Fused Glass and Jewelry Classes! Announcements and Photo Gallery

Hello!! I wanted everyone to know that I will be doing my annual Fused Glass Holiday Ornament workshop again this year!!

Where: Larkspur Community Center 
When: Saturday December 10th !
Time: 10:30-12:30 pm. 
Light holiday snacks will be served as well as lots of holiday cheer. Projects will be ready within the week. $80 Fee covers Parent and Child Pair as well as ALL materials. $40 for each additional child.

Click on this link to sign up! Larkspur Recreation
This is a family workshop- great for a mom and daughter outing or a unique family holiday experience of any combination. 
Try something new and creative with your child this season.
 Not only will you be creating cherished memories with your family, you will also come away with many one-of -kind ornaments and receive a great introduction into the art of fused glass. 

I also want to share with you the amazing work my students have made in my jewelry and fused glass classes from the past few weeks. All I have to say is, "WOW"!!!

Students came in with big ideas and visions for what they wanted to create- They spent time thinking about the materials and were eager to learn technique and skills. While working through occasional design and skill frustrations, they practiced patience and kept themselves open to the creative process. We had fun, listened to great tunes on the jam box and got busy with making beautiful things! See for yourself...
The photos are taken  from the 4 elementary schools I have been teaching at this first half of the school year: Bacich, Vallecito, Coleman and Glenwood elementary schools:

 So many great ideas!!So many skills to develop! Wire working, leather and feather work, glass cutting, flame bending and design to name a few. The classes are loosely structured and student led in the sense that my students know that they can come in and try anything. I give examples and share technique and help them to build their own design sense and confidence in their creativity.  

 Last but not least thoughts...

 Have a great Holiday season coming Up! There is so much to be Thankful for in this life- Cherish the moments, BE in the moment, be true, be kind and breathe love.  Know that the process of making art of any kind can be very centering and bring inner calm and self knowing to many. I hope you all remember to be good to yourselves during this typically busy time and in this time of political upheaval that our country is going through. May peace and goodwill prevail.

Jewelry and Glass Fusing Classes Start Next Week! 9/19

bottle cap ring and bracelet
student

Hello! Welcome Back to the School Year! Lets get this Party Started!
Seems like I have been waiting forever for my fall classes to start. I had a nice long break (I must say!) but now, I am eager to get back into the swing of things. I miss working with the kiddos and all their creativity and eagerness. With that being said...Classes start next week!
This fall I am teaching jewelry and glass fusing.  Two separate series although there is some overlap in materials.

student dish fused glass

Please see below for the schedule and class descriptions. Also, you can click on the links and they will direct you to website to enroll your child. Please check out past posts as well...There are tons of pics and information about my classes and parties. 

Cool leather earrings made by student

wire and glass fused snail student!

Where can you find me this fall??? You can add classes using these links or go to my calendar page for more information including dates and times. You can add on that page as well.

Mondays: Bacich Elementary School

Tuesdays: Vallecito Elementary School

Wednesdays: Coleman Elementary School

Thurdays: Glenwood Elementary School

Please click on the links above to get directed to websites to enroll in class- all information regarding fees and age requirements are on the websites.

There are a few spots left...its time to enroll!

Returning students always welcome...Build on what you have learned!!

Not sure what fused glass is? Check out my Fused glass page!

Interested in having a art party? Check out my Workshops page!

Course descriptions: 

Jewelry with Nikki Contini

Students will use traditional and non-traditional materials and methods to create their own jewelry. The class will be making many of their own beads- glass, paper, leather, sculpey and other up-cycled treasures are some of the possibilities! Super fun and unique! I will also have lots of beautiful new and vintage beads to choose from. Watch out for the cool customized jewelry masterpieces your child will be making! Necklaces, bracelets, earrings, pins and more. Wearable art to wear and share with their family and friends. Great for the holidays coming up... ALL materials are included in this class and healthy snacks are provided. (nut free)

Glass Fusing with Nikki Contini 

This class is all about fun while learning the ancient art of glass fusing! I will teach the class how to safely cut glass and assemble beautiful creations which will then be fired in the kiln. Each week there will be a cool new project that will focus on different aspects of fusing glass. Your child will come away from the class with lots of amazing glass work and a firm understanding of the craft of fusing. Great gift making for the holidays!! Returning students are always welcome. Class fee covers all glass, firings and materials. Healthy snack provided. (nut free)

There are a few spots left...its time to enroll!

 A little background on me...

Nikki Contini is a local glass, eco-artist and educator. She teaches glass fusing, jewelry and eco-art to children in after school enrichment programs throughout the school year. Her art parties and workshops are also very popular for both children and adults. Nikki brings her enthusiasm for crafts of all kinds to her classes and is committed to helping her students joyfully explore their creativity. Her art work is colorful and whimsical and has been exhibited in many shows over the last 15 years.

making our paper beads

student bottle cap bracelet

What did I do this Summer?? ( besides my wonderful family trip to Club Med for a week of tropical paradise...)

Well,  I taught a summer school session in Larkspur- Super Cool Summer School!  ( A super cool program...they also have paid and intern jobs for tweens and teens-check it out-excellent program) This was a month long extravaganza of jewelry and sculpey ( a clay like material) I taught two- 2 week sessions and had a total of 60 students! I learned so much and developed so many new projects! 4 classes a day- 2 jewelry and 2 sculpey. This was a huge undertaking for me, as I usually only teach one class a day, maybe 3-4 times a week.  I had to really pump up my energy,(careful of my tender back) stay on task, keep it fresh, manage the classrooms (especially with the younger crowd) and keep track of supplies. I was also learning about more about sculpey as I went. The kids really taught me alot! I had a blast. So, look for sculpey beads in jewelry class this session. Your child will be making some of their own beads sculpey and on a side note...perhaps, I may introduce a sculpey class in the spring. There is so much potential. Check out all the miniature food. I had several students making restaurants. I was always hungry after class.

Lastly.. The Winter/Spring Plan so far...

1st session: Eco-Art/Mixed Media

(I may do a sculpty session too...)

2nd: Session Glass Fusing

See ya all soon I hope! Breathe, enjoy life...no matter how busy you get! We are all in this together!

Questions? Please contact me, I would love to hear from you.

Eco-Art Classes Start Next Week!

Announcing After School Eco-Art classes starting the week of 4/19! Vallecito, Coleman and Glenwood Elementary Schools!

Eco-Art ~ This class series will focus on reclaiming and transforming found and recyclable materials and giving them new life. This will be a project based class with an experiential tone. Using plastics, cardboard, wood, corks, glass and other materials that may be bound for landfill or our oceans, students will work on art projects with a bit of a functional thrust.The creative possibilities are endless!

During class, Nikki will touch upon environmental concerns helping students build up their environmental awareness as they work on their projects made from 'trash. Materials provided, but occasionally students will be asked to bring in materials to add to the collection. Healthy snacks provided.

Returning students welcome. I have lots of new projects and materials. Sign up below by clicking on the add links!

Hide Courses

Course	Barcode	Days	Times	Dates	Complex	Classes	Avail.
Eco-Art View Details	24890	Tue	2:35PM - 4:00PM	04-19-2016 - 05-24-2016	Art Room Vallecito School	6	11	Add
Eco-Art View Details	24892	Wed	1:40PM - 3:00PM	04-20-2016 - 05-25-2016	Multi-Purpose Room Coleman Elementary School	6	8	Add
Eco-Art View Details	24891	Thu	3:15PM - 4:45PM	04-21-2016 - 05-26-2016	Art/Science Room Glenwood Elementary School	6	10	Add

After School Jewelry Classes Start Next Week!!

After School Jewelry classes starting next week at Vallecito, Coleman and Glenwood Elementary Schools!
 It is time to get some bling going, some flair to bedazzle and learn some awesome jewelry making skills! Read on to get more info! Also, to see some of the amazing glass work from students this past session scroll to bottom of the page!

cork bracelet

I have tons of beads- new and vintage and all sorts of materials that the class can use to make wearable art. Students will learn some wire skills, works with tools and also make many of their own beads and creations to make into jewelry. Schedule is posted at bottom of page.
Every week in this 4 week session we will focus on different projects and types of materials. We will do a little bit of glass fusing to make some beads but the focus of theses sessions is to experiment with all sorts of materials to make wearable art. Students will come away with lots of cool pieces that they will enjoy wearing and sharing and giving to their friends and family.

anklet

earrings and key chain

girl scout jewelry party

cork necklace and earrings

Below I have posted the schedule as it appears in the City of San Rafael Website. Click on the links to sign up. There are a few spaces spaces left.
 Jewelry Making with Nikki  -

Ages: 7 Yrs. to 12 Yrs. 
Fees:
- course fee $155.00
- course fee n/r $170.00

In this creative and fun class, students will use traditional and non-traditional materials and methods to create their own jewelry. The class will be making some of their own beads from fused glass and upcycled treasures and will also have lots of beautiful new and vintage beads to choose from to create thier own customized jewelry masterpieces! Necklaces, bracelets, earrings, pins and more. Students will be making unique works of wearable art to wear and share with their family and friends. ALL materials are included in this class and healthy snacks are provided. INSTRUCTOR: Nikki Contini.

Course	Barcode	Days	Times	Dates	Complex	Classes	Avail.
Jewelry Making with Nikki View Details	24950	Tue	2:35PM - 4:00PM	03-08-2016 - 03-29-2016	Art Room Vallecito School	4	8	Add
Jewelry Making with Nikki View Details	24869	Wed	1:40PM - 3:00PM	03-09-2016 - 04-06-2016	Multi-Purpose Room Coleman Elementary School	4	11	Add
Jewelry Making with Nikki View Details	24895	Thu	3:15PM - 4:45PM	03-10-2016 - 04-07-2016	Art/Science Room Glenwood Elementary School	4	10	Add

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Reflecting on the past few weeks...photos and thoughts...

 What a super charged creative 6 weeks of glass fusing it has been. I will miss my glass classes but I am ready to switch things up! Teaching 3 classes a week with a total of 27 students has had me so busy! My big old kiln has seen a lot of action.  Nothing beats opening up the kiln and seeing how my students pieces have turned out, maybe my back is not so happy, but I have been. Check out some student work below!

someone has become a glass cutting expert!

earrings by students 

I have also been inspired to create more time to get some of my own work into the kiln. Not always easy to do when teaching. However, I need to make things!To get lost (and found :-)) in a little project that makes me hum. Lets not ever get too busy or stressed where we can't do what we love, do things that feed the soul. Things start to happen...like excessive procrastination, crankiness (or worse), when we deny ourselves! I know ya' all know what I am talking about!  I think it can be truly challenging to make time for oneself on top of everything else. It is not that we don't want to do 'everything else' or be with our loved ones but if we put ourselves at the bottom of the list, then the well tends to dry up and and then we wonder why we are so worn out! For me, maintaining a healthy balance in life is a constant exercise. It takes some vigilance and intentional conscious planning and understanding from loved ones to make sure that we don't get so caught up in the busy world,  that we literally lose ourselves. Make and take some time for yourself, that is all I am saying! I know we have all heard this before but... why not hear it again- I know I need to!

Hooray- my bowl turned out!

To sign up for after school classes:  https://eplay.livelifelocally.com/Activities/ActivitiesAdvSearch.asp

Also....don't forget that I also book art parties- birthdays, ladies night, girl scouts, art camps etc... glass, jewelry and eco art!! just give me call or email me directly!