Graceful Customs Lampwork Glass & Jewelry Studio

Monday, August 23, 2010

Toni's class this weekend! Blowing Shards & Making Implossions

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Saturday, August 14, 2010

August MGT - Demos

We welcomed new guests this past weekend! And Thanks to Jim for setting up his lapidary equipment and Ed for running his new award-winning DVD on Jump Rings, and showing his new chain maille designs! He has offered to have another chain maille class on Oct. 9, Saturday. Jelveh tried out our new Frit Blend, "Monterey" with blues, and purples and we will be making new blends, come by to check them out. Jelveh & I made a few more glass fused cabachons and used the lapidary equipment to shape them and polish them, much faster than fire-polishing! There were 4 winners for the gift drawing, Sharon, you have your Mini-costmetic gift here, Jennifer always selects Jelveh's gift bag of beads, Amber won the bath set, and Antonitte picked the gardening set!

All Kittens have new homes!

BooHoo, they are all leaving, successfully adopted, who can resist their beauty and innocence? Say goodbye Natalie & Frank (and my Silver never knew they were here). Time to clean up the guest room and get ready for Toni's Implosions next weekend!

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Daughter Natalie & Memo's Wedding!

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Monday, July 19, 2010

Wedding Bells

No, Frank & I are not getting married again, once was it! Natalie's wedding is soon here, we are busy preparing and getting nails done, but here is Carmen Martinez busy at my torch today setting a freeformed Australian opal pendant that Natalie selected, and earrings, opal also! (I was a little relieved she didn't pick the most expensive opal from their collection). And Ron, master carver that he is, presented me as a gift this smoky quartz pendant that he has been carving and polishing for several weeks, to wear as Mother-of-the-Bride jewelry! They are a very talented and generous couple, and their creations will be treasured forever in this family!

Sunday, July 11, 2010

Toni' class is now closed!

We are happy and sorry, Happy that Toni is coming to our Studio but sorry to say the class is now full as of this morning! But I'm sure Toni, (if she likes us), will be back for another 1 day class, let me know so I can add you to our wait list!

Saturday, July 10, 2010

Ron's New Etsy Site

Here is our friends' new Etsy store (ok Carmen, list more items, we know you have a treasure chest) www.visionsbyCRAM.etsy.com

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!