This is a two-day course for those who are new to beadmaking. The aim for the first day is to become familiar with the feel of hot glass and to make the first few beads. The aim for the second day is to build upon the skills learnt and to improve techniques so that the student is comfortable using hot glass and the torch and at least understands the way to make good beads. It is hoped that she or he not only has beads to take away but is also prepared for setting up a torch safely at home.

Day 1

Health and safety, part 1: suitable clothing, eye protection, ventilation.

Getting used to the torch: POOP, lighting the torch, flame control

Heating glass to make drops

Heating glass to make stringers

First beads

Coefficients of expansion, annealing glass and other necessary technical stuff   

Decorating with frit

Decorating with dots

Day 2

Health and safety, part 2: recap of part 1, working surface and environment, gas cylinders and regulators, flashback arrestors

Cleaning yesterday’s beads

Making centred beads

Attention to bead ends

Using stringers

Raking dots and stringers

Surface decoration by indenting