Buckle up because today I’m taking you for a little ride.
Last Saturday was my first hosting of open torch at Fire & Friends Z Studio in Peoria, AZ. I’m up in Cave Creek and that sounds like a million miles away at 91st Avenue. But I’m here to tell those of you in the Phoenix valley, if you can get to the 101 I guarantee that you will be there FAST. It’s not as far as it may sound. That means it’s do-able for you to join me at the next open torch. But anyway, the tour…
You first walk in and this is what you see if you look right. Lounging reception area and retail gallery space:
Look left and you see a classroom. It’s waiting for you to book your own class to teach or a group event!
See that door opening at the right of the picture? We’re going to walk through there next. And this is what you will find…more classroom space and every single kind of tool you can even imagine for jewelry working. PMC. Wire. Polymer Clay. Etc.:
This place is so huge and stocked that there can be many events going on at one time. What would YOU like to see taught, or teach yourself here? They can host anything. Straight through that back wall opening is the lampworking area and silversmithing space. But we’re not going there yet. Directly to the right of this classroom is a stained glass and fusing place:
Another beautiful spacious room, yes? If you haven’t had enough, I have to show you what lines the countertops to the right in this room. I couldn’t fit it all in the photo but check out all these kilns for use!
And grinders and flat lap stuff galore (there’s even more than I’m showing):
I can’t wait to get my hands on some of that stuff! Then last, the lampworking room at the back. I’m told they even have the stuff for a full ceramics/pottery set up. But here’s my turf:
Is it 8 torches? I think there’s capability for more. Here’s three of our torchers last Saturday. (More about what I do there in tomorrow’s post).
And below is a picture of the metalsmithing area:
There’s also a big old band saw back there I want to try out too.
Is this place awesome or what? Huge. Beautifully decorated. And everything you would ever need for multiple people to have a creative fiesta. I’ll be there again in February on Valentines Day. Sign up now!
{ 2 trackbacks }
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Holy moly! I know I have FlameTree Glass and Beads by Design here, but looking at that makes me want to move to Arizona just to regularly visit that studio!
Wow! Are those pictures of what heaven looks like? I think maybe so. Makes me wish I was closer to AZ.
Good grief! And WOW! And OMG! I think I’ve just run my blood pressure up! I want to move in and live there. I agree with Debi – this must be what heaven looks like!
I can’t remember the magazine, but you should do an article for their “I could just live here!” about this! No self-respecting beader/fuser/lampworker/jewelry maker could resist this place!
And here I am stuck in Texas. (boo hoo!)
“LEARNING FROM LORI” was GREAT! We were so lucky to get to learn some of her “secret techniques”…….and then just to get to sit there together laughing and creating FOR HOURS! HOW FUN! Who knows what secrets she will reveal in our next time together. Thanks LORI!
Hi! I was able to spend nearly a day at this fabulous studio on a special invitation from Marcia. Met her friend Beth who is so knowledgable about bead making. I said that “I had died and gone to heaven”. Very special people and a very special place.