I've started using glass cabochons in my jewellery and wanted to learn how to make my own, and almost as soon as I began the search, I found the Glass School at Wrington near Bristol, just a 30 minute drive away!
I would recommend the Glass School for learning all about decorative glass. As well as Personal Studio Days, they run In Person Learning classes such as Kiln Carving, Make Your Own Sun Catcher and Strip Cut Patterns.
I booked myself a Personal Studio Day, and when they asked what I wanted to learn, the answer was simple, make lots of cabochons, and that's what we did. Megan, my teacher, was really helpful and great at explaining techniques, from glass cutting, to how to achieve the different effects in the glass.
There's so much to learn about glass, including which colours work together during the firing process, how to use silver and copper sheet with the glass, glass powder (frit), how the glass can stretch during firing and how to use print in glass. I made a lot of potential cabochons, some of them might not look as good in real life as in my head, but it was great fun, and I now know a lot more about a crucial piece material I use in my jewellery making.
The glass cabochons ready to go into the kiln.