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What's Included
Glassmaking Workshop (half-day):
- A three hour glass making workshop
- Introduction to equipment and basic techniques
- Applying techniques learned to make a glass paperweight
Glassblowing Day (full day):
- A full day glassblowing experience
- Learn glass making and blowing techniques
- Make a glass paperweight and a colourful blown piece such as a vase
- Experiences last around seven hours with breaks
What Can I Expect
Glass lessons in Buckinghamshire! These half and full day introductory courses take place in a spacious glass making studio in Aylesbury and give you a rare insight into the different methods used to create glass artefacts, such as paperweights and vases.
One of the most exhilarating parts of glassmaking is gathering glass from the crucible. The intense heat (around 1100 degrees Celsius!) and brightness will amaze you. Initially, when you collect the molten liquid, your paperweight will resemble a colourless blob, but not for long…
Our favourite part of these glass lessons is adding individual designs and colours with crushed coloured glass. Using a variety of methods, you will be able to form bubbles and swirls and apply shaping to produce your bespoke paperweight.
You'll learn that the main ingredients used in glass making are sand or silica, sodium carbonate and lime or calcium oxide (different chemicals create different colours). For example, iron oxide is used for creating the green in beer bottles, whilst a very small amount of cobalt results in a wonderful shade of blue.
Those on the full day course will continue their fascinating journey into the art of glass with a glass blowing workshop in the afternoon. As you learn this different way of manipulating molten glass, you'll be creating your very own unique piece of blown glass, usually a small vase.
We think these glass lessons in Buckinghamshire are enjoyably expressive and artistic. And what's more, you will get to make your very own glass art to be proud of, as you learned to create it all by yourself, using everything from furnaces and forming rods, to rollers and moulding points.
When Is It Available
- Saturdays and Sundays from January to May and September to December
- Morning and afternoon sessions are generally available, 10am-1pm and 2pm-5pm
- Generally classes run on one or two weekends per month
- Day courses start at 10am finishing around 5pm
- There are usually one or two dates available per month
2025 Dates
Glassmaking Workshop
- May - 10th
Glassblowing Day
- April - 26th, 27th
- May - 11th, 24th, 25th
Location
- Glass making studio in Westcott, Buckinghamshire near the town of Aylesbury
Suitable For
- Minimum age is 18
- Basic level of fitness is required as you will be on your feet
Spectators
- This experience is not suitable for spectators
Anything Else
- Any items made on the day will need to be finished before they can be sent to participants, there is an additional charge of £20 for this, payable on the day
- Participants of the full day should bring a packed lunch
Reviews
5 out of 5 stars
Total Reviews: 8
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