I attended a wonderful class to make a beautiful lamp, and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience! The instructors were fantastic hosts—welcoming, eager to please, and they even treated us to Turkish tea and Turkish delights, which made for a lovely atmosphere.
A few suggestions that might enhance the experience even more:
I’d recommend that everyone arrive about 30 minutes early to browse design options since class time is limited once it starts.
It would be helpful if the instructors reminded everyone at the very beginning not to open their box until instructed. When one person opens theirs early, it creates confusion and a sense of urgency that isn’t necessary—there’s plenty of everything for everyone.
It would be great if the instructors clearly marked any displayed lamps not on the pattern sheet as "Examples." I realized over an hour into the class that the lamp I originally wanted wasn’t on the available patterns, and I might have chosen differently if I’d known that sooner.
I was initially under the impression that I’d have enough time to finish my lamp during the class, but it turns out you can complete it at home if needed—knowing this upfront would help set expectations.
A tip for future participants: You’ll be working with a clear glue similar to rubber cement. Don’t use too much at once, or your beads will slide around—they do tell you this in class, but it’s worth emphasizing!
Overall, this was a fun and creative experience, and even though some participants seemed stressed during the process, everyone appeared happy with their finished lamps. Highly recommend!
