....and to develop your glass making skills
The Kiln Formed Glass Club Studios was the brainchild of Liz Sparkes, Glassification and it is now in it’s 6th year!
Running a successful glass workshop specialising in splashbacks meant Liz hardly ever got round to trying out new techniques. Books languished on the shelves, whilst ebooks and tutorials cluttered up the hard drive, waiting for that moment to “get around to it”! She knew she probably wasn’t alone!
Liz also missed her time on CGG 32 week course, where every week she should meet up with other glass enthusiasts and develop her skills, learning as much from the other students as she did from her (albeit excellent!) tutor! It was the one day of the week where she had the time and space to try new things.

A low cost way to learn..
The unique thing about KFGC Studios is that is just that, a group of people learning together. There is no (one!) tutor. This way of learning, called peer to peer learning, can be incredibly rewarding. Within any one group of glass artists there will be someone who knows something about something.. by pooling our knowledge, and by researching articles, tutorials and ebooks freely available on the web, we create a rich learning environment for all.

So, how does it work....
Each Kiln Formed Glass Club Studio meets 4 times a year at weekends (currently Somerset and Glasgow, but others are planned for the future ) .. and each weekend has a ”topic” to be explored. This could be a product (such as “powders) or a technqique (such as casting or vitrograph)
We know one of the biggest benefits of membership has been the strong bonds which build up in a group, which month on month help to enrich the learning experience, so once we have chosen our group, we stay with it. . Members can keep in touch with each other via our own community forum, and plan what they what to do when they next meet up, so knowing who you will be meeting next time really helps with this process.
Each Group has 6 dates to choose 4 weekends from, and if you want (and can) attend 5 you can just pay for an additional weekend.

What techniques do we cover?
The club is very democratic, the members decide what we are doing! However over the last years we found that the favourite topics were popular with new members
- “Working with Powders and Enamels” covering techniques such as wafers, crackle, landscapes, and 3D imagery.
- “Drop Vessels”
- “Working with Flow” pattern bars, pot melts, raking and other ways to use the way glass moves in the kiln to create interesting effects.
- “Cold Working “ (stop sighing! lol) covering sandblasting, engraving etching and cold fusion (aka glueing!) (the surprising winner for new members every year!!)
- Casting and mould making
FAQ'S
What does membership cost? A year’s membership is just £500, giving you 4 weekends, Online KFGC Membership, and use of the facilities at a reduced rate (subject to availability)
Can I pay in instalments for KFGC Studios? Yes. You can pay in 2 instalments if you wish, a deposit of £250 to secure your membership, with the balance due by your first weekend meet up.
I'm in! What happens next?
To register your interest in becoming a FULL Kiln formed Glass Club member, which includes 4 Studio Weekends AND KFGC Online, just click on the enrol here button below, and let us know you which Studio you would like to join (you won’t be asked to pay anything at this point) . By the end of January 2021 we will have reviewed all applications and will get back to with payment details then.

About the Somerset Venue
Housed in a late 18th century lace mill, the Glassification studio offers a range of glassmaking classes to suit every skill level, from absolute beginner through to experienced glass artists, and is also host to The Kiln Formed Glass Club.
Lying just on the outskirts of Ilminster, Somerset, the studio is well placed for students travelling by car, being directly off the A303, and only 15 mins form Junction 25 of the M5. For members who need to use public transport, the closest major town is Taunton, and we can arrange pick ups and collections from there for you. For anyone coming from further afield, the closest airport is Bristol, and there is a very good bus connection between the airport and Taunton, or alternatively car hire is very reasonable, especially over the weekends.
Dates for Somerset Studios 2021
Explorers 2021
Glasgow 2021
- April 17th – 18th
- May 22nd – 23rd
- June 26th – 27th
- July 17th – 18th
- Sept 25th – 26th
- Oct 16th – 17th
To follow