Blanche and I just put several new workshops on our calendars for me to teach at Beads By Blanche in Bergenfield NJ. Mark your calendar for February 6 for a day of Felted Component Jewelry. Info and pics will follow in next post. Set aside Saturday April 16 for something beaded and beautiful and yet to be decided.

Allow me to tell you about the Tuesday evenings we've schedule. This Pentagon Pendant is Feb 16, 6-9pm. This solid Swarovski necklace is an ideal way to get cozy with cubic right angle weave. Notice the sweet star-shaped spaces that develop in the corners. Finish with a sparkling chain of crystals and charlottes that works up faster than you expect.

On March 30th (6-9pm) learn a quick and easy bead rope of matte and shiny 8s that finishes with a distinctive button & loop closure. We'll make it bracelet length and for the button, we'll bead a highly textured bezel for an Aurora Borealis Rivoli that is lovely from every angle.

May 4th, also a Tuesday, from 6-9pm, capitalize on the unique position of each of the multiple beads-per-stitch of polygon stitch, to incorporate tiny holed beads such as seed pearls. The closure is a decorative vertical loop centered over a beaded toggle created by joining two bead-bezeled dentelles.

As a post script, my web mistress Marylyn is preparing a huge sale on my website http://www.carolcypher.com/ . We want to clear the decks, well, Marylyn's office and my studio, of everything we've offered there to-date, to make room for the NEW kits and designs. One of the new offerings will be, while they last, the kit to make these sweet earrings featuring lampworked beads by Lea Zinke , earring wires, and an easy to follow recipe that walks you through a touch of ladder, fringe, netting, polygon stitches to create a calyx and petals for the glass bud beads. Tell me your preference: pinkish, lavenderish or light yellow. If you don't want to wait for the website posting, send a check for $30 (free parcel post or $4.95 for priority mail) and I'll get it right off to you. I'll run a New Year sale on the Turbo Felting Board ($5 discount and free shipping until Feb 2)