Kim Fields at Graceful Customs, Sept 13, 14, 2014

Kim Fields - Sculptural Bird Bead Workshop

Description: This two day workshop focuses on creating beautiful, sculptural bird beads.

Demonstrations include forming simple birds and moving to more complex realistic forms.

Techniques will include assembling canes, color mixing and overlays, temperature control, precision stringer and dot placement. This class is intermediate to advanced level.

 $475.00 email Grace  OPEN HOUSE ON FRIDAY, SEPT 12, MEET KIM!

Look what WE did! Dragon Beads with Mary Lockwood 2013

Needless to say, the Dragon Beads took time and concentration!  With 9 torches and burners going, it was pretty warm in the studio!  But all had fun, learned many techniques that Mary shared with all, and her patient and confident style was appreciated by all!  She is a very talented lampworking artist!  Thank you Mary, Come again to Graceful Customs! 

Mary Lockwood "Dragon Class" at Graceful Customs Studio 2013

"Meet the Artist" openhouse Friday, June 21,2013, Mary Lockwood

You are invited to our open house at our studio to meet Mary Lockwood, a very talented Lampworking artist.  She will be here to teach a 2 day class, Sat. & Sun..  This is an opportunity to meet her if you are not taking the class, she will be demonstrating some of her techniques and have her beads on display!  Refreshments served.  Questions:  Grace@GracefulCustoms.com

Whew! Stringer control!

Well, Holly Cooper was here last weekend; we all thoroughly enjoyed her visit and learned new techniques!  We all found her a great instructor, clear, concise, patient, and extremely talented in her work.  Her handouts had detailed drawings (she is a graphic artist by day) and easy to understand!    We were happy to also welcome 2 new students to our Studio.  Great work Ladies!  Holly agreed to return next year, we are looking at her calendar!  Thanks Holly, hope you enjoyed our home and Studio!

2011 Christmas Boutique

Visit us during our Christmas Boutique on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011, 1:00 pm to 6:00 p.m., lampworking glass bead making demonstrations, open torch time (make a bead yourself), finished jewelry, soaps, quilts, lapidary stones, and other handmade crafts by various artists available for sale! Hourly raffle of gifts. Snacks and drinks served! 10730 Center Ave., Gilroy, CA 95020, grace@gracefulcustoms.com

JULY 23, 2011 OPEN HOUSE!

Come join us for our July 23, Saturday open house! We will have our usual lampworking demos and open torch time. Jelveh from Jelveh Designs will be showing off her latest designs. Jim Ziegler and his lovely wife Jennifer will be showing the latest techniques of Lapidary work! See what you can make from a rough stone! We will be hosting a Lapidary class with Jim, on Saturday, August 27, 2011, all materials and equipment provided. Cost of class is only $75.00
And on Sat. & Sun., August 13 & 14, Carmen Martinez will have a basic silver-smithing class, take one or two classes. We will be learning how to work with the different metals, torches, solder materials, and will set a cabachon, stone or glass, in a silver setting that can be finished as a pendant or ring. More info available, e-mail me! Cost of class is $125 for one day, material kit extra.
Open house is 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm. on Saturday July 23!

Look at our beads! Feather Murrini it is called!

Class participantss beads made at our class with John Rizzi last Saturday here at Graceful Customs. Thanks John, come back soon!

Beads of Courage Get-Together

Well the weather was cold and dreary and raining, but inside we had a bunch of warm, happy, and talented beadmakers making plenty of colorful beads for this worthy organization! We hope all the children and families who receive these beads will feel the love and warmth that we all felt this past Saturday! Thank you to all our friends who made this happen!

Like Murrini? Learn to Make It with John Rizzi!

John Rizzi will be teaching a one day beginning complex murrini class at Graceful Customs Studio on Saturday, March 12, 2011, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Students should be intermediate level and have good heat control
skills as we will be working off mandrel.

John will be teaching at least 2 designs in class a basic 3- 4 color flower and a feather murrini in the afternoon. We will also practice different ways of murrini application. The class will focus on creating murrini on steal punties and heat control to get a good consistent pull of your cane. We will use basic tools and learn how to create pattern and design in murrini from the inside out.

John has been a lampwork artist for the last 9 years. He creates a variety of sculptural, wearable and decorative art pieces. John has a special interest in the art of murrini making, you can view more of his work at his website
http://www.johnrizziglassworks.com

Or view many of his murrini designs at his etsy shop
http://www.etsy.com/shop/JohnRizziGlassworks
Contact Grace at grace@gracefulcustoms.com for more info! Class size is limited.

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

Pics of our 2nd Christmas Boutique Party!

Every year our circle of friends gets wider and wider! We had new visitors and artists with their goodies here and I honestly believe everyone had a good time! My family room was re-arranged with tables of jewelry and lampwork beads and the kitchen as usual had cookies, carmel corn (new recipe), apple cider, Mexican Hot choclate, and other drinks! And the studio was crowded as Jelveh demo-ed more techniques and displayed her jewelry and beads, as well as new visiting artists that brought their jewels to sell! Thank you all for participating and bringing cookies & friends. My jam was also pretty popular! I still have some Christmas scent soaps (glyercin base), as well as Lavender, Gardenia, Baby Rose, Jasmine (shea butter base), and Lavender sachets available, Let me know if you need inexpensive gifts! Have a happy and safe holiday!

Christmas Ornaments Class with Jelveh! Check out our pics!

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