Liz Brett

Oh dear, this is going to be very difficult!

I started Baroque Glass just over 18 months ago with absolutely no intention of teaching! The idea was that I would bring in outside teachers so that I could concentrate on the gallery and the shop. But our students had other ideas!

The very first course brochures offered day and weekend courses but I quickly found that working students wanted an evening course. Unfortunately there was no extra teaching capacity with either of the ‘Amandas’ so I had to find someone else very quickly. In a previous existence I gad studied stained glass and copper foiling with Ruth Adams and had done various courses with Amanda Moriarty and other teachers, so decided to discuss this problem with Ruth. After much deliberation, it was decided that I should fill in the gap myself. So it was with great trepidation that I took the first class and since then, we haven’t looked back. Incredibly, students who attended short six week courses, now continue to come on a regular weekly basis, so I suppose I must be doing something right!!!

I also teach on a one-to-one basis which I do find very therapeutic. Because the Centre is so diversified I don’t really have much time to make anything, so I get my ‘glass fix’ from teaching students instead. I really enjoy it and get such a thrill when I see the students’ finished piece.

To add to an already over-loaded work schedule, I have also started a Saturday morning ‘Children’s Fusing Club’. It’s been very successful with youngsters of all ages from 5/6 years through to 10years who all attend on a fairly regular basis. We’ve also been holding children’s fusing parties and these have proved to be very successful for parents looking for a different party theme. I really hope that these classes and parties will nurture a love of glass amongst young people and give them opportunities that I never had when I was a young girl. For further information on the Saturday morning fusing club or for fusing parties, please use our contact page.