Making Glass Beads with Fire

TemperChi Glass Art Studio is currently offering beginning to intermediate glass torchworking classes. Sometimes called beadmaking or lampworking, these classes utilize 2-gas torches to sculpt Moretti clear and colored rods (COE 104 "soft" Italian glass) into beads of various sizes and shapes. Tuition is $260 per student per weekend.

Two-day workshops are now forming for the weekends of January 27-28, February 10-11, February 24-25 from 10am to 4pm both Saturday and Sunday in Mountain View, California.

Jon Ingbretson of TemperChi hosts and Don Rebsom instructs. Don Rebsom has been making incredible glass beads in the Bay Area for ten years and has some amazing techniques. He is a very patient and knowledgeable instructor. Jon Ingbretson has been setting up and hosting lampwork classes in "soft" glass, "hard" glass and fusing using torches and kilns for over three years in Mountain View. Past student referrals are available.

We provide all the tools, equipment and glass necessary; students need only bring work clothes (no polyester), perhaps a lunch (lunch breaks are encouraged, but some students prefer to work right through) and a willingness to learn. These classes are fun and informative. We will show you proper set-up and safety procedures in addition to beginning and intermediate techniques of shaping molten glass into works of art, a process which consists of welding and tempering glass using torches and ovens (kilns).

Please visit our website to register, view photos, or for more information. Classes are ongoing, so if you're interested but unable to attend the current dates, please join our mailing list to stay informed of future dates and studio time.