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Poppy Glass Studio Newsletter
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It has been a little while since we sent out any news from the studio, and boy do we have some big changes a foot to share with you all. The weather has us all reaching for our warming drinks and cosy clothing, so grab your coffee and settle down to hear all things stained glass and more.
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0First off, reassuringly the studio is still running workshops 7 days of the week, and this year, alongside the regular weekly sessions, we have had a staggering 47 (to date) new individuals who have stepped inside the doors and joined the very exciting world of stained glass. Most of these workshops are 2-4 people in size, with a maximum of 4 people, ensuring that everyone gets that one to one support and guidance that makes poppy glass studio sessions so unique.
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But what of exciting new news? Back in June and July the studio had a major facelift, and a rebuild creating a whole new room. This room is going to become the hot shop, and will be home to a new branch of workshop lessons, where people can learn the art of lampwork – turning sticks of coloured glass into amazing beads, miniature figures and much more.
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Alongside the new workshops, the current range of ½ day copper foil sessions, and full day copper foil or leadwork introductions, are continuing. Places can be booked via the website or by following the link: https://poppyglassstudio.co.uk/tutoring/
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Of course if all of that isn’t enough, the weekly sessions are also an option, although you had best move fast if you want to snap up the last space!
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With the dreaded festive season just around the window, gift vouchers are also available to purchase, and can be sent old school in the post or digitally if you prefer. Just visit the website shop.
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Dates for the diary
15/11/24: North Nibley School Christmas Shopping evening
19/11/24 – 24/11/24: Cardiff Christmas Market (10am-6pm daily)
29/11/24: Dursley Christmas Lights switch on (outside Helen’s Wishes on the high street from 4pm)
30/11/24: Cam Christmas Lights switch on (2-6pm)
16/12/24 – 21/12/24: Cardiff Christmas Market (10am-6pm daily)
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COPPER FOIL OR LEAD CAME?
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You’ve heard of stained glass, but do you actually know the difference between copper foil and lead? And where did it all begin anyway?
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The start of it all is a bit of a mystery. Some examples of coloured glass have been known to have been used by the ancient Romans, and in the Christian era there are records of stained glass used in church windows as far back as the 6th century. Over the centuries, the art of stained glass has changed very little. It is still essentially pieces of coloured glass held together in a lattice of lead.
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Thanks to Louis Tiffany, (1848-1933) we also now have copper foil. He liked to use cheap jelly jars and bottles because they had the mineral impurities that finer glass lacked. The glass was smaller, and would have been swamped by the preformed lead channels. So Tiffany made it possible to assemble the glass first, and add the lead second.
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Today we do this by cutting out the glass pieces to create a jigsaw puzzle. We then wrap copper foil around each piece. Solder (a blend of tin and lead) is melted onto the copper foil, creating our lead channel that conforms to the shapes of the glass.
Both styles of stained glass have different strengths. Lead came panels allow for designs to be significantly larger, as they are structurally stronger. Whilst the benefits of working with foil means the designs can be far more intricate and complex.
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The workshops that introduce you to both the copper foil technique and the lead came technique are a wonderful introduction to the art of stained glass.
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Poppy Glass Studio
14 St Bartholomews Close
Cam, Gloucestershire. GL11 5UR
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Poppy Glass Studio, Autumn 2024
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