Call (972) 998-3423 to schedule

The Christmas Ornament Experience! approximately 10 minutes $25 Dates: November 29, December 6, and December 13, 2009 Time: Sun. 1pm - 4pm Working one-on-one with the artist, each registrant will participate in the creation of their very own beautiful glass ornament that the participant will be able to take home (to be picked up the following Tuesday or later). After completing registration, students will be contacted by phone or email and given a specific time slot.   No experience required.  Call or email for registration.

PAPERWEIGHT I - Beginner approximately 2 hour workshop $150 This workshop will provide an introduction to glassblowing machines, tools of the trade and proper shop etiquette, and safety. You will learn skills such as gathering, centering, blocking, marvering,and basic color application using powders and frits. During the class, you will create (2) paperweights (one clear and one with color). No experience required.

PAPERWEIGHT II - Intermediate approximately 2 hour workshop $150 This workshop will expand the skills obtained in the paperweight I class. Further practice of glassblowing techniques such as gathering, marvering, jacking, flashing, centering, breaking off finished products for annealing, and more advanced color application such as layering, threadwraps, and twisting. During the class, you will create (2) paperweights (one clear and one with color). Prerequisite: Paperweight I.

GLASSBLOWING 101 (4) 2 hour workshops $600 This course is designed to give the beginning student a solid, thorough knowledge of basic glassblowing techniques. Whether you are considering a career in glassblowing or are interested in taking up a rewarding artistic hobby, our classes will give you the technical skills you need to create beautiful, functional works of art. With each shape, students will refine their skills at gathering glass onto the rod, shaping it with various tools, mastering basic bitwork, punty shaping, blowing techniques, and adding color to the glass. Shop safety, etiquette and proper form are all stressed throughout the lessons. Prerequisite: Paperweight I & II.

GLASS BEADMAKING - Beginner 4 hour workshop $200 Students of this private beginner's class definitely leave fired-up about the art of glass bead making, and are amazed at the number and types of glass beads they have created in just one, four-hour experience. Safety in working with an open flame and molten glass, bead making demonstrations, and one-on-one coaching of students through this creative art form are the focus of this class. Students learn to use tools to shape beads, how to embellish bead surfaces with chips and narrow canes of glass, as well as how to use some of the practical "science" techniques involved with hot glasswork. At least two hours or more of this class are devoted to making glass beads. No previous experience in glass bead making is required.

GLASS BEADMAKING - Intermediate 4 hour workshop $200 This class follows the Level I class. Students will spend more time on the torch learning how to create exciting and beautiful beads. One of the major areas this class covers is making fancy embellishments like fancy twisties, filliagrana, ribbon cane, and frit. Students experiment with many decorative techniques like raking, feathering, poking, and advanced shaping. This class also expands on the embellishment techniques from Level I giving the students experience in raised dots, twisted dots, stacked dots, and fancy dots. The students will learn two encasement techniques as well. Since this class follows the Level I class, students are expected to have spent some time at the torch practicing their Level I skills before they attend Level II. This class covers a great deal of ground, and the students will spend the majority of their time working on beads.

OFF MANDREL PENDANTS - Beginner 4 hour workshop $200 Come join Young Designs for an introduction to off mandrel Pendants. During this 4 hour course, your instructor will demonstrate techniques, such as gathers, stringers, cane and punties, required to make both basic and intermediate level pendants including tear drops, loops, swirls, encasements and reversals. Included in this course is plenty of "practice" time on the torch, shop safety, basic tool/equipment operation, and open dialog with the instructor. Borosilicate or soft glass - student choice.

ART GLASS MARBLES 4 hour workshop $275 Come join Young Designs for a fun-filled workshop of marvelous marbles. You will experience the processes involved in creating art glass marbles. This course involves plenty of "practice/play" time and covers various decorative techniques such as dots, stripes, raking, ribbons, pulling stringers, and encasement. The student will learn the basic techniques involved in gathering, shaping and finishing marbles. In addition, topics such as shop safety/setup, equipment and tools used, etc. will be covered.

WHAT TO BRING/WEAR TO CLASS (VERY IMPORTANT) All clothing must be cotton Long pants (NO SHORTS WILL BE ALLOWED) Closed-tipped shoes (i.e. tennis shoes) Long-sleeved cotton shirt - no billowy sleeves Hat or headband Sunglasses Long hair should be pulled back securely Please eat a well-balanced meal before arriving to your class. Water and sports drinks are recommended; caffeinated beverages are not. Water will be available to you at all times at the studio. Details: All classes are held at Young Designs private studio in Dallas, Texas. Young Designs supplies all tools, glass and color within your designated time slot. You must be at least 18 years of age (or 16 when accompanied by a parent). All items must anneal (cool and strengthen) for a period of time after the class and will be ready for pickup or shipping 2 weeks following the class. Shipping is an additional charge.