Create your own Stained Glass Masterpiece

Make something you can actually keep. This three-hour stained glass class in Saint John gives you hands-on practice with cutting, shaping, and soldering glass, then sends you home with a piece you made yourself. I especially like the small class size, capped at eight, and the warm, patient teaching from Kim and Ava. The main catch is practical: you will spend much of the class standing, and the studio is in a private home reached most easily by taxi.

I also like that this offers a real alternative to a standard sightseeing outing. You are not simply looking at local art or riding past Saint John’s sights. You learn a new craft and leave with a souvenir tied to your own time in the city. Just plan your transportation and wear comfortable closed-toe shoes.

Key Points Before You Book

• A hands-on three-hour workshop: You cut glass, shape it to a pattern, and solder the parts together.
• A small class limited to eight people: The format allows for close help instead of a large demonstration.
• A handmade Saint John souvenir: Past projects have included ornaments, sun catchers, a fish, and pieces around 4 by 6 inches.
• Patient instruction from Kim and Ava: The teaching is designed for complete beginners, with each step explained and shown before you try it.
• A taxi-friendly location: The studio is at 995 Millidge Ave, about a $14 taxi ride each way from the cruise area according to one recent experience.
• A standing activity: Comfortable closed-toe shoes are important, especially for the full session.

Why This Class Is Different From a Standard Saint John Excursion

Saint John is an easy city to visit by cruise ship or as part of a New Brunswick trip, but not every stop needs to be a bus ride. This workshop gives you a reason to slow down and work with your hands.

I like the way the class turns a short visit into something personal. You do not simply buy a souvenir from a shop. You make an ornament or small stained glass panel yourself, with the occasional uneven edge or charming beginner touch that proves it was yours.

The class also suits people who have already seen the main sights. One solo participant chose it as an alternative to the usual bus excursions and made a stained glass fish. That is a good clue about the experience: it offers a creative afternoon when you want something quieter and more involved than checking off another viewpoint.

It is also a strong choice for families. Parents and teenagers can work on separate pieces, and several family groups have taken home one creation per person. Couples, solo visitors, grandparents with adult grandchildren, and small groups of friends can all fit naturally into the setting.

The tradeoff is that this is not a sightseeing tour. You will not spend the three hours touring Saint John, visiting several attractions, or learning a broad history of the city. The reward is a finished object and a new skill, not a long list of sights.

Arriving at 995 Millidge Avenue

The meeting point is 995 Millidge Ave, Saint John, New Brunswick E2K 2P7. The activity begins and ends there, so you do not need to arrange a separate return trip after class.

The studio is in a private home. That can feel different from arriving at a formal art school or downtown workshop, so check the address carefully and allow time for the ride. Taxi service is described as easy and affordable, and one person traveling from a cruise stop paid about $14 each way.

This transportation detail matters if you are visiting from a ship. A taxi gives you a simple door-to-door option, but you should build in enough time for the ride back to the port after class. The activity lasts about three hours, and the timetable may feel tight if your ship has a strict departure schedule.

The location is near public transportation, and taxis are specifically noted as a convenient option. Still, the supplied details do not give a walking time from the cruise terminal or a precise public transit route. For most visitors, a taxi is the clearest choice.

Learning the Basics Before You Start

The class begins with an introduction to the basic tools and methods. You learn how to cut glass, shape pieces to fit a pattern, and solder the finished parts together.

That order is important. Stained glass can look delicate and complicated when you see a finished panel, but the workshop breaks the process into manageable tasks. Kim or Ava demonstrates each step before you try it, which takes away some of the worry that comes with handling glass for the first time.

You do not need previous stained glass experience. The class is built for beginners, and the instruction is described as patient, clear, and encouraging. That makes it a good fit if you like creative activities but do not think of yourself as an artist.

The teaching style also leaves room for personal choices. You receive guidance and a pattern, then have some freedom in creating your piece. One participant appreciated having directions that were easy to follow without losing the chance to make individual choices.

That balance is one of the strongest parts of the activity. Too much instruction would make the piece feel like a school project. Too little would leave you struggling with glass and solder. Here, the aim is to help you succeed while still making the object feel like your own.

Cutting and Shaping the Glass

Cutting glass is the first major hands-on stage. You learn to follow the pattern, make the cuts, and shape the pieces so they fit together.

This is where patience matters. The goal is not to rush toward a perfect result. You are learning how small adjustments affect the final design, and the instructor can help you correct or refine pieces as you work.

For a first attempt, the project is deliberately manageable. Finished pieces have been described as small ornaments or sun catchers, with one class project measuring about 4 by 6 inches. That size is useful for a beginner workshop because it gives you a complete project without requiring a full day of work.

Past participants have made different designs, including a stained glass fish. The exact design available during your session is not specified, so do not assume you will make that particular shape. The useful point is that the finished project can be decorative, portable, and easy to take home.

The glasswork also gives families a practical way to share the activity without forcing everyone into the same role. Four family members, for example, can each leave with a separate creation. You get an afternoon together, but everyone still has an individual result.

Soldering the Final Piece

Once the glass is cut and shaped, you solder the piece together. This is the part that makes the scattered pieces become one object.

Soldering can sound intimidating if you have never handled the tools. The class is designed to teach the process step by step, and the instructor remains close by to guide you. Small-group teaching is especially useful here because you can ask for help at the moment you need it.

The finished object is not just a souvenir purchased in Saint John. It records the work you did during the class. That is why the experience has more staying power than a generic keepsake. You can point to the piece at home and explain that you cut, shaped, and soldered it yourself.

Several people were surprised by how good their finished pieces looked. That is not a promise that every project will look like professional studio work, but it does reflect the value of close instruction. You receive enough help to produce something you can display with pride.

The instructor may assist with difficult steps. That is part of the beginner-friendly design, not a failure on your part. The aim is for you to learn the process and take home a completed piece, rather than struggle alone and leave with an unfinished project.

The Instructors: Kim and Ava

Kim receives the strongest praise for her teaching. She is described as kind, patient, encouraging, and easy to work with. Those qualities matter more here than a formal lecture because the class involves several unfamiliar steps.

Ava also teaches some sessions and has been singled out as a great instructor. In one family class, Kim and her granddaughter Ava taught together. Their presence helped create a relaxed setting for parents and children working side by side.

I would choose this experience partly for that personal instruction. The workshop is not built around a recorded demonstration or a large group watching from a distance. With a maximum of eight people, you have a fair chance of getting individual help.

Class size can vary below the maximum. One session had only two people, which allowed for almost one-on-one instruction. You should not count on having the studio to yourself, but the limit keeps the group from becoming unwieldy.

The tone appears to be friendly rather than formal. That suits a craft class where you may need reassurance after an imperfect cut or a hesitant soldering attempt.

Standing, Safety, and What to Wear

This is an active workshop, not a seated craft demonstration. You should expect a lot of standing during the approximately three-hour session.

Wear comfortable closed-toe shoes. That advice is specifically important because you will be working with glass and standing for much of the class. Comfortable clothing is sensible too, though the supplied information only specifically requires closed-toe footwear.

Most people can participate, and service animals are allowed. The activity is offered in English. If you need a particular accommodation beyond those details, ask before booking because the available information does not describe every physical feature of the private-home studio.

The standing requirement may be the biggest practical drawback for anyone with foot, knee, or back problems. The class is otherwise presented as suitable for most participants, but you should judge your own comfort with several hours on your feet.

Is the Keepsake Worth the Time?

The value comes from the combination of instruction and the object you take home. You are paying for a creative activity, close guidance, materials, and a finished souvenir rather than just an admission ticket.

The exact price is not included in the supplied details, so I cannot judge it against a stated fee. Still, the activity has a clear value advantage for people who enjoy making things. You get about three hours of instruction and a piece with a personal story attached to it.

The taxi fare is an extra cost to consider. At about $14 each way in one reported trip, transportation can affect the total budget, especially for a solo visitor. Split among a couple or family, the ride may feel more reasonable.

This is also a good value if you have already seen Saint John’s familiar attractions. Instead of repeating a bus route, you spend the afternoon learning something that you can continue at home if the craft catches your interest.

The result is not necessarily a large stained glass window. Expect a small ornament, sun catcher, or panel, with one description placing the finished size at approximately 4 by 6 inches. It is a keepsake, not a major art installation.

Planning Around a Cruise Stop

The activity is suitable for cruise passengers, and several people have used it during a Saint John port call. The taxi ride makes the private-home location manageable, but timing deserves careful thought.

Book a session that leaves a comfortable margin before your required return to the ship. The class itself takes about three hours, and you also need time for the taxi ride back. Do not treat the listed duration as the entire time required away from the port.

The activity ends at the same address where it begins. That simplifies the return plan once class is over, but you remain responsible for arranging your ride back to the ship or onward destination.

Mobile tickets make arrival easier, and confirmation is received at booking. Keep the confirmation available on your phone so you can check the address and appointment details before setting out.

The location is not presented as a downtown attraction you can casually find while walking around. Treat it as a scheduled workshop at a specific address.

Who Should Book This Workshop?

I would recommend it most strongly to:

• First-time artists who want clear help rather than a difficult self-guided project
• Families with teenagers or adult children
• Couples looking for a shared activity with a physical souvenir
• Solo visitors who prefer making something to joining a bus tour
• Cruise passengers with enough port time for a three-hour class plus taxi rides
• Anyone curious about stained glass but unwilling to commit to a long course

You may want to skip it if you dislike standing, have very limited time in port, or want an activity centered on Saint John’s streets and major sights.

It is also not the best choice if you want complete control over a large, advanced design. This is a beginner class, and the project is small enough to finish in one session.

Booking and Cancellation Details

The activity is offered in English and accepts a maximum of eight people. Confirmation is provided at the time of booking, and free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the local start time.

Cancel at least 24 hours ahead for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made within 24 hours are not accepted for a refund.

Because the class uses a small group format, it is wise to make your timing and transportation plans before booking. A late change can leave you responsible for the full amount.

My Verdict: A Strong Pick for Creative Visitors

You should book Create Your Own Stained Glass Masterpiece if you want a personal Saint John memory, patient instruction, and a break from standard sightseeing. The small class size, supportive teaching from Kim and Ava, and finished piece make the experience feel useful as well as fun.

The decision is less certain if your port schedule is tight or standing for three hours would be uncomfortable. For everyone else, this is a well-focused beginner workshop with a clear payoff: you learn the basics, make something with your own hands, and take home a souvenir that cannot be duplicated.

FAQ

How long does the stained glass class last?

The class lasts approximately three hours.

Where does the activity begin?

It begins at 995 Millidge Ave, Saint John, NB E2K 2P7, Canada.

Where does the activity end?

The activity ends back at the meeting point at 995 Millidge Ave.

Do I need previous stained glass experience?

No. The class is beginner-friendly and teaches the basic steps from the start.

What will I learn during the workshop?

You will learn how to cut glass, shape it to fit a pattern, and solder the piece together.

What do I take home?

You take home your own stained glass ornament. Past finished projects have included sun catchers and small pieces of approximately 4 by 6 inches.

How many people can join the class?

The class has a maximum of eight participants.

What should I wear?

Wear comfortable closed-toe shoes because there is a lot of standing during the activity.