Adios Milwaukee

The Bead & Button show is officially over which is always kind of sad but I'm really looking forward to getting home to my dog, who I have missed like crazy. Plus, I'm anxious to get back to beading as this show is always an inpiration for new ideas. AND... I really miss Nadine- my guitar.

We spent our last night in Milwaukee at a fantastic restaurant that my former big boss man Shaun Haley of Out on a Whim Beads fame, (mug shot pictured above) recommended. It was called Molly Cool's and it was some of the best sea food I've ever eaten. Now, I live on the Oregon coast so, you know that's really saying something. I had to take a picture of my dinner because it was so lovely. Here we have Dover Sole stuffed with crab, cream cheese and peppers served over garlic mashed potatoes, topped with a dill sauce. Yum. Painted on the wall of the restaurant was this: "Molly Cool's is shucking amazing." I couldn't agree more. They even had this cool placemats with intructions on how to clean fish.
Stay tuned for more Bead & Button photos including highlights from the Bead Dreams cases.

Bead & Button Update...

I'm still having a blast here at the Bead & Button show. Last night I taught my second session of my bezeled bottle cap earring class and it went very well. I was amazed at how quickly the students in my classes who had never done peyote stitch before caught on. I was impressed.
After class was over, I rushed to get over to the Toho party, which as always, was very nicely done. The Toho family really treats us well. My favorite part about going to the party was getting to visit the gallery and view the inspiring beadwork. Not only that but practically everyone at the party was a walking work of art wearing their best beady creations. I saw some of the most jaw dropping wearable art last night. One of the highlights of the evening was getting to meet the lovely Barb Switzer in person! http://www.beadswitzer.com/ She's been a facebook friend for a while and it was cool to see that she's actually a real live talking person! Plus she's super nice.
I've been really bad about taking photos. S orry! I'll try to get on the ball and take more. Stay tuned for more B&B updates...

Bead & Button Adventures

I'm thoroughly enjoying the Bead & Button show. Last night I taught my first session of my Bezeled Bottlecap Earrings class and I had a blast. It was so much fun to see what my students came up with. One of my students bezeled a pair of champaigne bottle caps with a woman's face on them. They came out so beautifully and resembled cameos. Darn me- why didn't I take photos?
It was quite an experience to participate in the Meet the Teachers Reception. Usually I'm a shopper, not an exhibitor so it was quite an honor to be included among such an amazing and talented group of instructors. Above middle is a photo of me at my table just before the doors opened and the crazyness began. It was great to meet so many of my facebook friends and admire everyone's beady creations.
 I thought I'd post a few photos of the show and some works in progress that I started in Laura McCabe's Master Class. The class focused on incorporating unconventional materials into beadwork designs. The top photo is of my sculptural piece where I used an old porcelian doll head and two pieces of fossil deer antler. Her body is acutally segmented and articulated. The bottom photo features a bezeled walnut sheel and a fossil deer jaw bone cut by rock god Gary Wilson. Laura was such an inspiration. She even gifted us with a fabulous book she wrote just for her master class students and her dvd on tips and tricks. Too cool.

Bead & Button is Almost Here

I have been severely remiss in tending to my blog lately. I've just been so busy getting ready for Bead & Button and the Puget Sound Bead Festival that I've barely had time to do much of anything. I know, I know excuses, excuses...I'm finally almost all caught up and ready for B&B and I feel like I can breathe again.
And then there's my guitar, Nadine. She is a big, however, much needed and appreciated distraction. I love my guitar as much as I love my beads. Now that's a lot of love, people.
Dare I tell you that I'm working on an outline for a book proposal? Yes, it's true. That's all I'm going to say for now. I don't want to jinx it so, I shall keep it on the down low for the time being. Wish me luck...

Bubble Up

I've started writing up my directions and illustrations for my Bubble Ring. This ring was inspired by a borosilicate lampwork glass ring I picked up in Tucson a few years ago. I decided I could replicate it using magatama drops and seed beads. This ring is so much fun to make, I'd like to make one for each of my ten digits. If only there were more hours in the day...
I'm working on another sample in a red and gold colorway that I will be making into a kit that will be available in addition to the Green, Aqua and Butterscotch one pictured below. I'm really excited to be teaching this class at one of the best bead shows in the country, the Puget Sound Bead Festival this year. Check it out: http://www.pugetsoundbeadfestival.com/store/manufacturers.php?manufacturerid=39 

(Neko) Case of Beer (Bottle Caps)

The Bead & Button Show is rapidly approaching and I'm getting really excited about both teaching and taking a class. I signed up to take Laura McCabe's master class on encorporating unconventional materials into beadwork and was lucky enough to win the lottery. Apparently it was in high demand. I've really been trying to think outside the box and collect unusual items to bring to class with me.
http://www.beadandbuttonshow.com/bnbshow/Default.aspx?c=a&id=128
Fortunately there is still room left in my Bottlecap Earrings class and time left to register. We are going to have so much fun in this class! I've collected several enormous jars full of a large assortment of bottlecaps to bring to class. It pays to have bartenders as friends, as well as friends who really like to drink beer! I've discovered quite a few cool bottle caps from some unuasual microbrews.
Here's a link to my classes at Bead & Button (please scroll down and click on the class of your choice for details): http://www.beadandbuttonshow.com/bnbshow/default.aspx?c=classsearch&mode=results&ins=T635

By the way, as we speak, I'm listening to the new Jakob Dylan album- "Women & Country" and it is really good. It features Neko Case singing backup on a majority of the songs and as many of you know, I'm a huge Neko Case fan. The album was produced by T Bone Burnett so, you know it can't be bad. 

Check it out: http://www.jakobdylan.com/

Local Talent

As many of you are aware, the Pacific Northwest is a hotspot for glass artists. I'm fortunate enough to live in the beautiful coastal town of Florence, OR where I am even more fortunate to call several talented glass bead artists friends. One, of which lives just down the street from me- Denise Saunders of Dema Designs. Stay tuned for more on Denise, including picutures of the new little beauties I just aquired from her.

Another incredibly talented friend of mine is Allison Byrd of Vortex Glassworks. http://www.vortexglassworks.com/
In the four years that I have known Allison, I've watched her work progress and her style develop. Her work amazes me and I'm proud to say I have quite a collection of her beads, including a number of her earliest pieces. Here is a shot of some of her more recent work:

I believe this set has sold but don't worry, Allison also has pieces available on Etsy and Ebay. Check out the above link to her website for details.

I recently made a lariat with one of Allison's gorgeous beads from her Moon Series. The piece is entitiled "Raven Moon" as it also has a lovely pewter Raven bead from Green Girl Studios on it. http://www.greengirlstudios.com/

I will be teaching this lariat at this year's Puget Sound Bead Festival in July. http://www.pugetsoundbeadfestival.com/ At the moment, I'm working on putting together kits that will be for sale on my Etsy site in the upcoming months. Allison is busy at work creating more lovely moon beads that will be included in the kit. 

Here is a shot of the lariat: