offers a variety of classes taught by world famous instructors.
New classes are scheduled all the time. Be sure to check back frequently.

May 17 & 18, '08 Beginning Glass Beadmaking - Craig Milliron
Aug 2/3, '08 Glass Bead Workshop - Book Comes Alive: Flameworking - Jeri Warhaftig with Neil Fabricant
Aug 4, '08 Glass Bead Workshop - A Book Comes Alive: Sandblasting - Jeri Warhaftig with Neil Fabricant
Aug 13/14, '08 Japanese Style Murrini and Beadmaking - Akihiro Ohkama
Sep 13/14, 2008 Borosilicate Pendants and Color Layering - Brent (Mr. Smiley) Graber
Sep 25/26/27/28/29, '08 Fish Sculpting, Crossover Lampwork, Beginning Boro Sculpture - Deb Crowley
Oct 4/5/6, '08 Floral Gardens & Special Techniques - Leah Fairbanks
Oct 11/12, '08 From Florals to Frogs with Canes - Cynthia Tilker
Oct 18/19, '08 Heat and Color Control - Jim Smircich
Dec 13/14, '08 Revealing the Unexpected - Andrea Guarino-Slemmons
To be set Wax Carving for Metal and Glass Casting - Bob Burkett
Registration, etc.
Area Hotels

Beginning Glass Beadmaking
Instructor: Craig Milliron
In this exciting two day class you will learn: how to work glass in a torch, making shapes, designs, adding gold, silver and palladium leaf, glass powders and mica powders. No previous lampworking experience necessary! You will go home with lots of wonderful beads!

This class is continuously added to the teaching schedule. Current scheduled dates are listed below. It is always a two day class held on weekends.

Two day class. Hours are 9 to 5, with a lunch break.
Cost is $250 and includes all materials.

Dates:
May 17 & 18, 2008
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Glass Bead Workshop - A Book Comes Alive
Instructors: Jeri Warhaftig with Neil Fabricant
 

 
In this two day workshop (with an optional half day add-on, see below) beadmaker and author, Jeri Warhaftig, will bring alive the projects, tools and techniques presented in her new Lark book being published in 2008. At the outset you will make complex twisties which will then be used to embellish hollow vessels and beads blown at the torch using the "Puffy Mandrel". In addition, you will learn methods for working with copper inclusions, fine silver, silver leaf and enamels. You will make several beads ideally suited to sandblasting using bead presses and dichroic glass.

The second class is a half day secession. You will explore sandblasting, learning about equipment and the use of resists. You will mask and blast both hollow and solid beads (either made in the first class or brought from home). Handouts will provide plenty of areas for further learning.

Students that take both the two day class and the half day class are invited to stay the second half of the day after the sandblasting class to work free on what you choose.

For the lampworking class, students should be comfortable working on a propane/oxygen mix torch, and have good working control of their glass. No experience necessary for the sandblasting class.

See Jeri's web site.

Two day lampworking class hours are 9 to 5, with a lunch break.
Cost is $500.00 and includes all materials.

Half day sandblasting class hours are 9 to 1.
Cost is $100 and includes all materials except the beads to be sandblasted.

These classes are held the weekend and Monday before the ISGB Gathering, held this year in Oakland, California. Driving distance is 114 miles, less than two hours traveling time.

Dates:
Lampworking - August 2 & 3, 2008
Sandblasting - August 4, 2008

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Japanese Style Murrini and Beadmaking
Instructor: Akihiro Ohkama
 

 
World renown glass beadmaker, Akihiro Ohkama, will be teaching Japanese style beadmaking and murrinimaking using Japanese Satake glass and Japanese "volcano" style torches.

This is an intermediate level class.

See Akihiro's web site.

Class hours are 9 to 5, lunch included.
Cost is $575.00 and includes all materials.

This class is held the Wednesday and Thursday following the ISGB Gathering, held this year in Oakland, California. Driving distance is 114 miles, less than two hours traveling time.

Dates:
August 13 & 14, 2008

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Borosilicate Pendants and Color Layering
Instructor: Brent Graber
 

 
Brent (AKA: Mr. Smiley) will be instructing off mandrel basics using heat and gravity to shape. Focus is on how to read the heat base in the glass, so you will learn how to anticipate it's movement and not just be reacting to it. You will learn how to cover encase and layer boro color to achieve bright beautiful results, every time - without fail! Covered are hearts and several different implosions, along with many other pendants. If you are interested in off mandrel boro pendants or getting beautiful results from boro color, this class is for you.

Students should be intermediate level, comfortable working on a propane/oxygen mix torch, and have good working control of their glass.

See Brent's website.

Two day class. Class hours are 9 to 5, lunch included.

Cost is $475 and includes all materials.

Dates:
September 13 &14, 2008

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Three Separate Classes
Fusing
Fish Sculpting From Soft Glass
Crossover Lampwork - Torching Components for Fusing
Instructors: Deb Crowley
 

Crossover Lampwork - Torching Components for Fusing:
Are you a fuser that is struggling with trying to make flowers, animals or designs the hard way by cutting and grinding EVERY piece? Are you a lampworker looking for a new direction in your art glass? Then this is THE class for you! No torch experience is required, although it would be very helpful. In this full day class we will explore how to make components for fusing glass to make realistic adornments not possible with traditional fusing. Deb has been torching components for over 16 years for her fusing. You will find that it is faster and much better to make them in the flame, as well. You will make a 6" glass tile out of Bullseye sheet and rod glass with fuse-to-stick details (raised). Deb will demo flowers, leaves, stamen cane, tendrils, hummingbirds and butterflies, then each student will complete those components. At end of class, you will assemble the plates. Deb will brush lightly on fusing and a firing schedule is given in the handout. The tiles will be fused after the class is over and available the next day. You will be amazed how great they will look.

Fish Sculpting From Soft Glass:
In this intermediate class Deb will share her secrets of 16 years on the torch of sculpting fish from soft glass without fear! Learn what makes it easy to make realistic fish beads. You will use Bullseye glass for this class which has a slightly stiff feel, but easier to use than Effetre (Moretti) when starting to sculpt. Deb will demonstrate each fish, and students will draw to win the fish made in class. You will start with a fun fantasy fish of your choice, learning to form fins, tails, lips, etc. Next you will do an actual fish using enamel patterning. After lunch you will make a Pink Tail Trigger with it's fancy long fins. You CAN do it! Deb also shows you how to make a hollow puffer fish as the finale. Lampwork experience a must for this class!

Beginning Borosilicate Sculpture:
Have you ever tried sculpting small animals out of soft glass rods and have them break, crack later or melt into a glob of glass? Well, this is the class for you! Learn the wonderful properties of borosilicate glass (Pyrex compatible) and how easy it is to sculpt without fear. Deb also touches on color development of the gorgeous hard glass colors. In this full day class you will make a standing mushroom and a beautiful flower pendant with the secrets to great loops! You will also make an elegant standing angelfish after lunch and finally a sea turtle pendant. Get ready for an easy, fun day, learning to sculpt things you never thought you could! Students draw to win Deb's demo pieces. No lampwork experience necessary for this class.

FREE Bonus Day:
Take all three classes and the fifth day is free. It's a Play Day. Work on anything you like and Deb will assist you with all the help you need.

Crossover Lampwork - Torching Components for Fusing class does NOT require any lampworking or fusing experience.
Fish Sculpting From Soft Glass class requires an intermediate level of lampworking experience.
Beginning Borosilicate Sculpture class does NOT require any lampworking experience.

See Deb's web site.

Class hours are 9 to 5, with a lunch break.
The cost for the two day Crossover Lampwork/Fusing class is $375.
The cost for the one day Fish Sculpting class and the one day Beginning Borosilicate Sculpting class is $225 each.
Take all three classes for $795, save money and also get the FREE Bonus Play Day.
All materials included for all three classes.

Dates:
Crossover Lampwork - Torching Components for Fusing - September 25 & 26, 2008
Fish Sculpting From Soft Glass - September 27, 2008
Beginning Borosilicate Sculpture - September 28, 2008
FREE Bonus Play Day - September 29, 2008
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Floral Gardens & Special Techniques
Instructor: Leah Fairbanks
 

 
In this workshop, Leah will increase your skill level and expand your knowledge of beadmaking. Some of the techniques that will be covered will include floral and cased canes, surface decorations, feathering, several different types of latticino canes and clear casing. There will be an emphasis placed on design, color blending, and precise application of surface decorations with a focus on florals, perfecting your bead shapes and refining ends.

You will be using Effetre glass rods from Italy, Bullseye glass from the USA and Satake glass from Japan. A variety of materials will be provided to experiment with, including palladium and gold leaf, fine silver wire, silver foil, glass powers, multi-colored handmade frit, and dichroic glass.

Leah's style of teaching balances demonstration with one-on-one attention. Throughout the workshop, students will be assisted with their individual needs.

Students should be intermediate to advanced level, comfortable working on a propane/oxygen mix torch, and have good working control of their glass.

See Leah's web site.

Three day class. Class hours are 10 to 6, with a lunch break.
Cost is $700 and includes all materials used in the class.

Dates:
October 4, 5 & 6, 2008

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From Florals to Frogs with Canes
Instructor: Cynthia Tilker
 

 
Students should be intermediate level, comfortable working on a propane/oxygen mix torch, and have good working control of their glass.

Cynthia will be teaching many different types of cane for the use and application in large focal beads. How to create and apply leaf, branch, goldstone and flower cane to a bead under thick encasements. Cynthia will show how to create depth as well as perfecting the basic bead shape and making perfect ends. Many different shapes of beads will be taught with the applications of Dichroic glasses, placement of flowers both encased and raised, pleated backgrounds, frogs and many, many ways to create floral beads and all of their elements and components.

See Cynthia's Ebay listings.

Two day class. Class hours are 10 to 6 on Saturday and 9 to 5 on Sunday, lunch included.
Cost is $375 and includes all materials.

Dates:
October 11 & 12, 2008
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Heat and Color Control
Instructor: Jim Smircich
 

 
This is an intermediate class. A firm understanding of beginning bead work is all that is needed. In this class Jim will demonstrate his theories of the use of heat. He will discuss the three levels of heat penetration and the appropriate use of each in the making of a fine bead. Jim will define and explain surface tension and its importance in bead making. He will demonstrate how the proper application of heat will allow the student to keep their designs clear and free of distortion due to inappropriate heat application. Jim will help the students understand WHY their designs "float and distort". Special attention will be given to the problem of achieving well "puckered" ends to a marvered bead. You will explore the common problems associated with creating a well marvered shape.

Jim will introduce the student to the advantages of using armrests, and a mandrel support device which relieves much of the stress associated with the effort to find and maintain center. This method also relieves the muscle strain in the neck and arms, allowing the student control the glass more efficiently.

Jim will also explore many color and design techniques, including his "black web effect" using opalino glass, gold and silver fuming, combing with a stringer (far better than "plowing" with a pick), and button and marble making. The students will be encouraged to ask for information about any aspect of my work or for guidance in solving any problem in their own bead making work.

Jim's techniques can be further studied in Jim Kervin's book, The Classic Bead Shapes of Jim Smircich and His Amazing Control Of Heat, available from Arrow Springs.

See Jim's web site.

Three day class. Class hours are 9 to 5, with a lunch break.
Cost is $600 and includes all materials.

Dates:
October 18 & 19, 2008
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Revealing the Unexpected
Instructor: Andrea Guarino-Slemmons
 

 
This advanced beadmaking workshop will be about revealing the unexpected. It is about changing the appearance of Effetre (Moretti) glass. You will do this by applying metals such as silver leaf and silver foil to the bead as well as by fuming the beads with 24 kt gold and fine silver. You will also work on making and applying complex twisted glass canes and dichroic glass. Next you will move on to encasing the beads with a thick layer of clear glass, covering that with color and frits and then using lapidary equipment to open windows into the bead.

See Andrea's web site.

Two day class. Class hours are 9 to 5, lunch included.
Cost is $550 and includes all materials.

Dates:
December 13 & 14. 2008

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Wax Carving for Metal and Glass Casting
Instructor: Bob Burkett
 

 
Bob is well known for his original designs in cast metal beads, and jewelry scale vessels and sculpture, using silver and shibuichi. In this two day class you will carve wax on a jewelry scale, using all the tricks and techniques Bob has acquired and developed over the years, while incorporating his famous design elements. With over 35 years experience, this is a rare opportunity to learn from one of the world's best and most successful artists in the field.

Class starts off with a 1½ hour demonstration of basic layout, embellishment techniques and wax manipulation. You then begin carving your own creation, as Bob guides you through the entire process. You will learn how to do bas relief (pronounced bah, also know as cameo) and incised (also know as intaglio) carving styles. Using simple techniques Bob has developed, seemingly complex details are easily accomplished. Bob calls it "sophisticated simplicity".

This is a wax carving class only. Casting and moldmaking, for multiple casting, will be discussed, but not done in class. Bob does offer to cast your work for you outside the class. A future class in metal casting and moldmaking is being planned.

Shibuichi is a famous copper and silver alloy employed in many Japanese forms of metalwork. All wax carving techniques taught also incorporate into pâte de verre (similar to glass casting) glasswork.

This is a beginning class that moves into more advanced techniques. No previous wax carving or jewelrymaking experience is required. However, you should be comfortable working in small detail, with patience.

Two day class. Class hours are 10 to 6, with a lunch break.
Cost is $500 and includes all materials used in the class.

Dates:
A new class to be scheduled soon.
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All classes are held at:

4301 A Product Drive
Shingle Springs, CA 95682
Phone: 1(800) 899-0689
Local Phone: 1(530) 677-1400
Fax: 1(530) 677-1600
E-mail: flameon@ArrowSprings.com

How to get to Arrow Springs and area attractions.

Class Registration and
Cancellation Policy
Please call or e-mail for class space availability, registration and any additional details not listed here.

Arrow Springs Staff Taught Classes
A deposit of $75.00 is required at time of sign-up.
The balance of the class fee is due 2 weeks prior to the class.
A full refund will be given if you cancel at least 14 days before the class.
The $75.00 deposit will NOT be refunded if cancellation is made within 14 days before the class, but any payments made over the deposit amount will be refunded.

Arrow Springs Guest Instructor Classes
A deposit of $150.00 or $200.00, depending upon the class, is required at time of sign-up.
The balance of the class fee is due 2 weeks prior to the class.
A full refund will be given if you cancel at least 30 days before the class.
The $150.00 or $200.00 deposit will NOT be refunded if cancellation is made within 30 days before the class, but any payments made over the deposit amount will be refunded.

If you cancel a class within the nonrefundable period, you can still receive a refund if either we or you can fill the spot with a qualified alternate at the posted class price.

If we cancel a class, we will inform you as soon as possible. It is very important that you give us as many contact phone numbers as possible, such as home, work and cellular, at time of registration. If you will be traveling for a period before the scheduled class, it is recommended that you keep in contact with us. If a scheduled class does not have the minimum required students to hold the class, it may be canceled. We will give you at least a one week notice. If an instructor is unable to teach the class, the class may be canceled, even at the last minute. In all situations, we will make every effort to assure that the scheduled class is taught. Arrow Springs will not be held liable for any cost incurred by you, other than the amount paid towards the class fee charged by Arrow Springs. This includes, but is not limited to, airline tickets, hotel accommodations and lost work.
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Area Hotels
We have arranged for discounts at several area hotels. Discounts are not always available throughout the year. You will need to call for the current rates. We suggest calling them all to find the best price available at the time. To receive the discounts, all you need to do is call the hotel, not the national reservations line, and say that Arrow Springs has arranged for discounts for our customers. You may need to spell out Arrow Springs. It is often misspelled as Aero. The Folsom and El Dorado Hills hotels are newer and upscale. Customer feedback tells us that the least expensive Motel is so for a reason.

Holiday Inn Express
4630 Town Center Blvd.
El Dorado Hills, CA 95762
Ph: 1(866) 833-8773
ElDoradoHoliday.com
About 10 minutes away.

Courtyard by Marriott
2575 Iron Point Road
Folsom, CA 95630
Marriott.com
Ph: 1(916) 984-7624
About 12 minutes away.

Cameron Park Inns and Suites
3361 Coach Lane
Cameron Park, CA 95682
Ph: 1(530) 677-2203
CameronParkInns.com
About 2 minutes away.

Cameron Park Motel
3444 Coach Lane
Cameron Park, CA 95682
Ph: 1(530) 677-7177
Motel6.com Enter Cameron Park and California in the Find a Location area.
About 2 minutes away.

Placerville KOA Campground
4655 Rock Barn Road
Shingle Springs, CA 95682
Ph: 1(530) 676-CAMP(2267)
Ph: 1(800) 562-4197 Reservations Only
KOA@KOA-Placerville.com
KOA-Placerville.com
About 4 miles away.

Our location, how to find us with MapQuest and regional attractions.

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