Beaded Button Bouquet

Saturday, May 4th, 2:00-4:00

Mother’s Day is right around the corner – what better gift than a lovely little bouquet of flowers that won’t wilt or die?  We’ll combine colorful wire, buttons, beads, and sequins to create these delightful little vases filled with love.

Cost:  $15 per bouquet (including vase)

Beaded Kumihimo

Thursday, May 9th, 6:30-8:30

Kumihimo is the Japanese art of braiding.  In Japanese, Kumihimo literally means the bringing together of threads.  Endless combinations can be achieved using different fibers and different thread sequences.  In this class, we use size 8 seed beads or a mix of long magatamas to create a bracelet in your choice of colors.

Cost:  $35 class fee + cost of materials

Beginning Cavandoli Macramé

Tuesday, May 14th, 6:30-8:30

Cavandoli is a form of macramé that uses primarily half-hitch knots running horizontally and vertically to create a geometric or other pattern of colors.  In this class, you will learn the basic horizontal stitch to create an intriguing little weaving which we will use as a background on which we will embroider for a fun or special bead.  You will also learn how to finish the piece and add beaded tassels.  

Cost:  $35 class fee + cost of materials (~ $10)

Bumpy Bracelet

Sunday, May 19th, 10;00-2:00

You may have seen this pattern around before – it’s an exciting challenge in color mixing.  Using five different sizes of beads, you’ll work a peyote stitch and watch the fun appear.  The difference in the bead sizes causes the work to expand and contract in two and then three dimensions.  Previous familiarity with peyote stitch will be very helpful in this class.

Cost:  $35 class fee + cost of materials (~ $15)

Button Rings

Wednesday, May 15th, 6:30-8:30

If you’ve missed this class in the past, now’s your chance.  In this class, you’ll learn how to turn a simple shank button and a piece of wire into a delightful ring.  It’s so easy and fun you’ll want to make a ring for every finger.

Cost:  $25 class fee + cost of materials ($5 to $10)

Cinco de Mayo Party

Friday, May 3rd, 6:30-8:30

In anticipation of Cinco de Mayo, we’re having a party!  At this rare Friday night event, we’ll share a margarita and make a whimsical bracelet that you’ll enjoy showing off when the cinco comes.

Cost:  class fee waived + cost of materials ($15 to $20)

Color! Necklace

Wednesday, May 29th, 6:30-8:30

This is how we celebrate spring here at pflora beads.  If you’re new to our store or missed this class in the past, sign up now!  In this class, you’ll learn to use the Coiling Gizmo to make perfect coils of brightly colored wire, a wig jig to make funky links, and put it all together with furnace glass cubes for a fun spring necklace.  Previous wire wrapping experience will be helpful for this class.

Cost:  $35 class fee + $15 for materials

Count Your Blossoms

Saturday, May 11th, 2:00-4:00

This is Kalmbach’s approved project from the upcoming book Creative Seed Bead Connections which features delicate seed bead motifs joined by handmade wire links.  In this class, you’ll learn how to make the blossoms using teardrop beads and then wind your own figure-8 links to join them.  Start with the earrings in class to get the basics down, and you’ll love it so much you’ll want to make the bracelet, too.  

Cost:  $35 class fee + cost of materials

Designing with Leather

Thursday, May 16th, 6:30-8:30

In this class, you’ll learn to make this lovely setting for a crystal teardrop, how to the frame for texture and highlight it with liver of sulfur, how to wire wrap the teardrop into place and then create a rustic bail of handmade jump rings.  If that’s not enough, you’ll also learn to make a unique three-strand leather necklace for the pendant and two methods for closing it:  the sliding adjustable knot technique and your own handmade clasp.

Cost:  $35 class fee + $15 for materials

Fancy Earrings

Tuesday, May 7th, 6:30-8:30

In this class, you’ll learn to twist square wire using an ordinary electric drill!  Then you’ll do some simple shaping of the wire, add a bead and viola – fancy earrings.

Cost:  $25 class fee + cost of materials (~ $5)

Free-for-All:  Glass Dome Art

Thursday, May 23rd, 6:30-8:30

This is a great, easy project.  We’ll cut out swatches from various lovely design papers and glue them to a glass dome.  To make it look totally professional, we’ll adhere a backing of velour paper.  The final step – glue on a bail and hang it on a chain.  Excellent!

Cost:  class fee waived + cost of materials

Gem Wrapped Earrings

Saturday, May 4th, 10:00-12:00

This is another very popular look that you’ll enjoy making as much as you enjoy wearing.  We’ll start with sterling teardrops and wire wrap tiny crystals or gemstones all around the form.  Add ear wires and wait for the compliments to roll in.

Cost:  $35 class fee + cost of materials (~$20)

Make Your Own Findings

Thursday, May 30th, 6:30-8:30

Tired of searching for just the right closure and spending big money for it?  Want to use sterling silver findings, but can’t afford it?  Tired of the same old fish hook ear wires?  Then this class is for you!  In this class, Scott will teach you how to forge your own hook and eye clasps in multiple styles, S clasps, and ear wires.  All these styles are very easy to accomplish with just a little bit of wire, a hammer and a bench block.  We’ll use copper in class for practice, but sterling silver wire will be available for those who are ready to step it up.

Cost:  $35 class fee + $5 materials fee

Mosaic Mirror Frame

Saturday, May 25th, 10:00-1:00

This is a blast!  We’ll use colored pencils, chalks, and sharpies to lay down the color scheme of your choice on PolyShrink squares.  Then we bake them and watch them shrink to about 1/3 of the original size and gawk at how the color intensifies and pops.  Then we lay them out on a picture frame or mirror and finish it off with fancy grout.  You can add surface embellishments such as buttons, beads or other ephemera.  The “grout” dries and sets in 24 hours.

Cost:  $40 class fee + $20 for materials

Open Studio

Tuesday, May 21st, 6:30-8:30

Are your UFOs (unfinished objects) staring at you?  Are you stuck on a project and just can’t get past it?  Or are you intrigued by one of our kits but worried you won’t be able to do it all by yourself?  Bundle up those projects and come on down to our open studio.  Get the expert assistance you need to get you over the hump and finish up those old project so you can start new ones with a clear conscience.

Cost:  class fee waived

Pattern Wire Earrings

Thursday, May 2nd, 6:30-8:30

In this class, we’ll work with pattern wire to create a lovely pair of earrings.  This class is chockablock full of basic metalsmithing techniques –how to use a jewelry saw to cut your metal, how to file metal edges perfectly smooth, and how to use liver of sulphur and other treatments to oxidize or color metal.  Then we’ll put it all together to make a sweet little pair of very contemporary earrings.

Cost:  $40 class fee + $55 materials kit for sterling silver & gold-filled or $10 materials kit for copper

Pearl Knotting

Saturday, May 18th, 2:00-4:00

In this class, you’ll learn the traditional method of pearl knotting using a knotting tool.  You’ll be surprised how easy this ancient art can be.

Cost:  $35 class fee + cost of materials (~$25)

Wire Wrapped Cabochon

Saturday, May 18th, 10:00-12:00

In this class, you'll learn to make a free form wire wrap bezel for a cabochon using simple wire working techniques.  You can adapt this method to almost any shape cabochon or stone.

Class fee:  $35 + cost of materials (~ $10)