Classes Offered in 2024
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'Goth Girl'
What better time to dip your toes into Goth than the Halloween season? For some of us it's Halloween and Christmas all year. Work-up this non-traditional beauty now to be on trend for the fall season.
A custom color way.
More beachy goodness. Bead embroidery allows you to create in such a way that your mind is free to wonder. This raised piece could be a mermaid rifling through her closet of items found on the sea floor. Start with an other-worldly MAK focal which sets an underwater tone in several ways; caged portal hinting at an antique diving helmet, metal grommets resembling suckers of an octopus, and the blended colors mimicking glistening water. Even adornments need adorning, i.e. the fin bracelet (because mermaid's don't have ankles). What would /Your/ mermaid collect? The pendant size is ~4.5" (w) x 4" (h).
Skill level: Intermediate. Some bead embroidery experience is helpful.
Techniques: Raised bead embroidery, Blanket Stitch, Brick Stitch edging and internal construction.
'Shell Belle'
I created these following a retreat on the coast of Maine. I was very beach-inspired and it was all I had on my mind for a bit. These pieces showcase a unique pierced shell with rhinestones and various charming bead motifs. Beautiful bead woven Vexolo fans dangle from the main piece to create movement and interest. Both pieces are covered in class, kits sold individually.
Skill level: Intermediate. Some bead embroidery experience is helpful.
'Moorish Tiles'
Southwest
Gold-Green
Purple
Watching Married to Real Estate series there was an episode where yellow and white patterned cement tiles were used on the fireplace. I was taken by how good it looked and although I was not planning a fireplace renovation, I started surfing to consider which type of tile I might like. I was flabbergasted how many options there were. Of course, one thing leads to another and began researching where tiles come from, the history, etc. So I took the most basic of designs from the geometric influenced tiles to create lead this bracelet design. In doing so, I realized there may be future iterations of this design further inspired by tile design.
Explore the feeling of Moorish tiles while navigating various geometric shapes in bead embroidery.
Skill level: Intermediate. Some bead embroidery experience is helpful.
Color ways: Gold-Green, Purple, Southwest, Apple.
'Muse'
'Muse' is a moody jewel toned neck piece inspired by the colors of the rustic Raku focal. The art nouveau lady reminded me of a statue I might see in a garden or somewhere in Europe. There is a richly textured background, ornate edge stitching, twisty fringe, handmade clasp and bead embroidered neckband. Buttons in fun colors and optional fairies add a bit of whimsy.
Skill level: The project is for upper intermediate through advanced students. Some large project experience is helpful.
Bottom Fringe with Fairy
Back Clasp with Fairy
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Bead Embroidered Neckband
'Bubbly'
(Collar, Bracelet, Earrings)
Nautilus shell on Lavender color way.
The idea for Bubbly came into being while friends were making Siren of the Sea Neckpiece from Inspired Bead Embroidery. I took queues from the project as my brief, water, fringe, necklace.
While the collar looks super with a nautilus shell, it started with an octopus stamping. I thought an octopus might feel at home in bubbling water. This created a wonderful highly textured fabric. While the piece looks beautifully jewel encrusted without fringe, my brief included fringe, and there really was only one way to go; netting. Bubbly's netting is slightly irregular, resembling items caught in a net. Bubbly fringe is a complex part of project and where students will begin.
The bracelet echoes the octopus' collar. More wonderful fringe, a narrow wristband and a front cut-out to add interest ensure the wrist moves freely. The overall affect is a feminine, uniquely shaped underwater artifact.
Bubbly set is a full day class for intermediate through advanced.
Color ways: Sapphire, Aqua, Lavender with Octopus or Shell(s).
Sapphire, Aqua, and Lavender color ways.
Back clasp.
Bracelet.
Bracelet video.
Kits Without a Class Are Available for Sale Below This Point, While Supplies Last
'Watch from a Distance'
'Watch from a Distance' is not suggestive of prying eyes. For several days, as I snail-beaded into the wee hours of the morning due to a mild case of sleeplessness, a man's chunky brown watch sitting on a desk near me kept catching my eye. It reminded me of a line by Anthony Hopkins in Silence of the Lambs, "Don't your eyes seek out the things you want?" So, over the course of several days, I toyed with the idea of a two-tier bracelet that felt like a chunky watchband. Of course, this is jewelry, so I introduced feminine curves, colors and a contemporary floral focal but kept clean lines to highlight the architecture. The project is fun to make, evidenced by the number of color ways.
Skill level: 'Watch from a Distance' is a full day of contemplation for intermediate through advanced Beaders. Challenging but fun to make.
Techniques: Peyote bezel, 3D construction, forming, and brick stitch edging.
Colors ways: Spicy Pink, Green Saffron, Mint Copper, Vintage Turquoise, Portugal Paisley, Edge of Midnight, Sedona, Veri Peri.
L to R: Spicy Pink, Mint Copper, Green Saffron.
Green Saffron color way.
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Portugal Paisley color way.
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Edge of Midnight color way used metallic Italian leather.
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For Portugal Paisley, Veri Peri, Sedona and Edge of Midnight color ways shown above, the background and inside wristband can be interchanged.
'Cupcake'
Fanciful and light. Like most Beader's, I had twelve Touch of Glass Jewelry cameos in my stash, so I forced myself to get them out and start working with them. Color inspiration came was from an ombre tool bag I was using at the time. All the bright colors I was putting together reminded me of a visit to a cupcake shop a few years back, hence, the name 'Cupcake'. This project is absolutely delightful to make, I still enjoy it after many samples. Make your very own confection.
Skill level: This is a full day of bead-baking for intermediate to advanced.
Color ways: Blue, Green, Spring Green, Orchid, Saffron, Lavender.
House of Cupcakes, Princeton, NJ.
They have a truck!
Spring Green, Orchid and Saffron color ways.
Saffron.
Orchid.
Spring Green.
Lavender.
'Moss Lady'
I am frequently inspired by the stones I find, as here with Red River Jasper and moss colored Ocean Jasper. The vertical striations or color changes are a nice backdrop to three Anna Bronze steampunk spacers used as secondary focals. Fine details along the wrist and 23K gold plated clasps. Elegant and understated neutral that can be worn at work or for an evening out. The focals are beautifully created polymer clay stone reproductions by Joanne St. James. The project will truly be handmade.
Skill level: This is a full day class for intermediate through advanced.
Color ways: Red River, Moss Green.
Moss Green.
'Byzantine Brunette'
This bracelet started as a visual teaching aide of various sized cuff bands. Interestingly, it evolved quite a bit by the third piece. Alphons Mucha's Byzantine Brunette headdress subconsciously and loosely inspired the fringe. Although the piece is high color, it reads as green and brown. There is a soft draping across the hand. The cuff is oversized like most of my bracelets. This bracelet is way to get comfortable with focals having a lot of movement. It is also a can be used as a bronze bead reference going forward.
Skill level: This is a full day class for intermediate to advanced.
'Beetle & the Bee'
Drama Mama! 'Beetle & the Bee' is dramatic with or without the Stag Beetle. The black color and complex bezel command your attention. I enjoy how a person can be looking at it as an object of beauty only to discover there are bugs on it.
Skill level: This would be a full day of pretty-ugly beading for solid intermediate through advanced.
Color ways: Spring, Fall, Summer, Winter.
Winter
Spring
Fall
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Summer
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'(On-ya)'
Inspiration came from the Chrysocolla stone focal both in shape and color. I thought antique metal tones worked best with cyan, so I echoed those colors in seed beads which remind of sand. I was struck when I found the above illustration with /all/ same colors. Aine, pronounced (On-ya), is the ancient Irish faery goddess of summer, love, fertility, wealth and sovereignty. I really liked the name 'Onya' even though it was the pronunciation.
I hope you enjoy fun parts of this project; colors, shapes, fringe and possibly experience a faery-like feeling making it. Bracelet is oversized.
Skill level: This is a full day class for intermediate through advanced.
'AMOURphous'
'AMOURphous' was inspired by jeans wear hence the blue color ways. It was summer when I made it so I added portholes which turned out to be a vintage item I can no longer find. Instead, an interesting round metal finding in silver or gold is used and then repeated on the handmade clasp. Each student's bracelet will be unique as they decide where to place their beads. The sample is oversized and tapers down quickly to the clasp. Students make the bracelet to their specifications. This approach, combined with the non-traditional colors, leads to its organic look. This is a full day class.
Skill level: Intermediate.
Color ways: Blue with Gold, Blue with Silver.
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