• making a stained glass panel

    Glass panel in preparation for soldering

  • students with their finished copper foil panels

    Students with their finished copper foil panels

  • stained glass templates

    Templates and tools in the studio

  • making a sample panel

    Glass panel ready for soldering

  • the glass shelves

    Plenty of glass to choose from for your panel

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Glass Courses

1-day courses: There are now three types of course to choose from - NEW, a Taster Day at Bowood House & Gardens; a Leaded Glass Introduction Day at Blue Kite Stained Glass Studio; or a Copper Foil Introduction Day at Blue Kite Stained Glass Studio (copper foil courses generally run on request, if there isn't one listed please get in touch).

Course vouchers

This is a digital gift card. After the purchase, you will receive an email with the voucher code and instructions on how to use it. The code can be used as payment towards any course on this website.

*please note - the 2 different prices are to cover either the regular courses at Blue Kite Studio (£110) or the taster days at Bowood House (£150) - no further dates for Bowood House will be added in 2023, but further dates at Blue Kite studios are possible. If you purchase a £110 gift voucher it's possible to pay the extra £40 for a Bowood House day; it's not possible to get a refund of £40 if you use a £150 voucher to pay £110.

Cancellations

You can cancel upto 2 weeks before the date of your course and receive a full refund, or an alternative date course. After that point you will only receive a refund if I manage to re-book your place(s).

Intro Courses

leaded panel

Come to the home of Blue Kite Stained Glass near Pewsey in rural Wiltshire and learn how to make stained glass. In an Intro course you will learn the basic skills of the craft in a day (or two evenings).

Stained Glass or Copper Foiling courses are available. In both, by the end of the day you will have completed a simple square panel from a provided template, to take away with you. In the process you will learn glass-cutting, soldering, leading & cementing (or copper foiling) and finishing.

You will also learn something of the history behind these beautiful crafts, and some of the design principles - and with a maximum of three people to a course, you are guaranteed plenty of hands-on help.

All tools and materials are provided, just bring your enthusiasm (and a packed lunch for whole day courses). Hot or cold drinks and snacks are provided during the day. Closed shoes must be worn, and clothes you don’t mind getting messy, or an apron. Due to the use of lead, the course is not suitable for pregnant or breastfeeding women.

Stained glass? Copper foil??

leaded panelChristmas Stars

Can't decide which course? Don't know the difference? This might help you make the right choice:

Stained glass is the technique you see in many front doors, hallways, and churches, with lead strips forming the join between different pieces of glass. If you want eventually to make a front door panel or window, or just a nice small panel on the day that can hang inside a window, this is the course for you.

Copper Foiling (or Tiffany technique) is an alternative to leading which allows for more intricate designs, with finer joins between glass pieces. It also allows for varied 3d shapes such as lampshades. However it isn’t weatherproof, and hence isn’t used in front doors and exterior windows. If you'd eventually like to make more detailed smaller pieces, or maybe 3d objects, choose this course.

Reviews

“I had the best time, it was super fun to learn a new skill and the tuition was spot on, relaxed and supportive. I love my glass, I keep looking at it and am already thinking who I could get a course for, I think pretty much anyone would enjoy it!”

Gina

“I took part in a stained glass course with Iain last summer - what a fantastic experience! Iain is a great teacher - he broke down the stained glass making process into clear and easy to follow steps - from the initial design though to the glass cutting, soldering and finishing. As a fairly underconfident crafter, I found Iain to be very supportive and incredibly patient (I made quite a few mistakes along the way!). By the end of the workshop. I had produced something I was really proud of - a stained glass panel! Iain is a great teacher who is clearly passionate about his craft and its history. I would strongly recommend his workshop to others.”

Kathryn

For further reviews visit craftcourses.com