Introduction to Glass Beadmaking—Gina Edwards
Instructor
Name of the Instructor: Gina Edwards
Name of Contact for Registration: Lori Csintyan
Phone: (269) 925-5555
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://68.171.214.105/wsgw/
Bio:
Gina has been melting glass and creating beads for
over 15 years. She has a relaxed teaching style and
encourages creativity and experimentation in her students. She currently teaches beadmaking classes at
Water Street Glassworks as well as in her own studio. Gina works with soda lime glass (soft glass) as
well as borosilicate glass and teaches classes on the
hot head and Minor torches. Gina creates jewelry
from her glass beads, lending a practical aspect to the
glasswork done on the torch.
Course Description
Tuesdays, September 13 – October 25 10:30am –
12:30pm
Learn how to make glass beads with rods of colored
glass and a tabletop torch. Safely shape and mold the
glass into different shapes while learning the fundamental physics of working with molten glass. You’ll
make enough beads to turn
into a necklace by the end of class. Physical skills will
include safe handling of materials, proper use of tools
and fine motor skills.
NO EXPERIENCE REQUIRED. Personal non-family
recommendation letter and student interest statement
required.
Maximum enrollment: 8 Minimum age: 12 All materials included.
****You MUST register with Waterstreet
as well as us to take this course.
Personal non-family recommendation letter Email to [email protected]
The non-family letter of recommendation just
needs to be a note that the individual believes the
student is truly interested in the class and will benefit from it. Include the student's name.
Grading
Grading Scale will consists of the following 1-4
scale.
 4-above target/expectations
 3-on target/expectations
 2-below target/expectations
 1-off target/expectations
Grades are pass/fail and determined in the following way:
Instructor Input
The Instructor will assign their recommended
grade based on the scale above. 90% of your
over all grade will be based on this recommendation.
Attendance
You are required to attend at least 80% of the
dates and times your course meets.
The other 10% of your overall grade will be
calculated based on your attendance.
Student Interest Statement
Email to [email protected]
The student interest statement should
include the student's first name and
last name. It should simply finish
this statement, "I am taking this
class because..."
Pre/Post Evaluation
For each class we are charged with providing a
mechanism for documenting growth. This procedure will be different for each course depending
on the course and the instructor.
For this course the Instructor will administer a Pre/
Post evaluation for this course.
This is different then the overall grade for the semester.
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Course Details
Dates, Times: Tuesdays, September 13 – October 25 10:30am – 12:30pm
Locations: 140 Water Street, Benton Harbor, MI
Appropriate for: Students ages 152and older
Week 1 No Class Labor Day week—make sure you are prepared for class
to start next week. Know where you are going, what to wear, and what time
to be there.
Week 12 Thanksgiving week
Week 2 Lesson will include over view and discussion of the glass beadmaking process.
o Learn about different types of glass and C.O.E.
o Studio rules and safety
o Introduction to the torch and workstation tools
o Following demonstration students will melt glass and observe how it
behaves
o Following demonstration students will learn to pull stringer
o Following demonstration students will make a bead
Week 13 No class, but feel fr ee to r esearch further; techniques, occupations and
artists.
Week 3 Br ief r eview followed by demonstr ation by instr uctor . Using
the dot embellishment in a variety of ways to achieve a variety of different
looks, including the Harlequin style bead as well as stacked, layered, poked,
twisted, etc. Students will practice this skill on the torches.
Week 14 No class, but feel fr ee to r esear ch
further; techniques, occupations and artists.
Week 4 Br ief r eview followed by demonstr ation by instr uctor . Students will learn how to decorate their beads with stringers, including wrapping the bead, and making swirls.
.
Week 15 No class, but feel fr ee to r esear ch
further; techniques, occupations and artists.
Week 5 Br ief r eview followed by demonstr ation by instr uctor . Students
will learn to shape their beads in a variety of ways, including pressing and
shaping with various tools. Students will practice this skill on the torches.
Week 16 No class, but feel fr ee to r esear ch
further; techniques, occupations and artists.
Week 6 Students will build on the skills fr om pr evious classes.
Week 17 Chr istmas
Week 7 Students will wor k on the tor ches and demonstr ate to the instructor that they can make a well-shaped base bead. The last part of class
will be spent completing a necklace with some or all of the beads created
during the course of this class.
Week 18 New Year s
Week 8 No class, but feel fr ee to r esear ch fur ther ; techniques, occupations and artists.
Week 19 No class, but feel fr ee to r esear ch
further; techniques, occupations and artists.
Week 9 No class, but feel fr ee to r esear ch fur ther ; techniques, occupations and artists.
Week 20 No class, but feel fr ee to r esear ch
further; techniques, occupations and artists.
Week 10 No class, but feel fr ee to r esear ch fur ther ; techniques, occupa- Week 21 No class, but feel fr ee to r esear ch
tions and artists.
further; techniques, occupations and artists.
Week 11 No class, but feel fr ee to r esear ch fur ther ; techniques, occupations and artists.
.
Virtual Links and Assignments
The Instructor will pass out any needed virtual links during the semester.
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