Build Your Skills
Strengthen What You Already Know
These focused, one-on-one lessons are for makers who want to improve a particular technique, explore a new tool, or work through something that has been giving them trouble.
You don’t need another full stained-glass class every time you want to get better at one part of the process. Sometimes an hour of focused practice, with someone beside you to watch what you’re doing and help you make adjustments, is exactly what you need.
All Build Your Skills sessions are private, one-on-one lessons tailored to your questions, pace, and goals.
A Note About Practice Glass
For workshops that use glass for practice — including Cutter’s Mate, Beetle Bits, Grinding & Shaping, and Ring Saw Exploration — practice glass is provided from studio scrap or the Patch Pantry and remains with the studio after the session.
If you’d like to practice using glass for a project you plan to keep, you’re welcome to purchase glass from the studio or use glass from a current project.
Project work can also be continued during Open Studio hours using a Maker Pass.
Soldering Workshop
$85 • 90 minutes
Build more confidence and control at the soldering table.
You’ll work on a prepared foiled practice grid while we focus on pulling smooth lines, creating consistent beads, handling intersections, correcting problem areas, and understanding how heat, speed, and solder flow work together.
We’ll also introduce simple decorative solder techniques if time allows.
This session is designed for anyone who understands the basics but wants cleaner, more consistent results.
All practice materials are included.
Cutter’s Mate Precision Cutting
$50 • 90 minutes
Learn how to use the Cutter’s Mate system with greater accuracy and confidence.
We’ll work through setup, alignment, straight cuts, curved cuts, and the circle-cutting attachment while practicing techniques that improve consistency and reduce frustration.
This is also a good opportunity to try the Cutter’s Mate before deciding whether it belongs in your own studio.
Beetle Bits Guided Cutting
$50 • 90 minutes
Learn how to use the Beetle Bits system for accurate angles, geometric shapes, and repeatable cuts.
We’ll focus on setup, alignment, positioning, and troubleshooting while you practice making cleaner, more consistent cuts.
This session is especially helpful for geometric work or anyone considering adding a Beetle Bits system to their own studio.
Grinding & Shaping
$45 • 1 hour
Improve the fit and finish of your glass by strengthening your grinding and shaping technique.
We’ll work on curves, edges, fit, specialty grinder bits, and ways to avoid over-grinding while also covering basic grinder care and maintenance.
Bring questions about the areas that give you trouble, and we’ll spend the session practicing the techniques that will make the biggest difference in your work.
Ring Saw Exploration
$40 • 45 minutes
Curious about what a ring saw can do?
This session gives you supervised, hands-on time with the studio ring saw while we cover basic operation, safety, blade care, tool limitations, and the kinds of cuts where a ring saw can be especially useful.
It’s an easy way to explore the tool before deciding whether you need one in your own studio.
Finishing Techniques
$80 • 2 hours
Bring one stained-glass piece that is ready for finishing and learn how to take it from nearly complete to polished and ready to display.
We’ll work through cleaning, patina, waxing, and finishing techniques while discussing came, zinc, hanging hardware, and other finishing options appropriate for your piece.
Basic cleaning materials, patina, and wax are included.
Came, zinc, chain, hooks, and specialty hardware are available separately when needed.
Pattern Design Workshop
$40 • 1 hour
Learn how to think about a design as something that must not only look good on paper, but also work in glass.
We’ll explore simplifying shapes, planning piece counts, identifying structural concerns, and making design choices that create a pattern that is both visually appealing and buildable.
We’ll use practice examples and can begin exploring one of your own ideas during the session. Completing a custom pattern is not the goal within the one-hour workshop.
Not Sure Which Skill to Work On?
Tell me what you’re struggling with, what tool you want to learn, or what you’d like to do more confidently.
We’ll figure out the best place to start.