Open House, "Meet the Artist" Rashan Jones

Come meet Rashan Jones, who will be teaching a 2 day Borosilicate skills for soft glass flame workers on Sat. Feb 20 and Sun. Feb. 21.  e-mail Grace@Gracefulcustoms for directions.

Rashan Jones to teach at Gracefulcustoms on Feb 20 & 21, 2016.

Rashan Jones will be here for a 2 day class, Sat & Sun, Feb 20 and 21.  He describes it as, "Crossover: Borosilicate skills for Soft glass flame workers. It is designed for soft glass workers looking to expand into a new COE. Boro is a very different, it moves slower, takes more heat, and the color palette works differently as well. This is crash course on how to take you existing skills and apply them to hard glass.-We’ll also spend some time learning some off mandrel boro techniques including blown hollow beads, inside out dot and line patterning, honeycombing and the use of lenses and horns to enhance your piece.
-Boro color is unique and so beautiful. We will cover WYSIWYG, striking, cadmiums, and metallic colors in depth. Each color family has a unique flame environment it prefers so we will also discuss flame chemistry and how to set neutral flames, when to reduce, and which colors prefer an oxidizing flame.
-And Boro also has few different tools, we will cover when to use them efficiently to achieve your desired results."  See his work at: http://jonesartglass.com/
Fee for 2 day class is $475, all materials included, e-mail Grace@Gracefulcustoms.com to enroll in this class, lunch also included.

Reticulation in Silver - Earring class Sept 19, 2015

Join us for a one day workshop working with silver and make a pair of earrings that involves:  reticulation, silver soldering, metal sawing, drilling, rivoting, sanding and polishing.  Carmen Martinez will share with us techniques that are applicable to other projects and metals.  Basic soldering skills needed, however, the majority of the time will be spent on the other techniques.  email me at Grace@GracefulCustoms.com;
Fee is $135 plus $25.00 material fee.  Overnight accommodations available. 

Beginning and Intermediate Lampwork Bead Classes

Lampwork glass bead classes in small group setting and private lessons available here.  Contact Jelveh Jaferin at:  JelvehDesigns2@aol.com for more information.  You can also see her designs at www.JelvehDesigns.com

Lapidary classes

Lapidary classes will now be scheduled for the 2nd Sat. of the month,  E-mail grace@gracefulcustoms.com

Open House with Joy Munshower, Friday, May 1, 2015

Come meet the artist, talented and world-traveled Joy Munshower, who makes ~ "lampworked glass sculptures inspired by nature" will be here for a 2 day lampworking glass sculpting class on May 2 & 3, 2015.  She will also be here to demonstrate some of her unique techniques on Friday, May 1, between the hours of 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm. at Graceful Customs Studio in Gilroy, Ca.  e-Mail Grace@GracefulCustoms.com for details.  If you are interested in the class, let me know!  Her work can be seen at: www.joymunshower.com

Silver soldering class April 25, 2015, Sat.

This is a beginning soldering class, no experience needed, a material fee will be determined, (usually about $20-$25 )  Class fee is $125.00.  You will learn from Carmen Martinez, the basics of soldering different types of metals.  You will make and take home a silver bezeled stone of your choice from our collection or your own and learn to use an oxygen and propane torch and a hand-held torch that does not require special equipment at home.  Hours: 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.  e-mail us at

grace@gracefulcutoms.com for more info! ! www.Gracefulstudios.blogspot.com, e-mail Carmen for more details: cram67@yahoo.com, www.visionsbyron.com is the website (her husband Ron is a gem carver and will also be here working on his stones, he loves to share his work!
Some finished students projects:

"Just Encase" Class with Jelveh Jaferian. March 28, 2015

Jelveh will be teaching 5 different techniques for encasing glass beads.  Student must have basic lampworking experience.  More info to follow, e-mail Grace@Gracefulcustoms.com; see Jelveh's work at http://www.jelvehdesigns.blogspot.com/

                                                                 

Lampwork Marble Class- Sat. April 11, 2015

Ever wonder how handmade marbles are made?

Tim Siemon will be teaching his unique marble making process with soft glass in this day long class.  It is designed for intermediate soft glass flameworkers with a good grasp on heat control.  Tim will demonstrate how to make a marble, then coach you through making a clear marble. You will continue to develop your marble making skills as you learn and practice marbles with surface stripes, surface spirals and encased spirals.

This will be a one-day class.  e-mail Grace@GracefulCustoms.com for more info!

Schedule changed: Open House to "Meet the Artist," Wes Fleming, Mar. 20, 2015

We changed the time of the open house:  Come meet or greet again, the sculptural glass artist Wes Fleming, on Friday, March 20, 2015, from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm!  Wes will be here to teach a soft glass sculpture glass class on March 21 & 22, however, he would also like to meet our local community interested in the arts!  e-mail Grace for directions:  Grace@GracefulCustoms.com,
see Wes' art at http://wesleyfleming.com