Kiln carving, fusing, and slumping involves placing glass in kilns to melt and fuse glass pieces together, to add textures and patterns, and to mould the glass into forms. These techniques are used to create beautiful plates, platters, coasters and objets d’art.
COURSES – BEGINNERS
Fusing and Slumping – BEGINNERS
Our introductory Fusing and Slumping gives students the skills and knowledge required to independently complete simple hot glass projects. Learning outcomes are:
- Awareness of safety issues and procedures.
- Ability to score, break and trim glass shapes using running and grozing pliers.
- Theory of the glass used for fusing, its COE, and how that affects the outcomes of the fusing of glass.
- An overview of kilns used in glass work, including an understanding of firing schedules and their role in creating different effects.
- Preparing the kiln for firing, including cleaning, prepping kiln shelves and use of ceramic fibre paper.
- Design issues for kiln fired glass
For further information on upcoming courses, including cost and to enrol:
BFS1: Beginners Fusing and Slumping Saturday, 1 Feb. 8:30am-4:30pm, and Sunday, 2 Feb. 8:30am-3:00pm (2 days)
Now you have completed Beginners fusing and slumping, why not experiment and create your own designs with a tutor to support? Topics include choosing your project (pattern and mold); project design choices; selecting glass, glass cutting techniques; project composition; and setting the kiln. Come prepared with design ideas and inspirations.WORKSHOPS
Fused Australian Native Flowers
Tutor: Chris Bell
This 8-hour workshop is held over 2 consecutive Sundays to allow for pre-firing of your glass pieces before creating 6 beautiful Australian native flowers. These may be used as inclusions for your mosaics, fused projects, hanging mobiles or decorations. Your final creations are only limited by your imagination. Many pictures of Aussie native flowers will be available for inspiration.
Numbers: Minimum 6, Maximum 8
Cost: Includes glass cutting instruction, all materials, adhesive and firing fees. This workshop is not a replacement for the beginners fusing and slumping course.
For further information including cost and to enrol:
FW1: Fused Aussie Flowers, Sunday 16 and 23 March, 2025. 9:00am-1:00pm
Fused Glass Christmas Decorations
Tutor: Chris Bell
Great presents for Christmas! In this workshop, the tutor will provide a number of Christmas themed designs to work on, or you can bring your own. Instruction will be given to those who have not cut glass before. Expect to make about 8 to 10 decorations which, after firing, you will take home along with the “bibs and bobs” to decorate them. 
Numbers: Minimum 6, Maximum 8
Prerequisite: No experience necessary.
Note: This workshop is not a replacement for the beginners fusing and slumping course.
Cost: Includes glass cutting instruction, small glass pack, firing fees, adhesives, ribbons and decorations to finish at home. Additional glass is available to purchase.
For further information on upcoming courses, including cost and to enrol:
Weekend: Saturday or Sunday, 9:30am to 3:30 pm (1day)
Christmas Tree Forest – Mixed media
Tutor: Chris Bell
Mix media is the feature of this Christmas Tree Forest. During this one-day workshop, you will create five Christmas Trees, three of which will be made from, and decorated with, fused glass. Two will be mosaiced on pre cut acrylic Christmas tree shapes. Combined they will make a decorative table decoration.
Numbers: Minimum 6, Maximum 8
Prerequisite: No experience necessary.
For further information on upcoming courses, including cost and to enrol:
WS1: Christmas Tree Forest, Saturday 25 October, 2025. 9:30am-4:00pm
WS2: Christmas Tree Forest, Sunday 2 November, 2025. 9:30am-4:00pm
Frit Painting
Tutor: Katrina Jackson and Kym Braithwaite
Create a scene using crushed glass and glass powders on clear glass. Sunsets, beach scenes, bush trails, rainbows…the choice is yours to explore. After firing, the piece is yours to take home to display, use as a platter or frame.
Numbers: Minimum 5, Maximum 8
Prerequisite: No experience necessary.
Interested?
Further dates for 2025 are to be confirmed. Let us know your interest in being contacted at https://creativeglassguild.com.au/contact/. Don’t forget to check the “Course-related Question” button and tell us the course name – Frit Painting.
Kiln Carving – Making patterns in glass
Tutor: Katrina Jackson and Kym Braithwaite
Ever wondered how patterns are “carved” into glass? Kiln carving is a simple firing process that achieves a bas relief, textured, or sculpted look in glass. Learn techniques to create “carved” glass, and how to create and cut patterns from ceramic fibre paper; the types of glass to use; and kiln firing processes involved. Safety procedures for using glass and ceramic fibre products are covered. A great beginner course as no glass cutting skills are required. Experienced glass users will also benefit by learning new techniques to add to their glass skills. Participants will make two glass “kiln carved” projects.
Numbers: Minimum 5, Maximum 6
Prerequisite: No experience necessary.
Interested?
Further dates for 2025 are to be confirmed. Let us know your interest in being contacted at https://creativeglassguild.com.au/contact/. Don’t forget to check the “Course-related Question” button and tell us the course name – Kiln Carving.
Pot Melt
Tutor: Katrina Jackson and Kym Braithwaite
Make your own unique glass colour combinations using the pot melt technique. Using scrap glass we will create some interesting, fused glass pattern mixes and visual effect, by mixing and melting together scrap pieces of fused glass through some “holey” clay pots overnight in the kiln. These melts can be used alone or sliced and cut to make jewellery or other fused creations.
Numbers: Minimum 5, Maximum 8
Prerequisite: No experience necessary.
Interested?
Further dates for 2025 are to be confirmed. Let us know your interest in being contacted at https://creativeglassguild.com.au/contact/. Don’t forget to check the “Course-related Question” button and tell us the course name – Pot Melt.
Fern Burn – Making “fossil-like” images in glass
Tutor: Katrina Jackson and Kym Braithwaite
Love plants? Why not fossilize them in glass? In this workshop, you will use live plants fused between 6mm clear float glass in order to leave a ghost image in the glass. The fused glass may then be slumped in a mold or left flat and with the addition of legs become a food platter.
Numbers: Minimum 5, Maximum 8
Prerequisite: No experience necessary.
Interested?
Further dates for 2025 are to be confirmed. Let us know your interest in being contacted at https://creativeglassguild.com.au/contact/. Don’t forget to check the “Course-related Question” button and tell us the course name – Fern Burn.
Ever wondered how to create decorative detail in kiln-fired glass? Join in this quick and fun project to learn the secret of making a permanent textured imprint in beautiful coloured art glass. You will learn how to prepare the mould, use powder frit to minimise bubbles, the best glass to use, firing temperature and kiln settings.