Graceful Customs Lampwork Glass & Jewelry Studio: January 2011

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Chain Maille Open Studio Class On March 26, 2011

Ed Ferner has graciously offered to be here for another chain maille class on Saturday, March 26, 2011, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm! He would like to have participants choose their own designs to work on, and samples will be available from his collections. The cost of this class is only $10.00 for the day and cost of materials which you will choose, either silver or copper wire, that Ed will have available.

The range for materials would probably range between $7 (for using copper) to $40 (for using .925 sterling silver). We will have a maximum of 7 participants, so first come first served! Please plan on bringing your own lunch, we will break for lunch for one hour in case you need to go out. grace@gracefulcustoms.com

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Tuesday, January 11, 2011

NEW: Private Bead-Making Parties Here!

We have added a new activity here in our Studio! Last night was our first Party, with 8 people on the torches for the first time! If you would like to learn or show your friends lampworking glass bead making, you can schedule a small group to have a gathering, for instance, wedding shower, birthday, or other celebration here. Jelveh will give a short intro lesson on making glass beads and everyone can have the opportunity to make one or two beads on a torch. Supplies of glass & tools are provided. Bring munchies! We have available 2 hr. or 4 hr. sessions, check with Jelveh or myself for available days. This is a great way to try out glass bead making and if you like it, schedule a beginner's class on another day, of 5 hrs, with Jevleh! we can accommodate 8-9 people, a minimum commitment of 5 is required. Kitchen available to warm up food, frigerator is available also. In the summer, we may be able to barbeque outside!
Grace@Gracefulcustoms.com
Jelveh@Jelvehdesigns2@aol.com

Monday, January 10, 2011

New tool listings! Check them out at Etsy!

The Pinch-Me-Right Hole Maker is ready! Here is our latest tool, made for people like me who cannot make a straight hole in a bead. Somehow, the bead always moves. See our listing on Etsy:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/65617881/pinch-me-right-glass-hole-maker and thanks to Norma, our latest new student, for helping us with a great name, Jelveh and I were straining our heads for a new, catchy name and Norma just walked in and suggested it!
We also listed a pair of tubes, a lighter weight of stainless steel that Frank has purchased, and since we know you like to make more than one bead at a time, the listing is for 2! http://www.etsy.com/listing/65617881/pinch-me-right-glass-hole-maker

OPEN TORCH DAYS IN STUDIO

Fridays, are open torch days, free use of our torches, fuel and kiln. If you have taken a beginners lampworking class, or have experience to work on your own, you are invited to join us to practice, network, and share techniques, hours are 9:00am to 1 pm, other hours with arrangement with Grace. Bring your own supplies and tools, our torches are Nortel Minors and Mega, with oxygen and propane. You must be able to work independently, only general safety instruction is provided, if you are planning to join us e-mail me at Grace@GracefulCustoms.com. There may be some Fridays we will be closed due to vacations or other commitments, and days available may be subject to change. E-mail us for address and directions

Jennifer Le to teach wire-wrapping here!

Who is Jennifer, you ask? Jennifer lives in Santa Clara, CA, the heart of the Silicon Valley. Her long, successful career in high tech was creative, but not very artistic. Although Jennifer is proficient in many skills, such as cooking & gardening, she never applied herself to art until about four years ago. At that time Jennifer & her husband Jim immersed themselves in rockhounding.

Gems, minerals, specimens and the lapidary arts soon became their passion. After some introduction to the lapidary arts with the help of friends and the local club, they were soon creating cabachons, free-forms, flats and even an attempt at faceting! Those pieces looked just great in a display box, but they needed to be seen more often. Jennifer quickly saw the potential for jewelry! Here was the opportunity to create and enjoy something wonderful. Wire wrap was the best way to bring those bright shiny stones out of the box.

Her favorite subjects are pendants, earrings, bracelets and rings of many varieties, sizes, & colors. One needs only to examine Jennifer's work, her showcase and the jewelry she is wearing to see that this is distinctive art. Jennifer learned the fine art & skill of wire-wrap from her mother only four years ago. Since then she has refined her skill into a signature style that is very clean, elegant & striking. She teaches her skill to others in a straightforward and clear manner. Her teaching style & her patience makes her class a valuable experience!

Graceful Customs Lampwork Glass & Jewelry Studio

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