How did you learn the technique of stained glass art?
I started learning the techniques of stained glass in 2000 when my youngest child was a few months old. It was great to go out of the house once a week to an evening class and immerse myself in something creative. I signed up for the class after seeing an advert on the noticeboard of a cafe.
The class was run by the glass artist Lauren Sagar who is a great teacher. After 4 years of attendance I had mastered the techniques and made some stained glass windows for my home.
Do you have a studio space you work from, tell us about it?
I set up a workshop in my house and started producing pieces for other people. Earlier this year I moved my workshop to a rented space in an old mill with the aim of increasing my working hours (I have spent many years combining my work with looking after my kids - they are now teenagers!).
I have recently added a second workbench to cope with my extra work and for courses I hope to be running in the future.
What aspect of your work do you enjoy the most?
I love all aspects of glass - the colours, textures and effects that are possible. The majority of my work involves designing and making stained glass windows for people's houses. I also repair windows and carry out full renovations on very old windows where the lead is beginning to perish and weaken.
Tell us about some of your recent work
My most exciting project to date was to design and make a set of 16 windows for a local school chapel.
I also make pieces of fused glass in my kiln and I love experimenting with different ideas to see what is possible.
So far I have made decorative items for the home and jewellery. I have also made a sculpture that combines fused glass with wood and scrap metal and I have plans to make more multi media sculptures.
I'm snowed under with stained glass repair work and have an exciting new commission (a round window with a Manchester bee design) that I'm about to start.
The above images show a fused glass piece that Caroline has made with white glass and black powder and a stencilled outline of a logo of a blues band 'The Blind Dead McJones Band'
Also showing are a wood, fused glass and old bike parts sculpture and some fused glass pendants made using the glass core debris created when Caroline drills her holes in the glass. Detailed descriptions of how Caroline made her fused glass pendants can be found by clicking here.
It's always a pleasure to showcase such creative work, and it's been a joy to hear about Caroline's expanding range. A big thanks from Eternal Tools to Caroline for allowing us to share her work.
If you would like to see more of Caroline's work or commission her for a piece, go to her website here: http://www.carolinechanningglass.co.uk/
