Piecing the glass into a rough pattern.

This diversional therapy was a real change for me. Meaghan, my new weaving student, told me how to do it in a couple of short, non threatening sentences.

"You get a sheet of glass, cut to the size you want. Then cut up pieces of coloured glass (available from a stained glass supplier) and mosaic them on top of the sheet of glass glueing them down with araldite.Then finish it off with black grout." Simple! Also one extra clue – I saw the mosaic cutter used to chip away at the glass so I knew what it looked like.

Now, if I was to write up instructions for this in a booklet, contemporary Australian convention would have me write the first chapter devoted to how dangerous glass is and that it can cut you. Beware, Beware. This chapter would have totally put me off starting or even lingering longer to think that I could ever do it.

But Meaghan’s direct instructions allowed me to get the materials and have a go, before being put off by too many experienced instructions. I learnt alot while doing this and I used my commonsense pushing ahead without procrastinating. (and yes, I cut myself a little once)

Too many instructions and warnings are threatening rather than encouranging to beginners. I think our own practical experience is important to develop on our own, with only gentle guidance from teachers. What constitutes a good teacher? And is there common traits in good teachers aside from their own experience?

I am so happy with this completed project as it is quite outside my usual yarn activities, working with dangerous media.But I’ve learnt something important about learning itself.

Completed panel of glass installed in my kitchen