Showing posts with label classes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label classes. Show all posts

June 17, 2016

Beadmaking Class Sale!

I've opened registration for my popular beadmaking classes for the next few days and have a special offer just for you!

All classes are currently ongoing and self-paced.  You'll have lifetime access to the classroom and Facebook group.

Each class have video tutorials to watch at your own pace along with a workbook with step-by-step photos to walk you through the process. There is also a private Facebook group for each class to share your work, ask questions and met your fellow students.





To view the details of each class visit my website here.

Class Sale Details

Classes are on sale, save $50 off the regular price of the my two bootcamps and the Moths, Monarchs and Milkweed and $10 off the Feathers & Friends Workshop! 

Current prices reflect discount.

Buy two or more $75 classes and use code CLASS20 for $20 off your order!

Sale ends Tuesday.

Student Reviews:
"It has been a wonderful experience, I love the group, everyone is so kind and helpful and Heather is an excellent teacher. I have learned a lot more than I thought I would." - Kim Dworak
"This was my first experience ever with polymer (I'm a bead weaver and I learned so much from this class).  I loved the online chats too...really felt like I got to know my classmates better and we've never even met!!" - Barb Wilcox
"I'm addicted to canes now... I sort of avoided them before..." - Tammie Tusher Everly

Student Work


Lisa Caryl: Art of Color Bootcamp

Beti Horvath: Art of Color Bootcamp


 Doreen Wiley: Art of Color Bootcamp

Ann Lorenzoni: Art of Color Bootcamp 

 
Ann Lorenzoni: Moth, Monarch and Milkweed Workshop

Ann Lorenzoni: Cane Design Bootcamp

Lisa Caryl: Feathers & Friends Workshop

January 29, 2016

New Class Offerings

Metal Sketch Classes

Sweetest Song Metal Sketch Class
6 hour class
All skill levels

Students will learn how to cut and prepare metal blanks, discover how to 'sketch' images on metal with wire and hammers, (don't worry templates are provided, no drawing skills are needed.). Discover how to hand-color metal with a patina and dye system. 

6 hour class includes jewelry construction techniques of entwined wreaths, wrapped dangles, toggle clasps and birch twig connectors.

Required tools: steel bench block, ball peen hammer, metal shears (Eurotool Metal Shears with spring are suggested), wire cutters, round nose pliers and two chain nose pliers.

Optional tools: metal files, metal hole punch. riveting hammer

Instructor will provide patinas and dyes.

Kits include copper sheet, wire, Czech glass beads, polymer clay disks, chain, branch toggle, jump rings and chain. $35.

3 hour class options: bracelet or necklace only.




Forest Floor Metal Sketches
6 hour class
All skill levels

Learn how to cut metal with sheers, texture and shape the copper with hammers and wire and patina to create these flowers, seeds and leaves. Create your own sterling silver earwires and learn how to make silk wrapped beads.

Required tools: steel bench block, ball peen hammer, metal shears (Eurotool Metal Shears with spring are suggested), wire cutters, round nose pliers and two chain nose pliers. 

Optional tools: metal files, metal hole punch. riveting hammer

Instructor will provide patinas and dyes. 

Kits include copper sheet, wire, Czech glass beads, silk, wire, seed beads, chain, toggle clasp, brass earwires, jump rings and chain. $25. 






Maple Seed Earrings
2 hour class
All skill levels

This class covers cutting metal with sheers, texturing and shaping the copper with hammers and patina to create these lovely copper seeds. Create your own sterling silver earwires to finish the design.

Required tools: steel bench block, ball peen hammer, metal shears (Eurotool Metal Shears with spring are suggested), wire cutters, round nose pliers and two chain nose pliers.

Optional tools: metal files, metal hole punch. riveting hammer

Kits are $10 and includes copper sheet, wire and seed beads.

Luna Moth Metal Sketch 
6 hour class
All skill levels

Students will learn how to cut and prepare metal blanks, discover how to 'sketch' images on metal with wire and hammers, (don't worry templates are provided, no drawing skills are needed.). Discover how to use patinas to color metal.  

6 hour class includes jewelry construction techniques of entwined wreaths, wrapped dangles, toggle clasps and birch twig connectors.

Required tools: steel bench block, ball peen hammer, metal shears (Eurotool Metal Shears with spring are suggested), wire cutters, round nose pliers and two chain nose pliers.

Optional tools: metal files, metal hole punch. riveting hammer

Instructor will provide patinas and dyes.

Kits include copper sheet, wire, Czech glass beads, bead caps, polymer clay disks, chain, jump rings and chain. $35.

3 hour class options: bracelet only.


Polymer Clay Classes 

Monarch and Milkweed Beads
6 hour class
All skill levels

Learn how to create a monarch butterfly wing cane to use in a variety of beads shapes. Create a monarch chrysalis layering canes and clay. We'll create milkweed pod beads to match in several sizes and milkweed pod headpins.  

Required tools: pasta machine, tissue blade, acrylic roller, stylus sculpting tool. 

Required materials: 2 oz blocks of Premo in orange, black, white, wasbi (lime green), gold, transparent and brown. 

Instructor will provide bead mandrels, wire, paints and embellishing materials.





Organic Pods
6 hour class
All skill levels

Explore several ways to make simple polymer clay headpins sculpted with a few easy tricks to look like various pods. Using several mixed media treatments we'll create beautifully painted finishes on each pod. You'll create a large collection of pods during this workshop. 

Jewelry techniques to use heapdins in jewelry will also be covered. Bring your own additional beads or pick from several kits to transform your headpins into pendants. 

Required tools: round and chain nose pliers, wire cutters, clay stylus tool, acrylic rod. 

Instructor will provide materials to paint the pods. 

3 hour class option: headpins only.







Tropical Bonbon Beads
3 hour class
All skill levels 

Imagine beads that look good enough to eat, each one displaying layers of leaves and flowers as a sweet bonbon. Like learning to create heavenly European chocolates, the secrets of these scrumptious Bonbon beads will be revealed during this fun beadmakingworkshop. We'll mix up a tropical color palette and spend the class making these addictive beads. 

Required tools: pasta machine, tissue blade, acrylic roller, stylus sculpting tool.

Required materials: 2 oz blocks of Premo white and 3-4 bright colors. Suggested: peacock pearl, magenta, wasbi, purple and Souffle brand Mia Tai (coral). 

Instructor will provide bead mandrels and paints. 


Sgraffito Beads
6 hour class
All skill levels

Sgraffito is a ceramic technique that I've adapted to polymer clay to create folk-inspired beads in graphic black and white. Learn to create bead blanks, how to transfer images and carve the designs. We'll create fun faceted beads to accent these bold focals.

No drawing skills required, templates are provided.

Required tools: acrylic roller, scissors, single-edge razor blade,  *Students must bring a Speedball Lino cutter with a no. 1 small v blade. 

Instructor will provide paints. 

Required materials: two 2oz blocks of  white Souffle brand polymer clay. No other clay gives the same results. Find Souffle at Joann's or online at www.munrocrafts.com. 

2 oz block of Premo transparent and 2-3 colors for faceted beads. Shown are Souffle brand in seaglass (teal), key lime (yellow), mia tia (coral), and royal (purple). 




Birch Bark Beads
6 hour class
All skill levels

Students will explore beadmaking inspired by birch bark and falling leaves during this fun polymer clay workshop. Learn to create birch bark and leaf canes. Canes are clay stacked together to form designs that are cut and layered on the beads. Heather will share how to use the canes to create more complex looking beads. She'll cover shaping beads into disks and long tubes and mix up a few colors to create a custom color palette.

Required tools: pasta machine, tissue blade, acrylic roller.

Required materials: 2 oz blocks of polymer clay in Premo clay: wisteria (orchid purple), periwinkle, peacock pearl (teal), bronze, white and transparent. Souffle brand clay in jade, turnip, cowboy (brown) and key lime (gold green).







Artist's Bio:

Heather has been making beads and jewelry for over 20 years. She is the author of Jewelry Designs from Nature and Beautiful Elements: Metal, Wire and Polymer Clay. The Bead-Making Lab is her third book and will be available in May. Heather is a regular contributor as the Color Canvas designer in Step by Step Wire magazine. Her popular blog, the Art Bead Scene brings her love of handmade beads and art inspiration to jewelry designers around the world. Heather organizes an annual Bead Cruise and teaches at workshops and retreats around the country. You can learn more about her work at www.humblebeads.com


I'm finalizing my schedule for 2016. I have a few openings. If you are interested in having me teach at your bead shop or for your bead society please send me an email and let's chat! 

October 30, 2014

Chocolate, Beads and Love - Bonbon Bead Workshop

Chocolate, beads and love - they all produce the same chemical reaction in the brain, I'm sure of it! We've all had the rush of finding a swoon worthy bead, one that makes your heart beat a little faster when it's in the palm of your hand. Your head starts swimming with ideas and the possibilities of what to make with that tiny treasure.

Now think of a melt-in-your-mouth, melt-your-soul chocolate confection. My friend Erin introduced me to Moonstruck chocolates years ago and they are a bit of heaven on earth. Think of artisan treats lining a display case, each piece of handcrafted chocolate a delectable treat with delicate sugary details decorating their chocolate shells.

Imagine beads that look good enough to eat, each one displaying layers of leaves and flowers as a sweet bonbon. Like learning to create heavenly European chocolates, the secrets of these scrumptious Bonbon beads will be revealed in my next online beadmaking workshop. Sign up today to save your space and you'll be creating your own mouth-watering beads just in time for holiday gift-making!

Let's take a look at the color palettes of the beads that will be featured in the class:  


Bright and cheerful, these candy-cane inspired colors are fun and playful. They are elf-approved hues that are a jolly treat! These are the beads that will be making during the class and the recommended color palette to start. These beads will make whimsical ornaments and stocking stuffers for the young-at-heart on your gift list.

The Woodland Holiday color palette will feature chocolate browns, sage greens, cream, purple, copper and rose colors. This collection will work beautifully with rustic and earthy jewelry designs. They are florals that can be easily translated into non-holiday designs for those who are little more down-to-earth on your gift list.

Twinkling snow, frosted branches, glimmering icicles, the winter wonderland color palette captures the icy hues of the season in gold, creams and dreamy purple of twilight. Pair these beads up with pearls, golden-brass findings and shimmering crystals to create your own winter wonderland jewelry designs. Wear these gilded pieces to upcoming holiday parties.

Classics never go out of style and for the traditionalist I couldn't resit these red, green and gold creations that would bring instant holiday glam to any outfit during the season. These will also make beautiful ornaments, start checking off your gift list! I have the perfect ornament project included in the bonuses using these beads - they will be your go-to gift this year.


Can you hear Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies chiming in your head now? As visions of plum, violet and lavender dance in your head this color palette offers another non-holiday take on these bonbon beads. Purple, everyone loves it! And you can see by using a monochromatic color palette these beads are transformed into flowery designs that would look great for your bohemian chic jewelry creations, your garden-inspired designs or ultra-feminine jewelry.


You'll get the inside scoop with detailed videos taking you step-by-step in mixing colors, creating the leaves and flowers and decorating your beads. Along with the videos you'll have step-by-step written directions with photographs. You'll learn finishing tips to offer more design options - we love having options don't we? You'll discover the easy tricks I use for making beads in a flash and you'll soon master making your sweet bonbon beads and ready to transform them into jewelry and gifts.

And then you can dive into the 10 bonus projects featuring the bonbon beads. Because as lovely as a pile of beads are, seeing them in action and having great gift ideas can take tons of pressure off during this busy time of year. Create them into gifts to fill stockings and put under the tree, give as treasured presents during Hanukkah or design jewelry to wear to your holiday shindigs -  making this the class that keeps on giving!


Don't worry if you've never made a bead before, you will be a bonbon bead expert by the time you are finished with the class!

Sign up here and save your spot today - class starts on November 7th but you'll have lifetime access to the class and videos. Work at your own speed and schedule before the crazy holiday festivities begin!

July 12, 2014

Inspired by Nature Fall Retreat 2014

Oh, hello.

Over the last few weeks I've been working on the projects for my Inspired by Nature Fall Retreat. It's my 4th one and I knew I wanted to do something with butterfly wings and feathers. It took a while to work it all out and I am so happy with the results and can not wait to share these fun projects with my students.

It's a weekend of mixed-media exploration with etching metal, playing with polymer clay, creating bezels, and creating our own findings like earwires and chain links. And finishing with a collection of jewelry by the end of the 3rd day. 

We will gather again in my hometown of South Haven on the sleepy shores of Lake Michigan. (Just two hours north of Chicago.) The retreat will be October 17th - 19th. We will be surrounded by woods near a river, with autumn's colors in full force.

The creative women who join me are always so encouraging and kind. They make fast friends and it's always a treat to see old friends returning again. We share wine, chocolate and beads! Life doesn't get much better.

We don't worry about labels or being purists. The ladies push ahead fearlessly knowing any mistakes can just be called 'organic' and they flourish and explore with the materials in front of them. 

I share my little bits of magic with clay, metal and wire. I love seeing when a student lights up with an idea of her own and goes off to do something even more amazing than I could have imagined. And those who are starting out, work up the courage to create without judging. The muse is welcomed and mistakes are part of the learning process.

In between the jewelry making we head outdoors, inspiration surrounds us. From the water lapping at the shore of the river, to the delicious field of raspberries across the street, to the chorus of birds singing and leaves whirling around - nature provides the background for us to unwind as the weekend progresses. 

Meals are shared and stories told as we bond over our creative adventure. Each woman here is a gift. 

When all the pieces fall together on the last day, we are sad to say goodbye. Some linger and we head out for one more field trip before we go off to our corners of the world again. We look outward and inward and find ourselves renewed as the forest recedes in the review mirrors.

Does that sound like a little bit of heaven to you? Click here for all the retreat details.