Beading as Bartering: Ceramic Beads & Charms Handbuilding
Work by Jenn Lam
Explore the layered history of beads while building a foundation in handbuilding in this beginner-friendly Ceramic Beads & Charms workshop. Participants will learn essential techniques such as pinching, shaping, and detailing to create small, decorative forms for jewelry and keepsakes, along with an introduction to surface decoration.
This one-off workshop offers a casual, hands-on experience centered on creativity and connection. Beads, as we know them today, are mainly a form of adornment and self-expression. For centuries, however, they have been used across cultures for everything from a form of currency and barter exchange to symbols of status and resistance. During this workshop, participants will explore the history of beads, including their use as forms of barter and exchange across cultures.
The class will begin with a 20-minute instructor intro and demonstration exploring beads as a object and covering foundational handbuilding and detailing techniques. From there, participants will have time to experiment and create multiple pieces with guidance throughout. During this time, the class will be guided through conversation topics centered on community and craft to encourage connection.
Depending on the complexity of the beads, students should expect to complete at least one ceramic charm and several beads to use for a final jewelry piece, along with the skills and structure needed to continue independently.
As part of the experience, we invite each participant to bring 2-3 items (ex: beads/charms/jewelry to repurpose, books, plant cuttings) to trade, fostering a spirit of community sharing and care.
A selection of finished pieces will be glazed and fired by the studio; additional pieces may be kept for an extra fee. Finished work will be ready for pickup in 3–4 weeks.
Class Details
Duration: 2 hours
Cost: $95
Class Size: Maximum of 12 students
What’s Included: 1 lb of reclaim clay, one choice of glaze, and communal tools
Firing: Included for a selection of pieces; additional pieces may be fired for an extra fee
Pickup: Finished work will be ready for pickup in 3–4 weeks
Enrollment: Pre-registration required. For questions, please contact info@sloslostudio.com
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