When you check the prices, at first glance it looks like my classes are expensive. But, I want you to get your money's worth, so here's why my classes are different:
1. In a 3 hour Novice class you will make about a dozen beads, and they will be beads you will be proud of..... round, with nice clean holes with no sharp edges, sparkly and beautiful.
2. You will be using top-of-the-line imported Italian glass and special tools, and your beads will be kiln-annealed and cleaned for you.
3. I take exception to the statement "I don't care if it's not a real bead, I just want to play and see what happens." You don't learn anything that way, and it is a waste of my time and your money.
4. I anneal your beads in the kiln. The annealing process relieves the stress in the glass, so your beads will not crack or suddenly break.
5. I clean the bead holes for you with a diamond tool, so you have bright, sparkly beads.
6. You learn the basics of the ergonomics of beadmaking, how to work safely, heat control, and gravity. You will experience the magic of hot glass!
** Please note: all the classes require non-refundable deposits. Why are they necessary?
To cover the time and cost of setting up the studio or workroom for you and preparing the glass and other materials.
Torch time rental is a popular activity here. When someone doesn't show up for a scheduled class, it means someone else who had asked to book torch time has had to wait.
If I have to wait for you and you don't show up or show up late, it creates a loss of time and money for me because I could have been producing my own work or helping someone else with theirs. If you are late, please do not expect me to spend the extra time with you. Classes start and end on time.
To send me an email, just click on the title of the class you are interested in, and an email window will open. Please indicate your class preference and times you would be available, as well as any backgound information that would help me to tailor the class to your needs.
Includes: Italian glass rods, prepared mandrels, use of oxygen-propane torch (Nortel Minor BenchBurner), use of tools and the extras as described below.
Your beads are kiln-annealed. You can pick them up the next day, or I can mail them to you.
The beadholes are cleaned for you too, so you have nice sparkly beads!
In 3 hours you will make about a dozen beads. The first 6 are spacers, and they will be round. The rest will be decorated, and you will learn how to make dots, textures, and shapes.
You will learn a little bit about ergonomics, having a conversation with the glass, heat control, gravity, and that there is such a thing as intense fun!
Cost: $125 + 5% GST (Total $ 131.25)
Non-refundable deposit of $50 is required upon class confirmation.
You can rent torch time after the class.
For individual pricing, see Private Classes
There are some examples below, of beads made in Novice and Beginner classes
For those who have taken an introductory class elsewhere, who have the basics but want to learn more. You will use a Nortel Minor Bench Burner, and your beads will be kiln-annealed. Glass, prepared mandrels and tools provided.
Perfect your:
Twisties, latticino and reticello
Hollow Beads
Decorating techniques
Stringer techniques
Hearts, Bi-cones, Pressed Beads and more
There are some examples below, of beads made in Novice and Beginner classes.
Cost: $ 50/hr + 5% GST, minimum 3 hours
Non-refundable deposit of $50 required upon confirmation of date/time
SLIDESHOWS!
These are on the next few pages, starting with The Flame. The links are at the top of this page, underneath the bead image. Enjoy!
This class is for people who have taken a class or classes elsewhere, and are still having some difficulties. The cause may be technical or physical, or a bit of both.
Any problems, bad techniques or bad habits are easily identified, and by the time you leave you will have a whole new outlook, new techniques to practise, and you will have fallen in love with hot glass all over again!
A special class for those who are interested in setting up their own lampworking studio. All types of torches, gases and setups are covered, as well as the costs, initial and ongoing. Notes and resources are provided. Group or individual.
Time and Cost: 1 Hour $ 75 + GST
Non-refundable deposit of $25 required on confirmation of date/time.
Includes the use of torch, mandrels, tools and the cost of annealing
Not allowed:
1. Use of scrap glass (dangerous to other workers) or materials such as baking soda (affects other workers' beads). Please ask first about frits or powders that you bring, or techniques that you want to use that are outside the realm of simple beadmaking.
2. Making crackle beads or chucking bad beads hot on the mandrel into the water jars. This fatigues the stainless steel and the mandrels break shortly thereafter, usually when the next person is in the middle of a complex bead.
Reduction or fuming can only be done when there is no one else renting torch time. The extra fuel required for these processes is an additional charge of $20 on top of the torch rental time. It is very easy to use a 20-lb tank of propane in one session when reducing, and fuming requires the wearing of a protective mask to avoid the highly-toxic particles of arsenic, pure silver etc that will be floating around.
Cost: $ 15 per hour + 5% GST + 7% PST
Minimum: 2 hours
Includes torch, tools and annealing
Reduced cost for purchasing blocks of time:
6 hours - $85 + taxes (save $5)
10 hours - $130 + taxes (save $20)
Additional:
1. Propane cost for use in reduction or fuming:
$20
2. Use of 1/8" mandrels for making earrings or for use in the smaller presses: $10 or buy or bring your own.
3. If the studio's mandrels are used, your beads must be picked up the following day. Please allow yourself time to remove your beads from the mandrels and re-dip the mandrels for the next person. Everyone appreciates it! :)
To cover the time and cost of setting up the studio or workroom for you and preparing the glass and other materials.
