Bead Away - Las Vegas!

I have been honored by Scott & Wendy from Brea Beadworks to be asked to teach at their Bead Retreat in Las Vegas this coming March 2009.

They have a unique setup for their Retreats. Rather than the traditional setting where you attend and take the classes pre-arranged, Scott & Wendy allow you to choose, from a vast selection, of classes. So you can tailor your Retreat experience to suit your budget or time schedule. What a great idea!

Here is a little peek at the classes I'm offering:

Beaded Beads

Sunflower Pendant

Sparkle Links Bracelet

Dazzling Rivoli Necklace

I've been working on beading up samples of additional colorways to offer the students a selection of other colors to choose from. So far I have 2 more Dazzling Rivoli Necklace samples made up, 1 Sparkle Links bracelet with another almost completed, and 2 additional sets of Beaded Beads. I'm waiting for some Swarovski Briolette's to arrive so I can create samples of the Sunflower Pendant.

If you'd like more information about this Bead Retreat, be sure to check out Scott & Wendy's website.

I'm hoping to meet some of you in Las Vegas!

My Beading For A Cure project

I had to change direction this year on my Beading For A Cure project. I was originally going to embellish a felted vessel that I had commissioned from Etsy artist, jetsamdesigns. It was very similar to this vessel , but she created a special one just for me in two shades of Olivine to match this years BFAC kit.

I was really excited about this idea and anxious for the vessel to arrive. It came very quickly and that very night I sat down with my beads and began to embellish it. But....I wasn't happy with my work at all. So I torn it all out. Then I started again with more of a direction in mind. I put over 40 hours of work into it....and....hated it! So I ripped it all out again. =o/

I can take a hint, (well, sometimes...usually it requires being smacked over the head with a heavy object) and so I abandoned my vessel idea and made a necklace instead! Ha!

I have a little bit of beadwork on the vessel and I might just include it along with the necklace...although because of the shape of this necklace, it won't fit in the vessel. Maybe I'll keep the vessel as a reminder of how quickly 40+ hours of beadwork can be ripped out. Yikes!

Anywho here is my necklace for this years Beading For A Cure auctions.

It started with this kit of beads provided by my girlfriend, Betcey, from Beyond Beadery:

And ended up this:

You can enlarge the images by clicking on them.

I had a great time! These colors are out of my norm, and some of the shapes of beads are ones that I don't normally work with, so I struggled with incorporating them into my necklace design. But I did manage to get one of each bead in there, as per the rules . My added bead was a size 15 in a Shimmering Lime color...it matched the crystals really well. I was allowed to add Rivoli's as they fall into the focal category. The Rivoli's are Verde, Brandy, Chili Pepper & Volcano, all after-market coatings.

I need a name!

I had the pleasure of taking a workshop this past weekend from Gordon Uyehara (You-We-Hara). I really admire his talent and how he is able to create such lovely works of art in Metal Clay.
This workshop was to create the Cosmic Honu or Sea Turtle as well as a decorative spoon which is an extension of the shape of the Honu shell.
Here are three images (you can tell Shawn isn't home as my photography skills are lacking) of my interpretation of the Cosmic Honu.


I got some great color with LOS, but it won't last long. I'll wear it this way for the few weeks it lasts, and then I'll most likely darken to black and polish to make it look like antiqued silver. I'll take another image then.

Here's the little face. I think it might be a he as I keep trying to type the word him. The camera was focused on his flipper so his face is a bit blurred, but I think this is good enough for an informal cyber introduction, don't you? ;o)

So, now that you've met him (there I go again) can you help me name him?

I'm hoping to have a bit of time after this coming weekend to finish the spoon and give it to Shawn for Father's Day.

The 2008 BATCies!

I cannot believe it took me so long to get the BATC website updated and published.
Time keeps slippin' away!

But, it's finally re-uploaded to it's new home and everything should be linked with the exception of the 2007 Trade Gallery. I'll try to get those images dealt with as soon as possible.

In the meantime, if you're interested in participating this year, sign-ups close on May, 15th. Hurry, hurry...don't miss out!
Sign up here!

I'm Charmed...

Last year I taught two Intro to PMC classes and one Metal Clay Beads class at the BABE! show in Oakland, CA. I had some of the best students ever! Many of them requested that I teach a class on how to set stones in Metal Clay.

So, here is my class sample that will accompany my application.


I'll show several different ways to set stones that can be fired in place as well as go over information about stones that cannot be fired in place all while we create as many charms as we can so my students can have a sampler charm bracelet similar to the one above.

It should be a really fun class! I'm looking forward to it!

I wore this yesterday and plan to wear it again today. The tinkle from the charms is such a pretty melody.

I'm not as mixed up anymore!

OK....I tried my hand at using a mix. (you can click the image for a larger view)

Granted, the beads are sorted a bit into each fringe, but still, I didn't waver from the mix itself. (I'm proud of me!)

I used our Rose Garden size 11 seed bead mix and Rose Garden 4mm Swarovski mix. Altho, in the image the crystals don't dance and sparkle like they do in real life.

While beading, and getting all up close and personal with the beads, I thought it would be nice to use a mix to create a simple Spiral rope changing colors maybe every three or four sets. But, I don't have time to try that out right now. Then I thought it would be nice to do a big branch fringe necklace, too. But...no time to try that right now either. I've got to spend the rest of my time getting ready for BeadExpo in Portland which is right around the corner! Yikes!

I'm all mixed up!

Yesterday I had a customer ask me a really thought provoking question. Okay...at first I wasn't quite so provoked to think it over, but last night after I got in bed it was all I could think about. The ideas kept spilling out of my head on what I would use mixes for. But then I started to wonder what everyone else might us them for.

We recently added our line of seed bead mixes to our website. (you can click the image to go see all the mixes, if you'd like)

And they have been selling very well. But what is everyone doing with them? Do the premixed colors inspire you? Do you sort them back out? Do you create something based on all the colors in the mix? And most importantly, what are you making with these mixes?

I'd love to hear your thoughts. Maybe they'll help quiet mine down a little. I seem to be on a rampage of what all can beaded with a seed bead mix!

Pay It Forward

My girlfriend, Charlene, has a Pay It Forward on her blog. She has pledged that if three people comment on her blog and agree to then post this message on their blog, pledging to also Pay It Forward, she will send them a handmade beaded item. I jumped on it!

Recently I experienced a theft that has left me very angry and bitter. Two feelings I cannot stand to have. As I have always been a strong believer in Random Acts of Kindness (and Senseless Acts of Beading) I firmly believe that not only will the gesture make me remember the goodness in people, it will also show another how just a simple act of giving can brighten your entire world.

So, will you commit to PIF with me? I have my comments filtered, (I've got some weirdo trying to post yucky stuff here) but my email messages are time stamped. So the first three email notifications I get of a comment being left will be the folks I PIF to.

Pay It Forward rules: I will send a handmade gift to the first 3 people who leave a comment on my blog requesting to join this PIF exchange (and email me their mailing address), and who make the same pledge on their own blogs.I don't know what that gift will be yet and you may not receive it tomorrow or next week, but you will receive it within 365 days, that is my promise! The only thing you have to do in return is pay it forward meaning you will do the same for three people who comment on your blog.

I'm bad!

Wow....I really need to figure out how to get more disciplined about my blog. Anyone got any suggestions?

I do have a few things to share. First, I started a Facebook group called I Love Beads.
I've been reading some online reports about linking and online presence and Facebook was listed as one of the sites that helps increase search engine rankings.

So, if you're about connecting online, won't you come join us on this new Facebook group?
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=8848683585

The Auctions for this years Beading For A Cure projects started last Sunday, March 2nd and they will run through May 4th. Please be sure to check them out! It's a wonderful cause and great way for you to own a piece of amazing beadwork!

This years kits have already been spoken for. I'll ask Shawn to take a picture for me this weekend so you can see!

The colors are very inspirational to me, very Autumn in tone. I'm thinking I might encrust a handmade basket with some freeform beading. At least that what keeps yelling the loudest to me. I thought of an Afgani carpet when I first saw the colors, but all the shapes don't lend themselves well to a bead carpet. ;o)

Gotta run, I'm in several swaps at the moment and one of them was suppose to be mailed out days ago! I've got to get it packaged and shipped today!! Yikes!