Sorry, but Ashford Borough Council have advised us that classes can’t restart until step 3 of the “release from lockdown”. Therefore the earliest that we’ll be able to open our doors for classes is 17th May.

We’ll be back…

A creative glass fusing for improvers course is the perfect next step if you’ve been for a taster day and really enjoyed it. Perhaps you did some glass fusing a while ago & have been meaning to do some more?  Or maybe you did a glass fusing adult education course but found the class a bit big?  If you’re looking at getting your own kiln, this course will be great for you too, to build your confidence.

How big are your classes?

Not very! Our classes have a maximum of six people in them, or four customers if we still need to socially distance. You’ll get as much help / advice as you want, plus all equipment is provided for the day.

What’s involved?

We’ll start with tea, coffee, pastries and a look at what happens to your glass in the kiln.

Then we’ll head upstairs to the purpose designed teaching studio. Here you’ll get to create something from float (window) glass and then move onto working with Bullseye fusing glass.

You can choose to explore tack fusing (for a textured finish), full fusing or something in between. Other options include kiln carving, reactive effects (where the interactions between different colours of glass cause them to change colour), or working with “inclusions” – other materials between layers of glass. If you have something particular in mind, just drop us a line at enquiries@creativeretreatsandholidays.co.uk or give us a ring on 01227 730598 & we’ll do our best to accommodate you.

What’s included?

The cost of your course includes a generous amount of float glass plus enough Bullseye glass to make something up to 20 x 20cm square (or several smaller things). Extra glass is available to buy if you’d like to make something bigger, though if you’re planning to make a splashback for your cooker, do please let us know in advance!!! (Lunch and refreshments are included too, downstairs in our break room.)

What can I make?

The choice is very much yours. Popular choices include fused glass pictures, to stand in a window or hang on a wall, in a frame or using edge stand-off mounts. Glass dishes & fruit bowls are another popular option, or free-standing curved decorative panels. Coasters are always handy, or how about several small suncatchers to make into a mobile or to hang from a tree in your garden?

What happens next?

Most people get to put their own work into the (cool) kiln by the end of the day. It’ll then be fused (this takes around 24 hours), & if you’re making something 3D it’ll go back into the kiln a second time to be slumped. Your creations will be ready in about a week, either for you to collect from us or for us to post to you at cost (usually £7 including the packaging, unless you make something particularly large or heavy).

Ours might not be the cheapest creative glass fusing for improvers class in the country, but we aim to make it the best!