Forging Away Workshop Openings ...

Hi guys, I wanted to tell you a little more about this workshop, which I think is like getting many workshops for the price of one!  You'll learn ...

• the Painting with Fire technique of enameling ... there's nothing cooler than that because it's so fast, affordable, easy and safe. We'll enamel most of the pieces we'll be using in our bracelet, but you can bring special beads of your own with holes that can accommodate 14-gauge wire.
  
• how to forge round copper beads into square or rectangular shapes during the enameling process.
• how to apply millefiori, lump enamel, and cat whiskers to a copper disc while the piece is on the mandrel.  Take a look at this post for how we'll do that.
• how to make this cool link, which you can use as your focal instead of the millefiori disc, if you'd like.
• to use some of these materials to make a bracelet, and
• how to make an S-clasp!

The dedication page of my book showing the bracelet with the link option!

The millefiori focal as an option.

Examples of forged beads

 I'll be offering this workshop at:

Bead Fest Philadelphia, Saturday, August 20 from 8:30 to 4 p.m., Workshop #2633

Art and Soul, Portland, Tuesday, September 27 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Hope to see you there!

Bead Fest, Philadelphia, August, 2011

Oh my goodness ... I'm going to get to meet a lot of you in person ... because I know a lot of you go to Bead Fest in August ... I've seen the photos as proof!  Even if you're not in my awesome workshop,  "Forging the Way ... to a new direction in torch-fired enamel jewelry," I hope to see you on the bead floor!  If you decide to take the workshop, not only will you learn the Painting with Fire Technique, but we'll forge beads into flattened and square shapes during the enameling process.  We'll use those beads, plus some others we'll enamel earlier in the day, to make a bangle bracelet.  Learn to make an S-clasp and also some really neat links, courtesy of some heat.

Forging the Way ... to a new direction in torch-fired enamel

Forging the Way (detail)

I hope some of you can break away from your busy schedule for some fun and learning at Bead Fest Philadelphia on August 20, 2011 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. for a flame-inspired creative jewelry project~ 

I was hoping to teach at Bead and Button this year and, in fact, made the first cut ... but not the second.  So, we'll have to try again next year for you Mid-Westerners!