DAY 1 - FUNIMALS AND MONSTERS
In this lively and creative Funimals & Square Monsters class, you’ll spend the day bringing playful characters to life while learning techniques you can use again and again.
First Half of the Class – Funimals:
We’ll begin by focusing on creating charming comic-style animals, often referred to as “Funimals.” You’ll learn how to observe and identify the key characteristics that make different animals instantly recognisable — whether it’s oversized ears, distinctive noses, expressive eyes, or playful colour combinations. Using lentil-shaped beads as your canvas, you’ll explore how to translate these features into glass, building up personality and expression in a fun, lighthearted way. Alongside this, you’ll create a murrini specifically designed for decorating the backside of your beads. This adds an extra professional touch and ensures your finished pieces look beautiful from every angle. By the end of this section, you’ll have a collection of colourful, characterful animal beads full of charm and individuality.
Second Half of the Class – Square Monsters:
In the second half of the class, the focus shifts to creating quirky little monsters on free-shaped, squarish beads. You’ll explore how different shapes influence character design and how to use bold features, exaggerated expressions, and playful details to develop your own unique monsters. We’ll also decorate the backsides of these beads using the murrini created earlier, tying the whole design together. This section encourages creativity and experimentation, giving you the freedom to invent funny, mischievous, or adorable monster personalities while learning how to balance composition on a non-traditional bead shape.
This class is perfect for anyone who enjoys expressive beadmaking, bright colours, and imaginative design — expect lots of laughs, plenty of inspiration, and a fantastic selection of fun character beads to take home
DAY 2 - JELLYFISH
Dive into a beautifully creative session and learn how to capture the delicate movement of the ocean in glass with this Jellyfish Beadmaking class.
First Part – Creating the Jellyfish Head:
We’ll begin by making a murrini specifically designed for the head of the jellyfish. You’ll learn how to build layers of colour and transparency to achieve that distinctive floating, luminous look. This technique will form the focal point of your jellyfish and gives you the skills to create consistent, professional-looking designs. We’ll also discuss colour combinations and how to achieve depth and softness to mimic the natural beauty of real jellyfish.
Second Part – Constructing the Tentacles:
Next, you’ll move on to constructing delicate tentacles, learning how to pull and shape the glass to create fine, flowing strands. You’ll explore different approaches to achieve movement, texture, and variation, from subtle trailing tentacles to more expressive, decorative styles. This part of the class focuses on control, balance, and adding personality to each piece.
Final Part – Creating Ready-to-Wear Jellyfish Beads:
To finish, you’ll bring everything together by making jellyfish beads in a variety of shapes, transforming your designs into stunning, ready-to-wear pieces. You’ll experiment with proportions, positioning, and finishing techniques to ensure each bead looks complete and wearable. By the end of the class, you’ll have a collection of elegant jellyfish beads that capture the flowing, graceful beauty of these fascinating sea creatures.
