If you already have been dipping your toes into the exciting world of blowing glass on the torch, and want to delve even deeper, then this class is for you! This is a three day intensive course for intermediate and advanced lampworkers to learn how to blow, sculpt and refine the individual elements of stemware and goblets including the foot, stem and cup. There will be a focus on how to create strong joins between these elements and assemble bigger blown pieces. But this isn’t just for goblets, these skills can be applied to all sorts of create blown sculptures and functional pieces.

You should already know and be comfortable pulling points.

We will be using Nortel Mid Range Plus torches or similar, I am passionate about showing people that these affordable torches can really pack a punch and can be used to blow larger pieces with good technique. Students will learn how to take these skills and apply them to their own lampworking set up (if they have them) to continue to develop beyond the class.

We will start with the health and safety, and learning how to work with your flame, creating different heating environments for working with hollow glass tube at different sizes. We will dedicate time to practice pulling points, learning how to set them up and condense the glass to make bigger blown work. From this you will then learn how to blow, transfer and open up your hollow forms, focusing on specific functional cup shapes. Goblet feet are some of the trickiest technique to get right, plenty of time will be dedicated to learning how to spin out flat, even feet of various sizes. We will explore different stem designs, and finally, learn how to bring it altogether to create your own, unique stemware and sculptural blown pieces. Each technique will be demonstrated by Laura, you will then have her full support throughout your making. Due to the size of the studio, places for this course are limited to three people, so book your place now!

Lesson Duration:

18th, 19th & 20th September, 10am-5pm (with a 30 minute lunch break, please bring a packed lunch. Tea and coffee provided).

Price : £580 (per person)

A good amount of tubing and solid rod will be included in the class. More will be available to purchase at the studio if needed. Tools and safety equipment will provided.

Location: The studio is based near Reading, in a beautiful village called Mortimer Common. For security reasons, exact location will be shared with you by email when you book your lesson.

Where to Stay: If you are staying overnight, the Premier Inn Reading South (Grazeley Green) is very affordable and is about a 6 minute drive from the studio. Alternatively there are some AirBnBs, and private accommodation through booking.com in the surrounding areas. Devere Hotel is also an option, and is about a 10 minute drive away.

Arriving by Public Transport: There are direct trains from London Paddington (25 minutes) and London Waterloo (1 hour) to Reading. From Reading you can either take a 12 minute train to Mortimer, or a 35 minute bus (Reading Bus, Lime) to Mortimer. Common. The studio is 1.4 miles from Mortimer Station train station, or the bus takes you to a stop 1 minute walk away.

Arriving by car: On street free parking is available. Alternatively there is a free public car park 1 minute walk from the house, beside the Fire Station.

Receiving your finished piece: Please note, your finished glass pieces will have to be annealed overnight to remove stress and strengthen them. You can choose to pick them up at an arranged time after the class, or they can be mailed out to you. Please select the appropriate option in the delivery section of your booking. To arrange collection of your piece, please contact me directly at info@lauraquinndesign.com, or we can discuss during the class.

Timing your Lesson: Please ensure you arrive 5 minutes before the start of your lesson time.

About your instructor: Laura Quinn is a multi-award-winning glass artist who creates unique glass sculptures and functional objects using a various glassmaking techniques including glassblowing and lampworking. She holds a BA in Glass Design, MA in 3D Design Crafts and Post Graduate Certificate in Creative Arts Higher Education. She is passionate about sharing the magical techniques of glassmaking with others. With over 12 years experience of working with glass, and 6 years of experience teaching, you are sure to get the most out of your lesson.

Cancellation Policy: Due to the small group sizes on our courses, we are unable to transfer, rebook, or refund places if a cancellation occurs within two weeks of the course start date. This includes cancellations due to illness. Unfortunately, in these circumstances, course fees cannot be refunded unless I am able to fill your place with another student.

If you wish to cancel or reschedule a booking, please contact us at least two weeks before your scheduled class. Cancellations made within two weeks of the session are not eligible for a refund unless the place can be filled. If you are unable to attend for any reason, including illness, you are welcome to gift or transfer your place to another person at no additional charge.

Please note, classes must have at least two booked participants to run. In the event of a class having less, it will be cancelled with two or more weeks notice and you will be refunded. It is advisable when booking hotels and travel to ensure they are refundable.