Girl Scout Events: Jewelry/Glass Bead Workshops

Jewelry Making/Metalwork Workshop - Ages 6-18 

Thank you for considering Elsie Kaye Glassworks Studio for your Girl Scout Troop’s next event. We are happy to offer something different and creative that your Girl Scouts will love. We provide projects and training for all ages – from Brownie to Ambassador – for your troop to earn either their jeweler or art badges, or simply for your troop to have a fun, engaging activity.   If your Junior Scouts are trying to earn a jewelry badge, we will cover all 5 requirements  (tools of the trade, making jewelry with metals, turning everyday objects into jewelry, creating jewelry inspired by another culture and making a sparkling gift).

We’ll start with a glass beadmaking demonstration, where the girls get to see first-hand how the beads are made by melting glass rods on a benchtop torch.

Next, the Scouts move to the "bead bar" where they choose the gemstones, crystals and findings they want to work with, including a choice of handcrafted glass beads like the ones we just made.  The girls can choose 2-3 projects from several options - a memory wire wrap bracelet, stretch bracelet, necklace with stamped metal disc, wire-wrapped ring, keychain, bookmark and backpack charm.  These are the most popular pieces right now for events of this age group, but we are always open to new ideas and encourage girl-driven projects. Then, we instruct them on how to put it all together using wire wrapping and design techniques and tools.

We provide all materials and supplies required for each participant to create their own projects, as well as trained staff members assist each child design, create and finishing their pieces.

The fee for this workshop is $300, and includes all materials. Attendance for this workshop is typically limited to a maximum of 10 children to insure individual instruction and attention.  However, we can accommodate up to 15 children if necessary, at a fee of $30 per additional child.  (This covers additional supplies, as well as extra staff required to help with a larger group).  We provide a small snack and drink for all Scouts, but troop leaders are welcome to bring in outside food and drink.  Depending on group size, events take between 1 ½ and 2 hours and can be scheduled on a weekday after school or on after 3pm on a Saturday. A 50% deposit is required to hold the date. 

Teen Torch/Glass Beadmaking Workshop - Ages 12 and up

 

Tailored for Scouts age 12 and older, our “Teen Torch Workshop”  will introduce the fundamentals of glass beadmaking using a gas and oxygen-fueled torch and soft glass.  Topics covered include safety, tools and equipment, properties of glass, manipulation of glass with a focus on heat control, annealing and glass compatibility, and finishing beads. Participants will be introduced to the use of heat and gravity to shape molten glass and will make between 5-10 beads during the event. No experience is necessary. A minimum of 4 participants are required to run this workshop.

For our teen torch/glass beadmaking workshops, we typically spend one hour making glass beads and one hour making jewelry, similar to the workshop above.

*Note - The glass beads must gradually cool, or “anneal” in the kiln overnight.  They will be ready for pickup 2-3 days after the event, or we can make arrangements to mail them to you.  Our Girl Scout Teen Torch Events last approximately 2 hours and are usually held after school during the week or after 3pm on a Saturday.

In order to ensure safe flameworking practices, our teen torch/glass beadmaking workshops are limited to a maximum of 8 girls.  We provide all materials and supplies required for each Scout to make her own glass beads, as well as trained staff members to help with instruction and supervision.  We provide a small snack and drink for all Scouts, but troop leaders are welcome to bring in outside food and drink.  The fee for our teen torch/glass bead workshop is $300 and a 50% deposit is required to hold the date.

Thank you and we look forward to seeing you for your next scouting event!