Meet the Artist Evening with Rashan Jones

Come meet and greet Rashan Jones, Boro Artist, from Albuquerque's, New Mexico, on Saturday, November 5, 2016, at GracefulCustoms Studio, in Gilroy, Ca, e-mail us for more info:  grace@gracefulcustoms.com  See his work at http://jonesartglass.com/jones-art-glass/
He is here that weekend to teach a boro class!  Let us know if you are interested in the class.  See class description on this blog. www.Gracefulstudios.blogspot.com

Jelveh's Christmas-inspired Ornaments Class, Oct 22, 2016

Jelveh of Jelveh Designs will be hosting a Holiday ornament class at Graceful Customs, this Saturday, Oct. 22, 2016, from 9 am to 1 pm.  She will be demonstrating how to make a blown glass ornament, a snowman, and others on a headpins.  Cost is $125.00,   E-mail us at Grace@GracefulCustoms.com for other details. 

Rashan Jones, Nov. 5 & 6, 2016

Our next class will be with Rashan Jones on Sat. & Sun., Nov. 5 and 6, 2016, here is what Rashan says about his class:

"All that Jazz: Boro exploration."

"The beginner class was well received so I'm headed back to Graceful Customs Lampwork for another session.
We will spend 2 days covering implosion pendants, shot glasses and basic hand pipes. There will be some color application but mostly we will focus on fuming techniques for fine silver and some 24kt gold. I'll also be covering a review of Gilson Opal inclusions because they compliment the fumed pendants and they look great on hand pipes as well.
This is a perfect class for someone with experience in lamp working either soft or Boro, or an ambitious first timer."
Contact Grace for signup details!  Cost of class $475, includes lunch and glass used in class.
Bring your own tools.  Refrigerator and microwave available.  Water and drinks provided.  RV space available without charge.  Airport pickup available, from San Jose Airport.
See his work at: High Desert Flame Works

Making Murrini with CCGlass Art - Chistina Catherine

Christina Catherine of CCGlass Art will be here to teach a 2 day lampworking glass art class on July 23 and 24, 2016.  Christina has been making lampwork glass beads since 2008 and discovered her "passion" was making murrini.  She has 2 tutorials "Making Beautiful Murrini" and "Making Beautiful Encased Murrini Beads" and has had her tutorials  featured is e-magazines, Soda Lime Times  and ISGB publication. 
Description of class:
Day 1:
Making ocean-theme murrini, latticino, and other embeds for encasing
- complex concentric circle murrini
- watercolor murrini
- shell murrini
- encased stringers
- black coral strands
- seaweed latticino
Learn multiple techniques on Day 1 while making all the sea-themed elements that will go into the bead design we will construct and encase on day 2.
Day 2:
Putting it all together: Designing and assembling the pattern, applying all the elements, and successfully encasing multi-murrini beads
- learn my reliable, step-by-step method of placing murrini, and other embeds, that creates a color coordinated, harmonious, and visually full design every time
- finish the bead with encasing techniques that suspends the design while maintaining a dimensional look
Day 2 is all about mapping out the bead design, building and properly placing all the elements in the bead then encasing the murrini beneath a layer of clear glass while maintaining the dimensional look of all the embeds.  Christina's work can be seen on her website:  www.CCGlassArt.com and www.CCGlassArt.Etsy.com and Facebook
 Cost of class is $350, e-mail grace@gracefulcustoms.com to sign up for this new class

Electroforming/Anodizing/Plating made Easy!

ELECTROFORMING/ANODIZING/PLATING MADE EASY - 2 sessions: 
Sat, June 18 and Sat, June 25, 2016, Saturdays- Graceful Customs Studio, Gilroy, CA

(dates of class have changed from May)

Electroforming Class: 2 Days

Price: $ 275.00

Kit Price: $ 25.00

With the high cost of metals over the past years, alternative processes like Electroforming, Anodizing and Plating have become more popular over the years.

Electroforming is an exciting technique that does not require you to have a lot of metal working experience. This process will let you “grow” copper over almost any object. You will learn how to use this processes to create a shell of copper over objects like glass, wax carvings and organic materials (Leaves, Dried Flowers and Seed Pods).

Anodizing is fun way of adding color to metals like Niobium and Aluminum.

Plating is a method of adding a thin coating of metal over another metal. Most popular adding silver over a base metal.

What are these processes? How to prepare the metal or organic material? What can you do with the piece next? Rivets? Setting? Can you solder? How to clean or polish?   As time allows, Carmen will demonstrate these techniques!

Instructor:  Carmen Martinez, Email:  Grace@GracefulCustoms.com

Lost Wax Casting - 2 consecutive Saturdays, Mar 19 & 26, 2016

Casting has been done by Jewelers for thousands of years.  It is as important in the 21st century as it was years ago.  You ask yourself “Why should I learn lost wax casting?”   This is a great technique for making your own custom items for your jewelry pieces.   You can easily have someone cast your unique customs items for you, but the more you understand the process, the easier it will be for you to design your pieces.
You will learn a variety of casting methods:  Vacuum, centrifugal, cuttle bone, and sand casting.  You will learn how to sprue and invest the wax models, calculate metal requirement, understand the burnout cycle and cast your projects.  We will have an assortment of waxes for you to choose from.
You will learn the “sprue” technique and cast an organic item.  We will review what items are best for  casting.  You can bring your own items to cast, however, we will also have an assortment of organic pieces.
Sterling silver and bronze will be available for you to cast with. Price:  $ 275.00
Kit Price:  $25.00 (Metal not included)
e-mail Grace@Gracefulcustoms.com to sign up!  Overnight accommodations available to first person who requests.  $25.00 for one night.