Modnitsa Atelier Jewelry Design

I really liked the class. I thought Dina was extremely nice and very helpful. I thought the quick lesson on the color wheel was useful (haven’t looked at that since high school art class!) and helped with my decisions on what beads to pick. I have taken several classes and will continue to go back and take more.

my main complaint is that though it is clearly stated that you are responsible for paying for your own stones and beads, it doesn’t indicate anywhere that you basically can’t make anything without purchasing stones/​beads. it would benefit to make that crystal clear and give an estimated price range you should expect to pay in addition to the cost of the class. i ended up making a bracelet instead of a necklace because i didn’t want to pay over $ 50 in beads to make a necklace. the email said you were free to being your own «stones», but i didn’t really know what that meant, and maybe if an example was shown, i would’ve gone to the bead store and gotten my own beads in advance. i thought the selection of beads was pretty small and had a hard time finding enough of anything i liked to make something. my other complaint is that apparently the building turns the AC off after hours. it’s the middle of july and extremely hot. if the building turns the AC off, Modnitsa Atelier should have figured something out to keep it comfortable. in the end, i didn’t feel like i learned anything i couldn’t have just googled online and i made a bracelet that i didn’t think looked like it cost $ 28.

None of the introduction to the class makes it clear, that you have to buy what you have made whether you like it or not. In the end you paying for every single bead you were using. So get ready to pay at least extra 50 $ for the beads. When I asked: «What if I don’t like it and i don’t want to buy it? the answer was: «What am I suppose to do with it?» Well it takes 1 min to cut it and put beads back into the box. Although it could have been a nice experience, but there is too much selling involved, the beads the classes and anything you can buy. So the end of the class was very disappointing when everybody were sitting and counting every bead they used and total price they have to pay.

This class is a great introduction to making earrings with beads and wire. The class was small, which I appreciated, and Dina did a great job teaching us the basics and before too long we were picking out beads and creating our earrings. Dina helped students who needed it and gave everyone personalized attention.
I liked everything about this class, but if I were to suggest one area for improvement, I’d say make it a longer class. One hour was barely enough time. 90 mins or even 75 might make the class feel less rushed.

I bought a 2 hour class on Living Social as I thought it would be a fun thing to do. Didn’t know what to expect but whatever it was, the class taught by Dina exceeded my expectations. The small size of the class was great as Dina was there to explain and show us in detail how to make wonderful pretty beaded necklaces and earrings. I loved it so much that I signed up for the intermediate classes and CAN’T wait to see what is in store for us!

Horrible. Rushed through the class. Very demeaning. Made us feel like we were wasting her time! Not a good way to treat paid costumers.

I wish the beginner’s class was longer but if you’re creative and a fast learner, you will get a satisfactory piece you will wear and love! For more info and pictures:
I signed up for an intermediate class and hope to learn more quickly.

Dina’s class was awesome on so many levels. First of all, I learned a new skill within a very short amount of time. The way Dina explained everything was super clear and the way she laid out the materials and made everything available really made it easy and accessible even for a complete beginner like me. Second, I really loved the attention to detail. Not only did Dina ask for our color preferences beforehand (and honored them by preparing individual bead packets for us) but she also packaged everything else we would need, provided name tags and even a piece of candy for each participant. These little extra touches may seem small but they made a big difference and really rounded out the full experience. I’ve take 2 classes so far and I would definitely take more!

The good: they took my expired living social coupon. The women ATTENDING the class were very friendly.
When I go to a class to learn something that I have no use of in my daily life I expect it to be relaxed and fun. The earrings class was anything but. We were led down a dark hallway: foreshadowing. The woman — Dina who was instructing the class was uptight and condescending. When I opened an envelope the wrong? way she giggled at me and showed me where the envelope opened. How cute. She would go around the room inspecting peoples progress and made a spectacle by being super condescending to an older woman who was having a problem assembling the earring because she had shaky hands. That was just all kinds of wrong and super ageist.
She asked if anyone wanted to sign up for her intermediate class.
Silence.
Finally the one woman she had been nice to/​worshiping signed up. She was talking about how she lives in two places and is always traveling and the instructor couldn’t get enough. Dina — realizing that she could make more money by offering better beads for the next class told the woman «I don’t usually suggest this but if you want I can offer you even higher quality beads for that class in advance.» The other woman took that flattery hook, line & sinker and I am sure at some point they are having a lovely class together. I wish I was in THAT class. I didn’t realize I was paying money for someone to treat me like an idiot. Making earrings is not rocket science, people.
I guess the thing I could say that I got from this class was a brief sociological experience. You can take the girl out of middle school but…
Also, the picture used to advertise the class is NOT the earring you will be learning how to make. There were several styles of earring that we were shown but we were only able to make the basic earring design in the entry class and with «Semiprecious» pebbles. The design we were shown how to make had unattractive metal loops in it. Overall I feel like I had a more relaxed experience in girl scouts or even in a college class.

Great Class!!! I signed up last Summer and kept having to reschedule. Dina was very understanding and let me post a date even after so much confusion. My class was very detailed, even if the time did fly so fast! I made a beautiful necklace for my mom for Mother’s Day and even have signed up for a ring class the next night!!! Can’t wait to see what I can do with this! Will def go back again and again.
Dina also took the time to do some color advising to one of the other participants who was unsure as to what colors to use for her tones. Great Job! Thanks!

Also got my deal for the 1 hour class through Livingsocial. I used this class more as a refresher for myself because I’m already familiar with jewelry making. Class started on time or maybe 5 mins. after (but Dina is nice enough to let anyone who isn’t done or wants to make an extra pair of earrings stay 30 mins until the next class started — I didn’t stay but I did appreciate the invitation). Upon arrival, your primary color choice beads are waiting for you in packets with instructions on how to make your earrings, wires and a $ 25 gift card to be used towards any of Dina’s jewelry or a future class. VERY NICE!!! Dina was attentive and explained herself really well. She also brings out lots of extra beads for you to put into your piece. I’ll be taking the Intermediate class tonight (1 ½ hours) that I used my $ 25 gift card on. I would recommend her classes to anyone interested in making their own costume jewelry or, making to sell. 4 STARS!!!

The class started on time. The teacher explained each step thoroughly and was prepared with lots of options for each student. She was helpful & friendly and I look forward to attending more classes at Modnitsa.

I attended my first jewelry class yesterday with my girlfriend and had an amazing time! I made the most beautiful necklace and I still cannot believe I made it! I cannot wait to wear it! Dina is so patient and talented, and she really made the class amazing! I just signed up for her intermediate class. If you want to learn how to make jewelry, she is the teacher for you! You will not regret it! As far as the negative reviews, you get an hour to learn jewelry making technique, you get to keep your necklace (which you would have paid the amount you paid for the class on that necklace in any store!!), you have the option to buy the tools on site, and she gives you bonus beads to take with you, how could you pass this up? Dina passes by each student to see if anyone needs help and she is very patient, so I do not understand the review on her instructions being unclear.

I attended the jewelry class this week with a friend of mine and we had a blast! The directions were clear and the teacher, Dina was very helpful. I made a pair of earrings and was very pleased with how they came out. I’m looking forward to taking the intermediate class! I would definitely recommend this class.

I went to the jewelry class and was really disappointed. The teacher wanted to start early but because some people couldn’t come earlier, she refused to begin the class on time/​early. Her directions were not clear and I had a very difficult time learning anything. In addition, I did not even have time to make the earrings; all I have is a bag of beads and no tools. This class is definitely not worth $ 36 and she should definitely schedule it for more time as necessary.

Brought a deal from Living Social about how to make jewelry. Class is scheduled for 1 hour but you need to have the little basics — ie how to position the beads (holes next to the holes) and how to choose colors because time will run out on you.
You choose the color ahead of time and pick whether you want to learn how to make earrings or necklace. Even if you didn’t pick earrings, you got to learn how to make a basic earring (though some got to keep the sample earring and others didn’t — so take a picture). It was neat then the necklace. =)
Dina provided the main beads based on the color chosen ahead of time.
**Main beads I received were a bit small so I had to go find «fillers», which took time since the bead selection was limited. We were told we would have time to get more beads, really didn’t.
**I went out of my color charts (with pink/​white) to make the necklace since some of the colors was too overwhelming (bright red or golden brown — small beads next to small beads — about the same size as the main beads). There weren’t many bead color selections to compliment my bead selection (blue — which was more blue-​green).
**Beads weren’t position correctly so that took time to correct.
** No advisement for color suggestions so I finished the necklace just to finish. Not anything I would give anyone nor would wear unless I am at the beach. It was fun to see what everyone’s end result was.. Friends’ results came out better due to not having so many small pieces.
Maybe it would have been better if it was 1 ½ hour.
I got the basic idea which is all I can ask for. Going to try to master this before I go for the advance class.
Thanks Dina for offerring this class.

I got a deal from living social how to make a jewelry. Although the class was only 1 hour, I got the basic idea which I hope will help me in the future. But in the future maybe it’s better to sell 2 hour class.

I got a deal off of living social for a jewelry making class. The experience was eh. I arrived 5 minutes on time but she started 10 minutes late and then we were rushing through the course. Even though it’s a deal from living social I still feel that they should give us the full experience in the event we do want to sign up for her other classes or services. It definitely didn’t leave a lasting impression.
She did provide us with beads but it wasn’t enough to make a full necklace so she gave us some smaller beads which was good but we didn’t get to choose.