Group Workshops
I LOVE sharing my enthusiasm for glass beadmaking with my students! I regularly teach group workshops at teaching studios all over the country, and soon, internationally!
If you'd like to take a class with me, check my teaching calendar. If I'm not scheduled someplace nearby, please tell your local beadmaking studio or glass facility to contact me! Click here to download a file that includes my current class offerings and info.
Teaching studios: If you're interested in a class that isn't below, I'm always delighted to come up with a class that caters the interests of your students, and what they'd like to learn from me! Please contact me with questions or to schedule a class!
Currently offered classes:
Shaping, Encasing, and Color (2 day class)
This workshop is geared toward intermediate beadmakers, specifically addressing ways to improve their shaping and encasing skills to create elegantly shaped, technically superior beads. Starting with fundamental shapes and emphasizing safety, alignment, and strong technique, Margaret guides students through a logical progression of “classic” bead shapes. The second day of the class includes instruction on different strategies for encasing focal beads, as well as how to deliberately distort base color with clear glass. With each new shape, Margaret will teach a different application for color. Color topics will include: the use of frits; silver leaf, foil, and wire; crushed goldstone; enamels; “neato” reactive colors in the Effetre palette; tricks for developing color in Reichenbach-108 (Raku/ Iris Orange).
Focus on Color (1 day class)
This class is geared toward intermediate beadmakers who wants to learn more about ‘reactive’ colors in soft glass. Topics covered in the class will include: using Italian soft glass colors with Reichenbach and Kugler frits and cane, ‘reactive’ colors in the soft glass palette, using silver leaf and foil to create interesting texture and variation, and other unbelievably cool things to do with glass color.
Next Steps (1 day class)
This class is for intermediate beadmaker wanting to advance their skills in shaping, structure, and texture in glass. We’ll cover sculpting beads with razor blades, making selected off-mandrel additions/applications for mandrel beads, and creating pendant with a bead bail. As always, Margaret will be happy to students address individual roadblocks in technique with students. Bring your questions on shape, color, form, and texture!
(New!) UnGlassy Glass Class (1 day class)
This workshop is geared toward the intermediate beadmaker who wants to learn more about adding texture and organic details to their beadmaking repertoire. Margaret will share her strategies for mixing enamels, glass powders, frits, and metals to create a wide variety of effects: rocky finishes, ceramic-like effects, and rich color!
(New for 2011!) Bugs and Mazes: Sculpting & Enamel Painting (2 day class)
This workshop is for intermediate (or advanced) beadmakers wanting to learn how to add another dimension of detail to their work. Margaret will guide students through the essentials for adding surface detail with vitreous enamel paints, including providing lessons on proper safety and handling of glass powders and enamels. Students will leave class understanding how to properly mix enamel for various applications; how to apply enamel paint to beads; how to correct mistakes; and how to ‘fire’ finished pieces. Margaret will also share with students her techniques for sculpting with razor blades and other shaping tools to create sculpturally detailed, but functional and wearable, beads. An enthusiasm for insects not required, but certainly helpful. Techniques for sculpting, painting, and firing work made without a mandrel (AKA the beadmaker’s security blanket) will also be included in class. Get ready for this fast paced and FUN workshop with MZ!
Testimonials from Students
Previous & current students: please email me your testimonials; I'd love to read and post them!
