I showed my Richard Salley classes first because I had good phone photos of those pieces but it was just one round of great classes.  I also had a phenomenal class with Linda Larsen of Objects and Elements.  What a treat she is – confident, artistic, and open.   The class I took was very different from the Salley classes in many ways.  We did a hinge, but in a different fashion.   Linda made major metalworking look pretty darn easy. 

My first "Captured Object" neck piece.

 

Our project for this class wasn’t necessarily a beginner’s project and Linda was quick to point that out many times as her students were working hard.   I agree.  It’s why I took that class.  In this case we (and very quickly I might add) cut a major setting from metal, patterned the material,  chose a stone (everyone’s was different), made a pronged setting for the stone, set it, and made the flip front (completely hand domed and patterned), and hinged everything together.  UH, we were humming along – we even got to patina the piece as Linda guided everyone through various choices in metals, stones, patinas, and so on. 

This class was not for the faint of heart in teachers either.  But, I’ve got to tell you something – Linda Larsen rocked it.  She guided everyone through with panache and a smile.   No one went wanting for help despite our variety of choices and skill levels.   If she wasn’t pooped out after that class I certainly don’t know why….but she didn’t seem to be.  She seemed energized!

Does this look like a terrorist to you? Looks can be deceiving!

 

After B&B I returned home to “bad kitty” – I’m not going to elaborate about that here but I will say that a family pet with a temporary “screw loose” was enough to unnerve even the most loving furbaby mother.   I was originally planning on redoing my Larsen project with a more suitable stone (I had brought the one I used thinking it would look great - what the hell was I thinking?).  It’s a great setting and my follow through was good – but my choice of stones turned it into a very bland piece for the amount of work.    So, since I bought a few stones at the show I decided to have my do-over even though it’s going slow as I clean up after “bad kitty.”  But, what I wanted to say about this, through this convoluted story, is that I didn’t take good notes in Linda’s class (and trust me – she was throwing out extra info right and left).  I relied on my pea brain to remember them and when kitty gone wild interrupted my train of thought when I arrived home I lost important bits of information.  Note to self – take more notes!  Lesson learned. 

What else did I learn – and this is one of the many reasons that class rocked it.  I wrote Linda via her site Objects and Elements.  She immediately wrote back and answered my questions.  She didn’t have to be so nice.  I had my class time.  But she was. 

Thanks Linda.  I loved my class and I’ll be back for another lesson so keep designing these great projects.

This is Linda Larsen's "Captured Object" necklace - I wanted to show you what I'm shooting for.

 

: - )

 

Filling the B&B Trays

Sorry these aren't fancy pictures but my time is so limited to get ready for B&B that I'm foregoing any regular set-ups at the moment.  More hearts in different colors....I thought I better throw some bright ones in there in warmer colors too.  I have quite a few in the blue range (must have had blue on the mind - LOL - or at least my head).

Hearts with one in the reverse showing my custom hug and kiss stamp

 

Fronts of the heart sets with complex twisties and those wonderful petal beads.  I love making those petal beads.

Bead and Button Show Reminder

Here we go.....it's sign up time again for the show.  Spread out over the thirteen days are so many classes that it's mind boggling.  The pages in my show book are folded and nasty as I get down to work in earnest trying to figure out some kind of schedule that will work for me.  I try to narrow it down to three or four classes that build on information I have.  I always figure that time is money and if a great teacher has already figured out how to do a certain technique you'd like to add to your bag of tricks then go - enjoy the class - pick the instructor's mind about your projects - bounce those grand ideas off of them and others.  It's a great community to be able to do that with - all genuinely nice artists.

This is what the book looks like and if you don't have one you can still order one - but registration is on-line and you can look over all of the classes and instructors HERE.  Registration begins January 8th so you need to hurry.

When I figure out my schedule I'll let you know.  There are about 10 classes I have to narrow down to three...........oh shoot me!

Bead and Button Bead Dreams Lampwork Competition

Bead&Button Bead Dreams Competition

Calling all lampworkers to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity! Bead Dreams Competition, sponsored by Bead&Button magazine, is a juried competition of exceptional bead artistry from around the world. Accepted pieces will not only be displayed at the Bead&Button Show but are eligible for award ribbons in 9 categories and cash prizes! Moreover, there is a Lampwork category for glass artists!

The deadline for BeadDreams 2013 is March 26th, 2013.

Lampwork
Includes beads, buttons, components, jewelry, or jewelry-related objects that are 85 percent or more glass made by the applicant. Entries that use someone else's glass beads or components will be placed in the Finished Jewelry category.

Sponsor: Soft Flex Company
1st Prize: $300
2nd Prize: $200
3rd Prize: $100

In addition, category winners receive prizes from Bead&Button Show sponsors AND first place winner from each category has a chance to take Best in Show or Runner-up Best in Show, both of which are sponsored by Fire Mountain Gems and Beads ($1,000 gift certificate and $500 gift certificate respectively). Furthermore, all finalists will be in the running for the People's Choice award ($500 gift certificate from Fire Mountain Gems and Beads). In 2009, a lampworker won this award!

For more information and entry form, please visit Bead&Button Show website.

 

Note: I snatched this snippet from the ISGB website for everyone.  The competition is a great one and includes all kind of beaded pieces - lampwork and otherwise.  Check the Bead and Button site for all of the "Dream" competition categories.  There is truly something for everyone.  I have featured many pieces on this blog from my visits to the Bead and Button Show each year.  You can go back into previous postings to check them out. They're truly fabulous.

Pewter Castings

I've been working feverishly on my ideas.  Well, honestly - considering the post on polychronic behavior I'd like to think feverishly but it's more like consistent linear progress...LOL.  I have like five projects going at the same time - maybe more.  I keep telling myself if this ever all comes together it will be like a volcano.  I keeping worrying that it will be like one big eruption and then I'll go dormant for another 10 years.  Scary - scary thought. Okay - let's perish that singular thought to the - been there - done that - pile and move forward.



Five of the new carved plaster casts for pewter

I've been working on the pewter casting from B&B.  I never did show you what I made in that class. As soon as I get home again I'll add a photo of the first castings we did while we were at class.  I have three of them and Susan, my friend, gave me one of her hedge hogs.  They are cute and remind me of me.  Maybe it's one of my totem animals - The other and most prevalent one being the Raven.



There are three new plasters in this photo and two hunks of pewter to melt down.

I bet you feel you just have to know why a hedge hog - right?.  Got myself giggling here...not just because it's nice and round but more because it tucks and balls up as a self-defense against it's perception of a predator.  My tendencies are to get quite hermit like at times.  Anyway, I digress. 

None of these casts in the photos have been poured yet.  I have all the materials and am ready to go but maybe just true to my nature I can't just do one thing at a time so I've finished quite a few to pour at the same time.  I'll let you know how it goes.

If you have any questions about how we did this plaster casting - please feel free to ask....

And I'd do it again...

The Amazing Holly Copper

 The last of the classes I took at Bead and Button was a lampworking class from Holly Cooper.  Admittedly the worst problem I have with lampwork is stringer control.  It has been beyond my grasp for a very long time.  Holly is an expert at stringer control.  She places it perfectly on her beads every time and in every place she wants it.  Her beads are rich with pattern all done with stringer.  I love them.  They have an ancient look about them, like a well-loved vase or statue that takes on a patina of its own as it is touched for centuries.

Holly was a kind and patient teacher.  She works exclusively on a hot-head.  To think she does her amazing work on what most people consider a beginner’s torch is just amazing.  Holly said there isn’t any use in changing what works for her.  And who the heck can disagree with her kind of success. 

So, if you’re wondering if it was worth it to take the class – oh hell yes.  I have never laid a stringer on so straight as I did with Holly’s approach to using the flame in that way.  Was I perfect with it right way – no hell no – but I can certainly see that about ten beads from now it’s going to get a whole lot better.  The only thing I need now is some PPP (practice, practice, practice).

Would I recommend this class to others?  ABSOLUTELY!  Holly was patient – she even had handouts (now when have you seen this with a lampworker – and it’s about time!) – the technique is totally solid and doable.  I’d even take a class with her again and I don’t repeat many instructors. 

Thanks Holly.  It was a great experience and love the way you do things.

Fun with Tila Beads

I don’t usually do bead weaving anymore but couldn’t resist a class using Tila Beads from Miyuki      Anna Elizabeth Draeger, Associate Editor extraordinaire, at Bead and Button Magazine, was our teacher.  She taught 3 different patterns – Two beaded beads and a ring.  I’m not much into beaded rings so I just concentrated on the two beads.

Anna Elizabeth Draeger

Isn’t that rectangle bead going to look great mixed into necklaces with lampwork?    It’s from Anna’s Cutie Cubes Bracelet (we were given the pattern for the bracelet too).   

Cubic Cuties by Anna Elizabeth Draeger

What I’m going to do with the triangle bead is a little beyond me right now but Anna showed us how to link a group of them together to form a sumptuous chain.  Maybe I can make a bead to fit into the interior of the triangle.  I’ll figure out something yet to do with it.

The beads I made in class - I better loosen the tension!

Anna has a book out titled Crystal Brilliance and next year she will be publishing again.  I saw some of the beads that will be in it and they’re stunning.  Hopefully she’ll be teaching those next year because I’d love to take another class from her.

Saturday Night Beader and Bead Dreams

Saturday nights at Bead and Button used to be reserved for the ISGB party.  The Glass Bead Guild would have a drink and dessert bar gathering in the Polaris room at the Hyatt.  Alas, they have abandoned that get together.

That get together was where I met Mallory Hoffman several years ago.  She was at the next table and I overheard someone refer to her as Rosebud – her nickname – and I just had to introduce myself.  We’ve been friends ever since. 

Mallory suggested a fun replacement for Saturday night – Lori Anderson’s Bead Soup Blog Party Dinner at the Doubletree.  Lori had been planning it on Facebook (unfortunately I haven’t been available on Facebook lately and missed it.) She had made all of these great arrangements with a little help from her friends (do you hear a song there?)  For a salad bar dinner and round table for all of us “anonymous” Bead Soup participants.  By anonymous I mean we might know one another by our blog handles or via .  Facebook but most of us have never met in person.

There must have been 30 or so of us there at the dinner – who knew we were all at Bead and Button!

I was able to meet Heather Powers – someone I have long admired – not only for her beautiful work but for her extraordinary blogs.  Cassie Donlen was there, Lorelei Eurto, and Marianne of MAKU Studio too.  Whoopee that Raku heart with the nails in it is beautiful.  So much talent and so little time to get to everyone.

There were gifts from Lori (from her personal stash) a few fun games and conversation.  What a great time and all courtesy of Lori Anderson, Bead Soup maven and all around wonderful person.  Thanks Lori – for ALL that you do.

These are someof the photos I was able to take of the Bead Dreams competition at Bead and Button.  I didn't get many because they were in glass cases that reflect easily but I think you'll see the quality of the beautiful work there.  I tried to get the artists name in where I could.  Enjoy!

Making New Acquaintences at B&B

One of the fun things at Bead and Button is meeting new people and renewing old friendships.  Mostly I'm a pretty quiet person. You wouldn't know it from this blog - LOL.  This year my usual anonymity was off kilter by the use of cane - gosh I felt old - dang arthritis was kicking my butt.  So, with my slower pace and an inability to make the fast get away I spent quite a bit of time talking to lots of other artists. 

While limping about I stopped to admire Bob Burkett's stunning cast jewelry pieces and we struck up a conversation.  I recognized the wax that he was using must be a blend.  Yeah yeah, some people blend teas or coffees - caster's blend wax. I've been using a red injection wax for my carving and a what is called "perfect purple" for touch-ups.  Bob melts the two together for an incredibly flexible blend.

In our all too short conversation he showed me how he pours this blend into mold to create a very flexible wire.  If you've ever used wax wire you'll understand how significant this is.  Purchased wax wire comes in a blue.  It is brittle and sloppy to work with.  It doesn't easily hold its shape when it's warm and has a tendency to break or fall apart when you least expect it.

What a tip Bob gave me and how generous of him to share. I could have stayed and gabbed all afternoon about casting.

Bob will be teaching soon across the world and hopefully some where in the Midwest.  He is on Facebook and will keep everyone informed as to his teaching schedule.  I know as soon as he is close to where I live - I'll be there!

What's not to like about work that looks like this -

by Bob Burkett

Bead and Button Classes

Let's talk about the classes I took at B&B and all of the fun stuff that was seen and done.  First off there were hundreds of different classes offered.  I already know quite a bit about casting precious metals but not a lot about casting pewter so I took a pewter casting class offered by The Glass Bead Company.  Debbie and David Austin  (the delightful owners of the shop) were the instructors, primarily David.

What a sweet, patient, and encouraging instructor.  I'd recommend a class from either of them at any opportunity - whether at Bead and Button or at their studio.

While Dave was teaching us how to carve the plaster for pewter casting Debbie was busy working on tin tube beads for the show.  She graciously showed me and Susan Lambert how to make them during a quiet moment in the class.  What a kind gesture...and of course that was all it took for us to dig in to those kits she had and buy a few extra goodies.  I can't wait to make some tin tube beads.

Betty Boop Bead by Debbie Austin

The pewter casting was great fun and I'm sure I'll be adding plenty of pewter pieces to the Etsy shop soon.

Notes from B&B

Welcome to one of the first photos from Bead and Button. Is this Sharon? LOL - I wish. This is the very perky and total quirky in an awesome way . She is Sandra Younger the creator of the Knotty Do It All.   Just look at the the beautiful necklace she is wearing and the bracelet.  She is a tiny gal in stature so you wouldn't think the necklace that fits her would fit me as a bracelet but in a matter of seconds she wrapped the necklace around my wrist and voila' it was a trendy bracelet and it FIT.  She could have done the same thing around my neck.  It looks like it is a multi layer necklace but it is actually one length.  A wonderful new product from a totally nice girl.  Tomorrow when I pick up my "Knotty" from her booth at the show I will give you her email addy and web site info.

Sandra Younger of Knotty Do It All

I am so looking forward to seeing all of the new products tomorrow and meeting the vendors.  There are a few people here who I've dealt with through catalogs but have never meet them in person or even seen them at shows.  It will be nice to see Micro Fasteners in person and so many others.  

I'm Not Packed Yet and Other (Zen -?) Thoughts.

I never thought of my mother as being very "Zen".  My Grandfather was but then he'd grown up so very differently.  When I think about how I am so very busy lately - I leave for Bead and Button tomorrow - it feels like I'll never get the kinks worked out of the new computer platform, get used to the new keyboard, get caught up on TAO, get the beads labeled, and on and on and on.  I don't know about you but I start making lists.  Sometimes I swear the lists begin with numbers and then deteriorate very quickly to alphabets, roman numerals, and bullets.  By the time I get to side notes and colored ink I know I'm obsessing.  When I start obsessing it gets debilitating because I gain feet of cement.  I simply quit moving forward.  It's about then I remember what my Mom used to say when I'd get like this and start complaining, "I'll never finish".  She'd just look at me and smile gently and say, "This will pass."

There were times that was very calming and times it just plain wasn't.  I think the times it was calming was because I matured and realized tomorrow would arrive regardless and there was nothing earth shattering that would happen between now and then even if I didn't "finish". 

I do hope I passed that on to my children.  Life some how seems "bigger" these days - this century of information at our finger tips. The world will turn another revolution and life will change - or not. 

Off to pack - leaving at 5AM tomorrow.  I'll write from the road but for now I'll leave you with this Zen story.

It Will Pass

A student went to his meditation teacher and said, "My meditation is horrible! I feel so distracted, or my legs ache, or I'm constantly falling asleep. It's just horrible!" "It will pass," the teacher said matter-of-factly.

A week later, the student came back to his teacher. "My meditation is wonderful! I feel so aware, so peaceful, so alive! It's just wonderful!'

"It will pass,"

the teacher replied matter-of-factly.

Hair Raising Days

I’m a dinosaur I admit it. As of today I have a brand new computer. A Samsung laptop, something or other, with a terabyte of space. Cracks me up since my first computer was an IBM with 2GB of space and w­e were totally up to date and cruising. It didn’t actually feel like that long ago. Now I want to take a class at Bead and Button that uses Photoshop CS6 and my poor little old Dell couldn’t handle it. It was old – admittedly 5 years old and I was still using A 2003 office suite and XP. I liked it – it worked for me. Now I am in hyper drive trying to get Windows 7 figured out, trying to down-load CS6, and am totally lost in my TAO class.

Okay, getting back in the real world again was definitely a must, but like all of you I’d rather be creating things. If I could afford for someone else to photograph my work I would. I’d also pay for cleaning the house and cooking meals but then I ain’t Oprah either so I might as well just skip that happy fantasy plan.

So, soon I will purchase the book Window 7 for dummies and try to dig into it. Last night and today totally challenged any menopausal brain cells I have left. I’ve never had a computer drive that didn’t have en eject button – Really – WTF. When the darn disc was in it and wouldn’t come out I had flash backs of discs and cassettes getting stuck in tape players. You and I all know people who’ve had to dig one of those things out of the slot. Sometimes you got lucky and sometimes the machine ended up toast.

I got it out – not manually. I did was as my DD always says – “Mom, Google it”. I found the answer and out it came. I will also say this dinosaur nearly packed the Samsung back into it’s cute little box for a return to the Best Buy store.

Now just how am I going to get this class accomplished? – Maybe if I tape recorded the whole thing while he’s teaching since I think I’m going to end up messing up a lot of info while fighting my computer. I leave in a week and I promise to practice but don’t hold your breath We’ve family coming – a wedding and lots of packing to do. If you see me at the show just give me a pat on the back and help take some good notes while we are in class, I'll be the one with my hair standing on straight end and making little twirls of it to pull out.

Book Giveaway #3 - Laura McCabe's Embellished Beadweaving

Laura McCabe's Embellished Beadweaving: Jewelry Lavished with Fringe, Fronds, Lacework & More (Beadweaving Master Class Series) by Laura McCabe

Welcome to the third of the “Great Lark Pay it forward Book Giveaways”. Around Christmas of 2011 I was lucky enough to win a selection of 21 of the best beading books ever published by Sterling Publishing. Two boxes full of books arrived and I have felt like a princess ever since. Some of the books were duplications of books I have already purchased. Yes, I can be called, the book hog, the librarian, the hoarder of all things written about craft. It is what it is and I won’t apologize for having the greatest library of inspiration anyone could hope for. This doesn’t even include the hundred books I gave to an old friend for school library on watercolor painting, oil painting, and who can remember what else.

This is book is from Laura McCabe. Now Laura is one of the premier artisits who’s work I seek out at every Bead and Button. Her booth reflects her aesthetic all the way down to how she packages her kits. And her creative work – it beats to the sound of a different drummer and no surgeon could possibly do better work than her with a needle. They’re sumptuous.

All you have to do to sign up for this little giveaway is to leave a comment on this post. I will pick a random winner on Sunday, March 18th. Be sure to leave me a way to get in touch with you. Overseas contestants are welcome too. Best of Luck!

Sharon