Classes at Dragonfly Beads

We also have private beading parties held at our convenient Bead Bar for children and adults. This is a great opportunity to make bridal jewelry, celebrate a birthday, get together with your coworkers, or make gifts for friends and family. You provide the food and drinks, and we’ll help you enjoy a fun evening, where everyone leaves with a finished piece of jewelry! Call for details 682-3207.

Whether you’re just getting started with a project and need a gentle push to move your forward, or you enjoy working in a social environment with artistic souls, Open Studio is for you! You will be able to work on your projects using studio tools and equipment. Whether you bead, knit, work with PMC, collage or crochet, you can join other creative individuals who will inspire you and challenge you to try new things! Get yourself into a creative habit! Resident instructor erin will be on hand to help you with problem pieces. Passes cost $200, and include 6 visits. Get a friend to join you, and your pass will cost $180. Studio space can also be rented for $15/hour.

What do you want to learn? You pick the time and date, and we’ll work to accommodate your desires! The following classes are available. Most classes require a 2 to 3 person minimum, so grab a friend and get beading!

This popular class is back! This class will teach you to make a simple sterling band, and then attach a lamp worked bead using brass screws. The band can even be stamped with a favorite saying or a loved ones name. The ring is interchangeable, so buy a few beads and change your ring when you change your outfit! $15 plus materials.

Join guest instructor Corinne who will teach you how to make an embellished frame for a shank-less button. Students will need to bring in a button with the shank removed, or may purchase a gorgeous vintage Dragonfly button from the store. $15 plus materials

This is a two-part class meant to introduce you to working with sheet metal. Part one will cover piercing, sawing and filing. Students will practice on copper. For the second half of this class, students will make a copper pendant using the skills acquired in Part 1. Silver will be available for purchase if you’d prefer a silver pendant! $80 includes copper. Silver will be available for purchase.

Learn the centuries old technique of fusing powdered glass to copper to create some stunning new pieces! Copper is becoming more popular as the cost of precious metals rise. Why not make yours a little more colorful? $80 includes materials.

Trying to get your charms attached to your bracelet can be expensive these days! Learn how to do it yourself for a fraction of the cost. Add to an existing bracelet, or start a new one for a daughter or friend. This is also a great technique to learn for joining jump rings in chain maille or to securely add a clasp to chain. $15 plus materials. New charms and bracelets will be available at the store.

Join guest instructor Laura who will teach this unique stitch that resembles the DNA spiral. Makes a gorgeous necklace on it’s own, or add a pendant for a truly unique look. $20 plus materials

Who needs a scarf when you can wear a necklace made of warm and cozy felted beads?! Learn how to make a simple bead using colorful wool roving. Beads can be further embellished using seed beads/delica, sequins, thread and so on! $15 includes all materials.

In this class, you’ll learn a quick and easy technique to solder a silver ring using patterned wire. Once you learn the technique, you can link rings together to form bracelets, earrings, or necklaces. $35 includes materials.

Guest instructor (and erin’s mom!) Corinne will teach you how to add beads to pearl cotton and knit up an adorable little purse/amulet bag. Would make a sweet gift for a bride. Please note, students will not finish this project in class, but will learn the techniques and have instruction to finish the project at home. Students will need to bring in #8 pearl cotton in desired color. $15 plus materials

The class you’ve been waiting for… Learn to string pearls! Jewelers will charge a fortune for this service. Learn to do it yourself and save! $20 plus materials. $30 if you bring your own pearls.

Join guest instructor Meghan who will teach you to make a bracelet. You will learn this unique weaving technique with beautiful silk cord. Add beads or a focal for a truly one-of-a-kind piece. $20 plus materials

I saw these earrings in Oprah’s March 2008 issue and had to try them! You’ll learn to make 2 large hoops joined by a focal bead and attached to a round ear-wire. So simple and elegant, sure to turn heads! Check out the sample at the store. $20 plus materials

This is a surprisingly easy class that results in a much-more-complicated looking bracelet! Students will start with pre-patterned wire to make a simple bracelet. A sweet little gift for a sweet lady in your life! $30 includes materials for one bracelet up to 8”

Join guest instructor Laura who will teach you this versatile classic to make a beautiful bracelet. The Peyote stitch creates a silky smooth bracelet that feels like a luxurious fabric against your wrist. The patterns are endless! $20 plus materials

Join Laura who will teach you how to make a lovely bracelet using the Peyote stitch, and creating little windows to display crystals or gemstones! Some experience with peyote is preferred. $25 plus materials

Join guest instructor Laura who will teach you to make these stunning earrings using the peyote stitch and a Swarovski square bead. These elegant earrings could easily be worn with a pair of jeans or a cocktail dress. $20 plus materials.

Guest instructor Laura will teach you how to make amazing tubular beads using the peyote stitch. These beads are much easier than they look, and very impressive on their own, or make an entire necklace with them! $25 plus materials

This is an exciting technology that allows you to make your own stamps! Perfect for stamping into PMC or Polymer clays. Design a stamp of your logo, your favorite symbol, your drawings, and more! Students will need to bring in images they’d like to turn into a stamp on transparency sheet (available at Kinkos, Staples, Office Max, etc). Images should have high black/white contrast and be reversed and negative for text. Please call the store for more details! Class size limited to 2 students. $85 includes materials for 3 stamps.

If you’re curious about PMC, but not sure how much time or money you want to invest in it, this is the class for you! Resident instructor erin has been working with PMC since 2003 and completed her PMC Certification in 2007. She has been teaching PMC classes for the past two years and is a very generous and practiced instructor. In this class, you will have an opportunity to work with the material and use texture to make a stunning fine silver pendant! $75 includes materials

These earrings were seen in Enchanted Adornments by Green Girl Studio’s Cynthia Thornton. If you’re curious about PMC, but not sure how much time or money you want to invest in it, this is the class for you! Resident instructor erin has been working with PMC since 2003 and completed her PMC Certification in 2007. She has been teaching PMC classes for the past two years and is a very generous and practiced instructor. In this class, you will have an opportunity to work with the material and use texture to make a stunning pair of fine silver earrings with a few accent beads. $75 includes materials

PMC is the perfect media for your creative child. Sign them up for a class with erin! Erin has been working with PMC since 2003 and completed her PMC Certification in 2007. She has been teaching PMC classes for the past two years to adults and kids alike, and is a very generous and practiced instructor. PMC is a non-toxic, self-contained (not messy!) material that looks and handles like clay. It is easy to texture with leaves, buttons, rubber stamps and other found objects. Once it is fired in a kiln, this “clay” turns into pure silver. Kids will learn aspects of math (ratios), science (sintering and annealing) and stretch their creative muscles. $75 includes all materials.

In honor of Earth Day and spring, we’re doing a Nature-Inspired PMC Class! Bring in a favorite leaf or flower and make a stunning pendant or earrings that reflect the beauty found in nature. If you’re curious about PMC, but not sure how much time or money you want to invest in it, this is the class for you! Resident instructor erin has been working with PMC since 2003 and completed her PMC Certification in 2007. She has been teaching PMC classes for the past two years and is a very generous and practiced instructor. In this class, you will have an opportunity to work with the material and use natural texture to create a pendant or earrings! $75 includes materials

Discover this magical material with resident instructor erin and turn “clay” into silver! PMC is not really clay, but .999 Fine Silver particles suspended in water and cellulose binder. It looks and feels like clay, and can be textured, filed, carved, sanded and molded. When fired in a kiln, the water and binder burn out, leaving you with a piece of pure silver jewelry! This class teaches you how to work with the material and includes stone setting, paper, paste and syringe usage and texturing and cutting lump clay. Students go home with a bracelet or set of earrings and pendant. You will also receive a basic PMC tool kit as part of this class. Erin has been working with PMC since 2003 and completed her PMC Certification in 2007. She has been teaching PMC classes for the past two years and is a generous and practiced instructor. $135 total includes materials

This class is geared towards those of you who have had a class or two in PMC, but have yet to take the next step of working with the material on your own or are having some difficulty with construction and need a little extra guided help! Students will pick their project beforehand (please call to get your project approved) and resident instructor erin will help your jewelry visions become a reality! Erin has been working with PMC since 2003 and completed her PMC Certification in 2007. She has been teaching PMC classes for the past two years and is a generous and practiced instructor. $115 includes 16g of PMC3

This class will teach you to make a quick but striking pendant combining dichroic glass and PMC. Students will make a total of three pendants. Pieces will not be available to bring home after the class due to the annealing process. $65 includes materials

Learn to make a silver-capped bead that will look great on a Pandora bracelet or hanging simply on a chain. Resident instructor erin has been working with PMC since 2003 and completed her PMC Certification in 2007. She has been teaching PMC classes for the past two years and is a very generous and practiced instructor Students will make 3 beads in this class. $65 includes materials.

Add more dimension to your PMC pieces and learn the basics of making a hollow form. Students will complete one to two “lentil” shaped pod beads in this class, and discuss other ways to make a hollow bead in PMC. Resident instructor erin has been working with PMC since 2003 and completed her PMC Certification in 2007. She has been teaching PMC classes for the past two years and is a very generous and practiced instructor. $115 includes all materials

Take your PMC designs to the next level with a burst of color! Students will learn how to wet-pack glass enamel on their PMC pieces. Erin has been working with PMC since 2003 and completed her PMC Certification in 2007. She has been teaching PMC classes for the past two years and is a very generous and practiced instructor. $115 includes materials.

Make your own components to embellish your bead work and have pieces that are truly unique. Learn to make your own cones, bead caps, identification marks and toggles using PMC! Resident instructor erin has been working with PMC since 2003 and completed her PMC Certification in 2007. She has been teaching PMC classes for the past two years and is a very generous and practiced instructor. $115 includes materials.

Keum Boo is an ancient technique of bonding pure gold foil to the surface of another pure metal, such as fine silver. This produces a rich gold color, while using very little gold. The simplicity of this technique makes it an easy, inexpensive way to add gold to your work. In this class, students will complete a piece to Keum Boo using 24-karat gold foil. $150 includes PMC and a square of 24K gold. More gold may be purchased according to current gold prices.

This class will cover a variety of ways that rings can be made in PMC. Students will complete one ring in this class. Erin has been working with PMC since 2003 and completed her PMC Certification in 2007. She has been teaching PMC classes for the past two years and is a generous and practiced instructor. Spaces limited! $115 includes materials.

Join guest instructor Laura who will teach you how to make two pairs of post-style earrings. These creative earrings are comfortable to wear, and are even “telephone friendly!” As featured in the Summer ’09 edition of Step by Step Wire Jewelry. $20 plus materials.

In this class, you’ll learn a quick and easy technique to solder a simple sterling ring. Once you learn the technique, you can link rings together to form bracelets, earrings or necklaces. $30 includes materials.

Join guest instructor Laura and make these unique swingy earrings. You’ll learn to make your own hoops, and then embellish them with varying lengths of sterling silver, textured by you! $40 includes materials

Learn the basics of wire wrapping to create links and join beads in a bracelet. Once you learn this technique, you'll be amazed at the new "lengths" you can bring to your beading projects! $15 plus materials