JANUARY 2009 - CALENDAR & WORKSHOP DESCRIPTIONS

HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYONE!

I hope everyone had wonder-filled holidays and that you are not having as hard a time as I am trying to get back to work! I had a few weeks off trying to slow down the momentum of entertaining frenzy by relaxing - that is, doing nothing (!), reading, playing board games with my husband... But then I got all these creative ideas in mind and now have to get the studio back into shape so that we can all start glass fusing again!

I am looking forward to seeing many of you again this year - and getting to know more of you who I met at the craft shows in town! I have planned some fun projects for January and will be taking more classes myself in the near future, so keep in touch and watch for more exciting things to learn this year with me!

Please remember to call at least one day in advance to make reservations for all workshops and open studio times! 307-399-6441

Here is the latest info for January, together with the calendar! Just click on the calendar to make it larger!

Cat

TECHNIQUE WORKSHOPS

Want to learn more about glass fusing? A group setting helps a lot – you can gain new ideas from other students working with you, and their questions might help you answer some of your own! Technique Workshops are offered to students so that they may learn glass fusing techniques and make projects at a drastically reduced cost in a group setting. Workshop topics will vary from month to month, and are often planned with seasonal projects in mind. These workshops are currently limited in size to a maximum of ten students per class. If you have a specific project in mind that you would like to do, and a group of friends who you’d like to invite to join you, you may arrange a private party to take advantage of special group rates. The minimum group size for a private party is four students; the maximum is ten students, unless special arrangements are discussed in advance.

OPEN STUDIO

Have a lot of creative ideas buzzing around in your head and eager to work on them? Open studio times are provided for students who have already taken the fusing basics workshop, or who already have fusing experience and have learned appropriate fusing procedures, glass cutting and safety basics. Students may use the studio workspace, tools and other educational materials to select and produce projects of their own choosing. The instructor is present to answer questions, as well as to provide guidance and offer helpful suggestions so that the student can continue to learn about glass fusing while creating their projects. There is a $10 per visit studio fee which covers materials, supplies and expenses for kiln firing, as well as additional charges for all glass products used. Please make arrangements to come to open studio times at least a day in advance to make sure there will be room for you to work and adequate tools to use.

PRIVATE PARTIES & GROUP WORKSHOPS

We love parties at Martin’s Glass House! Birthdays, graduations, bridal parties or other celebrations – give us a call to put together something special for your special occasion! Or, if you see an advertised workshop that doesn’t fit your schedule, or have an idea for a different workshop of your own, you may pick a different day/time for the same class or another class of your own design. You must have a minimum of four people (maximum of ten) who would like to attend the special workshop or private party. Give us a call to help you make arrangements!


FUSING BASICS
Saturday, January 17
1 PM - 4 PM

Don’t know anything about fusing or cutting glass, or just want to see what it’s all about before you get too involved? This class is for you!

1. 
   This workshop is an introduction to glass fusing basics, and is offered on a monthly basis unless other arrangements are made for a special group class. It is designed for beginners who would like to gain better insight into glass fusing processes and techniques, and would like to attend open studio times to create projects of their own choosing.
   
   Students will learn about and gain experience in:

1. Safety procedures for the glass fusing studio


2. Types of glass used in fusing


3. What happens to glass in the kiln at different temperatures


4. Fundamental techniques for glass cutting


5. Using all glass cutting tools in the studio


6. The process of layering pieces of glass to achieve a finished project

PROJECT: Each student will make one 8" square piece that can be used as a sun catcher, or kiln-formed into a bowl or plate. FEE: $45


FRIT ART AND LACE

Whether you prefer abstract, impressionistic, or realistic art – or even if it doesn’t matter to you, you can find many ways to express the glass fusing visions within you by using glass frit in your projects. Come find out what it’s all about!

This workshop is designed to provide students with practice in three techniques:

1. Making glass frit


2. Turning glass frit into “lace” designs that are first fused, and then applied to a future glass project


3. Using frit as a medium for “painting” designs that will be fused into the glass project

PROJECT: Each student will make one 6” fused frit design to be applied to a future project, as well as making a “painted” project that will be turned into a kiln-formed 6” plate, bowl, or votive candle holder. FEE: $45





MIRRORS AND PHOTO FRAMES

Say, “CHEESE!” Great timing - to give you plenty of time to learn how to make these great projects, make more during Open Studio, and just in time to prepare for lots of Valentine gifts for your loved ones!

This workshop is designed to provide students with practice in several techniques:

1. Cutting glass mirror


2. Making glass strips and squares of equal size


3. Making a pocket in glass to hold a photo


4. Using wheel cutters to make small, fine pieces of glass for decoration


5. Using the ring saw to create a heart-shaped frame (or if you wish, you may make a square frame)


6. Using dots, frit and vitrigraph in design

PROJECTS: TWO!! Students will create a 6”x6” mirror, and design and create a square or heart-shaped frame with a glass pocket to insert a wallet-sized photo. FEE: $45


FRUIT OF THE MONTH CLUB

Something new at Martin’s Glass House – the Fruit of the Month Club! Make a new fruit-shaped dish or plate each month and by the end of the year you will have a full set! Or, double up each month, making two different dishes or plates, and you’ll have your set completed by summer time! Come to open studio and you can make as many as you would like!

PROJECT: January’s suggested project is the KIWI in this workshop (not the watermelon, as shown, but we can work up to that!). You can fuse this delicious fruit into a 5"-6" small dish - and turn it into a spoon rest, if you want, saucer, plate, or bowl… If time permits, you can make two different projects in one night. Come test out your glass “gardening” skills and see how you can create a bountiful collection of glass fruit dishes faster than you can by planting seeds! Think of the possibilities… slices of strawberry, watermelon, orange, papaya, pineapple (does anyone know where pineapple seeds are in the pineapple?), pumpkins… You will be limited only by your imagination! FEE: $40 ($10 each for additional bowls), $6 additional for a spoon rest stand)

Techniques you will use for kiwi:

1. Cutting circles


2. Making glass frit


3. Using a combination of glass scrap and frit to create one of your fusing layers


4. Using dots, stringers, and/or vitrigraph