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Somewhat Unorthodox Approach to Scheduling Classes.....
I've found that most of my classes that actually
take place are not the ones I've published on my website,
picking random dates. Most of my classes happen when
an interested student emails me inquiring when I might
be able to teach them. So, instead of setting up a random
schedule of classes, I'm encouraging anyone who wishes
to take a class to please CONTACT
ME so we can pick a date that's convenient for you.
I'm happy to set up a weekend class, week day classes,
or (if you live nearby) a four week class which meets
during the evenings. I am often available to teach almost
as soon as you can get yourself over to the studio,
for all you implusive types. (It seems to be a common
beadmaker characteristic.... ) All you have to do is
email me and request a date. Yeah, I'm that easy.
A Somewhat Unorthodox Approach
to Teaching and Pricing.....
I prefer (and I think you will too) to teach students
one on one. That way, you have my full attention, and
I can tailor the class to your learning style, interest
in specific bead styles & techniques, answer all
your questions and make sure you receive the information
you need to go home, set up a studio that suits your
specific requirements, and start making beads.
I have heard over and over again from students who
have taken other beadmaking classes that they have gotten
so much more out of this arrangement than a class with
6, 8 or 25 (Yes! 25!) other students, and only one teacher
to watch what they're doing, and offer corrections and
advice.It's my belief that demonstrating and explaining
a technique or skill is only half the process; observing
you while YOU attempt it and giving you feedback is
key to learning and retaining the information beyond
our time together in class.
Now, I do have four torches, and I am able to teach
up to four people at a time. If you wish to set up a
class with a friend, sister, cousin or a couple of co-workers
in order to save some money, just let me know. A group
class will cost less ($300 per student) if there are
two or more students in the class.
| Class |
Level |
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Dates
and Times |
Cost
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Beginning Beadmaking
Taught one on one |
B |
2 day |
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$350. |
Special
Techniques Classes :
Please refer to class descriptions
below for cost and email me if you're interested
in taking a class. |
| Other
Classes that can be scheduled as requested:
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Basic Skills
-
Working Past The Wonky Stage |
AB,
I |
1
day |
Please
email to set a date -
9:30am - 4:30pm
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$175.
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| Intermediate Beadmaking
|
I |
1 day |
Please
email to set a date -
9:30am - 4:30pm
|
$175. |
Levels: B = Beginner, AB = Advanced Beginner,
I = Intermediate, A = Advanced
Please be sure to read about Skill
Level Guidelines
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While you're waiting
for your class, take a look at this page, STUDENT
PAGE
which provides feedback, pictures and other fun
stuff from some of my first students and classes! |
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Beginning
Beadmaking
$350 ~ Two day class
This
two day class gives
you both the information
and basic skills necessary
to start making beads
on your own. There is
an emphasis on safety
and knowing your equipment
and materials. You will
learn about the different
types of glass, the
importance of annealing
your beads, how to pull
stringer and simple
decorative cane, make
basic shapes, and use
decorative elements
and tools. You will
make simple but beautiful
beads using dots, frits,
stringer and encasing.
The class is taught
one on one, to ensure
you receive individual
attention.
Setting
up a home studio will
be discussed, and I'm
happy to guide you with
information and resources
to assist you in making
choices that work for
your particular situation.
Cost of class includes
all materials and use
of safety glasses, tools
and equipment.
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Working
Past the Wonky Stage!
Basic Skills Review
$175 ~ One day
class
This
one day class is for
beadmakers who have
been torching for a
while, but are frustrated
at not being able to
make the glass do what
they want! Often people
who are self-taught,
who haven't had a class
for a while, or have
reached a plateau in
their beadmaking realize
that they could benefit
from some basic skill
review, giving a little
boost to their glass
control, satisfaction
and confidence.
We
will cover the basics,
starting with applying
glass evenly, learning
to read the heat in
the bead, and where
to work in the flame.
Stringer control, shaping
and learning to use
gravity and a simple
marver as well as some
of the other tools for
complex shapes will
be demonstrated and
practiced. We will work
on balanced beads with
even ends and nice puckers.
Then we will move on
to other decorative
techniques as requested
by the student. You
will come away with
a much better understanding
of how to make the glass
do what YOU want it
to do!
No more Wonkys!! (Or
at least, far fewer
of them!)
Cost
of class includes all
materials and use of
safety glasses, tools
and equipment.
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Intermediate
Beadmaking
$175 ~ One day class
This
is a one day class for
beadmakers at the intermediate
level. (Please see skill
level guidelines below,
or email me if you're
unsure which class would
be best for you.) It
covers a review of the
basic skills listed
in the "No More
Wonkys!" class
(above), and goes on
to explore the use of
some of the more difficult
decorative elements,
such as complex cane,
foils, and dichro. Advanced
techniques using hand
tools to shape, sculpt
and texture, and color
layering for effects
will be introduced.
Students input and interest
will help guide the
exact techniques and
bead styles covered.
Cost
of class includes all
materials and use of
safety glasses, tools
and equipment.
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Technique
Classes
The
following specialty
technique and materials
classes are available
as requested. Most classes
will be 4 to 5 hours
in length, and can be
scheduled for daytime
or evening. Please email
me for further information
about the class topics
listed below, or with
special requests:
- Florals
- Basic
surface floral
decoration,
including Daisies,
Iris, Wisteria,
Roses, leaves
and vines, as
well as flowers
under glass
(encased florals).
Class cost:
$100.
- HI
HO Silver! -
There
are many exciting
new brands of
glass available
with a high
silver content,
allowing you
to produce amazing
results with
a reduction
flame. Let me
show you how
to get beautiful
metallic details,
or shimmering
opalescent depth
from them. Class
cost: $110.
- Hollow
Beads - Learn
several methods
for making,
and decorating,
hollow beads,
using both the
traditional
method, as well
as the "Puffy
Mandrel"
method. Class
cost: $75.
- Vessels
Ancient and
Modern -Learn
to shape and
decorate beautiful
miniature vessels
to wear. These
are actually
hollow, and
can hold essential
oils, ashes,
prayers, etc.
I'll also show
you how to construct
a stopper using
cork and wire
wrapping details.
$100.
- Elegant
Organics
- Explore the
use of metals,
chemical reaction,
and freeform
shaping to create
glass beads
which mimic
the wonders
of nature. Class
cost: $85.
- All
That JAZZ! -
Learn the secrets
of success for
introducing
amazing sparkle
and glitter
into your beads
using Foils,
Goldstone &
Dichroic glass!
Class cost:
$110.
- Here
Fishy, Fishy,
Fishy...: Sculptural
beadmaking -Thinking
in three dimensions;
Learn to make
fish, fins,
sea creatures
and more using
basic hot glass
sculpting tools
and techniques.
Class cost:
$85.
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Cost
of classes includes
all materials and use
of safety glasses, tools
and equipment.
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Class
Information
My studio is set up with four
torches: three minor bench burners and a mid-range
plus (a minor / mid-range combination). Each
teaching station is equipped with a set of
basic tools and safety glasses for student
use in class. Class size is limited to four
students, but for a group class, my preference
is to teach 2 - 3 people at a time. Seeing
other student's strengths and challenges helps
individuals assess their own progress and
growing edges. With no more than four students
in a class, I can still give each student
the personalized assessment, feedback and
instruction that makes the difference in learning
the beadmaking skills and techniques I teach.
My teaching style is fairly
easy-going, and I have a lively sense of humor.
There is a lot of information to take in,
and many demos of basic skills and techniques.
There will always be time for questions. For
most classes, there will be hand-outs to take
home, with an outline of what we worked on
in class. You will have sufficient torch time
to work on the new skills and techniques that
are introduced in class, with enthusiastic
and supportive supervision and guidance from
me.
A Word About Beginning
Beadmaking
Many students notice that beginning beadmaking
class is exhilarating and exciting, but exhausting.
Yes ! That's exactly how it should be. Learning
to make beads requires a whole new range of
motions, eye/hand coordinations and lots of
new information. By the end of class, you
will be tired, full of ideas, information
and enthusiasm, and ready to go home and set
up your own torch!
Please consider reading one or more of the
following books before your class, to familiarize
yourself with the terms and process of making
glass beads:
(This helps a lot!)
- Making
Glass Beads by Cindy Jenkins
- Passing
the Flame by Corina Tettinger
- More Than
You Wanted To Know About Glass Beadmaking
by Jim Kervin
(more technical than the first two,
but very good for future reference
and study)
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For
additional information about what is involved
in setting up your own studio, and making
beads, take a look at my
Frequently
Asked Questions Page.
| Class
Skill Levels |
Unless
you're completely new to beadmaking,
classes listed for certain skill levels
can be confusing. There is no commonly
agreed upon set of skills that an advanced
beginner, intermediate or advanced beadmaker
should have. What "intermediate"
means to you might not be what I mean
when I say a class is for someone at
the intermediate level. So, I have created
a set of guidelines for what I consider
the various levels of beadmaking.
These are simply guidelines,
(and only my opinion, of course...)
because people develop skills at different
rates, and sometimes one beadmaker will
be very good with stringer control,
and still not be able to get a balanced
bead with even puckers on the ends.
These guidelines are based on the usual
progression of skills that I have observed
in teaching for several years, but not
everyone will fit a skill level exactly.
That's okay - I offer these skill level
definitions simply as guidelines
to help students to choose the most
appropriate classes for the skills they
have already mastered, and what they
still want and need to work on.
About taking
a class that you are not quite ready
for....
Some people think that even if a student
doesn't have the necessary skills to
get the most benefit from a class that
is more advanced than their current
skill level, they could still learn
techniques and information in that class
that they will be able to use later
on.
While that is true,
unfortunately, it isn't safe, and it
isn't fair, to have students without
the necessary skills in an intermediate
or advanced level class with other students.
It isn't safe, because the instructor
will not be prepared to give the less
experienced student the attention and
supervision necessary, and that puts
both that student,
as well as the students sitting nearby,
at a greater risk of getting hurt.
It isn't fair, because
someone without the basic skills or
experience for a class can slow the
class down, taking the instructor's
time and attention away from teaching
the curriculum that other students are
taking the class to learn. (I've also
heard from fellow instructors that it
often makes the teacher frazzled and
frustrated!) If you have questions about
your skill level and a class you want
to take, please email me to discuss
it, before signing up for one of my
classes.
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About
the Instructor:
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I
served as Director of Education for
the International Society of Glass
Beadmakers for four years (2002 -2007),
and served as the coordinator / presenter
for the Instructor's Seminars at the
ISGB Gatherings for a number of years.
During
that time, I drafted the Standards
of Teaching Beginning Beadmaking,
which the ISGB adopted as our approved
Standards. The Standards provide much
useful information for prospective
beadmaking students, to help them
choose an appropriate, safe class
and a knowledgeable instructor.
You can view the Standards on the
ISGB website:
ISGB Standards of Education
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I
have been making beads since March,
1999.
I have been teaching beadmaking since
April, 2001.
I
took my first class with Kate Fowle-Meleney,
and have also taken classes from Leah
Fairbanks and Kim Osibin (team taught),
Pati Walton, Larry Scott, and Sharon
Peters.
My
beads have been published in Lark Books,
"1000 Glass Beads", Jim Kervin's
"More Than You Wanted To Know About
Making Glass Beads", and Kate McKinnon's
"Project Workbook 2003". I
was a juror for Bead Review 2 (2006).
I
have sold my beads at several national
bead shows over the years, including
The Best Bead Show in Tucson, The Bead
Bazaar at The ISGB yearly Gathering,
Bead & Button in Milwaukee, and
Lapidary Journal's BeadFest in Ft. Washington,
PA.
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My
academic background includes degrees
in education and social work. In the
past I have worked in retail sales,
run several small crafting businesses
out of my home, helped start a county
hospice, developed and run children's
summer programs, and written / performed
in murder mysteries for amateur theatre.
I also love to sew and quilt, and take
up random new hobbies on a regular basis,
especially if they involve color, shiny
objects, and acquiring new tools and
interesting materials... (Magpie syndrome)
I
live and teach in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
I have a husband, two adult daughters,
some adorable grandkids, and a couple
of rascally animals. (Way too much of
) My spare time is spent on the computer,
designing jewelry, sewing (or stockpiling
fabric for my stash!) or with my family.
I have a secret addiction to watching
"Law and Order", "America's
Next Top Model", "Survivor",
and "Project Runway". Obviously,
Beadmaking is just not exciting enough
by itself.
Okay,
so now it's not much of a secret anymore...
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Registration
and Payment
The first step in registering for
a class is done by emailing me with the class
/ dates you are interested in. Email
is often the fastest way to reach me, as I
don't answer the phone when I am teaching,
but I do check email (at least!) twice a day.
I will then give you the full details on deposits,
payment and directions in my responding emails.
If you don't hear back from me within 48 hours,
I may be out of town, but I promise to get
back to you when I return.
At this time, I do not require
a deposit on classes; You can pay me when
you get here. (Cash or personal check preferred.)
The bottom line is: Sometimes life happens,
and for very good reasons, one of us has to
cancel or reschedule. In eight years of teaching,
this has happened only a handful of times.
I am flexible and understanding. However,
if you are travelling
here by plane (or other non-refundable transportation),
please let me know that when you register
for a class, so that I can get it down on
my calendar, and be sure to hold that date
for you.
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| Many
of my students travel here from out
of the area to take a class, and in
the past I have offered my guest room
as accomodations. For the time being,
my guest room is "out of commission"
(filled with adult daughters who just
keep coming back to the nest!), so I
am not able to offer that to my students
right now. I can, however, give you
information regarding where to stay
in this area. Here are some nearby accomodations
- clean, safe, reasonably priced - that
I can recommend:
La
Quinta Inn
192 Newtown Rd.
Virginia Beach, VA 23462-2401
Phone: (757) 497-6620 |
Courtyard
by Marriott
5700 Greenwich Road
Virginia Beach, Virginia 23462
Phone: (757) 490-2002
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Holiday Inn
5655 Greenwich Rd,
Virginia Beach, VA 23462
(757) 473-0517
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Hampton Inn
5793 Greenwich Road
Virginia Beach, VA 23462
(757) 490-9800
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| All
of these hotels are in the same general
area, just off the interstate within
a ten minute drive from my house. They
are not near the oceanfront, which is
another 15 minute drive from here.Just
so you know - accomodations near the
oceanfront - which can be lovely and
scenic - will either cost significantly
more, or be less appealing, and sometimes
even shabby or dirty. This is a tourist
town, and I try to avoid trying to drive
near the oceanfront during the summer
months, as traffic and parking can be
a nightmare. Okay, okay.... so I'm a
curmudgeon.
Just don't say I didn't warn you. (And
don't forget your sunscreen, if you
plan to visit the beach!) |
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