Turn hot glass into cool stuff!
3333 Lake Shore Rd.
Buffalo, NY 14219
716-825-3333
Mini Class in Glass Beadmaking (Introduction)
or DIY Glass Icicles Mini Class
Learn how to make your own beautiful glass beads and enter the mystical and ancient world of "lampworking." This 3-hour clinic will introduce you to the art of safely flameworking soft glass. By the end of this session, you should have enough skill to work at the torch independently.You will learn to melt glass rods, wrap molten glass around thin steel rods (mandrels), and create basic beads and explore various surface decorations. You will produce 3-6 colorful treasures that you can turn into jewelry on your own.
Age: 15 years thru adult, younger students considered case-by-case
If under 18 years old, must have parent's written approval
Prerequisites: none
Price: $75
When 2-4 people sign up together, each receives a $10 studio credit that can be used
on glass, rental time, or items for sale
Class size: maximum of 4
Duration: 3 hours, plus 1 hour of free studio time within 30 days to practice your skills
Click here to review our calendar
Click here to register for How to Make Glass Beads
How to Make Glass Beads (3-hour Intensive)
Enjoy a unique experience and gather stories to tell with 2-3 of your friends. Learn to make glass beads or fuse glass.) Following your 3-hours of private instruction, you are invited to relax in our lounge and enjoy any refreshments you'd like to bring. Your class will be scheduled around your needs, any day of the week, including evenings and weekends.
Pick up your project(s) after they have been annealed (cooled gradually to remove thermal stress) or they can be mailed to you for $6 payable to the instructor.
Age: 15 years thru adult
If under 18 years old, must have parent's written approval
Prerequisites: none
Price: $65 per person
Class size: maximum of 5
Duration: 3 hours, plus 1 hour of free studio time within 30 days to practice your skills
To schedule or for more information: Call 716-825-3333 or e-mail
Fun Nite Out (Private Class) - Flameworking or Fusing
Looking for a unique bachelorette? Your choice:
* Make color-coordinated Pandora-style or 3mm hole beads for the bride and one for each woman in the bridal party
OR
* Make a set of 5" x 5" fused plates for the bride
Bring your cameras and your best wishes. You are welcome to decorate the studio and lounge and bring your own refreshments to share after the class. (Small refrigerator, microwave, and coffee pot available for your use.) Your class will be scheduled around your needs, any day of the week, including evenings and weekends.
Age: 15 years thru adult
If under 18 years old, must have parent's written approval
Prerequisites: none
Price: $65 per person
Class size: maximum of 6
Duration: 3 hours
To schedule or for more information: Call 716-825-3333 or e-mail
Bachelorette (Private Class) - Flameworking or Fusing
Now that you've gotten a taste of working with glass, you know there's so much more to learn. We will focus on expanding your skills, improving your heat control, and experimenting with new techniques, including shaping beads into barrels and lentils; raking, twisting, and plunging dots; and making ruffle beads, hollow beads, imploded discs, and tiger beads.
Session 1: Dots and Shapes
Session 2: Discs and Hollows
Session 3: Encasing and Canes
Age: 15 years thru adult
If under 18 years old, must have parent's written approval
Prerequisites: Ability to pull 3mm stringer, make consistent twisted cane, create round beads with puckered sides, apply well-placed uniform dots
Price: $210 ($70 per session)
Class size: maximum of 8
Duration: 9 hours of demonstrations and hands-on practice
spread over 3 sessions, plus 3 hours free studio time.
Registration: Classes are scheduled to meet the needs and time frames of qualified students. To be placed on the waiting list, call 716-825-3333 or e-mail us.
Next Steps in Beadmaking (Three 3-hour Sessions)
Interested in trying off-mandrel work?This class is for you. Gain the freedom to design and execute projects on any axis. Learn to support your work with glass rods (puntils) rather than mandrels.
Session 1: leaf pendants, icicle earrings
Session 2: round pendants with various surface decorations, tear drop implosion pendants
Session 3: penguin and swan sculptures
Age: 15 years thru adult
If under 18 years old, must have parent's written approval
Prerequisites: Demonstrate good heat control and comfort with basic tools (eg., marver, tweezers).
Price: $210
When 2-8 people sign up together, each receives a $20 refund
Class size: maximum of 8
Duration: 9 hours of demonstrations and hands-on practice
spread over 3 sessions, plus 3 hours free studio time
Registration: Classes are scheduled to meet the needs and time frames of qualified students.
To be placed on the waiting list, call 716-825-3333 or e-mail us.
Off-Hand Fundamentals (Three 3-hour Sessions)
After you've been working at the torch for a while, you may hit a plateau or realize you are being held back by a few technical problems. Perhaps one or more of your skills needs to be tweaked? Maybe you'd like to learn a specific project or technique or prefer to learn in a private setting? Vicki would be happy to work with you one to one to help you reach your goals.
Age: 15 years thru adult
If under 18 years old, must have parent's written approval
Prerequisites: none
Price: $40/hour for 1 person
$60/hour for 2 people working on the same skills/projects
Class size: maximum 2
Duration: 1 hour
To schedule or for more information: Call us at 716-825-3333 or e-mail us to discuss your needs and schedule a mutually convenient time
Individual Coaching
Has it been some time since you took "How to Make Glass Beads?" If it has been, you probably feel a little rusty. If you remember a lot of the basics, our "Basic Beadmaking Refresher" may be a good choice. During this individualized refresher we will review whatever skills you'd like from our introductory class. Our goal is to ensure you are safe and will feel comfortable working at the torch on your own.
Age: 15 years thru adult
If under 18 years old, must have parent's written approval
Prerequisites: "How to Make Glass Beads" or equivalent
Price: $40/hour for 1 person, $60/hour for 2 people
Class size: maximum 2
Duration: 1-2 hours, based on your needs
To schedule or for more information: Call us at 716-825-3333 or e-mail us to schedule a mutually convenient time
Basic Beadmaking Refresher
Would your group like to learn about something new and exciting?Come visit Expressive Glass and see how Vicki "turns hot glass into cool stuff." You will be amazed! Each attendee will leave with one of Vicki's glass beads. Fun for all ages!
Age: 8 thru adult
If under 18 years old, must have adequate adult supervision
Prerequisites: None
Price: $10-$25 per person, dependent on time and activities
lass size: maximum 15
Duration: 1-2 hours, based on your needs
To schedule or for more information: Call us at 716-825-3333 or e-mail us to explore your options and plan your custom event
Group Demos
For more information, please
or call 716-825-3333
Not ready for the full 3 hour experience at a torch yet? Sign up for a mini class and try your hand at making a bead or an icicle from molten glass. Vicki will guide you through the hands-on process step-by-step. Beads will be placed on your choice of a necklace, key chain, or bookmark. Icicles will be hung from braided metallic cord. This mini class is modeled after the beadmaking experience offered at the Corning Museum of Glass.
Pick up your project(s) after they have been annealed (cooled gradually to remove thermal stress) or they can be mailed to you for $7 payable to the instructor.
Age: 10+ years thru adult
If under 18 years old, must be with a responsible adult.
Prerequisites: none
Price: $20 per bead or icicle
Class size: private class with one-on-one instruction
You may bring up to 5 people in your group
Duration: 30-45 minutes per project per person
To schedule or for more information: Call 716-825-3333 or
Policies and Pointers: Please review before your class
Registration and Payment: Once you've scheduled the date and time of your class, please complete a registration form and pay for at least one project per person.
Click here to register for Mini Class in Glass Beadmaking
Click here to register for DIY Glass Icicles Mini Class
Classes
Private Coaching
Studio Rental/Supplies
Jewelry and Sculptures
GIFT CERTIFICATES
Contact us and we'll email your certificate
Click on class title or scroll down for class descriptions
Flameworking Classes
(melting rods/tubes of glass at a torch)
How to Make Glass Beads (3-hour Intensive)
Fun Nite Out (Private Class) - Flameworking or Fusing
Bachelorette (Private Class) - Flameworking or Fusing
Next Steps in Beadmaking (Three 3-hour Sessions)
Off-Hand Fundamentals (Three 3-hour Sessions)
Classes
Private Coaching
Studio Rental/Supplies
Jewelry and Sculptures
GIFT CERTIFICATES
Contact us and we'll email your certificate
Join us for
Open Torch (rental)
If you have the flameworking skills
to work independently,
Icicles Galore (Seasonal Class)
Create lovely glass icicles to adorn your Christmas tree or hang in your window all year long. During the class, you will learn how to melt and stretch clear and colored glass at a stationary torch under close supervision. You may also be able to make a smaller version of the icicle to wear as a pendant. No experience is necessary - only a willingness to try.
Pick up your project(s) after they have been annealed (cooled gradually to remove thermal stress) or they can be mailed to you for $6 payable to the instructor.
Age: 15 years through adult
If under 18 years old, you must be accompanied by responsible adult
Prerequisites: none, no experience required. Experienced lampworkers welcome
Class fees: $60 per person
Class size: Maximum 4
Duration: 2.5 hours
Click here to review our calendar
Click here to register for Icicles Galore
Icicles Galore
Make several glass pendants with beautiful floral designs that you will be proud to wear or give as gifts. You will be amazed and mesmerized as you learn to melt and manipulate glass at a stationary torch under close supervision. No experience is necessary - only a willingness to try. Each pendant will be placed on an adjustable cord or, if you prefer, it can be placed on a sterling silver chain for an additional fee.
Pick up your project(s) after they have been annealed (cooled gradually to remove thermal stress) or they can be mailed to you for $6 payable to the instructor.
Age: 15 years through adult
If under 18 years old, you must be accompanied by responsible adult
Prerequisites: None. No experience required. Experienced lampworkers welcome
Class fees: $60 per person
Class size: Maximum 4
Duration: 2.5 hours
Click here to review our calendar
Click here to register for Floral Glass Pendants
Floral Glass Pendants (Flameworking)
From the Heart Glass Pendants (Seasonal Class)
From the Heart Glass Pendant (Flameworking)
Try your hand at blowing your own Christmas ornaments. After learning how to light a torch, you will be taught the process of gently heating, rotating and blowing an ornament. Because this is a challenging skill, expect varying degrees of success.
During the class, you may blow a maximum of three ornaments and will be gifted one ornament blown by the instructor. Time permitting, you may blow additional ornaments at $10 per ornament.
Pick up your ornaments after they have been annealed (heated and cooled gradually to remove thermal stress) or they can be mailed to you for $7 payable to the instructor.
Age: 15 years through adult
If under 18 years old, you must be accompanied by responsible adult
Prerequisites: None. All levels from complete novice to experienced flameworker are
welcome
Class fees: $60 per person
Class size: Maximum 4
Duration: 2.5 hours
Click here to review our calendar
Click here to register for Blown Ornaments
Glass Leaf Pendants (Seasonal Class)
Make beautiful glass leaf pendants you will be proud to wear or give as a gift. Learn to melt and manipulate glass at a stationary torch under close supervision. You will be amazed at how glass glows and stretches when it’s hot. No experience is necessary - only a willingness to try.
Pick up your project(s) after they have been annealed (heated and cooled gradually to remove thermal stress) or they can be mailed to you for $7 payable to the instructor.
Age: 15 years through adult
If under 18 years old, you must be accompanied by responsible adult
Prerequisites: None. No experience required. Experienced lampworkers welcome
Class fees: $60 per person
Class size: Maximum 4
Duration: 2.5 hours
Click here to review our calendar
Click here to register for Glass Leaf Pendants
Glass Leaf Pendants (Flameworking)
Blown Ornaments (Flameworking)
Make several beautiful heart pendants working "off hand" (without a steel mandrel to support your work.) Experiment with frit (crushed glass) and raked canes to decorate your hearts and make each an individual masterpiece. Place your pendants on an adjustable cord or, if you prefer, on a sterling silver chain for an additional fee.
Pick up your hearts after they have been annealed (cooled gradually to remove thermal stress) or they can be mailed to you for $7 payable to the instructor.
Age: 15 years through adult
If under 18 years old, you must be accompanied by responsible adult
Prerequisites: Basic lampworking skills and comfort working at a torch. Advanced beginner and intermediate lampworkers welcome
Class fees: $60 per person
Class size: Maximum 4
Duration: 2.5 hours
Contact us to schedule a class.
Private Classes for children and teenagers (you'll be taken to another page)
