Trying to get to grips with a glass fusing kiln? Bought a kiln but you’re afraid to turn it on? Or perhaps things keep cracking and you don’t know why?

Join us on our special two day glass fusing workshop, in the tranquil village of Chilham, Kent. By the time you leave, you should feel ready to use your kiln with more confidence. As well as developing your glass cutting skills to the next level, you’ll get to grips with adjusting your kiln programmes to suit your creations. You’ll also leave with a helpful handout on annealling your glass, thanks to the lovely folks at Bullseye Glass, in Centigrade. (This will also apply to System 96 glass, though the temperature points will be slightly different.)

Whether you’re thinking of buying your first glass fusing kiln or have a kiln lurking at home that you’re afraid to use, this is the course for you. With a maximum of three people on this course you’ll be sure of getting just the right amount of support to get to grips with a glass fusing kiln. We can also give guidance on kiln schedules for those who want to fuse their own glass at home. If you’ve had glass breaking in your kiln but don’t know why, let us help you master the mysteries of annealling your glass successfully.

What’s involved?

We’ll start with pastries and health & safety. Then we’ll take a look at what happens to the glass in the kiln and the importance of your glass being “compatible” (and what that means).

We’ll then take a break from theory and head upstairs to the glass studio. Here we’ll look at more advanced glass cutting techniques than you’re possibly familiar with. (Regular students from our weekly classes can choose whether to skip this, as they’ll have learned it already.) Cutting glass with confidence will pay for this course many times over!

Then what?

Then you’ll make your first panel or perhaps some hanging decorations.

Bullseye fusing glass  includes frit, stringers, our own funky frit balls, confetti, glass enamels and more! You’ll be able to make decorations, giftable things such as candle holders, trinket dishes, wall plaques, a fruit bowl, suncatchers… The choice is yours.

You’ll get to experience the different effects that you can achieve by fusing your glass at higher or lower temperatures in the kiln. (Don’t worry it’ll be at room temperature when you put your glass in, & we won’t open it again until it’s cooled back down.)

We’ll look at how your creations will be fired and how its design will dictate the kiln schedule. This will help to give you “real life” experience of programming your kiln.

Both of our kilns are from Kilncare, made in the UK in Stoke on Trent. But the principals behind kiln schedules will apply to your kiln, whatever the make. If you have a diffferent brand of kiln, don’t be afraid to bring the instructions for your kiln controller with you.

What’s included in the price?

As well as lunches, refreshments and onsite parking, the cost of the course includes fusing and slumping your glass. We also include enough Bullseye glass to make a couple of things each approximately 17 x 17cm in size. Or you can make one larger item or more smaller things. If you work particularly quickly and would like extra glass, we can simply charge you for the extra.

On the other hand, you might choose to spend the whole two days working on a single masterpiece, especially if you’ve done fusing before and have something particular in mind. Do get in touch if you’ve done fusing before and would like to try some new techniques. If you want to work with glass powders, you’ll need an FFP3 mask, but we can sell you one if you don’t have your own.

Can I take my pieces home with me?

Yes, but not on the same day. We’ll fuse all of your creations at the end of the course to help save the planet. Fusing normally takes around 24 hours, as it’s important to cool the glass sloooooowly.

Your creations will be fused (and if desired, slumped into or over moulds) after your course and will normally be ready for collection or posting within a week or so.

Post and packaging are charged at cost and depend how much you make. If it’s under 2kg when packaged, it’ll cost around £10, to include plenty of padding.

This course has now expired but this link (https://www.creativeretreatsandholidays.co.uk/booking/ ) will take you to our calendar of upcoming events.