Inspired by Nature Retreat

From the editor of the Art Bead Scene:

To celebrate the release of my upcoming book, Jewelry Designs from Nature, I've put together a three day bead retreat focused on the themes of the book: the woodlands, garden and sea.  I'll share my creative secrets for tapping into the beauty of nature and translating that inspiration into jewelry. 

We'll explore a different theme each day with classes and mini-workshops in a beach house right across from Lake Michigan!  Join me on three related field trips to awaken your senses to the design lessons offered by Mother Nature.  An Inspiration Scavenger Hunt will lead you through creative prompts to translate the retreat experience into your jewelry creations when you return home.

Walk along the sandy shores, marvel at the delights of the garden and discover the magic of a quiet forest as you relax, connect and create in the resort town of South Haven, Michigan on September 16 - 18.  Space is limited, don't delay!

Click here for complete details.

Bead & Button Recap

2011 Bead & Button Show is an art bead paradise!  Some of the top beadmakers in the country and beyond displayed their wares.  I wish I could visit every booth and beadmaker - but there are just so many.  Thankful there is a printed program to visit the ones online that I missed.  Here were a few of my favorites this year:

Kerri Fuhr is always on my list to visit.  Her amazing beads are a sight to behold and even more amazing in person.  This year she had these little birds perched and ready to sing - love them.  She also has a new line of butterfly pendants.  Visit Kerri's website at http://www.kerrifuhr.com/.

Stephanie Ann Designs shares a booth with Kerri, so of course you have to see what's new with Stephanie!  Stephanie's work has a very beachy theme with tide pools of glass starfish, handblown glass beads and matte glass disk beads that remind me of beach glass.

Polymer clay artist Pam Wynn had a beautiful range of earthy beads and an exciting line up of new brighter colors.  She also offers pendants from her daughter, Heather Wynn.  You can find Pam's beads in her Etsy shop and Heather's work in her Etsy shop.

I had the pleasure of meeting Heidi, the designer behind Lillly Pilly.  It's so nice to meet the people behind the creations.  Heidi and her helper Jodi create all the work from Lilly Pilly, which features engraved shell pendants in intricate designs inspired from nature. They are offering two new collections of metal sheets, one collection is embossed and patina brass and copper.  The other collection is printed aluminium in geometric patterns.  Both can be used to create pendants and bead caps.  Check out their work at http://www.lillypillydesigns.com/.

I love Julie Nordine's work, you'll find her under the business name Credit River Art Glass.  She makes the most amazing glass acorns with electroplated acorn caps and lampwork beads.  You'll also find etched copper leaves and new this year were enameled copper leaves.  Julie has an enchanting color sense, all earthy and organic.  You can see more of her work at http://www.creditriverartglass.com/.

My favorite find from the show was Vintage Meadow Artworks created by Heather French.  Heather hand colors lucite in the most amazing color palettes.  I couldn't get enough of her work.  She will be opening an online shop soon and when she does I will be the first to let you know!

I also enjoyed meeting Sak from Saki Silver - who by the way had a table full of bronze metal pieces.  If silver has you sticker shocked check out their collection of alternatives in the dark, rich color of bronze.  If you don't know Mellisa's lampwork from Sea of Glass, I recommend heading over to her website.  I will share more of her work soon, she had the coolest new beads.

And it's not all art beads, I loved visiting with the girls at the Vintaj booth - they were during demos of their new embossing system on metal blanks - so easy and fun.  And Sara Hardin from Soft Flex was showing off a make-and-take project.   

I was at the show for 4 days so this is just a small sample of the beadmakers that I was able to visit.  I loved seeing what was new at Green Girl Studio, Lisa Peters, Diane Hawkey, Earthenwood Studios, MakuStudio, Golem Beads and many more!

I made a quick video with my ipod of our row, filled with beadmakers.  The show was dazzling, overflowing with all the treasures of beady dreams.  Now to pull out the goodies from the show and create some new jewelry.

Bead & Button Survival Guide

1. Set a budget.

2. Laugh at that budget.  Set aside just enough money to get home and come to peace with spending all the rest.

3. Have a huge sale in your Etsy shop the week of the show! (Like these guys.)

4. Don't bring a friend - you'll buy twice as much because she'll find all these amazing things you'll have to have too. (And if you have two friends with you - forgetta about.)

5. Bring a healthy snack, water and wear comfortable shows.

6. Bring a big bag. Bring a rolling suitcase.  (Can you bring those to the show?  I can't remember.  Okay, stick with the big bag.  But there will be a moment during the show when you turn to that friend and say, "We're gonna need a bigger bag." ala the crazy man from Jaws.)

7. Have a show strategy - visit the beadmakers first - they have limited stock and sell out of things!  And take a minute to meet artists who are your creative heros!  Next visit booths with hard to find items like Czech glass, resin beads and decorative chain. Watch demos and join in any make-and-takes.  (Booths that usually have demos are Vintaj, Soft Flex and Beaducation.)

Stop by booth #1212 to visit me at Humblebeads.  Here is a little coupon for you!

These are the booths I'll be visiting - in no particular order:

Jangles #1103 - ceramic
Earthenwood Studio #1227 - ceramic
Green Girls Studios #1205 - pewter
Julie Nordine - Credit River Glass #1136 - lampwork
Diane Hawkey #1228 - ceramic
Lisa Peters Art #1213 - ceramic
Pam & Heather Wynn #1235 - polymer clay
Kim Fields #1208 - lampwork
Elemental Adornements #5 - silver
Anne Choi #1233 - silver
Kerri Fuhr & Stephanie Anne #1157 - lampwork
Golem #111 - ceramic
Lori Greenberg #938 - lampwork
C-Koop #727 - enamel
Gail Crosman Moore #9 - lampwork
Lisa Kan #818 - lampwork
MAKUStudio #142 - ceramic
Sea of Glass #1254 - lampwork

Out on a Whim #701 - seed beads, peanut beads
Ad/Adornments #717 - chain
Bello Modo #838 - brass, mixed media
Raven's Journey #117 - Czech glass
Vintaj #834 - brass (wholesale only)

Here is the whole list of exhibitors - there are so many more artists than the ones listed here and I will enjoy discovering new talent to share with you here on the Art Bead Scene!

Is there a booth you are planning to visit that we should mark on our list?  Share it in the comments below.

Bead Cruise 2012

Registration for Bead Cruise 2012 opens on Monday!

Join us March 3rd as we set sail from Fort Lauderdale, Florida for 8 nights of beads, friends and fun! We'll sail on Royal Caribbean's Navigator of the Seas to Philipsburg, St. Maarten; Basseterre, St. Kitts; San Juan, Puerto Rico and the private beaches of Labadee.  Visit the Bead Cruise website for complete details.

Instructors include Tracy Stanley, Kerry Bogert, Beverly Herman, Jill Wiseman and Heather Powers. Our classes include metalwork, wire-wrapping, beadwork, beadmaking, and even photography!

All the fun of a luxury cruise combined with a great bead retreat. The registration fee covers classes, workshops, open beading sessions, a cocktail party, gift bags, door prizes, a bead bazaar and more.

Space is very limited for our 2012 sailing - don't miss the boat!

As a special treat, I'm offering our Bead Cruise Program as a free ebook.  You can view it here.  It includes 7 free projects and bead resources. 

I do have a small request - if you like the ebook please blog, twitter or facebook about the Bead Cruise!

Gather Together

Looking for a place to connect with other creative and beady folks? Check out these upcoming events.

Dallas Bead Fest

Adorn Me 2011

Beading by the Bay 2011

Bead Cruise 2011

Many bead societies take a break during the summer and have started their fall programs again. If you are looking for a bead society in your area, check out this resource from Rings & Things. And check with your local bead stores or art communities for classes in your area.

Don't have a bead society in your area, gather together with beady friends one day each month and start your own!

Not sure what to do:

Throw an autumn-themed Bead Soup Party.

Do a bead swap.

Findings Day - make custom earwires & clasps, each person shares and teaches an idea.

Resin day - make your own art pendants.

Whatever you decide to do just being together and sharing a day of beads is good for the soul!

ArtBliss Jewelry and Mixed Media Workshops

There's a new set of workshops on the east coast -- ArtBliss!

The inaugural event will take place September 24-26, a first of its kind in the DC Metropolitan area. Taking place in the Hampton Inn and Suites, Dulles, the retreat is minutes from the Dulles airport, with a free shuttle service to the event location.

Sought-after, nationally known instructors will be teaching in an intimate setting .... not a bustling, busy conference center, giving students the best learning experience possible.

The instructors include:

Deryn Mentock

This is Deryn's first time teaching on the East Coast and her ONLY teaching venue on the East Coast, so if you're a fan of her jewelry and always wanted to meet the artist behind the popular blog, Something Sublime, now's your chance! Learn an array of wire links and many secrets of working with wire, make resin earrings, and combine vintage pictures with metal work! Check out her various classes!


Melissa Manley

Here's your chance to learn metal techniques from an expert. Her "Hard Candy" enameling class sells out early wherever she teaches it...and only TWO spaces are left! You can also come try using a rolling mill with metal in her "Roll Playing" class, and try out a hydraulic press in her "Forest Floor" locket class


Kerry Bogert

Take a class with the author of "Totally Twisted" If you've ever wanted to learn how to make lampwork beads, now's your chance! Kerry will be teaching a beginner's lampwork class. You can also learn how to make several wire bangles in her Bang-A-Rang class, even using your own beads if you take her lampwork class!


Lesley Venable

You can take both jewelry classes AND mixed media classes, all at the same retreat! Work with vintage pictures, ephemera and inks in Lesley Venable's altered art classes.



BOTH day and evening classes are available, and lunch is included with the full day classes.

A Meet and Greet Reception occurs on Friday night and is included free of charge with your class registration.The instructors will have their art and supplies available for sale, and it's a great opportunity to network and meet friends, "old" and new. There will be many amazing give aways at the reception, along with yummy desserts!

Registration is now open, so click over to http://artblissworkshops.com/ now to grab your favorite class before it's too late!

Bead Cruise 2011

Bead Cruise 2011

March 27th - April 3rd

Galveston

Cozumel

Grand Cayman

Jamaica

The classes!

 Beverly Herman

 Dallas Lovett

 Heather Powers

 Jean Campbell

 Marcia DeCoster

Tracy Stanley

We'll set sail from the quaint island of Galveston, Texas for 7 days of beading, beaches and fun.  As we sail to tropical islands you'll take classes with incredibly talented instructors. Join us in the evenings for fun events,  a cocktail party under the stars, shop during our Bead Bazaar with Bello Modo and sit in on demos and talks with our instructors.  Enjoy the ship, sit by the pool and be served like a queen! Join us in Cozumel for a day of Beads on the Beach.  Enjoy the beaches, shopping and local culture on the islands. 

Make jewelry, make friends, make memories that will last a lifetime on Bead Cruise 2011.

This is my event, it's my dream vacation I plan every year with my favorite teachers and invite you to join me.  2011 will be our 6th annual event. Space is limited, so visit the Bead Cruise website for complete details and to register today!

Visit the Bead Cruise Facebook fanpage.