Bead and Button Classes

I can’t say enough good things about Bead and Button and the wonderful classes they teach there.

This year I was lucky enough to attend two of Jack Berry’s classes sponsored by Rio Grande’s Catalog in Motion. When you walk into a Rio class you have no need to worry about having adequate tools to do the work. Rio equips you with a bench and all the tools and materials you need to complete the course.

It’s not that all of the teachers don’t do a wonderful job of making sure you bring the correct tools. It’s just that it’s nice to have everything ready to go and all you have to do is show up.

It’s a spoiling experience. I felt pampered. Only twelve students, and all that equipment, including two Microfold brakes and three hydraulic presses.

The first class on my agenda was on Microfolding metal and the second on using the forms in the Hydraulic press. There are some great possibilities to creating with these methods. Between this and the previous class on using the hydraulic press my mind is working overtime on ideas. Now, if I can only find the time. And then there is always the need to purchase some additional equipment. Isn’t there always!

The photos are of a pair of earrings I made in class and some of the metal patterns I made microfolding. There is also a set of hydraulically formed teardrop shapes that will be made into earrings and some photos from the class. I can’t wait to work on mixing some glass with this.