Admittedly, I sometimes am glad when I offer a glass class and no one signs up for it. It's just one less thing I have to do. On the flip side, every time I teach a class I have fun, and leave inspired to keep creating. My students almost always give me great ideas to work from.
This past week, I had the privilege of doing two classes. On Thursday, Mrs. Beck asked me to come in and make ornaments with her third grade students. After a few moments thought, we came to the conclusion that this was the fourth year I've done this little workshop for her. It's really simple for me to do: I cut a little rectangle of clear glass for each kid and make sure I have lots of little bits of scrap glass for them to glue onto the base. After they're fired, I drill a hole in each and add a loop of monofilament. Instant Christmas ornament.
The best part of working with such little kids is that they get so excited about doing such a simple project. Some of them just stick bits to the base and call it good. Others spend as much time as they can carefully choosing each piece before they make a commitment. The third main type get so caught up in looking at the glass, peering through the bits to see the colors, that they have to be prodded to glue anything at all to their bases. It's one of the tragedies of adulthood that we've lost that ability to take such delight in something so simple. Maybe it's just me. I hope you have an easier time of it.
On Saturday, the fun was a bit more sedate. Three lovely women came to my home studio for a Christmas ornament class, but as sometimes serendipitously happens, they all went a different direction. Only Jenette made the kind of ornaments I had in mind, but they all created something unique and wonderful.
I think my favorite of their pieces was Anna's hammer. She made it as a gift for her mother-in-law who has a furniture-building business called Little Pink Hammer. I think Anna's little pink hammer is just perfect.
Jamie was inspired by part of the page trim in the pattern book I was using for reference. I helped her come up with the following beautiful turquoise snowflake. I may start making these instead of soldered beveled stars in the future. It's just as lovely and much easier.
Those were my last classes before the holiday season, and I have to say I'm glad I don't have to worry about any more for a bit. I do need to figure out a schedule for the new year, however, so if you have any requests for classes, please let me know. I'll be ready for more glass class fun soon.
