Glass Cutting Workshop
Class Cost: $200.00 + tax
Date: Saturday noon to 3:00
Prerequisites: None
Tools & supplies needed: Safety glasses and/or gloves if you feel you need them.
Supplies & tool use included
This is a wonderful and very necessary workshop to get you started into the world of glass, whether it be stained glass, mosaics or fusing. You will learn and practice all of the techniques to achieve various shapes – freehand, straight edge cutting, inside curves, and circles, just to name a few. The layouts for cutting and for saving time and money will be shown. Glass cutters are explained, with different types for you to try before you buy. Mosaic glass cutters, strip cutters, circle cutters, and running pliers will available for you to learn and try as well. Students will learn “English cutting”, template cutting, and a graphic demo on cutting background from one piece of glass. The proper use of groziers/breakers and the “chewing” technique will be taught, as well as the techniques for using a carborundum stone, and glass grinders. Safety, the different kinds of glass, and specialty machines/tools will be discussed. It is highly recommended that the student purchase 2 sq. ft. or more of clear glue chip glass as soon as to practice and to reinforce techniques learned and increase confidence. Your world will expand into a whole new art form!
Master Pattern & Template Workshop
Class Cost: $140.00 + tax
Date: Saturday – 4:00 pm to 6:00
Supplies & tool use included
Prerequisites: None
This class is so important! A great master pattern is the start of a great glass project! A poor pattern causes many problems & frustrations or worse, you feel like you cannot do glass work. You will be taught how to correct a lamp panel design, add all reference info, make templates to cut from, and verify the fit before you start. The importance & the power of the flow of glass will be demonstrated, so it too can be incorporated into the master. This information will also work for flat projects; however in this class I have chosen a 3D pattern because you will learn more. Lead working and mosaic patterns will be covered as well. This course will save you time, money, fitting, grinding and your confidence.
Glass Foiling Workshop
Class Cost: $200.00 + tax (some supplies included.)
Date: Saturday , 1:00 pm to 4:00
IMPORTANT!!! Prep work for class!
Prerequisites: Some knowledge of stained glass techniques
Supplies included: 2×2 bevel, various sizes wide foil, foil sheet & a tiny thing!
Tools & supplies needed: Glass cut and ground in the following approx. sizes:
- 1 x 3” circle
- 2 x 3” x 3” or so squares
- 1 x 3” x 3” or so square with a deep inside curve on two sides
- 2 x longish tapered pointy pieces about 4” long or so, or even
a deep curve with a pointy ends or whatever! - 6 x 1 ½” x 4” or so
- 3/16 foil, 7/32 foil, burnisher and single edge razor blade
- Glasses or magnifiers if needed
So important too!!! Lots of info and a “great hands on” course! The student will learn regular foiling, with tips and tricks including dealing with splits on inside curves, long tapered points, foiling thick to thin glass, strong wider foil borders, custom cutting foil for jewels & making “fake” corners. You will also do foil overlays with sheet foil onto glass. Discussion on sizes, types of foil, & how and when to use them is really informative! Foiling machines, tools and accessories will also be discussed and available to try. I will supply the unusual sizes of foil needed. As solder follows foil so perfectly, this class will help the student achieve better results in foiling which will reflect on the soldering results for strength, aesthetics & longevity. Less frustration too!
Please do not bring a project!
Soldering Workshop
Class Cost: $200.00+ taxes
Date: Saturday 1:00 pm to 4:00
Prerequisites: Weekend Beginner window or Beginner 6 week foil course.
IMPORTANT!!! Prep work for class!
Tools & supplies needed: Glass cut and foiled in 7/32 foil in the following approx. sizes
- 4 x 1 ½’’ x 10” strips foiled in 7/32 foil ( Glue chip is the least expensive)
- 2 x 1 ½” x 5” strips foiled in 1/4” foil ( I can supply this foil at class if you do not have)
- 2 x 1 ½” x 5” strips foiled in 3/16” foil
- All soldering tools, 50/50 & 60/40 solder, flux, flux brush
- I have small samples of 60/40 for sale, so you don’t need to buy a full roll if you prefer.
The main focus of this course is to learn to get a consistently smooth bead with both 50/50 and 60/40 solders, and learning the different techniques for both. We will go over your equipment & supplies to see if they are causing you problems, as poor quality solder, some fluxes and tools do not perform well. We will show and/or discuss: how to properly tin metal, foil overlays, decorative soldering, beading edges, 3D seams and joins, small solder castings, inserting glass beads, solder claws, little artsy additions with sheet foil, wire work & using filigree overlays. We play with solder sculpturing – Way fun! It is very important that the student goes home and practices as soon as, so the techniques learned are reinforced.
Please do not bring a project – we need to play too much!
Designing with Bevels Workshop
Class Cost: $250 + taxes
Date: Sunday, 1:00 pm to 6:00 ish
Prerequisites: Any of the stained glass courses
Note: Drafting Tools supplied
Tools & supplies needed:
- Bevel cluster of your choice & large enough piece of graph paper
- Ceiling tile, aluminum pins & scotch tape
Often requested, I am finally holding this basic design course! Bevel clusters are beautiful but can be incredibly frustrating. They can be used in copper foiled or leaded windows or even in lamps. You will learn fitting them, designing with them, and adding a straight line bevel border with different options and/or special corner bevels, or jewels for effect. The size of the finished design will reflect the size of the cluster, so there won’t be a large background area. With your input, I will help you design a basic background to accommodate your cluster to understand the principles of what will or won’t work; but not a whole scene! In the advanced course you will get the use of my artistic hand a lot more! A freeform design can also be considered with added reinforcement or glass additions for strength. This info is also great for other projects! Medium & medium large clusters that are not an “animal” will work best for this workshop. The small ones won’t be enough to design with. Advice on the selection of glass for the background will be done with each student and the group. If drawing is one of your most favorite parts of the stained glass process, consider the advanced course. We will play with unusual concepts & go outside the box!
“Finish Or Repair It” Workshop
Class Cost: $225 + taxes
Date: Sunday, 1:00 pm to 5:00 ish
Prerequisites: The applicable course for the project in progress
Tools & supplies needed:
- Your unfinished or damaged art work
- All applicable tools & supplies
This is a good one for those of you who haven’t the time for a weekly class, but still would like to get help &/or encouragement to finish glass work already in progress or to fix a broken piece. If you have never replaced a broken piece, it is a little daunting the first time around. Sometimes one needs a little push to get over the hump! Maybe you need a mini refresher on technique to finish? Maybe you are stuck on what to do next? Maybe you just need reassurance that you are on the right track? Projects could include stained glass windows, lamps, boxes, mosaic work, cutting resist for an etching, or? Projects will vary I am sure!
If there isn’t enough time to accomplish what you want done & you feel you need more help, you have the option to extend the course for another hour or so for an additional fee.
Proper Care & Maintenance of Tools
Class Cost: $85 + taxes
Date: Saturday, 1:00 pm to 3:00 ish
Prerequisites: None
Tools & supplies needed:
- Glass cutter, grosiers, straight edge, lead knives & dykes
- Glass grinder, soldering iron, sponge, flux brush
- Medium steel wool, small wire brush
You have the tools and machines, but you want to get the best value for your money. This mini course is for you! Better to fix than to replace! Hands on work on deburring grinder shaft, lubricating, and anti-seize applications & cleaning bitsert on tabletop of grinder, as well as best use of a diamond bit. Soldering tip – plated or not plated? Re-tinning an iron tip & cleaning shaft for ease of removing & for longer life. How to cleaning groziers & lead dykes, checking straight edge, glass cutter & lead knives for problems. We go over best ways to store equipment, and preventive measures. I will check all tools as well to see if they are performing okay, as they may be the cause of some frustration. You will go home with almost new tools!!!