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Spend two focused afternoons in Boulder with Meggy Wilm at Colorado Glass Works to craft a 15-inch patchwork stained-glass butterfly. This intermediate workshop is perfect for students ready to refine solder lines, reinforcement, and composition.
Spend two focused afternoons in Boulder with Meggy Wilm at Colorado Glass Works to craft a 15-inch patchwork stained-glass butterfly. This intermediate workshop is perfect for students ready to refine solder lines, reinforcement, and composition.
Book with Colorado Glass Works
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Operated by Colorado Glass Works · Boulder, Colorado
Colorado Glass Works sits in the heart of Boulder, Colorado, and for two focused afternoons the studio becomes a maker's laboratory where advanced students shape color, texture, and light into a 15-inch stained-glass butterfly. Led by owner Meggy Wilm, this intermediate class runs across two five-hour sessions (Sept 18, 2–7pm; Sept 19, 10am–3pm) and assumes you already handle cutting, grinding, foiling, soldering, and finishing. If you've completed a beginner class and want to push cleaner solder joints, stronger reinforcement, and elegant hardware like handmade jump rings, this project is built to advance your toolkit.
The workshop centers on Meggy's signature patchwork butterfly design and teaches copper-foil construction using a mix of scrap and specialty glass. Expect hands-on demos of reinforcement strategies, refining smooth solder lines, integrating hobby came, and the subtle choices that make color placement sing. Students work at individual stations, with a one-to-one coaching rhythm that balances technical correction with room to experiment. The studio supplies all tools and most glass; participants are welcome to bring personal pieces on the first day.
Boulder's reputation as an outdoor hub makes this class a strategic detour for travelers: trade a morning on the Flatirons or a midday ride along the Boulder Creek Path for an afternoon shaping luminous panels. Colorado Glass Works occupies a practical spot near the 1500 Parking Garage (weekend parking free; weekday paid), so it's easy to park and drop in between hikes and galleries. The studio is ADA accessible and accepts students aged 15 and older when a guardian participates for younger teens.
Practicalities are straightforward. Total instructional time is ten hours; group size caps at ten to preserve individualized attention. The studio asks for close-toed shoes and a water bottle; food and drinks beyond water aren't permitted for safety. Classes proceed in winter unless unusual conditions force rescheduling, and Meggy's use of scrap glass underscores the studio's commitment to material reuse and careful waste handling.
For makers who value meticulous craft, this workshop is more than a skill session; it's a concentrated study in control and composition. You'll leave with a finished 15-inch butterfly and techniques you can apply to future panels, plus a clearer sense of how color and texture behave when you bend light through glass. Book the class to add a practiced, hands-on creative layer to your Boulder itinerary and to work alongside a local artisan who makes advanced stained glass approachable and exacting.
The class also fosters community; you'll trade techniques with fellow makers and leave with notes, direct feedback from Meggy, and a finished piece ready to display. Many students return to the studio for critique sessions, repairs, or to source materials for their next panel and future collaborative projects.
moderate.
10 hours (two 5-hour sessions).
No special fitness required, but you should be comfortable standing or sitting for multi-hour sessions and handling hand tools.
Meet at Colorado Glass Works; weekend parking is free in the 1500 Parking Garage attached to the building. Weekdays are paid and street parking nearby may be paid or free a few blocks away.
Yes—students must have completed a beginner stained glass class or be comfortable with cutting, grinding, foiling, soldering, and finishing before enrolling.
All basic materials and tools are included; students may bring or purchase personal glass to use during class.
Yes. The studio is ADA accessible and willing to make accommodations—contact the studio ahead of time for specific needs.
Participants aged 15 and younger must attend with a parent or guardian who is also enrolled in the class.
Classes normally proceed during winter; only extraordinary conditions prompt rescheduling and the studio will contact registered students if needed.
Boulder grew rapidly after the 1859 Colorado gold rush and developed a strong craft and arts community that supports makers like Colorado Glass Works.
The workshop emphasizes reuse by integrating scrap glass into projects, and the studio follows careful waste handling and recycling practices to limit material impact.
Colorado Glass Works teaches hands-on stained glass classes and workshops for beginners and intermediate students in Colorado. The studio offers single-session workshops, multi-week courses, and seasonal specialty classes that cover core skills such as glass cutting, grinding, copper foiling, soldering, and finishing. Instructors guide students through projects like sun-catchers, night lights, planter stakes, honeycomb date-night pieces, abstract panels, and mouth-blown-sheet sunflower designs with rondels. Many workshops use pre-cut patterns for stress-free learning, while intermediate sessions emphasize spontaneous design and independent composition. Materials are provided for most classes, including specialty options like dichroic and mouth-blown sheet glass, so participants can experiment with color-shifting and textured effects. One popular offering is a 4-week beginner series that walks students step-by-step from basic cuts to a polished finished piece; shorter evening workshops let guests complete sun-catchers or small decor items in a single session. The studio emphasizes clear, patient instruction, hands-on practice, and safe use of tools. Classes make thoughtful gift experiences — from Mother's Day workshops to paired date-night sessions — and are suitable for visitors, locals, and small groups. Colorado Glass Works focuses on teaching practical techniques that empower students to continue creating independently after class. Friendly guidance, quality materials, and varied project options combine to make each workshop both educational and memorable. Many sessions are led by experienced instructor Meggy, who offers patient, practical demonstrations and individualized feedback. Several workshops are traveler-friendly and designed for busy schedules. The emphasis on hands-on learning builds confidence and lasting skills and creative enjoyment, always.
Book with Colorado Glass Works