A glass fusion school is breaking the mould at Dockyard.

Studio8 Glass, part of Bermuda Glassworks, is now offering workshops in glass fusion to make jewellery and other items.

Matt Hooper, who runs the studio while also working in the main glassworks, said: “I wanted to learn glassblowing, but that is a very long process.

“It’s a career, whereas this is something more acceptable to pick up and learn.”

Mr Hooper was speaking as a group from Argus Insurance learnt to make decorative items and jewellery as part of a team-building exercise, while two US tourists created permanent memories of their island vacation at the studio, opened just weeks ago.

He said: “From learning, I started expanding techniques and equipment and realised it was something other people might like to do.

“We’re still trying to grow this and work out how many people it will take to teach it.”

Mr Hooper honed his craft with weekend workshops at a Southampton warehouse before moving into the Bermuda Glassworks building for the summer season.

He said: “It’s been good. We’re trying to get it to the point where it will be something visitors will want to try. We’ve started to get it out there to hotels and we’ve got a group of girls from a wedding who are coming next month because they want to have matching jewellery. It’s ticking along.

“It comes in fits and starts, but we’ve not really advertised yet. We’re working with the tourism centre to get us out there on the cruise ships.”

Mr Hooper added the new venture was also green as it uses glass cast-offs from the Bermuda Glassworks.

Jennifer Ammons, a Pennsylvania paediatrician, and daughter Hazel, 13, who are staying at Elbow Beach Hotel in Paget, signed up for a workshop.

Dr Ammons said: “We decided to do something with glass. Hazel is very artsy, so we thought it would be a fun way to spend the afternoon.”

She added: “I enjoyed it more than I thought I would because I’m not very artsy at all.

“It’s nice to be able to try something new without having to sign up for classes. It will make a great souvenir and Hazel made a gift for a friend.”

Classes, which start at $50, include all materials and the finishing of a ready-to-wear piece of jewellery or other items like coasters.

The studio can be contacted at 707-5679 or through facebook.com/studio8 glass.