Intro to Beadmaking: Button Beads With Fran Janal

In this two day workshop, students will learn the basics of making glass buttons. Day one will be focused on getting comfortable in the flame shop manipulating the glass while day two will be focused on cleaning, cold working and sewing on our buttons with button holes to match! Students are encouraged to bring in clothes to alter! We will finish off day two taking our lessons from sewing back into the flame shop to make more buttons!

What to Expect:Flameworking requires a little practice at heat control with the torch to create successful objects. Students can anticipate making many buttons of varying sizes, shapes, and levels of success. Buttons can take as few as 2 minutes to make but can easily be made more complicated based on the design. Topics covered will include making shank buttons on the mandrel, working on double mandrels to make two hole buttons, and various color applications. The key to success will be repetition.  After demonstrations students will have time on the torch as well as with needle and thread to hone their skills.   Read more about how to prepare for class on our Registration Info page.  

While beadmaking, participants primarily engage in seated activities such as working with glass rods and torches. The environment can be bright and loud at times. Handling glass and tools may require a certain level of dexterity. To learn more about accessibility the Accessibility page on our website.

Eligibility: No previous experience required. Open to ages 12 and up.

Pick-up: The glass needs to cool down overnight then be carefully removed from the mandrels, so the students will have to return to UrbanGlass once notified to pick up their work. 

This is an in-person class taking place on-site at UrbanGlass. Health and safety guidelines will be emailed to you upon registration. 

Host or Publisher UrbanGlass