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Lots of New workshop offerings in our sunny light-filled studio surrounded by the sea on Lighthouse Point, Scituate Harbor!
- Glass Beadmaking - Glass Make-A-Knob -Felting
- Metalsmithing - Sea Glass & Tumble Stone - Kid’s Classes
If you would like to gather a group of friends for a fun time contact Marj to arrange a special date!
Private lessons available. Great Gift Idea - purchase a gift certificate!
Glass Beadmaking Workshops
Learn how to make Venetian Glass Beads with internationally recognized glass artist Marj Bates in her light filled seaside studio on Lighthouse Point, Scituate Harbor. Marj has been teaching the ancient art of glass beadmaking known as lampwork since the mid nineties.
Learn how to melt Venetian glass rods and various techniques of bead embellishment such as feathering, raking, adding dots, silver leaf and enameling. You will see many demonstrations and you will experience lots of hands-on torch time. Marj will discuss studio set ups and the importance of annealing all glasswork. Marj also has a few tips about life as an entrepreneur! Marj has given many glass beadmaking students the guidance to set up their own studios safely.
Class is limited to 6 students. Each student has his/her own work station complete with torch. The cost of all materials is included in class fee. All classes begin at 9:30 promptly and end at 4:30. May I suggest you dress in layers with close fitting cotton clothing and plan to tie back long hair, all the common sense stuff to remember when working with a very hot torch flame. Bring a bag lunch, snack or drink although often students are so hypnotized by the flame and process they do not want to take a break! Marj enjoys a little break though and this is a good time to ask questions.
March 31, 2012 Saturday 9:30 - 4:30
April 14, 2012 Saturday 9:30 - 4:30
ALSO offering...
A 2 day intensive workshop
builds a great foundation for students
to build upon.
May 19 & 20, 2012 Sat & Sun 9:30 - 4:30
$295
Learn how to make Glass Knobs
Unable to find cool glass knobs for her kitchen back in 1995 Marj decided to design a tool herself to do the job. This adventure opened a new market to Marj. MAKE-A-KNOB kit products have been selling ever since.
Using the ancient technique of melting glass known as lampwork students will melt and shape hot glass using MAKE-A-KNOB tools. We will learn how to add decorations to glass knobs. Marj will demo the techniques used to make her award winning glass designs.
Make-A-Knob kits available to students for purchase.
Some Glass Beadmaking experience is a prerequisite to this class.
March 31, 2012 Saturday 9:30 - 4:30
April 14, 2012 Saturday 9:30 - 4:30
$175.
ALSO offering ...
A 2 day intensive workshop
builds a great foundation for students
to build upon.
May 19 & 20, 2012 Sat & Sun 9:30 - 4:30
$295
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Metalsmithing Workshops
One can go only so far in the biz of making jewelry if one does not possess the skill to solder joints.
Students will learn how to cut silver, file, solder, and polish finished pieces. You will no longer have the need to purchase store bought findings such as ear wires and clasps for necklaces and bracelets. This will put you a step above other jewelry makers. Your creations will begin to take on a look of their own! Sales will soar!
A few tools and material will be necessary. Marj has lots of tools to share. Students may need to purchase a couple tools and silver. Marj will be pleased to order materials and sell to students at a discounted price. Students attending ongoing classes may coordinate with Marj via email to arrange purchase of any tools and materials necessary. With all our tools and materials available for our first class we will jump right in and begin our first group project. Subsequent weeks we will have another group project and then students will begin working independently on a design of their own. Yes, Marj is happy to help students through the design and fabrication process individually. For this reason class is limited to 6 students.
My most popular class and my personal favorite is the class that meets once a week around 5-6 pm We gather at the end of a busy day and while working together in a laid back environment we inspire one another. Funny how productive you can be while having fun. Some very cool designs emerge from these classes. The time posted is flexible. After we all gather I am amenable to tweaking the time of classes to suit the needs of my students.
The cost of this class is $200. for 8 weeks. Class time is 2 - 2 1/2 hours.
Ongoing - Start any Tuesday!
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Silver Bangle Bracelet Workshop
May 5, 2012 time 9:30 - 3:30
June 9,2012 9:30 - 3:30
In this one day workshop we will make a silver bangle bracelet. This process will include all the basic skills needed for a foundation to metalsmithing. Tools are provided.
Class meets Saturday 9:30 -3:30 $85. plus cost of silver.
Sea Glass and Tumble Stones Workshops
Learn how to drill your favorite cherished pieces of sea glass and tumbled beach stones. Make earrings, necklace, bracelets and rings. Your choice!
After drilling lessons we will learn how to connect your designs with Cold Connections. We will explore different techniques using silver wire or silver tube. Sea glass, tumbled stones as well as other found objects make unique jewelry designs using riveting techniques. I will have different silver materials for you to purchase.
We can also learn a basic wire wrapping technique which may aid you in the making of your designs. We will together create your design and get right to work.
Materials kits will be supplied. Kits include samples of silver, leather cord, drill bits, safety glasses, and respirators. Please allot approximately $35.* for the cost of this kit .
Please bring:
Your lunch
All your ideas and pictures
All your treasures - sea glass, stones, shells etc
Your favorite tools
A rotary tool if you have one. I also offer inexpensive rotary tools for students to purchase
May 5, 2012
June 9,2012
Class meets Saturday 9:30 - 3:30
Cost: $85. plus materials kit
* The cost of silver is rising daily. The materials kit is based on todays $33. ounce silver market.
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March 24 2012 - Felt Making with Silk and Wool
Learn how to create a beautiful 'felted' scarf. We will laminate a light and airy piece of silk fabricwith a light layer of colorful and fluffy wool.
By creatively layering wool fibers onto the hand dyed (by me!) silk scarf we will learn how to 'felt' the wool into the silk. This is a magical process!
The possibilities are endless! Using this process of combining different materials creates a unique and interesting texture. Students will leave class with a finished one of a kind scarf.
To see some of Marj's scarves check out http://www.etsy.com/shop/wickedcoolscarves
All materials are provided with a material fee of about 30. Class meets Saturday from 9:30 - 2:30
Cost 95.* plus material list ( approx 30.)
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Kid's Art & Yoga Camp!
Marj has opened up her studio for an Art & Yoga Camp! Last week we had 7 children here and we ALL had a blast! We began with an hour yoga practice with my friend and yoga teacher Kathleen Picardi. Kathleen is a certified Children's Yoga Instructor. Kathleen and the yoga practice she led held the attention of the kids for about an hour! Stunning if you ask me!
After the yoga practice we all put together a NEW craft. We made Bead Buddy Pendants as pictured here. Again the kids loved this craft!
It is our goal to continue to introduce new, excitng and thoughtful projects. We aren't interested in the ubiquitous popsicle stick and glitter type crafts. Marj has a list of crafts proven to allow children to use their imagination. To name a few of these projects - print making (make stamps first then make prints with these stamps.) Intro to birds - making hanging outdoor birdseed biscuits, and/or backyard bird feeder.
Yoga - The Yoga we practice is dynamic, bursting with imaginary animals and stories which capture the children, who in their delight have no clue how healthy and relaxed they are becoming. This is creative movement, and contains all the essential ingredients of yoga-breath awareness, mind-body fitness, and the opportunity to experience the "self-within".
Our next adventure is the day before Mother's Day. We keep this in mind as we plan our craft project. wink wink.
We plan to meet 10-1. We will start with yoga and move on to our craft.
Cost of 3 hour class per chil is $45
Maximum number of students is 8.
Click here to view Workshop Pictures!