Chain Maille Open Studio Class On March 26, 2011

Ed Ferner has graciously offered to be here for another chain maille class on Saturday, March 26, 2011, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm! He would like to have participants choose their own designs to work on, and samples will be available from his collections. The cost of this class is only $10.00 for the day and cost of materials which you will choose, either silver or copper wire, that Ed will have available.

The range for materials would probably range between $7 (for using copper) to $40 (for using .925 sterling silver). We will have a maximum of 7 participants, so first come first served! Please plan on bringing your own lunch, we will break for lunch for one hour in case you need to go out. grace@gracefulcustoms.com



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NEW: Private Bead-Making Parties Here!

We have added a new activity here in our Studio! Last night was our first Party, with 8 people on the torches for the first time! If you would like to learn or show your friends lampworking glass bead making, you can schedule a small group to have a gathering, for instance, wedding shower, birthday, or other celebration here. Jelveh will give a short intro lesson on making glass beads and everyone can have the opportunity to make one or two beads on a torch. Supplies of glass & tools are provided. Bring munchies! We have available 2 hr. or 4 hr. sessions, check with Jelveh or myself for available days. This is a great way to try out glass bead making and if you like it, schedule a beginner's class on another day, of 5 hrs, with Jevleh! we can accommodate 8-9 people, a minimum commitment of 5 is required. Kitchen available to warm up food, frigerator is available also. In the summer, we may be able to barbeque outside!
Grace@Gracefulcustoms.com
Jelveh@Jelvehdesigns2@aol.com

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!

This photo album personalized with Smilebox

Sept. 25, 2010, Open House & Up-coming Events

We are excited to invite our friends to an open house on September 25, a get-together at our place, starting at 1:00 pm, where we are hosting the monthly meeting of our Northern California Chapter of Society of Glass Bead Makers. It is a pot-luck with demos from very talented and accomplished lampworkers, open torch time (you can also show us your favorite technique), as well as other artist demonstrating their talent in rock-carving, silver-smithing, wire-wrapping. We also have invited any crafts/artsy persons to display their wares for sale or trade, so come to shop also!

AND Ed Ferner will be here to teach another 2 chain maille patterns on Oct. 9, 2 sessions, the morning, the Byzantine Weave Bracelet, in the afternoon, the Calypso Weave Bracelet. Hours 9-1 pm and 1:30 to 4:30 pm. Cost $60.00 for both sessions or $35.00 for one session. Light lunch and drinks provided! Small supply fee, you will take home finished bracelets!

AND Ed has also offered an Open Chain Maille Workshop (free) for those of you who attended the April's class and will be attending the Oct. 9 class, on Nov. 20, to make a necklace or a second bracelet from the weaves learned in those classes.

AT this Nov. 20 open workshop, you can (1) finish any work not completed on the two projects from those class sessions, or (2) make a necklace or a second bracelet from either of the two weaves.

Or, You may select any chain design Ed has a sample of and make either a bracelet or necklace from those weaves.

This is a great opportunity to learn from Ed not only the many patterns he has
learned but also gather the important information of using the various gauges of wire, jumpring making techniques, and see his new instructional video on jumprings!
The class will be limited to only 7 participants!

Blowing Glass & Making Implossions!

Wow, what a great weekend we had with Toni Lutman. The weather was perfect, cool for August, only a tiny warm with 9 torches going. But DeAnn is used to 110 in Arizona, so she was in heaven I think! Everyone learned to make huge balls of molten glass, blow the ball thinly then crack it! Using many colors and silver glass made the most beautiful colors that shimmered in the light. These pieces of shimmer were then applied to shaped beads. Then Toni demonstrated her Implossions and various patterns of flowers and how to apply the implossions onto a bead. Alot of techniques were learned and students made 4-6 beads each, pretty good for a one day class! Thank you all for your enthusiam and thank you Toni for sharing your talent as a lampwork artist and your enthusiam for the love of glass bead making and your teaching techniques, I know everyone appreciated all the personal attention you gave as you continuous walked around helping everyone! Hope you return soon!
See the rest of the pics by clicking on the Smilebox play button below!