Ring Repair before my Spring Ring Fling Workshop

reattaching the runaway flower

This weekend's my Freeform Peyote Spring Ring Fling Workshop at Fusion Beads. 

About time to fix this poor little ring!  After riding around in a plastic baggie in the bottom of my purse for at least a month, it lost one of its flowers.  Poor little thing!

As a beading instructor, I fear I am ridiculously hard on my pieces.  Luckily the plastic baggie caught the runaway flower (and the little turn bead too, for that matter).

You can see one of the things I absolutely love about freeform peyote stitch in this photo.  Even though a thread broke and I lost a flower, the rest of the ring stayed neatly intact.  No cascade of escaping beads to corral.  Since I had to stitch the one flower back on, I decided to run my thread through the other two as well, just for reinforcement.  But it wasn't strictly necessary.

ready to wear again.

Now the ring is fixed and ready to wear again. 

With Valentine's Day coming up, it would be easy to make a another Valentine ring or two.  But I did that last year.  So I'm likely to go on to something new.  Not sure what theme I'll work with this coming weekend. 

A friend from Seedbeaders gave me a wonderful, oddly-shaped black pearl that could be a fun focus for my next ring.  Or I may simply stroll the aisles at Fusion Beads and see what jumps out at me. 

It's also fun to see what my students bring to work with - every ring made is so unique!  If you don't believe me, do a search on my blog for 'ring'.  You'll see what I mean. 

a better photo of the pearl than of the ring

Want to come play?


There's still plenty of room if you'd like to join in.  Saturday, January 28th from 2:00- 5:00pm. 

I'm looking forward to it! 

Happy Fish and Freeform Rings - Winter Classes at Fusion Beads

Signups are now open for Winter classes at Fusion Beads. I'm excited to teach two workshops.

Freeform Peyote Rings

Saturday, January 28th

Interested in trying your hand at freeform peyote? These quick little rings are a great foray into freeform beading, using peyote stitch in creative ways to create fanciful organic designs incorporating crystals, spiked, or other novelty beads.  Each ring is a unique creation- no two designs turn out exactly the same! 

Happy Fish Bead Embroidery

Sunday, March 26th

Add a touch of whimsy to your day with these playful bead embroidery Happy Fish.  Enjoy a play day with a more freeform approach to bead emboidery while creating a fun fish brooch, pendant, hair ornament or applique.  Work with a variety of bead embroidery stitched to create your own unique design.    

One of the things I love best about both of these classes is that everyone's work will be entirely their own.  I think of these a supported creativity classes.  I'll be sharing techniques, tips, and lots and lots of design ideas, but there's so much room for the creative play and exploration.


Mine are only two of nearly seventy classes and workshops in Fusion Bead's new schedule.  As always, they have an amazing schedule of classes in bead weaving, metal work, kumihimo, resin work and more.  You can check out their full schedule here. 

Lacework Bracelet workshop moved to November 20th

Lacework Bracelets

An update to my Fusion Beads class schedule.  My Lacework Bracelet class has been moved from October 2nd to November 20th. 

This is the first time I've taught this particular workshop in a couple of years, and I'm really excited.  It's an afternoon workshop, with time to talk about different techniques and variations, color blending, and more. 

 The open stitching pattern of random right angle weave is extremely versatile.  I love how you can use the same technique to create a cuff that's softly romantic and feminine, or one that dreams of the ocean's reefs, or has a decidedly steam punk flair.  The choice is totally yours. 

Random right angle weave is one of my favorite beading techniques because it's so organic.  It also pairs beautifully with freeform peyote stitch. 

So, mark your calendars - November 20th, 2:00 - 5:00pm, Lacework Cuffs at Fusion Beads!

You can sign up at the store or via phone  206-782-4595

New Classes at Fusion Beads this Summer

I'm teaching two new classes at Fusion Beads this summer.  In July, I'll be sharing my spin on more freeform bead embroidery with my Happy Fish.  These little guys, my newest additions to my underwater menagerie of beaded fish friends, were inspired by Robin Atkin's Bead Journal Project.  I needed a theme I'd enjoy working with for a year, and smiling fish fit the bill. 

And in August, I'll focus on the techniques I used to create my Nautillus Flower Cuff, from Explorations. 

Sign-ups for Summer workshops begins this Thursday, April 14th.

If you're planning to visit Seattle this summer, definitely check out their classes catalog. They have one of the best, most varied schedules you'll see outside of a major beading conference. 

Let it Snow this Sunday at Fusion Beads

I love the soft, vintage colors of this 7-pointed star ornament

Looking at the ten-day forecast for Seattle, it's looking far more likely that we'll have a Wet, rather than a White Christmas.  But no matter! There will be snow flurries a plenty this Sunday at Fusion Beads, where I'll be teaching my third-annual Snowflakes and Stars workshop. 

Happen to be in Seattle this weekend? 
Whether you need a quick last-minute gift or simply want to treat yourself, consider joining me for an afternoon of some holiday beading fun. 

Not in town?  My Snowflake and Stars tutorial is available through my Etsy Store as a PDF download.  It's also not too late to claim your free copy of my Snowflake Chains holiday special.  I've extended the offer through January 2nd, 2016.  

Registration is now open for Fall Classes at Fusion Beads

Registration for Fall Classes at Fusion Beads opens today!  They offer an incredible selection of classes in bead weaving, pearl knotting, wire working, chainmaille and metal working, resin, fusing, PMC and more.  Their Fall catalog features seventeen pages of workshop goodness, with over eighty scheduled workshops.

I’ll admit, I’m tempted to take one of Sarah Thompson’s wire weaving classes.  Her Embrace Ring is featured at the bottom right of the  cover page.  It’s a technique that I’ve been curious about, and a class is a quick and easy way to give it a try. 

This fall, I’ll be teaching four classes between from October to just before Christmas.  Kicking off the semester with my Freeform Peyote Rings.


 
Freeform Peyote Rings
Sunday, October 11, 2015 from 2:00 - 5:00pm
If you’ve never tried freeform peyote stitch, this is a great place to start!   

Freeform Peyote Ruffles
Saturday, November 7 from 11:00 - 5:00pm
Ready to move on to more advanced bead weaving techniques? 

Lantern Ornament Beaded Beads
Sunday, November 15 from 2:00-5:00pm
With the holidays coming up, these elegant beaded beads make great ornaments, gift toppers, or hostess gifts.  They can also be worn as unique pendants or incorporated into other jewelry designs.

Snowflakes and Stars
Sunday, December 20th, 2:00-5:00pm
Need a beading break from the holiday madness? Come join me for an afternoon of laid back holiday cheer as we make a variety of beaded snowflakes and stars. 

NW Bead Society's 2015 Seedbeaders Meeting Schedule

 If you are a beader living anywhere around the Puget Sound, then you should definitely check out the Northwest Bead Society.  And if you're like me and love seed beads, then you definitely need to check out the Seedbeaders' group.  This includes anyone who might be visiting the area.  If your trip coincides with one of the meetings, consider dropping by;  guests are always welcome! 

To make it easier to visit, I'm including the schedule for upcoming Seedbeaders Programs through early February 16th.  Each meeting, one of our members agrees to host a mini-tutorial, sharing a project or technique.  Everyone's welcome to work on the project of the month, or bring your own project (or simply visit with everyone else).  We meet from 10:30-3:00 on the fourth Sunday of the month.  Supply lists are generally posted to the Yahoo group (search for 'seedbeaders') about a month before each tutorial. 

2015-2016 Schedule

May 24 2015  Jennifer Brown - Mosaic Bracelet
Note: This is Memorial Day Weekend - the meeting cannot be moved to May 17 due to the NWBS retreat.  This meeting may be moved to May 31.

June 28, 2015 Karen Williams - Flame Pendant or Earrings

July 26, 2015 Jennifer Brown - Tila Patchwork Bracelet

August 23, 2015 Vivian E. - Birds of a Feather 

September 27, 2015 Marla Baer-Peckham - Holiday Bell Earrings

October 25, 2015 Debby Zook - Twin Bead Snowflakes

January 24, 2016 Marla Baer-Peckham - Zig-Zag Peyote Earrings


February 28, 2016 Jennifer Brown - Super Duo Triangle Earrings (no photo available right now)


There's something powerful about beading in the company of friends.  Personally, I feel incredibly fortunate to be part of a group like the Seedbeader's.  Their camaraderie, inspiration and support is fantastic.  

One caveat regarding the schedule - since scheduled workshops may change due to all sorts of circumstances beyond anyone's control, it's a good idea to join the Yahoo groups if you are hoping/planning to attend.  That way you'll get the most up-to-date info.

Went Fishing on Sunday, Guess what We Caught?

One of my earlier 2-Fish designs

Spent a wonderful day "fishing" at Fusion Beads this past Sunday.  The Catch of the Day were my two-faced fish pendants.  Because they're designed to lay flat when worn, only one side of the fish shows at a time.  This meant that each side could be slightly different.  They remind me of sunfish and never fail to make me smile.

My working title for the design was "One Fish, Two Fish."  Rather than fully encapsulating the core bead as in my other fish designs, these pendants allow the beauty of the central stone to shine through and become part of the design.

They're built with right angle weave, my second-most favorite (can you say that?) bead weaving stitch and what I think of as 'bead sketching' - drawing the fishy details with beads (size 15s). 

The other side of the same fish from above

Two of my students brought fish to show off from previous classes.  And they let me take pictures to share!

I love how Vala used orange thread with her cream beads for the body!

Is it just me, or does Vala's little fish look terribly sad in this picture?

Linda rocks my original Catch of the Day design, finishing it with a herringbone chain

I love their choices of colors!  Just wish I'd taken better photos.  I should have taken the pictures at the beginning of the day - my photography skills definitely decline by late afternoon.   These were the only three that even halfway came out of all the photos I took.

I also managed to snap a single pic of their works-in-progress from the class.  I waited too long and the other two students had managed to slip away before I thought to pull out my camera.  As it was, I had to snatch Linda's WIP out of her bag as she tried to pack.  I am so bad!

Vala & Linda's fish in progress.  (Linda actually started two separate fish)

I simply love teaching; it's such fun sharing my designs and seeing where others take them.  How they make them their own.  One of my students was new not only to right angle weave, but to bead weaving in general (she does come from a wire-working background).  It was interesting to see how quickly she became comfortable with the stitch.  Makes me wonder if the fact that she didn't know that right angle weave is often considered 'difficult' worked to her advantage.

'Superbowl Party' at Fusion Beads

Teaching is one of my favorite things, and yesterday's Freeform Peyote Rings class at Fusion Beads totally rocked.  The excitement leading up to the Superbowl later in the day had everyone a little giddy, I think.  And with my class ending at 2 - everyone could be home before the game.   

This time around we had six people in my class, of all skill levels.  Everyone created something wonderful, but three allowed me to take photos of their "Game Day" rings to share:

Linda's Party Ring, in true Seahawks colors

 Linda started her ring out with the spikes, then decided to go back in and add the drop beads and crystal spikes for more 'bling'. If this ring doesn't scream "Party", I don't know what does.

Jennifer add ruffles to hers - though it's a little hard to see clearly in this photo

Jennifer Porter created a 'oceany' ring with ruffles - though I wish I'd done a better job of photographing this ring so the ruffles were clearer!  They swirl out from the front of the ring like a coral reef.  The large green bead at upper right is actually a fish, the angle is simply wrong to see it in this photo.

Rebecca's finger guard ring

Running with the idea that more is more, Rebecca decided to create a finger guard ring that swept all the way down to her first knuckle in the front.  I think this would fit right in with a Bollywood production! 

Not bad for a three-hour class (queue music from Gilligan's Island)!  And to complete the party atmosphere, Fusion Beads put out a beautiful spread of Superbowl munchies (including salted chocolate caramels - yum!)

I fear I have to admit that I didn't watch the Superbowl, but I did check in periodically, so I know the Patriots took the day.  But I am glad the Seahawks made it to the Superbowl because it made yesterday's class just that much more fun! 

Double Header Beading Workshop August 2nd & 3rd

The first weekend in August, I'll be teaching a Beading Double Header, with back-to-back workshops on Saturday and Sunday at Fusion Beads.

Catch of the Day Chatelaine, Saturday August 2nd

First up is my debuting workshop, Catch of the Day Chatelaine. These are a larger variation on my popular Fancy Fish pattern. Still working with right angle weave, these fish a considerably larger, with seaweed fringe tails and fins and designed to hang as a pendant from a 'float' bead with decorative bead caps to complete the look.

 

 

Lacework Bracelets, Sunday August 3rd

Followed by my three-hour Lacework Bracelets workshop. This is one of my favorite classes and techniques! Random right angle weave is an incredibly versatile stitch and the finished bracelets have the organic look of freeform lace.

Signups started last week, but there's still space in both classes. If you're going to be in Seattle this Summer, definitely check out Fusion Beads' full class schedule. They have classes in bead weaving, wire-working, metal smithing and so much more!

 

 

Posted with Blogsy

Join me for beading fun at Fusion Beads

Teaching workshops is one of my absolute favorite things.  I love the creative synergy that in-person workshops engender, where everyone in the class becomes an additional source of inspiration.  It's nice getting out of the studio and sharing what I love with other beady folks.  And I have two of my favorite workshops coming up in the next few weeks. 

Interested in creating your own Fancy Fish Friend?

Fancy Fish workshop at Fusion Beads in Seattle, Saturday, March 29th

These little guys are the top selling pattern in my Etsy shop, and I'll be teaching them at Fusion Beads on Saturday, March 29th.  Need to come up with

Or how about some freeform fun while creating your own Personal Planet?

Personal Planets freeform peyote beaded beads, Saturday April 12th

These freeform beaded beads are a great introduction to freeform peyote, and a thoroughly fun way to play with color.  Best yet, they are quick!  Especially compared to most other freeform peyote.  Join me on Saturday, April 12th, again at Fusion Beads.

Download Fusion Bead's full spring schedule by clicking this link.  Call or stop by to signup, 206-782-4595 from 10am-7pm PST.

Fancy Fish by Gabby Guset, Vala Richmond and Jade Chan from my last workshop

Spring Class Signups for Fusion Beads starts Today!

Today's the day to sign up for Spring Classes at Fusion Beads.  Download the spring schedule by clicking this link.  Call or stop by to signup, 206-782-4595 from 10am-7pm PST.

If you love beading and live anywhere near the Seattle area, you owe it to yourself to check out their catalogue.  They have one of the best class line-ups you'll find anywhere outside of a national beading conference.  (I've even known people who schedule their visits to family in the area around beading classes they want to take!  Just saying...)

There are classes in bead weaving (including guest instructor Laura McCabe), cord & Kumihimo, wireworking (definitely take a peak at Marilyn Moore's wire-woven forms!),  metal working, fusing, chainmaille, faux bone, crystal clay, resin classes and more.

I'll be teaching two classes this time around:

Make your own Fancy Fish Friend Saturday, March 29th

My Personal Planets class is a great intro to Freeform Peyote, Saturday, April 12

Latest Works in Progress

Bracelet started in yesterdays class

Had a smaller class yesterday teaching Freeform Ruffles at Fusion Beads with only six students.  One of the things I love about the store is that as long as a class has four students, they let it run (at least for their local classes - not sure what they do with out of town intructors).  The smaller class size is really nice because I feel like I have more time to give each student individual attention.  

Since it's a freeform class, everyone gets to decide what type of project they want to make; they all chose to start on bracelets.  With six hours of class time, I warned that they'd likely be able to complete a smaller project like a pair of earrings or pendant, but would only get a good start on a larger project like a bracelet. My dream is to one day teach this as a two-day workshop.  The first day we'd cover the basic technique and structure, the second would give us time to look at all the various nuances of finishing a piece.  The design work that you don't really get to until you're well into the project.

Lamp worked bead by StudioJuls

Since I only had one day, I had to cram it all in to the time available.  Hopefully in an organized fashion.  I can only stitch so fast in a class setting, so right now I have several different works in progress I put together to show various stages of construction (in addition to the samples that will never be more than samples).  

Besides the bracelet I started in class, I have a pendant/brooch that's somewhere in the mid-stage of construction.  It's designed to show adding a focal bead, building alternate bead paths with bridges, and softening the blunt ends of the peyote stitch.  The focal bead is by Julianna Cannon of StudioJuls. I stung it with size 8 beads to either side, solving one of the potential problems of incorporating lampworked beads into seed beading.  Their larger center holes tend to swallow the smaller size 11s whole. The colors for this piece are drawn entirely from the focal.  While in the final design the blue/green/lavender will dominate, I'm drawing some darker lines first with the dark chocolaty, matte beads for contrast, though for some reason they look much lighter in the photograph.  Hmm...

Nearly finished

And I have this bracelet that's just a hair's breath away from completion.  I need to add the button, but before I do that, I need to decide if it is really and truly done.  Do any of the sections need more ruffling?  Do I want to add an accent edge of the shiny red rust beads to the central red ruffle?  Do I want to add a new bead bridge and potentially a whole new ruffle to the narrow edge (at the left of the square beads in the photo below)?  Or do I like the contrasting widths along the length of the bracelet?  It's the perpetual question of when exactly is an abstract piece 'done' and there's no definite right or wrong answer to any of them except that a paper clip is not an acceptable closure.

Trying to decide if the ruffles need more ruffling

Today and tomorrow, I'm focusing on earrings - two more days of my earring challenge and I'm so far behind it's just sad.  Can I complete 31 designs in 31 days?  It's not looking good, but we'll give it a shot.   Then, come February, I think it will be time for focus on several UFOs, including these three.  

Spring Classes

Twined wire egg basket by Maryiln Moore

Signups for Fusion Beads' spring classes started Thursday. I stopped by Saturday to sign up for Marilyn Moore's Egg Basket: Oval Twined Wire Bowl, but got caught by their in-store sale. Most of their strands of shaped glass beads are 40-50% off through the end of the year, youza! I definitely failed my willpower roll and left the store with a lovely packet of beads, perfect for more lacework bracelets and accent beads in my freeform peyote. I did not sign up for the class - now I'll have to wait until after the holidays and hope there's still space. Keeping my fingers crossed.

Glacial Ice, lacework bracelet by Karen Williams

In the meantime, I do have three classes of my own on their spring schedule. I'll be teaching Freeform Peyote Ruffles again on Sunday, January 29th, where students can choose to make a pair of earrings or brooch, or start on a larger project such as a bracelet.  Then on Tuesday March 6th, it's my Lacework Bracelet working with random right angle weave. Both classes filled last fall, so we'll see how they do this time around.

Store bought cabochons from Fusion Beads

And I'm teaching a new Beaded Bezel workshop, where we'll capture a cabochon shaped object using a combination of regular and random right angle weave and peyote stitch. This is a variation on my Captured Cabochon, with the back worked in random right angle weave, which leaves lots of room for artistic interpretation. The back becomes a special surprise for the wearer, or you can make the cabochon completely reversible, so you end up with two entirely different looks from one pendant. Or you can incorporate the captured cabochon into a larger piece, as I did with my Red Crest and Hunting Fae necklaces.  Enough possibilities?

My original samples for this class all used my handmade cabochons, but they suggested that I also make some samples using cabochons that Fusion Beads carry, so there are now a wealth of samples for this class. The catalog only shows two, and then only the fronts, so here's a little more:

Two backs: Lillypilly pendant and stone cabochon

Original samples, both cabochons & stitching are mine

Cabochon backs, @ bottom right to be used in larger project