Our Workshops

Click for Detail	#1. Blessings Bangle (Silver) Recent research (Seligman, Steen, Park & Peterson, 2005) suggests that regularly identifying good things in your life and considering why those things have happened, contributes to increased happiness. In this workshop, participants will identify blessings/good things, and complete an attractive bangle that will serve as a tangible reminder of the blessings they have identified. We start with participants listing 5-7 things which they consider important blessings/good things in their lives and considering why these good things have occurred. After this, we’ll review basic wire-working skills necessary to complete a sterling silver bangle bracelet with a hand-crafted clasp, using heavy gauge sterling silver wire and a variety of glass and metal beads. Participants choose beads to represent the blessings/good things in their lives. Some of the glass beads used in this project will be lampworked glass beads made by Susan and Liz.
	Price:	$125.00
	Qty:
	#2. Blessings Bangle (Copper) See description for Blessings Bangle (Silver) for the basic information about this project. Do you love copper? Instead of using sterling wire for the core and clasp of the bangle, we'll use copper. Generally people use a combination of copper, silver and glass beads with this bangle.
	Price:	$100.00
	Qty:
	Seven Strengths Copper Bead Necklace Near and Dearrings Blessings Bangle (Copper)
Click for Detail	#3. Near and Dearrings Who do you want to carry close to you as you go about your day? In this 3 hour workshop, you will make a pair of earrings, each bead wired onto sterling chain, representing someone near and dear. We'll work with pearls, small gemstone beads and Bali silver beadcaps. You'll learn how to make "messy" wrapped loops with slender Sterling Silver headpins, to attach the beads to the chain.
	Price:	$95.00
	Qty:
Click for Detail	#4. Seven Strengths Copper Bead Necklace To prepare for this workshop, participants are encouraged to complete the Values-in-Action (VIA) Signature Strengths Questionnaire at http://www.authentichappiness.org/. This is a great way to explore your strengths. The beads represent your top 7 strengths. Using heavy-weight copper foil, you'll cut and sand long triangles, then write your strengths on the copper triangles. You'll roll the triangles up into croissant-like beads, embellished with copper wire coils. These are strung, along with large-holed African fused glass beads, onto silk ribbon or, if you prefer, leather cord. The ends of the silk ribbon/leather cord are finished with copper beads. The necklace is tied with a bow, allowing you to decide where you want the necklace to sit. [ Yes :-) - the sample necklace in the picture shows only 5 copper beads - we'll have an updated picture here soon]
	Price:	$80.00
	Qty:
Click for Detail	#5. Comfort and Joy Vessel This workshop is designed specifically for the winter months, either before or after Christmas. At this often-busy time of year, it can be important to slow down enough to experience comfort and joy. This workshop lets you do just that. You'll choose a small glass vessel made by us, and we'll show you how to assemble it into a perfect tiny container filled with a favorite essential oil. Your vessel will be capped with a stopper made with beads and a cork and secured with a fine silver keeper chain. Then we'll help you suspend this vessel from a sterling silver chain. Included is a sterling silver funnel to help you pour oil into your vessel. A perfect little treat for you, or come and make this as a present for a loved one. Includes all materials and tools. Come join us at our new workshop location, Zocalo's Gallery in Edmonton's Little Italy.
	Price:	$105.00
	Qty:
Click for Detail	#6. Treasure Trove Sonja Lyubomirsky, PhD, author of “The How of Happiness” (2007) suggests that happiness increases when we savour life’s joys. One way she suggests we do that is by creating a “savoring album” – a small album with a few images of what we hold dearest.  Purple Mangoes thinks that’s a great idea. Our newest workshop helps participants incorporate pictures of what you hold most dear into a tiny, wearable photo collage “album” with brass covers suspended from a brass chain. This project requires no jewelry making skills; we will show you how to work with metal eyelets and design decorative wire and bead embellishments for your album. Bring photos (on a USB key) or e-mail to us in advance. We'll use a variety of technology tools to help you create a set of 2" x 2" mini-photo-collages.
	Price:	$70.00
	Qty:
Click for Detail	#7. Peas Be With You Neckpeas Make a whimsical “neck-peas” in silver and/or copper to remind you of the value of “peasfulness” in your life. Or, make this to give to someone special in your life to convey the message of “peas be with you.”   Although we’re being somewhat glib, we do hope that wearing these unique pendants will help you remember to make time for peaceful thoughts and acts in your daily life. As the Dalai Lama notes: “peace must first be created within ourselves, then gradually expanded to include our families, our communities, and ultimately the whole planet."   We’ll be working with silver and/or copper sheet, silver wire and a variety of glass and stone beads. No prior experience required; we will help you if using tools puts you into a less than peasful mood. $125.00/person (all silver, silver chain) $85.00/person (copper and silver, ribbon or rubber cord)
	Price:	$125.00
	Qty: