Fused Glass: Garden & Window Art Workshop

Suzanne Balestri is leading a fused glass workshop at the San Diego Craft Collective on Saturday, October 17, from 10:30 AM to 1 PM. The session is built around making whimsical fused glass sun catchers and garden sticks—the kind of pieces you can hang in a sunny window or tuck into a houseplant or garden to catch the light. Beginners are welcome, so you don't need any prior experience to join in.

Balestri will walk you through glass-cutting techniques and design considerations, and from there you'll make your own pieces. You can make up to three, each about 1.5" x 11". All the materials and the kiln-firing are included in the price, and if you want to make more than three, each additional piece is $5. There's also a materials fee payable in cash to the instructor. Once you've finished your work, it goes into the kiln, and you can pick it up at the studio about two to three weeks later.

To get a head start, everyone who signs up gets two instructional videos a few days before the class, so you'll have a feel for what's coming before you even step into the studio.

The workshop is held at the San Diego Craft Collective, a 501(c)3 nonprofit that teaches hands-on craft to the community. They specialize in woodworking and offer classes in sewing, ceramics, fused glass, macrame, natural dye techniques, weaving, mosaics, and papercraft. Their programming starts at age three with early childhood sessions inspired by Waldorf and Montessori methods, with school-age programs from age six drawing on those plus the Sloyd method, and separate classes for teens and adults—all run in a family-friendly, eco-friendly environment. You'll find them at 2590 Truxtun Rd, Studio 106, in Liberty Station's Arts District, inside the Dorothea Laub Music & Arts Center, Building 176.

The cost is $110, with discounts for military, first responders, and siblings, and scholarships available. The class runs from 10:30 AM to 1 PM on Saturday, October 17.