by lorigreenberg on September 2, 2009
These are the first beads that I made after Melanie Moertel’s class:
I was just messing around with the murrini and fine stringer, as you can see. My experience in the past has been to take a class and then not try the techniques…reasoning that I had the notes if I ever wanted to do the techniques. I have found though, that I never go back to them and proceed to forget anything new that I learned. While classes are fun to take and it’s great to be with everyone, that’s a pretty high price for a weekend of fun. This time I told myself that I wouldn’t let that happen. I would practice the techniques and let them burn into my brain. At least, I hoped that was how it would work.
So, I sat down and made some more beads:
They were fun to make! I probably won’t be practicing the elephant or house beads but most of those techniques are right here on these rounds. Fine stringer and tiny dots.
by lorigreenberg on August 26, 2009
Now that there is a facility available for group classes, the Arizona Society of Glass Beadmakers has been bringing in some top notch teachers from around the world. With small children and limited time, I’ve had to be choosey about the ones that I can take. When I heard that Melanie Moertel was coming to our area I jumped on it. I love her sense of color and design and I was due for a couple days of playing around at the torch with other glassies.
If you know Melanie’s work, what is the first thing you think of? Me? I think of teeny, tiny black stringer work and equally as small decorative dots. Naturally, the first thing we did was get a lesson on stringer. Pulling them, using different sizes and what colors work best where.
First we made an organic shaped bead to practice the dot and line work. It’s interesting to me that the bead I made:
Looks strangely similar to some other beads I’ve made in the past (Jan 2008):
I wonder if this is when she started showing this kind of bead and it got stuck in my head? As I was searching for an image of this bead I found that I had also done a tutorial for how to make this shape and it is pretty much the same as what Melanie taught. Very strange. But anyway…on with the class…
Melanie showed us how to make a complicated murrini, which I LOVED! I can see now why people would go into business making and selling these babies. They are a lot of fun. She also showed us a couple different ways to apply them for different effects. Here is one of mine:
Next up, we got to choose between a face, a fairy, an elephant or houses. The majority wanted houses. If you squint tightly you can see my house on this bead:
That stringer was FINE and it still looks fatter than hers. Then we moved onto the elephant. Melanie’s signature animal:
That one exhausted me. It might not look like it but there was a lot to it. I loved Melanie’s explanation of how she came up with the elephant. While I have to say that I didn’t learn many new techniques (except for how to cut murrini in a genius way) I was inspired. Even if you think you know the techniques someone might have to offer I still recommend taking classes. It’s good to be with friends and to watch someone else work and listen to where they’re coming from.
Thanks Melanie, for a great two days of class!
by lorigreenberg on February 2, 2009
I can’t tell you how many people have asked me over the past few years when I was going to start teaching. I’ve always put it off and directed them to my email list so I could let them know when I took the leap. I’ve resisted all this time because I really just never had the time. And I also didn’t know what I could offer. I know that’s silly. I have a LOT to offer.
Well, the time has come. Actually, February 20th. I will be teaching beginning bead making at Fire and Friends Z Studio in Peoria, AZ. 91st Street and Olive. It’s a quick jaunt if you can get to the 101 fairly easily.
The class is 4 hours and is followed by optional, additional torch time to practice with my supervision. ($10/hour for the additional torch rental time).
Follow the link and sign up. It’s a Friday morning but if you need an evening or weekend, drop me an email and I’ll get something set up. I’m trying to feel out what works for everyone.
