Friday, June 24, 2016

My experience as a bead vendor/teacher



You are so lucky!  You must have so much fun!  I wish I could do that!

I hear these comments and ones similar to them so often I cannot begin to count how many times.
And yes…..I am very lucky, but I also work my tail off to keep that luck in tact!
And yes….I do have tons of fun, but it is at a pretty big risk.
And….remember what your Mom used to say?  Be careful what you wish for!



Every single day of my life I am thankful for what I do for a living.  Seriously, every single day.  I am surrounded by beads, by like-minded people who also love beads, by color and beauty and artistic minds and creativity swirling all around me sweeping me away sometimes into a beautiful world of color and sparkles and happiness.  It’s like a dream!


But there is another side to it that is not always discussed.  Not really seen or understood…or…gasp!  Appreciated!
It’s the side with all the work, long hours, stresses, chaos.  The side that keeps that beautiful side operating.

This year at the Bead&Button Show I had a classroom full of students who, for some unknown reason, were very curious about the workings of my “job”.  So, I shared some of it with them.
I started with the teaching side of it.  
First there is the idea for a design.  Sometimes it’s quick and easy and it falls into place.  Sometimes it is long and troublesome and even after weeks or months it may need to get tossed into the UFO bin. 

While designing I need to keep in mind three really important things –
Can I teach how I’m doing this?
Are there enough teachable moments in this?
Are these beads readily available?
Just meandering along adding beads here and there is not a good philosophy for a bead teacher.  Heck, I might not even be able to replicate it again, I certainly can’t expect to then show others how to do it!

And also there needs to be consideration placed into the design on whether or not there are new skills I can teach, or a new trick or tip.  If it’s too boring the class will not be dynamic. 
These thoughts can create a lot of stress when designing and can sometimes force me to just scrap that design and move on.  Sometimes I comply quickly….sometimes I “waste” time trying to force the issue.
But that wasted time is at a high cost if I have deadlines to meet.  So I MUST keep myself in check. 
It sucks having to be your own adult!  

 

Also while I am designing I have to keep in mind whether the products I’m using are easily obtainable because supply lists and/or kits will be needed.  Ugh! 
And what is readily available today might be totally unobtainable by next month.  Stress!

Next up is putting into words how I created this pretty little bauble.  Ummm…..did I take notes?  I told myself to take notes!  But, of course, I got all lost in the bead hole and completely forgot to take notes.  And really, how did I do this?  There are too many layers and I cannot see the thread path!  Yikes!


This process might take a few weeks also….because I might need to rip it apart in the hopes I can bead it again.  Or I might need to spend the next 6 evenings and both days on the weekend trying to recreate it.  (Let’s hope I don’t get distracted!!  LOL)

Finally, I’ve got the instructions written.  Now comes the photos/illustrations!  The learning curve for that little chore was years in the making!  And after I finally was good enough at it I decided I didn’t have enough time because I’m too slow of a beader!  So now I pay someone else to make them for me.  Huge time saver for me because it used to take me about 3 full days to create the illustrations for an average project.  This took a huge toll on my back, neck and wrist at the computer.  NOT good things for a beader to do to herself!

Next up is testing and editing.  This requires an ability to be humble….like really, really humble!  Because these peeps are going to point out some serious mistakes!  Repeatedly.  But thank goodness for them, because better I be told I was clueless about what I wrote BEFORE class begins than during it, right?  ;)


And then…. sourcing of the supplies to create kits begins. 
Ever place an order and the one exact bead that you really, REALLY needed was out of stock?  Yeah…we’ve all experienced that.  Now times that by 10!  Now add in that the bead might not be available for months.  Or….horror of horrors…the dye lot has changed!!


But what’s even worse is when you don’t learn these things until after the other 11 items have been ordered, paid for and shipped!  Sometimes to the tune of several thousand dollars!  So you’ve got 11 out of 12 items, $2,458 dollars invested in them…and item #12 (usually something important) is not available!  Stress times 10! 
Oh…and don’t forget that while all this is going on you:
1) Have another full time job of running a bead store and mail-order business
2) Your deadlines are starting to make that whooshing sound.
3) The date to be prepared for this event is marching quickly towards you like an army of locusts.
4) You need to remain nice and polite at all times.

Are we having fun yet??  ;)

I’ll post about the bead vendor side of my job in another day or two.  I need to go breath into a paper bag right now!  ;)

Monday, January 4, 2016

Beki's Class Offerings January 2016

Kits are available for all projects - generally in more than one colorway.
Kit prices are set to encourage class sign-ups.
Supply Lists can be provided upon request and are to be supplied only to students who have signed up.


Name: Imperial Garden
Skill Level: Intermediate +
Duration: Full Day 

Description:
Create a beautiful and structured Embellished Cubic Right Angel Weave "frame" that will then be filled with gorgeous beads, RAW bezelled Chatons and strategically placed branched fringe.
Students will Learn
A Cubic Right Angle Weave using 2 sizes of beads; RAW bezels; Branched fringe; a lot of information on sizes and structure; color placement; finishing techniques to enhance your beadweaving skills. 
Prerequisites: Ability to work with 15/0 seed beads helpful.  Working knowledge of Right Angle Weave.
Project will not be completed in class.



 



Name: Destiny
Skill Level: Intermediate +
Duration: Full Day 

Description:
Create unique focal elements using several sizes and shapes of beads.  Students will learn how to adapt the technique to create various sizes/configurations. 
Join them together to create yet another intriguing focal shape.
Then create a Spiral Rope chain using graduating sizes, shapes and colors of beads that join together with beaded beads that the student creates over 8mm Melon beads. 
Students will Learn
A modified and embellished version of right angle weave; Spiral rope; beaded beads; color placement; finishing techniques to enhance your beadweaving skills.  Also discussion about how other larger beads found in their bead stores can work to create several styles of this design.
Prerequisites: Ability to work with 15/0 seed beads helpful.
Project will not be completed in class.





Name: Three Wishes
Skill Level: Intermediate +
Duration: Full Day 

Description:
Bezel a beautiful Swarovski base and then create a RAW and Peyote Embellished bottle using beautiful luminescent acrylic beads as the foundation.
Dangle your beautiful bottle from an embellished Prismatic Right Angle Weave necklace.
Students will Learn
Peyote; Right Angle Weave; Prismatic Right Angle Weave; color placement; finishing techniques to enhance your beadweaving skills.  Also discussion about how other larger beads found in their bead stores can work to create several styles of this design.
Prerequisites: Working knowledge of Right Angle Weave.
Project will not be completed in class.




Name: Trifecta
Skill Level: Intermediate
Duration: 1/2 Day 

Description: Fanciful embellished chatons create three perfect flowers to sit atop a versatile SuperDuo base. This pretty bracelet has various design options and will give you the skills to create several different pieces of jewelry from the same elements and rope base.
Students will Learn
A bezeling technique with herringbone; embellishment techniques; create an intriguing SuperDuo rope that can be adapted in endless ways. Spark your creativity with discussions on the unlimited variations with these techniques. Prerequisites:
Basic bead stitching experience.
Project will not be completed in class.
* Will be taught at Bead&Button 2016







Name: Sierra
Skill Level: Intermediate
Duration: 1/2 Day 

Description: Create beautiful elements using various sizes and shapes of beads, then join them together with sparkling Swarovski crystal beads. The endless color combinations and variations of the elements will allow for explorations of numerous design possibilities.
Students will Learn
:
A unique thread path that is right-angle weave and netting to create little beaded elements, one built off the next.  Use of some of the newer bead shapes will help ignite your imagination on the carious ways these new beads can be used.
Prerequisites:
Basic bead stitching experience.
Project will not be completed in class.
* Will be taught at Bead&Button 2016





Name: Desert Blossoms
Skill Level: Intermediate/Advanced
Duration: Full Day 

Description: Bezel and embellish several sizes of beads, then attach them to a winding rope of cubic right-angle weave. So many variations are possible when you learn these techniques. 
Students will Learn
:
How to bezel with peyote stitch around various sizes of round beads; how to create dynamic flowering embellishments; how to secure your beaded baubles with a slinky CRAW rope while discovering endless design possibilities with these versatile techniques.
Prerequisites:
Working knowledge of Peyote.
Project will not be completed in class.
* Will be taught at Bead&Button 2016





Name: Celebration
Skill Level: Intermediate
Duration: Full Day 

Description: Capture sparkling Swarovski rivolis in explosions of color and light. Then place them atop an easy, but versatile, beaded rope featuring SuperDuos in this very fun class. A tassel of fringe completes the theme.  
Students will Learn
:
Several beadweaving stitches; lots of embellishment techniques; how color placement of beads creates a balanced and attractive piece of jewelry that you’ll cherish forever. 
Prerequisites: Ability to work with 15/0 seed beads helpful.
Project will not be completed in class.
* Will be taught at Bead&Button 2016







Name: Tango
Skill Level: Intermediate +
Duration: Full Day (Necklace portion not shown)
Also available as a 1/2 Day without the necklace.
Description:
Create an alluring bauble by covering a glowing large bead with modified RAW and Netting techniques adding embellishment, a beaded bead and lush dancing fringe. 
Students will Learn
A modified and embellished version of right angle weave; netting; Embellished Chenille stitch; fringing;  color placement; finishing techniques to enhance your beadweaving skills.
Prerequisites: Ability to work with 15/0 seed beads helpful.
Project will not be completed in class.






Name: Arabesque
Skill Level: Intermediate
Duration: 1/2 Day
Description
Using Czech glass two-hole triangle beads, you'll create Arabesque motifs that are joined together to produce this stunning bracelet. The same technique, when turned at various angles, creates a limitless number of designs.
Students will Learn
A modified and embellished version of herringbone; color placement; finishing techniques to enhance your beadweaving skills.
Prerequisites: Ability to work with 15/0 seed beads helpful.
Project will not be completed in class.





Name: Enchanted
Skill Level: Intermediate
Duration: Full Day
Description
Embellish like crazy!
Peyote bezel around a gorgeous Czech glass button, then cover the back with intricate net stitch.  A working bail will be added so you can attach your new pendant to different necklaces depending on your mood or the occasion.  Branch fringe loaded with SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS and assorted Japanese seed beads complete the look of this luscious pendant.
Students will Learn
Peyote, Netting, Fringing.  A very fun class that will teach you about color placement of beads to create a balanced and attractive piece of jewelry that you’ll cherish forever.
Prerequisites: Ability to work with 15/0 seed beads helpful.
Project will not be completed in class.






Name: Moonflower
Skill Level: Intermediate-Advanced
Duration: Full Day
Description:

Bezel around Swarovski chatons, then using a modified peyote stitch technique create petals that bloom from each bezel to form the lovely little ‘Moonflowers”. Three variations of the flower rest upon a modified St. Petersburg chain and one flower finishes the hidden snap closure. 
Students will Learn:
Create texture and depth in beadwork by layering various elements upon a beaded base; create eye-catching embellishments with splashes of color; finishing techniques that will enhance your bead-weaving skills. 
Prerequisites: Ability to work with 15/0 seed beads helpful.
Project will not be completed in class.






Name: Alessandra
Skill Level: Advanced
Duration: Full Day
Note: 
Project may appear slightly different from example shown as it has been reworked to remedy an engineering issue.
Description:
Regal beauty and defender of mankind are definitions of the name Alessandra. Create several beautiful components with seed beads, pearls and crystals to form this stunning necklace.
Students will Learn
:

Combine modified Herringbone, Right Angle Weave and Stringing techniques to create your own stunning and regal collar style necklace using sparkling, vibrant Swarovski crystals and pearls combined with elegant shades of seed beads.
 

Prerequisites: Ability to work with 15/0 seed beads helpful.
Project will not be completed in class.





Name: Second Season
Skill Level: Intermediate
Duration: 1/2 Day or Full Day
Description:
Create a beautiful trellis with beads with a lush floral theme dripping with beaded flower petals and Swarovski crystals and pearls.
Students will Learn:
This modified cubic right-angle weave technique will broaden your skills at creating decorative ropes while the fringing techniques will allow for a fun and colorful time to just play; color theories and finishing techniques will enhance your bead-weaving skills.
Prerequisites: Ability to work with 15/0 seed beads helpful.
Project will not be completed in class.




Name: Shapeshifter
Skill Level: Intermediate
Duration: 1/2 Day
Description:
Using several of the new bead shapes you'll create a bracelet with a totally unpredictable thread path.  These skills can be used to explore how the various new 2-hole beads can be used in conjunction with one another to create visual beaded works of art.
Students will Learn:
This modified right-angle weave technique will give you the skills to see unlimited variations of the interplay between different bead shapes; color theories and finishing techniques will enhance your bead-weaving skills.
Prerequisites: Ability to work with 15/0 seed beads helpful.
Project will not be completed in class.






Name: The Snake Charmer
Skill Level: Intermediate Advanced
Duration: Full Day
Description:

A sinuous rope of cubic right-angle weave gently curves and binds several sparkling Swarovski Elements into an enticing shape. Beautiful netting encloses the back of the elements for comfort and protection against wear.  

Students will Learn:
How to bead decorative peyote stitch bezels with a beautiful web of netting attached to secure the stones; use of various colors to create the illusion of movement in the cubic right-angle weave rope that bends around the beaded crystals; color placement details; finishing techniques.  

Prerequisites: Ability to work with 15/0 seed beads helpful.
Project will not be completed in class.





Name: Palace Jewels
Skill Level: Intermediate-Advanced
Duration: Full Day
Description:
The grandeur of times past explodes in this regal pendant. Using Czech buttons, Swarovski Fancy Stones & crystals as well as lush colors of seed beads, you'll stitch this beauty and make your royal dreams come true. 
Students will Learn
:

Bezel and embellish the buttons and stones with right angle weave and then secure with intricate netting (the back is almost as beautiful as the front!). A versatile Peyote stitch bail adds just the right amount of security to complete this beautiful pendant.
 

Prerequisites: Ability to work with 15/0 seed beads helpful.
Project will not be completed in class.






That's all she wrote!