Why not learn to Make Fused Glass Floral Slumps – an exciting intermediate day course

Our intermediate course at Rainbow Glass Studios focusses on the exciting potential of fused glass floral slumps and draped vessels for your home. These flowing beautiful shapes can either be decorative or functional depending on how they are constructed. From organic corals to more controlled geometric designs, there are so many ways to shape and drape glass. 

During this course you will design and make one large drape (Maximum 30cm diameter) and depending on the complexity of your design, you’ll also make one smaller drape too (Maximum 20cm diameter) . Following the course, your pieces will be fired and formed (it takes 24 hours for each kiln firing, as draped or floral designs need two separate firings each) 

All materials and firings are included in the price of the day course. This course is aimed at students with some previous experience of working with and cutting glass and is for adults over the age of 16 years old. Working with fused glass is an adventure in colour, and we will experiment and play to make unusual and unique vessels.

Due to the need to meet requirements for social distancing, we are currently limiting the size of our courses to a maximum of 4 students at a time with the added benefit of more 1:1 attention during the day. (Pending further health guidance this may be increased to a maximum of 5 students if it is safe to do so).

During the day we will cover:

  • Cutting glass safely and confidently using a range of specialised glass cutters and pliers
  • Cutting and combining compatible fused glass to achieve interesting decorative effects
  • Compatibility of the various fused glass ranges available (i.e. what is COE?)
  • Creating simple organic or geometric designs using a rainbow of different coloured glass. We allow you the freedom to choose which design you would like to make. (You will be allocated a space in the kiln on which to fire your day’s creations!)
  • Options to use fibreboard, frit, stringers, glass bobbles, bubbles, copper inclusions for decorative effects
  • Understanding how drapes are made, and fired and slumped using a variety of different sized moulds
  • Understand how glass “folds” when draped, and key things to bear in mind when designing them.
  • Kiln firing temperatures, and important health and safety information should you decide to pursue your new hobby further!
  • Learning where to buy supplies and kilns if you catch the fusing glass bug!

Following the fuse and slump firings, your glass will be ready for collection later in the week or we can post it out to you. We would recommend collection if possible, but if you need yours posted we will send it via Royal Mail, recorded delivery (with lots of packing in a large box) for an additional fee of £25 p+p (in the UK only).

Please note: this course takes place in a working glass studio and not a classroom setting, so participants need to be able to stand to cut and prepare glass and to work standing at benches. (Stools are available in between times). If you have any questions regarding mobility, please make contact via the “contact” page. Thank you.

Course cost: £160 (maximum of 4 students). When booking you will be directed to Eleanor’s website: https://www.jewelleryboat.com