Lampworking Classes, December 2013 and January 2014

I have a one day workshop in December and also some 6 week classes starting in January at Flowerfield Arts Centre, Portstewart.  Please see details below.  

Call Flowerfield Arts Centre to book a place: 028 7083 1400

One day workshop:

Saturday December 7th 10am-4pm

Making Glass Beads for Jewellery

Tutor Catherine Keenan

Make your own glass beads for unique Christmas gifts in this special workshop. Students will be guided through the very basics how to turn on the torch, getting familiar with the tools and the workspace, as well as guidance on the health and safety implications. Students will then be shown how to make a round bead, and the tutor Catherine Keenan will explain some ways of applying pattern and experimenting with form to make your beads more unusual.  Suitable for beginners but more experienced students will be shown advanced techniques.

Maximum 6 students

Fee: £55

Night Class:

Tuesdays 7-9.30pm for six weeks, starting January 21

Day Class:

Wednesdays 10am to 12.30pm for 6 weeks starting January 22

Garage Glass

Last week I took a couple of trips to Newtownabbey, just outside Belfast, to blow glass in Brian Kerr's garage...Garage Glass!  I had the pleasure of meeting Brian and his wife Valerie about 6 months ago when Scott Benefield had brought his furnace to Flowerfield Arts Centre, Portstewart.  Brian has taken various glass blowing lessons throughout the UK (such as at the Glass Hub  and World of Glass) and has purchased a Mini-Melt furnace/gloryhole combo unit to keep making, literally in his own back garden!

It's such a rare opportunity for me to blow glass in N.Ireland, so I'm delighted to be able to work at Garage Glass.  I'm currently preparing for Made London fair (which runs from 25th-27th October at One Marylebone) so I got lots of 'Mini-Vases' made this week.

'Mini-Vases' in the Lehr

'Mini-Melt'

Summer Lampworking Classes

Summer is fully upon us at the minute, and long may it last!!  I will be teaching some lampworking (bead making) classes at Flowerfield Arts Centre, in Portstewart.  There are 2 Saturday classes and also 2 two day courses, so there are a variety of opportunities to have a go at working in molten glass to make unique beads.  There are only 6 places per class so sign up quickly!  Call 028 7083 1400 to book.

Saturday 29th June
10am-4pm
Cost: £55 includes materials

Saturday 20th July
10am-4pm
Cost: £55 includes materials

Friday 9th - Saturday 10th August
10am-4pm daily
Cost: £90

Friday 23rd - Saturday 24th August
10am-4pm daily
Cost: £90

Students melting glass rods to make beads

Melting glass rods on a gas torch

Beads made by students on their first day!

Hot Glass at Flowerfield

From 16th - 20th April Flowerfield Arts Centre, through Creative Causeway and funded by the Garfield Weston Trust, hosted a range of hot glass activities, including workshops for University of Ulster students in glass blowing with Scott Benefield and lampworking with me.  On the Saturday Scott and I gave public demonstrations in glass blowing.  It was great to have the very skilled and knowledgeable Scott onsite with his wonderful portable studio! And I had the rare opportunity of blowing glass in Northern Ireland!

Adam Frew put together a short film of the events:

Hot Glass at Flowerfield

Over the next few weeks there will be quite a bit of hot glass activity happening at Flowerfield Arts Centre.

Renowned american glass blower Scott Benefield will be bringing his portable furnace to the Arts Centre in order to offer workshops to University of Ulster students and also for 5th and 6th form students of local schools to view glass blowing demos. This will take place from Wednesday 17th -Friday 19th April.

On Saturday 20th April from 11am-3pm there will be public glass blowing demos by Scott and myself. Needless to say I'm really looking forward to doing some blowing, and also seeing Scott at work.

Film of Scott glassblowing at Flowerfield last year

For the first time I will be teaching a night class in lampworking. This is due to start on Tuesday 16th April and run for five weeks, from 6.30-9.30pm every night.  This course will allow me to help students get a firm grip on making beads and also learn and experiment with form and pattern application. Fee: £82, £77 concession

I will also be teaching a one day class on Saturday 4th May from 10am-4pm.  Students will learn how to make a basic bead and also a variety of colour and pattern techniques. Fee: £55

For more information or to enrol on either lampworking class contact Flowerfield: 028 70831400

Lampworking Class

Christmas Saturday Workshops

Dates: 24th November

           15th December

Cost: £45 per day (includes materials)

Coming up to Christmas I will be teaching two saturday lampworking classes.  Participants will learn how to use an oxygen/gas mix torch to create their own unique glass beads.

To book a place call Flowerfield Arts Centre: 028 7083 1400

Lampworking Class at Flowerfield

A student's beads

Watch a class in progress:

August Lampworking Classes

2 Day Lampworking Classes

 -7th+8th August

-28th+29th August

10am-4pm each day

Tutor: Catherine Keenan

  I will be teaching some 2 day courses in August.  Students will learn the unique process of making a glass bead on a gas fueled lampworking torch.  Experience working with the molten material, ways of achieving different shapes and how to apply a variety of patterns.

Maximum 6 students.

Fee: £85 (includes materials)

To book contact Flowerfield Arts Centre on 028 70831400  or email: info@flowerfield.org

Lampwork Class at Flowerfield Arts Centre

Last Saturday I taught the first of the one day lampworking classes running this spring at Flowerfield Arts Centre, Portstewart (where I am resident artist).  I had six participants, some travelling as far as from Belfast and Larne to be there!  Everyone took to the process very quickly and each developing their own approach to making glass beads.  We focused on creating different shapes (cylinders, flat, round and bi-cone) and also applying pattern such as spots and stripes.

Some of Judith Gardiner's lovely marbled effect beads made in the class.

The next class be at the end of May, and it's already booked up...there will be some two day classes in August, so keep an eye on Flowerfield's website for more info.  You can also check the craft@flowerfield blog for details of upcoming craft classes.