FORM & FINISH IN POLYMER CLAY
WINTER SESSION 2025
FEBRUARY 1 - MARCH 30, 2025
REGISTRATION IS OPEN
JANUARY 16 - 21, 2025
$325 CAN$ 🇨🇦 ≈ $230 US$ 🇺🇸
Building Better Beads is a practical project-based workshop featuring my original approach to bead design, fabrication, and finishing, charting a linear path that begins with a decorative veneer of your choice and ends with a well-finished one-of-a-kind wearable piece.
Originally offered in June 2018 as a complement to our very first online MasterClass, Single Slice Mokume, many students who had taken that course saw Building Better Beads as an ideal opportunity to pick their favourite slices and bring them into the BBB ‘construction zone.’
Since then, we’ve gone on to offer other decorative veneer courses – Matrix Canes, Blurred Lines, MilleKume, and Five Star Colour –and more than ever Building Better Beads answers the question “What do I do with all these veneers?”
Even if you’ve never taken a veneer course with us, you can start with any patterned veneer of your choice (canework, mokume gane, Skinner blends…) and turn it into a wearable work of art. The project-based curriculum will guide you every step of the way, from framing and forming your favourite veneer to crossing that well-finished finish line. You may find yourself building more than one better bead…
Building Better Beads is our most in-demand online offering, and even though we usually only host it once a year, hundreds of graduates have come through this course with a one-of-a-kind bead that’s better than any they’ve made before…
How about you? Are you ready for ‘Better’?
CURRICULUM OVERVIEW
In what could be described as making a hole and then building a bead around it, I'll guide you through a step-by-step series of WORKPHASE LESSONS, revealing all my secrets for making sleek Draped Beads, no drilling required.
These lessons will include:
cutting & using Shape Templates (a collection of downloadable Shape Templates will be included in your tuition)
design tips for framing your patterned veneer
cutting & connecting composite veneers
clay & colour considerations to enhance your design
multi-phase construction techniques
shaping & bezelling
baking tips & techniques
strategies for efficient and effective sanding & buffing
With attention to detail and mindfully mastering each WorkPhase along the way, you will be able to turn a decorative veneer of your choice into a showcase signature bead… or maybe even a full collection.
BUILDING
Good crafstmanship takes time, focus, and intention.
The building phase of your bead begins here, with each step carefully introduced and explained in detail through recorded demo videos and lesson notes, so that you can implement each workphase in a mindful and cumulative way:
DESIGN CHOICES
THE DECORATIVE FRONT
THE HOLE
THE SUBSTRATE
THE BEZEL
BETTER
We adhere to a philosophy of ‘finishing right from the start.’
But there’s still a lot to focus on when the building and baking is done, and we shift into finishing with finesse:
2-STEP SANDING
SPONGE FINISHING
BUFFING
BEADS
The satisfaction of completing a well-made bead might just be enough to make you want to make another bead…
In a series of ‘beyond the bead’ bonus lessons, we’ll present some other ways to get from idea to object, including:
COMPOSITE VENEERS
A SMALLER HOLE
A SLIMMER SUBSTRATE
A CONTOURED BEZEL
A SOFTER FINISH
We’ll even show you how to deal with unexpected challenges, and turn them into design opportunities.
REGISTER HERE
FOR THE WINTER 2025 SESSION
BUILDING BETTER BEADS
TUITION
$325 CAN$ 🇨🇦 ≈ $230 US$ 🇺🇸
Please note, we are based in Canada, and our tuition prices are listed in Canadian dollars. If you are outside Canada, you will be charged an equivalent amount in your currency.
The US$ price is included as an estimate based on current exchange rates.
The BUILDING BETTER BEADS CLASSROOM OPENS FEBRUARY 1, 2025
ALL WINTER 2025 MASTERCLASSES END MARCH 30, 2025
REGISTRATION CLOSES
TUESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2025
A BEAUTIFUL VENEER IS JUST THE BEGINNING
Building Better Beads is open to anyone, no matter what your level of experience with polymer clay. As long as you have a decorative veneer looking for a chance to become a better bead, there’s a front row seat waiting for you in our online classroom.
As you scroll down through this page, you’ll see all kinds of decorative techniques that our previous students chose to showcase in their in-class projects.
Here are some recent favourites from the BBB Class of ‘23…
“If you are looking for a comprehensive, inspirational online class that provides you with a professional format from A-Z, look no further! BBB takes you through, step by step to construct and finish a ‘draped’ professionally finished bead using your own veneer. Soak up the 30+ years of experience that is ‘team Dan and Tracy’! Thank you both!
”
Alison Specht : United Kingdom
Linda Wentink : USA
“I loved ‘Matrix Canes’ and I loved this class too. I will certainly take more classes from Dan and Tracy! I really appreciate how well-organized and comprehensive they are, and useful too!”
“This is my first class with Dan and Tracy and certainly won’t be my last. I have learned a lot, not only about techniques, but about patience, taking time to do it well from the start. Sometimes I am so excited and anxious to finish something, I don’t take the care I should during the process. Finishing from the start can apply to anything we do, and want to do well. Thank you for the great lessons!”
Kathy Fehn : USA
Patricia Onorato : USA
“I feel inspired and energized by this wonderful course! I’ve benefitted from being able to work at my own pace with detailed written instructions and informative videos plus valuable thoughts, advice, and support shared by Dan and fellow participants. I’ve learned a lot in four weeks and my head is bursting with ideas for future work!”
“I am amazed at how much I learned and the clarity of the instruction notes and videos. I have learned more in the last couple of weeks than the past year of playing around on my own. Finally, I see a way to make art that is uniquely my own, using the lessons learned in your class. Bravo to you and all the other fine artists in this class!”
Debra Strange : USA
No matter what your pattern preference, from an elegantly simple Skinner Blend to a complex composite of related techniques, just about any veneer will do. Building Better Beads is a course about giving those veneers their best finish, following a curriculum that features both studio fundamentals and innovative approaches to design, construction, and finishing, for artists who want to take their craftsmanship to the next level.
GOOD DESERVES BETTER
In its relatively short history as a craft medium, polymer clay has established itself as one of the most versatile. Borrowing from the traditions of other media and also evolving on its own, the diversity of decorative pattern possibilities is undeniably vast.
There’s a lot of beautiful decorative polymer clay work out there, but I believe there’s not enough work that holds up as well-crafted and well-finished. What is it they say? Good from afar, but far from good? No matter how crisp the canework, how smooth the Skinner, how dynamic the mokume, how mesmerizing the mica shift… a closer look at a finished piece can all-too-often reveal something compromising: a crack, a bubble, a fingerprint, an unsealed seam, an unfinished edge, a neglected backside. All this is not for lack of will. It’s often because the fundamental basics of technique in form, fabrication, and finish have been overlooked and undertaught.
In this online course, I hope to change that.
BETTER THAN THE REST
As magical as some of our favourite decorative techniques can seem in this always evolving medium, beautifully finished work doesn’t happen by magic. Seeing something through to a finely crafted piece requires knowledge and effort. But a beautifully crafted object is worth the effort.
In a medium that is so accessible, it’s not hard to be good. But good craftsmanship can make the difference between good and better, and better crafted, better finished work will make your work stand out.
Building Better Beads will focus on my ‘Draped Bead’ techniques, an original approach that I've been using in my work for almost 30 years. By completing your class project of building at least one bead, you’ll have the skills and knowledge to build more. Scroll through some of my work here, favourite forms on their own or in more complex collections, and see how a single set of skills can be applied to beads of all shapes and sizes . . .
BETTER LEADS TO BEST
By Building Better Beads, I promise, you’ll be building your skills, building your confidence, and building a better body of work… towards not just being a better artist, but the best artist you can be.
Here are some further details about this workshop, including FAQs (answered), curriculum highlights (highlighted), and more from our Graduate’s Gallery of finished work and memorable moments from some of the hundreds of students who have already turned their favourite flat sheets in finely finished forms, BBB-style. . . .
Jayne Traeger-Bliss : AUSTRALIA
“Thank you Dan and Tracy for a wonderful course. The carefully planned and presented course material is informative, interesting and inspiring, and the online format is perfect for fitting into a busy schedule. It’s easy to fully engage in learning when you are so responsive to both questions and show-and-tell, and it’s fun to share this experience with like-minded people from around the world. I thoroughly enjoy spending time with you and my many classmates.”
Jaishree Choudhary : INDIA
Colleen Manestar : CANADA
Kristin Halvorsen : NORWAY
“Dan and Tracy this course was incredible. As a complete newbie I was amazed that I managed to complete a well finished bead. The instructions - written and video - were clear. All along the way I was surprised in the results. I feel like I’ve skipped through a few decades of fumbling and experimentation to get a very solid foundation. Thank you both for such an excellent course.”
Caroline Alderman : USA
Altanchimeg Altankhuyag : Norway
Christy Reveles : USA
“I feel very grateful and privileged to have the opportunity to learn from artists I truly respect. Thank you again, Dan and Tracy for a world class learning experience. I’ll be shaking my head in amazement for a while yet, I think.”
“Thank you, Dan and Tracy for this great class. The material was so well presented, with great videos and accompanying text. I learned so much! It’s breathtaking how good your online classes are.
”
Eckhard Sutorius : SCOTLAND
“‘Building Better Beads’ is not just technical, it’s philosophical! Thinking the bead from the beginning. Thanks again for making me think, and to create with clearer intentions from the beginning!
”
Bridget Downey : USA
Kathy Hepburn : USA
Chris Bergman : USA
Marcia Rubin : USA
Claire Taylor : USA
Núria Puig : SPAIN
“‘Building Better Beads’ was amazingly fun, and full of so much wise, helpful knowledge which Dan and Tracy have garnered through years of craftsmanship and excellence. Their virtual classroom is a treasure. Sign on for ANY class they offer... I plan to.”
“This course was an incredible journey into “polymer clay awareness.” After every single step, I felt more confident and more conscious of the whole building process. I’m enriched as an artisan and polymer lover. Thanks Dan + Tracy!”
Chris Hellström : SWEDEN
Jeanette Kandray : USA
Maria S Casey : USA
“I have been “claying around” for over 15 years and have taken a few courses, read many books regarding polymer clay and watched countless online tutorials and perused blogs. I have to say that Dan’s BBB class has taught me a lot. His methods are unique and extremely precise and he shares those techniques with his students with the goal that we grow as artists and produce the best work we are capable of doing. I am proud to be a graduate of the BBB course, class of 2019, and look forward to taking more courses with Dan and Tracy in the very near future.”
I’M A BEGINNER. IS THIS COURSE FOR ME?
Beginners are welcome.
If you have basic skills with this medium, a 'feel' for the clay, and you have the basic tools to go with that, that's a great start. I’m going to be covering the rest.
And even if you’re not a beginner to bead-building, there’s always room to refine your skillset and up your game.
Sharing the experience with others, no matter where you are in your journey, there’s always something new to learn. That’s part of what makes our classroom community so dynamic.
“I’m so glad I signed up for BBB the second time. The refresher really helped implant the process into my brain. I love seeing how everyone is doing, and the amazing different veneers. I also really appreciate when Dan shows us how he fixes the inevitable problems and/or mistakes that can happen! I would absolutely recommend all of Dan and Tracy’s classes to anyone who is interested in making high quality, well-crafted polymer clay items.”
Karan Kerber : CANADA
Corinne Flannery : USA
Janette Woitynek : GERMANY
“Thanks Dan and Tracy for another terrific class. I’ve taken my share of in person workshops, which I have enjoyed very much, but the content here was superb—Dan’s artistry together with the highly detailed text and videos was the perfect combination... almost like being there!”
WILL YOU BE TEACHING ANY OF YOUR SIGNATURE PATTERN-MAKING TECHNIQUES?
Nope. Not here.
BBB is BYOV… Bring Your Own Veneer.
There is something infinitely captivating about the open-ended exploration of decorative techniques, like the ones I’ve developed and shared in Single Sliced Mokume, Matrix Canes, Blurred Lines, MilleKume, and Five Star Colour (not to mention the many other more ubiquitous ways there are to turn solid blocks of polymer clay into colourful and captivating flat patterns).
But Building Better Beads is not a course about how to make decorative veneers.
As the name suggests, this is a bead-building workshop, and the most important must-have on your list of school supplies will be a decorative veneer you already have, or a veneer you choose to make with BBB in mind using techniques you already know.
To facilitate learning, there will be structure to our construction curriculum and a certain ‘sameness’ to everyone’s projects. But seeing the diversity of design that students have brought in to the BBB classroom (representing more than 40 different countries and also showing what is possible no matter how experienced a student may be), that is one of the coolest consequences of this approach. So, Bring Your Own Veneer, and I’ll show you a better way to build it into a bead.
And BTW, while BBB’s ‘Draped Bead’ will be our means to an end, this course could just as easily be titled Building Better Brooches, Bangles, Baubles, or Bowls, as many of the skills and strategies featured are applicable to creating and finishing other objects.
WILL I NEED ANY SPECIAL TOOLS, EQUIPMENT, OR MATERIALS?
Other than the basic tools and materials found in a typical polymer clay studio, and the downloadable extras you will be getting as part of your tuition, you won’t need anything special.
A complete Tools & Materials List lesson will be waiting for you in the classroom. This list will also include recommended amounts of clay (don’t worry… aside from a chosen veneer or two, it’s not much!). And we’ll be reviewing all the tools and materials together as part of our orientation once the classroom opens.
“Through easy-to-follow videos and detailed written explanations, this class provided everything that was needed to succeed. The online class format was great as I could work at my own pace in my own studio, and I could replay videos and reread lessons multiple times until I really got it. I learned a tremendous amount in this class, and I am thrilled with how far my work has come because of it. Prior to this class, I knew very little about construction and finishing. After completing this class, I feel that I have the wings I need to make my work soar.”
Eileen La Russo : USA
Stephen Bender : USA
Sarah Dreyer : NEW ZEALAND
“A huge thank you to Dan & Tracy. I appreciate how much preparation, work and effort has gone into this. I especially like the fact that you are so available to give feedback and answer every question. Great job!!”
Suzan Teman : ISRAEL
Penny Stern : ISRAEL
Debora Esteves : USA
“I am overjoyed that I signed up for this course. It was a huge step for me as I’m a relative beginner to polymer clay, and I was worried that I may be in over my head. However, the clear written instructions and expert videos helped me take each stage with ease. It was a totally wonderful experience. Thank you.”
Rian Schreuder : NETHERLANDS
Jennifer Khamla : FRANCE
Gail Garbe : CANADA
“Dan and Tracy leave nothing to chance. The procedures are logical and detailed and the results are stunning.
Can’t wait for the next class!”
Jan Munyon : USA
Katarzyna Stefaniak : POLAND
Vanda Agnoletti : ITALY
“Thank you Dan and Tracy, once again an amazing course. The way you have sequenced the elements has made the possibility of creating a polished and professional bead a reality. The videos and text have catered to a variety of learning styles and the beautiful community of clayers given a platform to connect, share, and support one another has enriched the learning and online experience. Your responses to questions, and reassuring comments has provided feedback needed for learning, and the music that accompanies the videos has been wonderful. Your generosity in sharing your secrets and making courses like this available is amazing. I would thoroughly recommend this course (and your others) to anyone.”
Reina Drake : USA
Rebecca Edwards : AUSTRALIA
Phil Porter : USA
“I would highly recommend this course for those who want a good push in the direction of craft and technique. The online format provides an excellent balance between the presentation of material (parceled out over the course of a few weeks) and the freedom to work at one’s own speed. Because the focus was primarily on creating one bead, I was then able to take the time I had to try this same general technique over again to hone the skills that Dan was presenting. The videos and writing are all very clear and concise—impeccable even. Dan and Tracy are both supportive and encouraging in their responses and feedback. This is the second class I have taken (both in just the last few months) and I will look forward to the next one!”
“Thank you so much Dan & Tracy for a great class. You’ve done an excellent job presenting the material in an accessible and professional format. I have taken a variety of online courses, and yours is world class!”
Michelle Sansonetti : AUSTRALIA
Emma Lavery : UNITED KINGDOM
Isabel Cruz : PORTUGAL
“Thank you so much Dan & Tracy for an amazing workshop... Initially I was hesitant about signing up for this course, as I wasn’t that “into” making beads, but I’m so glad I did. The knowledge and techniques that I’ve gained have so many other applications that my mind is simply buzzing with ideas...
”
Cynthia Potts : USA
Elisabeth Thielsen : GERMANY
Marilyn Lindsley : USA
“Dan, I’m a life-long artist… career in design, portrait painter, and jewelry designer, so I can usually figure out how to do artistic things. I decided to try polymer clay 6 months ago and have a container full of disappointing results. I came across your course and couldn’t be more pleased. Following your attention to detail and methods have made all the difference in my results. You are a master!”
“I thoroughly enjoyed this class. I loved every step of my journey, and when I showed one of my completed beads to an artist friend who makes jewelry, she immediately told me that she would buy whatever I made! Thanks so much for making me slow down and concentrate on each step - that has been a very important lesson for me. I look forward to the next course, whatever it may be.
”
Alexandra Pemberton : USA
Francesca Gorrini : AUSTRALIA
“Thank you, Dan and Tracy, for this wonderful class! I had fun taking it again, both knowing what was coming in the videos and discovering little bits I missed or didn’t remember from the first time. I love that the main principles from this class - finishing from the start and turning an oops into a design feature - are applicable well beyond polymer work. I’m already looking forward to the next class with you. See you soon!”
“These 4 weeks have just flown by. It was a pleasure to have met so many talented students from around the world. What an amazing adventure! Dan & Tracy..... you are the stars and I would like to congratulate you on your generosity, kindness, patience and fabulous course lessons. Looking forward to the next class. I hope that some of your innovation and talent might rub off on me.”
Pamela Takeshige : JAPAN
“This has been a terrific learning experience! I have learned so many things about making beads, most importantly, striving for excellence. My understanding of polymer clay has expanded so greatly, and I believe that Dan’s stand on excellence is the, THE, most important thing he has taught. I hope I can even come close. Dan and Tracy, I just love your teaching method, which is so clear and easy to follow and understand!! And on top of that, fun! Thank you so much.”
“I’ve been a polymer clay artist for almost 20 years and had decided several years ago to not attend any more workshops. Because I am experienced with this medium, I really didn’t think there was much else out there for me to learn. Boy was I wrong! This class taught me to slow down and take my time and pay great attention to each step - no shortcuts! Thanks so much for helping me Build Better Beads!”
“This workshop has been wonderful in many ways! The instructional writing and videos have fully explained each phase in the process of Building Better Beads. The pace has been very carefully considered and flowed beautifully. The encouragement of Dan and Tracy in their responses to individual comments was nurturing and inspirational. I learnt and was continually surprised by the importance of focusing on the details of each step. The collegiate atmosphere of sharing and communicating by participants from all over the world offered fantastic support. I feel a genuine fondness for Dan and Tracy and will continue following their work and teaching with eager anticipation.”
Sue Shrubb : AUSTRALIA
TURN FLAT VENEERS LIKE THESE...
INTO FINISHED BEADS LIKE THESE...
WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?
Give your favourite decorative veneers the focus they deserve. Expand your repertoire with this info-intense but accessible workshop to turn flat into form, and then finish… with finesse.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
If you have any other questions at all about this course, we'd love to hear from you!
Please contact us and we'll reply via email and/or share your Q and our A right here on this webpage.
We’d love to have you join us…
Dan + Tracy
