Well, you missed it. Yeah, I know, you had something else to do that day or YOU THOUGHT YOU KNEW HOW TO MAKE SENSATIONAL SOUP……..well, even I, a cook extraordinare learned a SECRET or TWO from Cheryl and I am not telling you what they were…………ha, ha,ha, so there!!!! I guess you will not be so confident next time you are making bland,  extra ordinary soup, you may think you know it all, but let me tell you, if the bowl is not emptied and cleaned within an inch of it’s life, you did not make a sensational soup. So keep your eyes on your guests and keep hoping that they don’t notice your soup short comings. Until we meet again, good luck suckers !!!!  Incidently, we enjoyed cream of asparagus and french onion au gratin, ha, ha, ha !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Learn to mosaic.  You can use alot of different materials to create a mosaic of your very own. This was created in a number of steps over several days. Approx. 2 hours lay-out.  One hour prep of table surface and table base. Two more hours to pick-up the pieces, to apply the adhesive and then to replace all of the pieces. The adhesive then has to cure or dry.  You can then grout  (build up the area which surrounds the tiles and mosaic pieces) to give the top an even surface. This can take about two more hours to get a nice finish and to uncover the areas you want exposed. The grout must be allowed to cure  then you can seal the grout surface. The glass edges were also ground to be sure no one would cut themselves. The base of the table was painted cobalt blue and the sea shells were given a light coat of water based urethane to enhance the natural color.  This tabletop was created using a combination of square tiles, six sides tiles, broken glass and sea shells. The table is shown before the grout was applied. The finished table is for sale at my shop $ 200. I will be taking reservations for a class wheich will be held in April. Start looking for a piece of furniture which you may wish to create a mosaic for. You may also begin with a picture frame, a serving tray, a wood box. The piece you select should have a recess in the top or have a surface to which a trim piece can be added (this will hold everything in and allow the surface to be leveled). Call me if you wish to attend the class, I will be announcing the date in the next two weeks.

ONLY 5 MORE DAYS UNTIL “SECRETS TO SENSATIONAL SOUPS”. DO NOT MISS OUT ON REGISTERING FOR THIS WORKSHOP !!! YOU CAN ENJOY A COMPLIMENTARY GLASS OF WINE OR TEA WHILE YOU LEARN THE “SECRETS” TO CONSTRUCTING A SENSATIONAL SOUP !!! YOU HAVE TRIED ALOT OF SOUPS, BUT WHAT MAKES SOME SOUP STAND OUT ? FLAVOR, YES, FLAVOR, FIND OUT WHAT YOU CAN DO TO PREPARE A DELICIOUS SOUP AND KEEP THEM COMING BACK FOR MORE. THIS IS ALSO A PERFECT WAY TO SPEND 2 HOURS AND ENJOY A LUNCH DATE, WE WILL BE TEACHING YOU THE “SECRETS” AND YOU WILL ENJOY A BEVERAGE, AND THE FINISHED SOUPS WITH BREAD AND CRUDITE’S. SO BRING YOUR FRIENDS, YOUR  WIFE, YOUR MOM AND YOUR DAD , ENJOY THE CLASS, HAVE LUNCH AND STILL PLENTY OF TIME TO SEE THE TOWN.  THE CLASS IS ON SATURDAY FROM 1-3 PM. DO NOT MISS OUT !!! IT IS SOUP TO NUTS !!! YOU MUST REGISTER BY CALLING (908)399-0247.

APRIL/ MAY –  JEWELRY/SILVERSMITHING - LEARN THE PROPER USE OF TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES WHICH ARE ESSENTIAL TO MAKING HANDCRAFTED STERLING SILVER JEWELRY WITH PROFESSIONAL RESULTS.  YOU WILL LEARN TO MANIPULATE VARIOUS FORMS  AND GAUGES OF SILVER WIRE AND FLAT SILVER, THE PROPER USE OF THE JEWELER’S SAW, FILES AND FORGING HAMMERS AS WELL AS CLEANING, SANDING AND POLISHING . YOU WILL SEE VARIOUS EXAMPLES OF THE TYPES OF SETTINGS WHICH CAN BE USED, AND YOU WILL MOST LIKELY SET A STONE BEFORE THE END OF THE CLASS.  THE COURSE IS TAUGHT THROUGH A SERIES OF DEMONSTRATIONS AND INSTRUCTION  AND EACH STUDENT WILL COMPLETE A NUMBER OF THEIR OWN PIECES. YOU WILL BE ABLE TO DESIGN, BUILD AND FINISH YOUR OWN PIECES LIKE A PRO. INSTRUCTORS: JULIA ROSE-DICK AND BOB JIORLE , 8 WEEK COURSE, 2 HOURS PER WEEK (WEDNESDAY EVENINGS) FROM 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM.   FEE:  $ 225.00/PERSON. YOU MAY ALSO TAKE AN ADDITIONAL ADVANCED CLASS WHEN YOU HAVE COMPLETED THIS COURSE.

SIGN-UP NOW AS CLASS SPACE IS LIMITED (908)399-0247 TO REGISTER OR E-MAIL grousestudios@gmail.com.

MARCH 27  – SECRETS TO SENSATIONAL SOUPS  – A GREAT DAY OUT . INVITE YOUR FRIEND, YOUR MOM OR DAD, OR SISTER OR BROTHER TO SPEND SOME TIME TOGETHER, GET SOME SOUP INSIGHT AND ENJOY A NICE LUNCH IN THE PROCESS. PRESENTED BY PROFESSIONAL COOK AND KITCHEN GARDENER, CHERYL KARCHER. LEARN TO  CONSTRUCT NOT GOOD, NOT GREAT, BUT SENSATIONAL SOUP !!  1-3 PM,  FEE: $25.00/PERSON, VERY REASONABLE FOR TIME WITH FRIENDS OR FAMILY, A LESSON AND SENSATIONAL SOUP !!

APRIL/ MAY –  JEWELRY/SILVERSMITHING - LEARN THE PROPER USE OF TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES WHICH ARE ESSENTIAL TO MAKING HANDCRAFTED STERLING SILVER JEWELRY WITH PROFESSIONAL RESULTS.  YOU WILL LEARN TO MANIPULATE VARIOUS FORMS  AND GAUGES OF SILVER WIRE AND FLAT SILVER, THE PROPER USE OF THE JEWELER’S SAW, FILES AND FORGING HAMMERS AS WELL AS CLEANING, SANDING AND POLISHING . YOU WILL SEE VARIOUS EXAMPLES OF THE TYPES OF SETTINGS WHICH CAN BE USED, AND YOU WILL MOST LIKELY SET A STONE BEFORE THE END OF THE CLASS.  THE COURSE IS TAUGHT THROUGH A SERIES OF DEMONSTRATIONS AND INSTRUCTION  AND EACH STUDENT WILL COMPLETE A NUMBER OF THEIR OWN PIECES. YOU WILL BE ABLE TO DESIGN, BUILD AND FINISH YOUR OWN PIECES LIKE A PRO. INSTRUCTORS: JULIA ROSE-DICK AND BOB JIORLE , 8 WEEK COURSE, 2 HOURS PER WEEK (WEDNESDAY EVENINGS) FROM 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM.   FEE:  $ 225.00/PERSON. YOU MAY ALSO TAKE AN ADDITIONAL ADVANCED CLASS WHEN YOU HAVE COMPLETED THIS COURSE.

DRAWING COURSE -MARCH (START DATE TO BE DETERMINED BY ENROLLMENT) THIS INTRODUCTION TO DRAWING WILL EXAMINE LIGHT, LINE, VOLUME. THIS COURSE WILL BE USED TO EVAULUATE SKILL LEVEL AND DETERMINE SUBJECT MATTER FOR FOLLOW-UP INSTRUCTION. INSTRUCTOR: GREG NAPOLITAN, LOCAL ARTIST/CHAINSAW SCULPTOR. COURSE WILL CONSIST OF 3, TWO HOUR SESSIONS HELD ON CONSECUTIVE DAYS FRI, SAT & SUN 10AM-NOON.

PLEASE REGISTER BY CALLING (908)399-0247 OR E-MAIL GROUSESTUDIOS@GMAIL.COM