Open house 6:00 to 8:00 pm - Meet the Artist with Wesley Fleming, Sat., Sept. 23, 2017

Come meet Wes Fleming at Graceful Customs Studio, in Gilroy, on Sat., Sept 23.  Call for directions if you have not been here before: 408 348-9239

Creepy Crawly Critters with Wes Fleming Class

Wes Fleming, soft glass sculptor, will once again return to Graceful Customs Studio on Sat and Sun, Sept 23 & 24, 2017. More details to follow! A couple of seats still available!  Cost is $485.00 for both days.

New date to be announced -Michael Dickinson

Michael's class scheduled for Sept. 16 will be rescheduled due to a schedule conflect,  This class is for boro (hard glass) and torches are Nortel minor/major    No experience needed.  e-mail Grace@Gracefulcustoms.com

Heather from Chaos Glassworks

We are excited to host Heather from Chaos Glassworks for a class!  She will be here at Graceful Customs Studio in Gilroy, CA, on Saturday and Sunday, August 26 & 27, 2017, to teach separate projects on each of the two days.  Heather is very busy participating in art and gem shows throughout the bay area, and would now like to share some of her techniques and art forms.  Her husband, Dave, is an accomplished Artist Glassmaker who makes larger sculptured items such as lights, vases, paper weights, bowls. Their beautiful art can be seen on their website at www.Chaosglassworks.com  Their art gallery and workshop is in Sutter Creek, California.

Heather Hopman works in a variety of mediums including lampworked soft glass beads, ceramics, gourds, metalworking, blown glass and watercolors. She was born and raised in Amador County.
She has studied under Loren Stump, Robert Mickelson and Vittorio Constantini.
Heather will be teaching soft glass sculptures, a cat and a horse on the first day, and a seal on the second day.  She will teach us how to manipulate shapes, colors, and animal details such as faces. 

 Cost is $175.00 for one class, and $300.00 for both classes.  e-mail
Grace@Gracefulcustoms.com to sign up and class supplies details.

Michael Dickinson Returns on June 3

Michael will return for a one day Boro class, space limited, e-mail Grace@GracefulCustoms.com for information, see class description in previous post!

Michael Dickinson here on Sat., April 8, 2017

Michael Dickinson will be here at Graceful Customs Studio in Gilroy, Ca for a one day seminar April 8!  See his work on Facebook and website www.Dickinsonglass.com  Michael will be teaching glass blowing and other boro glass techniques.  No experience needed!  New students will be started on a basic project while students with previous experience can further their practical experience with Michael's help.  Class is 9:00 am to 4:30 pm.  Fee is $100.  Please bring your own lunch, some boro glass provided, otherwise bring your own for your own project.  Bring your favorite tools, e-mail me at Grace@GracefulCustoms.com for further details. 

Metal Etching class at Graceful Customs Studio on Sat., Feb.18, 2017

Metal Etching Class

Taught by Carmen M. Almlie-Martinez

1 Day        -     $ 150.00

Metal etching has been around for hundreds of years and is one of the most amazing and magical techniques you can have in your artistic arsenal.   The process is exciting which can be used to transfer images to metal.   While some believe, etching can be intimidating, the truth of the matter is that when it is executed in the correct manner, it is a safe and efficient process.

For the etching process, we will need an etchant which removes metal particles from any areas not protected by some sort of resist (or mask).  The most common form of etchant used for base metals (copper, brass, nickel silver, and pewter) is ferric chloride.  There are several resists that can be used.  The one we will use for this class is a blue acetate film called Press-n-Peel(PnP) paper.  We will also cover and talk about some of the other resist that can be used – Rubber Stamps and Ink, Letraset Lettering, Permanent Ink Markers, Asphaltum, and Nail Polish.

We will also talk about other etching processes - Edinburgh Process, Electrical Process, and Galvanic Process.  We will also go over what etchants are needed if one wishes to etch Sterling Silver or Gold.

e-mail Grace@Gracefulcustoms.com to register.

Lapidary Class every 2nd Sat. of the month

The Lapidary group meets every 2nd Saturday of each month, with occasional changes in schedule. Beginning and intermediate class to learn how to shape and polish to a shiny finish natural stones, using our lapidary equipment. Jim & Jennifer Ziegler are here once a month, to show you how to turn a natural unfinished stone into finished cabachon pendant to wire-wrap or make mount onto a metal bezel! All materials included, no experience needed, $85.00 Bring your lunch. e-mail Grace@Gracefulcustoms.com for more details and directions.

Creepy Crawly Critters with Wes Fleming Class

Wes Fleming, soft glass sculptor, will once again return to Graceful Customs Studio on Sat and Sun, Sept 23 & 24, 2017.  More details to follow!  A few spots still available!