Simple Casting for Glass Beadmakers with Annette Shapiro Spring 2025

Cast small pendants, charms and other elements to add to your glass bead jewelry. Using a cuttlefish bone, which is used for birds to sharpen their beaks and claws, you will be able to easily carve simple shapes that you’ll fill with frit, powder and small inclusions, such as silver or copper wire and foils. Everyday tools, such as a sharp pencil, ceramic tools in plastic or wood, and dental tools can be used to carve out your shape.

Bring drawings with you, and you should be able to make several pieces by the end of class. I’ll show you a few ways to allow for wire wrapping or using jump rings to attach a piece to your jewelry.

This is a really fun class and it’s easy to make some stunning pieces that will enhance your jewelry.

What to Expect: Beadmaking requires a little practice at heat control with the torch to create successful beads. Students can anticipate making 2-6 successful pieces in this class, along with some failures, while also refining their skills in translating a specific object (in this case, fruit and fungi!) into glass. 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

We recommend registering for classes early to reserve your spot! We base materials, and teacher needs off of student enrollment. Early registration not only guarantees your spot in class, but also helps to ensure the class will run. Classes with low enrollment may be cancelled within two weeks of the start date of class. Contact our Registrar of Education, Ari Eshoo, at [email protected] if you have questions about the class or would like to arrange a payment plan.

Host or Publisher UrbanGlass