2023 Gathering Workshops

All Levels

2 Day Workshop

Hot Shops Art Center

Tuesday & Wednesday 9-5

$675 Members $750 Non Members

 We explore the beauty and incredible techniques as they are: Lumina Style for beads and different shapes.

• Gold and Silver fuming tool (Fine Silver 999,9 and Gold 24 K Nuggets or wire)
• Diamond and regular glass shears
• Small graphite reamer
• Tweezers mid size
• Marble molds around 1,5 - 3,5 cm  
• Blow Hose with 10 mm adapter

Intermediate

Full Day Workshop 9-5

Hot Shops Art Center

Tuesday October 24, 2023

$350 Members $395 Non Members

 In the first part of class, you will learn how to make a half implosion pendant using different colors of glass.

In the second part of class, you will learn how to make a flower and then how to make it into a double implosion.  There will be many techniques taught in this class

  Glasses, 2 graphite paddles,  Marble mold, Lock hemostat, scalpel or knife, flower frog  

 2 - 3/16" stainless steel  mandrels glass and bail pendant 

Intermediate

Full Day Workshop 9-5

Hot Shops Art Center

Tuesday October 24, 2023

$350 Members $395 Non Members

You will learn how to work with scrap glass from bottles. We will be focusing on how to safely cut bottles, determine if one bottle is compatible with another one and how to flamework this exciting and easily acquired recycled material. Come prepared to break some glass, cut some glass and melt some glass. (Safety glasses required)

 We will share specialty tools to cut the bottles, for class use. 

2 sets of 8" straight hemostats, mashers, At least ONE CYLINDER SHAPED BOTTLE.  WINE BOTTLES ARE PERFECT!...Bottles must be cleaned and all labels removed. More than one bottle is welcome. Clear safety glasses if you don't wear glasses.  At least 20 mandrels, a method to stand up your mandrels, all of the normal tools, such as Didyniums, tweezers, marvers, knock-off bucket, knife ... etc…Wire holding tool optional.  I will have some for purchase in class.

Booklet, wire for head pins and other materials that are used up during class.  

All Levels

Full Day Workshop 9-5

Hot Shops Art Center

Tuesday October 24, 2023

$350 Members $395 Non Members

 We will go over working with borosilicate glass tubing techniques to create hollow forms. By using scientific glassblowing techniques students will be able to seal things inside of things. Hollow chain making will also be covered.

 Didymium glasses, tungsten carbide scoring knife, tweezers, and butter knife

Intermediate

Full Day Workshop 9-5

Hot Shops Art Center

Tuesday October 24, 2023

$350 Members $395 Non Members

Creative Ways to Use Your Extra Stringers & Shorts.  Does anyone else have too many collected stringers, twisties and little short pieces of glass that you'd love to use in fun, new ways?  I've designed some of my favorite beads because I'm that way.  When my stringer jars start overflowing,I start designing cool ways to use them up. (Does anyone else hate wasting glass?)  So join me and learn some of my fun & creative ways to use all your leftovers and make them into something magical.  We'll focus on color, patterns, heat control, new tips and tricks and we might have enough time to mix up some new colors of glass.  You'll be part mad scientist, creative artist and even a bit frugal too.  Bring your shorts, stringers and a few tools. You're going to learn creative new ways to use your glass bits- so much fun!

 I will bring spare tools to share, extra glass for those who don't have quite enough with them, and a holder per student for their materials. 

 All your leftover stringers, twisties, short pieces of rods and glass you aren't sure what to do with.  Only 104 coe.  Bring your didys, mashers, pliers or something for pulling, shears or scissors if you have them, a sharp edge like a razor, knife, or a brass stump shaper,  concave convex pliers if you have them and a pokey tool.  I'll bring a few extras to share. -  If you have favorite tools that you really love, bring them.  We'll find a way to use them. And of course be ready for an adventure. 

Intermediate

Full Day Workshop 9-5

Hot Shops Art Center

Wednesday October 25, 2023

$350 Members $395 Non Members

The Vertebrae Bead workshop will focus on the components and skills required to successfully complete two and three disk beads, as well as perfecting your skills that can be applied to many other forms. We will start with basic disk skills needed, whether making a small disk on a 1/16” mandrel or large pendant disks, up to 30mm, or more, on 1/4” mandrels. Students will learn to make multiple consistent same size beads, disks and donut shapes, on a mandrel. We will learn to pull accurate and consistent 2-3mm 18” stringers. We will experiment with several ways to apply a stringer wrap to the disks to define the shape. After working on heat control, reading the negative spaces to achieve a symmetrical bead and learning how to bend and shape the disks without breaking the bead release.  Next we will move on to three or more disks. .

 1/16”, 3/32” & 1/4” tungsten picks. 

All Levels

Full Day Workshop 9-5

Hot Shops Art Center

Wednesday October 25, 2023

$350 Members $395 Non Members

If you have made glass beads in the flame of a torch and want to learn more, this class is for you!  In this class you’ll learn a lot of techniques for design and how to use a reduction flame and striking techniques using a dual fuel torch and COE 104 Double Helix silver glass.  Demonstrations, verbal instructions and written directions by the instructor will lead you through each technique and project step by step.  Each person will then have their own torch time to make their own. Techniques covered in class for glass embellishments include multi colored layered glass murrini, blown glass shards, and complex stringers.  Next we’ll use these glass embellishments to decorate our hollow glass blown bubble beads. At the end of class a demonstration of how to assemble your glass beads on a leather cord necklace will be shown. All materials needed are provided in class and in the required materials kit.

Marver pad, needle nose pliers, glass nippers, arm rest, mandrels, -, rod rests, glass, extra glass rods  

Flame working didymium eye protection, favorite lampworking tools, water bottle, dress in layers for comfort, cotton clothing, long hair ties if necessary. 

Each kit includes non flammable tongs, blow pipe, poker tool, handouts, leather cord to make a hollow beaded necklace with clasp. 

Intermediate

Full Day Workshop 9-5

Hot Shops Art Center

Wednesday October 25, 2023

$350 Members $395 Non Members

In this class we will focus on Abstract Landscapes, meaning each bead will have features of the landscape exaggerated in some way.  The wave on our beach will be the focus of the bead, the critters in the tide pool will be out of proportion to the rest of the scene.  In our night sky we might focus on the moon, a constellation, or a planet. 

We will start with an abstract beach scene. We will use classic ocean colors, dichroic to give some sparkle and explore ways to add depth to the water with layers of glass. We will use silvered ivory stringer or Avorio Lapis Dark to blur the edges between land and sea and how to make different sized waves. On the beach we will explore adding murrini for tidepool creatures, shaping shells and water droplets for balance. We will also discuss color variations on the theme. Students will have time to make 2-3 beads. If time allows, we can also learn how to pull a basic shell murrini and how to make a starfish. 

*Skills learned: pulling and applying stringers, layering glass colors, working with dichroic glass, shaping beads, spot heating glass to manipulate glass in one part of a bead without distorting the shape of the bead, working with larger beads, using murrini. 

The second set of beads will be a night scene bead.  We will explore the ways to make the night sky, by adding moons, planets and stars using silver foil, silver wire, cubic zirconia, and stringers of glass.  Students will have the opportunity to make a night sky bead with both a desert and a beach, by altering what colors they use on the bottom half of the bead.  We will discuss how to hint at the landscape with colors rather than drawing every detail. and a discussion on expanding the color palette to make different scenes.  

*skills learned color mixing, masking, working with CZs, silver wire and silver foil.

 Written instructions, some alternative colors, I will have some basic tools available  

 Didymium glasses, marver, tweezers, large mashers, sharp edged too like a scalpel, butter knife or brass stump shaper.  Optional tools:  Osibin lentil shaper, shorts holder. 

 Dichroic glass, assorted murrini, silver wire, cubic zirconia, silver foil, Reichenbach deep black stringer, stringers of blending colors. 

Intermediate

Full Day Workshop 9-5

Hot Shops Art Center

Wednesday October 25, 2023

$350 Members $395 Non Members

You will learn how to connect two individual beads into a singular complex focal bead through heat control and glass sculpture. We'll discuss and I'll demonstrate not only the "how" but also

why". New sculpture and heat control tricks will create some really fun connected beads. I love that you can see some air between them! Once you learn these techniques, you'll be able to think up and make so many more unique combinations. And of course I'll bring lots of different samples and styles to whet your imagination for your future beads.

 I'll bring some special glass for each student and have a few extra/convex pliers, so students don't need to go buy them.   

 Please bring your favorite marver, tweezers or needle nose pliers, pokey tool, razor blade or brass stump shapers or equivalent tool that will make a narrow wedge indent (like on a pumpkin). Don't forget your didys and if you have a little spare bubble wrap or equivalent, that will help get your new beads home safely. 

ALL Levels 

Half Day Workshop 9-12

Marriott Hotel

Wednesday October 25, 2023

$95 Members $125 Non Members

 Whether you're a professional beadmaker or a hobbyist, or maybe thinking about making the move to full-time, an artist sometimes needs to assess their work and goals and get some objective input. Building from the ideas in Stephanie's presentation, we’ll gather and look at each other’s body of work. We’ll hear about the ins and outs of different bead businesses. Stephanie will lead a critique and advice session with respect and kindness and attention given to the schedule, life-style and goals of each participant. Each beadmaker will leave with some ideas about how to tighten up their body of work, sharpen their focus and live a happier beadmaking life. 

A good breadth of samples of your work or your computer with a 10-12 images of your work 

ALL Levels 

Half Day Workshop 1-4

Marriott Hotel

Wednesday October 25, 2023

$95 Members $125 Non Members

Join us for an exciting half-day class that explores the art of making and installing mini mosaics for graffiti! Whether you're a beginner or an experienced artist looking to explore a new medium, this course is designed to provide you with the fundamental knowledge and hands-on experience necessary to create stunning mosaic pieces that can be installed in public spaces. By the end of the half-day class, you will have gained a solid foundation in the art of making and installing mini mosaics for guerrilla mosaics. You will leave the course with your own completed mini mosaic artwork, ready to be integrated into urban spaces and contribute to the vibrant world of graffiti art. Note: All necessary materials and tools will be provided during the class. Participants are encouraged to bring their own design ideas and sketches for reference, as well as any beads or cabochons (or failures) for incorporation into your or collaborators mosaics.

  Mosaic nippers and glass cutting tools  

Safety glasses (or glasses), dust mask for mixing grout 

 Scrap stained glass, No Days Mosaic Mesh, exterior grade thinset, colorant, grout, gloves 

ALL Levels 

Half Day Workshop 1-4

Marriott Hotel

Wednesday October 25, 2023

$95 Members $125 Non Members

Make a fun and fabulous bracelet - a "party on your wrist". Learn the simple knotting technique (based on macrame) and add all sorts of beads as you go - you can even work in your own handmade ones. Stephanie will bring a rainbow of kit colors, and students' bracelets all look different from one another. 

Stephanie has been teaching this class for over 25 years, and it's always a hit.

 I'll provide bead boards, T-pins and tapestry needles   

Sewing scissors 

 100+ assorted beads, button, floss and waxed linen, instruction booklet 

Intermediate

Unlimited Access

ISGBeducation.org

Launches Wednesday October 25, 2023

$100 Members $125 Non Members

 Please join me for the special ONLINE portion of the ISGB 2023 gathering.

“Have you lost your marbles?”  I have,  LET’S MAKE MORE!

In this course you will learn how to make many styles of marbles, including the “how did you get that flower inside” ie, the compression flower.  We will start with making a simple clear marble.  Clear marbles are a great place to start, because you can SEE everything clearly! And a really cool science fact is that when you look through a clear marble, the object appears upside down. (Cool lens trick for us nerds).  Next, we will be adding color on the outside of the marble, then making a twisted marble, and fancy twist marble, a ‘frog’ marble and a flower compression marble.

•  Assorted colors of glass (I am using COE 104 during this class, but the same techniques work with borosilicate)
• Large diameter clear in 10 and 13mm
• Small diameter Clear , 2mm, 3mm, 4mm (regular size is 6mm)  or whatever you have in stock.
• Goldstone chunks (any color) Note:  if you are working in borosilicate, goldstone is not compatible.

•  Graphite Marble Mold.  (get one with multiple sizes. ½” and larger is good)  
• Fiber board marble holder
• ⅛” stainless steel punties: 
• Metal florist frog
• Table graphite marver pad
• Hand held graphite marver
• Small knife
• Tweezers
• Tungsten tweezers
• Mashers
• And, all of your favorite flameworking tools.