Home

For General Class Registration and Policy information:  click here

The Studio:

My studio is a cozy and intimate studio, seating only 6 students at a time - giving each student more one-on-one with the teacher(s).   The studio is located at my residence and features 3 Bethlehem Betta torches and 4 Nortel Minors burners.  I recently purchased a Nortel mid-range for small paper weights, smaller boro work, and  "future" boro demonstrations.   The kiln is a "wide guy", by Michael Crowley, and is 32" across - with plenty of room for our comfy studio. 

Tools:

The studio is also equipped with most of the tools needed for lampworking from the basic marver to a 3 size stump sucker.   Classes needing additional tools will be noted in either the "class info" for that particular class or via email prior to class.  You are welcome to bring your favorite tools with you to class if you wish.  Please be sure they are properly marked for identification purposes.

Glass:

All classes include the basic glass needed for the workshop unless otherwise noted.  Students may be required to bring special glasses (silver or other reactive glasses) with them to class.  Some classes may require a special kit fee for specialty glass or other specialty item not usually carried in the studio.  A tool list along with any additional glass needed for class will be emailed or posted in the class information at least 2 weeks prior to class.   Some specialty glasses and/or tools may be available at the studio, please check with the studio in advance.  Any special glass obtained through the studio will become the students personal property, all unused glass provided by the studio for the workshop remains the property of the studio.

Class Beads:  All  beads you create during the class/workshop are yours to keep.   Beads must be clearly marked with an assigned glass color spacer bead on the mandrel so it can be determined who it belongs to when it comes out of the kiln.  If you are unable to pick your beads up the following morning,  I am happy to ship your beads to you in your self-addressed, stamped envelope suitable for shipping your beads, which you must provide to me during the class.

Lunch & Drinks:

1 and 2 day classes featuring guest teachers also include a lite lunch which is usually finger foods (fruits, veggies, dips, cheeses, sandwiches, etc..)  unless you opt out and bring your own materials and lunch (see registration and policies). Iced tea and coffee are provided in all classes throughout the day.  If you prefer soft drinks or bottled water, you are welcome to bring your favorite along with you. 

A few common sense guidelines:

Each student is asked to keep the work area clean during and after class.   This includes making sure all glass pieces are cleaned up from your work area, tools are put back into storage, and the space is left as you found it.

I am happy to open my living room, kitchen, and dining area to students for break time as well as for eating lunch.  All I ask is that you please keep these areas clean and be respectful of my home.  If you need anything (cups, dishes, silverware, etc.) and do not see any readily available, please ask .

No alcoholic beverages are allowed during class.  No children under the age of 18 are allowed unless prior arrangements are made and a proper release and authorization are executed by the child's parent or legal guardian.  Any such child will be considered a student, and must have the full class fee paid prior to attending class.  No "observers" are permitted, please do not bring along a friend or family member who is not registered for the class as they will not be allowed in the studio during demos or instruction by the teacher. 

Please - no pets are allowed.

Release of Liability and Authorization for Emergency Medical Treatment:

Each student is required to execute a Release of Liability and Authorization for Emergency Medical Treatment prior to beginning any class.  Failure to execute said Release and Authorization will result in forfeiture of the space in the class.  No refunds will be provided to anyone who forfeits their seat in any given class due to failure to execute the Release or Authorization.

The Guest Room:

I also offer a clean and comfortable place to lay your head at the end of each day.  Right now there are 2 beds in the guest room available.   The beds are available on a first come/first serve basis for most classes.  The guest room is literally about 5 steps from the studio.  A lite breakfast (usually bagels, English muffins, fruit, etc.) are available for a quick bite on your way to the studio.  For more information regarding the beds in the guest room, feel free to contact me. 

About me:

I am originally from New York and recently moved to North Carolina with my husband, David.   I started making glass art beads about 12 or so years ago as a hobby.  I am self-taught with a little help from the wonderful and very informative books and cd’s on the subject (thank you Cindy, Jim and Corina). 

I have dabbled in many art mediums throughout my life, but I have always been involved in beads and jewelry making (as far back as I can remember).  As a young girl, my father would bring home wonderfully colored telephone wire, and I would fashion the wire into jewelry pieces with various beads for myself and my friends.  Growing up, I  was also very intrigued watching glass blowers make intricate sculptures and designs with glass.  It wasn’t until one holiday season when I became interested in making my own glass beads, and received a Hot Head Torch and kit as a Christmas present. Melting and manipulating glass quickly became my passion.

The beads I have become mostly known for are the sculptured roses, encased rose murrini florals, miniature encased garden beads, and Victoriana style beads (usually containing some sort of floral design).

My beads are made with bullseye glass, and moretti/effectre glass which are all considered a soft glass.  I use gold, silver, copper, precious and semi-precious stones to enhance my beads, and use the finest quality findings in my jewelry designs.  I also enjoy working with borosilicate glass (a hard glass) for small sculpture and some special beads.  

Thank you for taking the time to look at my website.  I hope you have enjoyed looking at my glass art beads and jewelry designs.  If you are thinking about lampworking, or already are lampworking, I hope that my work has inspired you.

                                  Marilyn Peraza

Lampworking

Each glass bead is created one at a time using the age old craft known as lampworking.  In the Victorian era, the flame from candles (lamps) were used to heat and melt the glass to form the beads.  Today, torches are used to melt the glass.  Steel mandrels are coated with a special release to wind the glass around to form the basic bead.   Once the glass is wound around the mandrel and the bead is formed, additional colors of glass are heated and manipulated in such a way to create designs.   When the bead is complete, it is placed into a digitally controlled kiln and annealed overnight to reduce any stress within the glass, and to ensure lasting durability of the bead.