Saturday at Bead Gallery Inc

Claudia Waite arrived at todays workshop sporting the gorgeous bangle she made in last night's workshop. You may recognize her from previous posts, or her performances at the Metropolitan opera house, or singing Beethoven's 9th Symphony, under the direction of Seiji Ozawa at the opening ceremony of the 1998 Olympics in Nagano or her hand crafted jewelry website .
Today's project was Ginormous Diamond Knock Down Necklace.
Here is a shot of some progress made in our time together. Cara is a speedy beader and will likely finish hers after her finals are done. Good luck with those exams Cara.
Joan chose dainty over ginormous, in selecting the diamonds for her piece, rendered in bronze and red. It was fun to see my design rendered in so many colors.

Friday at Bead Gallery Inc in Melrose MA

As usual, we fill up Friday with 3 half day workshops...3 brand new projects this time. We had so many registrations that Genevieve moved us to the gorgeous hall across the street, where we will felt on Sunday.
The evening class was a new bangle that features rondel crystals. (This project was just chosen as one of several workshops I'll teach in April 2013 at Studio Beads Deerfield Il.
Tomorrow we will have a day of nuno feltmaking. I'm looking forward to several felters who have taken workshops with me here in the past, joining us tomorrow for a day of creative exploration of felting fine merino wool into fabric.

Guess who the surprise guest teacher was tonight?

Genevieve invited me to be the surprise at her "teachers choice" Wednesday night bead group in Bead Gallery Inc. This group of beaders is quite talented, good-natured and alot of fun. It is so satisfying to watch the developing beadwork, when each beader has been free to select her own materials. Some really great combinations!
The project is a focal bead suspended from a beaded bail from 3 different beaded chains designed to be worn together. In 3 short hours they produced quite a bit, plus ordered in and delighted in a cupcake delivery by Claudia's fiancé Craig.

Lessons at the Apple store

This month I bought the new iPad for its capacity to make amazing videos. I'm looking forward to making instructional videos.
Meanwhile, on one of my Dad's last good days, my cousin Charles interviewed him about matters historical and geneological. Because my new iPad arrived that morning, ahead of its expected arrival, I was able to save these precious couple hours.
I'm at the Apple store having lessons in video/DVD burning and maybe even how to make my out of print books, HOW WE FELT & HAND FELTED JEWELRY AND BEADS, available as iBooks. I'll keep you posted .

Tulip Quilting Needles are in

I finally unpacked the latest delivery from Hiroshima. Since May I've been the U.S. distributor for Tulip neading needles. When I visited the Tulip factory in January I agreed to also carry their quilting needles. Tulip has been known for generations as the manufacturer of royal quality sewing needles... And more recently their perfectly exquisite beading needles, bead crochet hooks and fine beading awl.
Included in the box was this gorgeous crocheted lace made by Ms Yamashita, who works in the Kake factory of Tulip. Thank you soooo much. It is lovely.

Cubic right angle weave and digital possibilities

This morning I received a call from Martha, a beader in Duluth Georgia. She had watched my videos about right angle weave and had questions.
I referred her to the June 2010 issue of BEADWORK magazine that featured my Master Class in c.r.a.w. and the pentagon pendant made entirely of Swarovski crystals, that she was drawn to. BEADWORK had sent the video cam and tripod and asked if I'd tape a little segment anout cubic right angle weave. Turns out they used nearly all that I taped and divided into two parts to show on YouTube. A few people remarked on line that the camera man was a jerk and the direction was poor but, hey, it was just me, all alone for the first time with a video camera.
Wouldnt it be great if the technology allowed me to sit before my computer and give Martha a demo of the lesson, in real time PLUS (this is the kicker) allow countless others to view it at the same time? Sure, i could probably Skype a lesson with one recipient but, to be able to permit hundreds of other people to view it in real time too would be spectacular. Hey, if you know how, drop me a line.

Been missing you.

It has been my priviledge to share everyday of the past couple weeks with my father. The last few days we benefited by the experience of Hospice. Last Monday night my Dad peacefully passed away, with his wife Jane and me at his bedside.
In THE GREATEST GENERATION, Tom Brokaw wrote about my father's generation, and Dad exemplified everything that made his generation great. He was brave and noble, honest and trustworthy, loyal and devoted, independent and self-sufficient, rugged while always a gentleman. He was a pillar of strength and always generous with his affection and tenderness. He kept my secrets, encouraged me to follow my dreams and showed me how to cultivate a happy and fulfilling homelife. The words he lived by were "play the cards that are dealt you" and "nothing is forever".
Rest in peace Daddy...
Louis W. Huber, 89, of Rhinebeck, NY, died Tuesday, April 10, 2012 at home with his family. He was born January 22, 1923 in Manhattan, NY to the late Louis and Mary L. (Wieditz) Huber. Graduates of Pine Plains High School, he and his high school sweetheart, Vivian Eleanor Thorpe, were married from 1943 until her passing in 1991. Louis was a WWII veteran, and member of V.F.W. As a Gunner's Mate first class on the USS Barton, he participated in D day invasion in Normandy, and the Philippines and Okinawa invasions. Following his honorable discharge he remained active in the USS Barton Association. When he resided in Stanford, NY, he served on the School Board and Recreation Committee. While a resident of New Paltz, NY he served as Police Commissioner and was Trustee of the New Paltz Methodist Church. Louis's 38 year career with Central Hudson Gas & Electric, ended with his retirement as a Superintendent and member of the Quarter Century Club. March 3rd of 2001 he married life-long friend Jane Spohr Silvernail. Together they enjoyed travel, sauna & swimming at Williams Lake, frequent movie/dinner dates and delighting in each other's great-grand children. He was an avid skier and hunter. He was a member of National Ski Patrol and a Certified ski instructor. He had participated in search and rescue while a skin-diver. In addition to his wife Jane, he is survived by his daughter Carol Cypher and her husband Jay of Port Ewen, NY; his daughter Linda Raff of New Paltz, NY.; his grandson Eric Elliott of Durango, CO; grand daughters Amy B. Raff of West Hurley, NY, and Gwendolyn Raff of New Paltz, NY and great grand children Aidan, Aileen and Avery Elliott of Durango CO. His daughter Mary Elliott pre-deceased him in 2009. Entrusted to the care of Luke Keyser of Keyser Funeral & Cremation Service, Inc., 216 Broadway, Port Ewen, NY 12466. Services will be held privately at the discretion of the family. Light a candle in memory of Louis at www.KeyserFuneralService.com Donations to Hospice, Inc or St Jude's Children's Hospital are welcome.