: Do I take my finished pieces home the same day?
For fusing courses, no – your pieces need to go in the kiln, so you can collect them when they’re ready (usually a week or so later) or we can post them to you but we really don’t recommend postage because glass is easily broken in the post. You can choose postage at your own risk, we charge a minimum of £8 (depending on the size of the piece) to cover postage cost & packaging.
For stained glass, copper foiling and other non-fusing courses, yes – you take them home at the end of the course.
Q: What if I don't finish my piece?
A: Don’t worry, we build in enough time for everyone to complete their projects. Jennifer keeps an eye on everyone’s progress. If you’re a bit slower, that’s fine – we’d rather you do it properly than rush.
Q: Is lunch provided?
A: We provide tea, coffee, and biscuits throughout the day, but not lunch. You’re welcome to bring sandwiches to eat in our comfy break area or outside if the weather’s nice, or there are plenty of nice pubs & cafes approx 1 mile away in the centre of Frodsham.
Q: How do I find you?
A: We’re pretty easy to find – just off the main road between Frodsham and Kingsley. We’re upstairs in the Barn at Bradley Farm Stables (look out for the horses 🙂 )
Our studio address is
Bradley Farm,
Bradley Lane,
Frodsham,
Cheshire WA6 7EP
Google Maps Link: https://share.google/Rs5h7PbS4m6ZmvNE9
There’s parking on the road right outside the barn and on the large grass verge just around the corner from the farm.