glass bead course in Letschin
When my girlfriend recently invited me on a so-called slow trip, I thought, OK, I can give it a try, get away from everyday life for a bit, escape the stress, why not? Then she said we should do a glass bead course. What is that? Why do we need a glass bead? Well, my girlfriend is an aesthete and decorates the house and yard tastefully. I'm neither crazy about decoration nor jewelry. Getting creative or even doing handicrafts? Not for me. When I shape something, it's dough or, in my job, the state of tension in human tissue.
I still looked up the link online and found out that the course was taking place in Letschin. It was only a 45-minute drive - perfect. I hadn't had time alone with my girlfriend for a long time, so my concerns were put to one side and just 10km away there was a quaint fish restaurant that I had fond memories of 12 years ago. That sounded like a plan - first the course, then a delicious meal.
We booked on the last Saturday in September, the sun was low early and we were on the outskirts of Letschin shortly before 14 p.m., the farm was already outside the town sign in the direction of Kienitz, surrounded by harvested fields. We were greeted by quiet early autumn decorations, as well as 2 roosters, 1 hen, 2 ducks and geese.
We felt like we were at the end of the world, but it was an idyllic end. We approached the farm buildings with some trepidation, considering the challenges ahead and who we would meet on the course, when a tall blonde woman greeted us with an open smile.
We asked for a place to go and were allowed into the spacious main house. Several discoveries got us talking to the landlady: the photos of the family, the pantry in the kitchen, which was opulently filled with various seeds, dried fruit and grains, about nutrition in general and homemade muesli in particular, and in the bathroom the homemade soap dish and the funny raven comics on the walls about the diversity of the landlady's artistic interests. In the pots with Chinese navel plants on the windowsill, red pansy flowers and red balls with little frogs sitting on them - made of glass! I was slowly becoming curious, but no less awed by the tasks ahead.
We moved from the house into the converted stable and went up a staircase to the open upper level, which welcomed us with a coffee table set for three people, the workshop and creative area and an exhibition room. There was something to discover in every corner. When asked, we decided to have coffee straight away so we could continue to talk and take a look at the rooms. If I had read more carefully online, I would already know that Mrs. Brill organizes jewelry parties for several participants, but the glass bead courses are only for 3-1 participants for logistical and quality reasons.
She spoke unpretentiously about her craft, how she came to it, about her network with colleagues from other design disciplines and very respectfully about their works, while we enjoyed too much of the delicious almond cake and coffee.
On the table was a selection of glass beads, which ours might look like. Beads with holes for threading a necklace, for example. Of course, you can give them away if you don't like jewelry yourself. Better late than no enlightenment.
We were then given the work safety materials - leather aprons and UV glasses - and were allowed to choose the colors for our beads and the technique and look over the professional's shoulder. She explained everything very calmly and we admired the practiced movements, the precision and felt like we didn't understand anything. Mrs. Brill's bead ended up in the oven with further explanations to cool slowly to prevent any cracks from forming. It was our turn.
My friend was brave and accepted her fate of having to perform first, while I was able to watch the show from a safe distance and offer good advice. A beautiful pearl disappeared into the oven with Mrs. Brill's firm grip and I thought, it wasn't that difficult after all.
We had created a total of 5 pearls, all of which landed in the oven glowing in wonderful red tones. We would have loved to take the finished products home with us straight away. After cooling for around 24 hours, Ms. Brill lovingly packaged them and sent them to us by post with our names on them.
Unfortunately, we forgot to take the matching leather straps with us. Since we are definitely going to Letschin again to take glass frogs, chickens and sheep with us, we can also choose leather straps for our glass beads at the same time.
Grateful for the experience and feeling a little elated, we left the farm and headed for the fish restaurant, where we were able to talk about more than just our afternoon together.
Some time passed again until our next meeting. This time we were able to admire our no longer glowing red pearls in the colors we had chosen back then and present them to our families.
We still have vivid memories of how much concentration and coordination was required from both hands. By the way, we have already given away a pearl and I will now wear one on special occasions.