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Poppy Glass Studio Newsletter
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I sat down to start writing this newsletter feeling a little smug that again I was early to press. Then realised that alas, I had not sent out a July edition. Oops. So here I am sat in the studio that thankfully hasn’t warmed up too much yet, pondering what pearls of wisdom to impart.
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I have to talk about the Heritage Craft Fair in Thornbury. Logistics wise it was madness. I dropped Mr Poppy glass, and more importantly the smallest helper to Thornbury at 7.30am. They set up and ran the stall whilst I dashed off to a ladder workshop back in the studio. Officially Mr Poppy glass was in charge, but we know the reality, the smallest helper is the pro at markets anyway!!
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She met me at lunchtime with such a grin, the market was a fabulous success, fingers crossed it becomes a regular venture.
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Away from that, I am gradually turning my attention to the Tyndale Arts Trail the first weekend of October, where I will be back in Kingshill House showcasing some of my work. Then I hopefully have a Halloween fair to look forward to, where I will have plenty of bats, pumpkins, potion bottles and spiders to tempt you. (stay tuned on that one for further details.)
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I’ve been exploring a new avenue of pieces. Panels that measure 30cm tall by 10cm wide (basically half an A4 piece of paper folded lengthways). I’ve only made a couple of each design, but I have to say I am loving each of them. Those that follow my social media will have already seen the flowers and the whale tails. I also have dragonflies and foxes. The fox is a nod to the eldest of the offspring, who has just had her very first poem published in an anthology, titled as you may suspect – The Fox. So if you wanted one of that design you may have to line up behind her for that one.
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Summer does feel to be well and truly upon us doesn’t it. I am not one for the heat, but the glass likes it. We have the issue during the colder months of not letting the studio get too cold, as glass doesn’t break as well if its cold. So in this hot weather the glass does seem to behave much better. The flip side is that the work surfaces of the studio are littered with fans pointing at everyone. It does seem to make a nice working environment, so perhaps air conditioning in the studio is the right way to go!
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However the warmth of summer will soon make way for that dreaded present buying season that is Christmas. I hate to bring it up, but I am getting close to having to close books for orders for Christmas already, I have a long list I am working through, but if you have a specific request in mind that is not something I have made before, now is the time to get in touch and discuss what you are after.
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Weekly Workshop Waiting List
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We have now launched a whatsapp waiting list.
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If you missed it last month - there are times where spaces are available in the regular 2 hour weekly workshops where a student is on holiday or unable to attend for any reason. If you would like to be added to the group, an alert will be sent out letting you know when you can come along and work on your own project. The space is £12 for the two hours, materials are additional.
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Anyone interested, please scan the QR code or click the link to join the group. Messages will only be sent when there is a space available.
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Skills and Tips
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I’m sticking with the copper foil tips again for this month. But this is a good one. Last month I touched on the importance of considering where you start your foil, so that the join will be sandwiched between the pieces of glass and not exposed on an outside edge. I suggested that it was important to look at the glass before you start to make that decision.
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The need to look at the piece you plan to foil is key as well when tackling tricky curves. Not particularly the outside curves, but those snug inside ones where the foil has to almost turn back on itself. The tendency here is that the foil will split as the pull is too great.
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One way you can minimise this is to run your finger over the foil to warm it and make it more pliable, however when the curve is too much it will still break. You can patch over the split by taking another piece of foil and turning it 90 degrees to cover, then trimming with a craft knife. However the risk here can be that when soldering, when the heat is applied the little bit of extra foil will lift and come away. To be extra clever, take a look at the curve before you start, mentally guess where the foil is most likely to split, and apply your patch BEFORE you foil the main edge.
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If needed you can then use a craft knife to break the foil so that the split WILL be over that patch.
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Foil as normal and then use the craft knife to trim back the excess.
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The heat wont be able to lift the patch of foil away and you have a perfect solder line at the end with no gaps.
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Now that I have achieved the hat-trick, I'm taking a month off (the studio is shut for August anyway) so I will be back in September (maybe)
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Poppy Glass Studio
14 St Bartholomews Close
Cam, Gloucestershire. GL11 5UR
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Poppy Glass Studio, July 2026
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