Band of Triangles Workshop Mystery

Among my phone messages yesterday, was one asking if there were any seats left in my workshop Band of Triangles at Laura's Beads. Hmm. I have no workshop with that name or in a venue called Laura's Beads.
Let's see...
In the studio class yesterday, Amy said she was intrigued by Jean Powers bangle of continuous triangular components that appears in the current BEADWORK magazine. Maybe the caller is referencing a Jean Powers workshop and called me in error. Nah, that can't be it.
A couple weeks ago I shipped an order of Tulip Beading Needles to a store called Laura's Beads. But, I am not teaching there. That's not it.
So I googled and this screen is what came up.
Turns out Laura's Beads, yes the one selling TulipBeadingNeedles.com , is offering workshops from published works. This workshop is a project from my book MASTERING BEADWORK. The workshop is labeled "by Carol Cypher". If you click on the workshop a second screen reveals that the workshop is my design that is being taught by her staff. She placed a link to my website there and this led the inquiry to my door.
Interesting.
P.S. I called Laura to give her the callers number and query. I left a message on the caller's voicemail that Laura would answer her question.

Hand Felted Bangles & Beaded Beads plus Bezel for rivoli with DVBS

The plan for my workshop with Delaware Valley Bead Society was to hand felt 3 bangles AND learn two types of beaded bead to finish 2 of them and a quick bezel for embellishing the third bangle with a rivoli.
It came to light in conversations during our reception at the "D.Vine home", that while they are a talented and jewelry-oriented lot, there are not so many bead stitchers among them. It is always exciting to introduce beaders to the wonder of bead-weaving with tiny seed beads.
Often in a beaded-felt project, we start by producing the felt. Then we clean up the supplies and work area and break out the beads. This time I figured it would be wise to teach them the beadwork while they were fresh and eager...first thing.
We started with undulating peyote. Even those beaders working with seed beads for the first time "got it" and 1.5 hours into it we were ready to switch it up and bead a bezel. Some beaders came with 18 mm rivolis and I also brought along some vintage Swaroski stones.
By the time we came to think about breaking for lunch, I had already demonstrated the third beadwork: odd-ct peyote. This group is a powerhouse! Whew!
Jay told me once, "if anyone in New Jersey offers you pizza...eat it." They ordered pizza delivery and, no surprise, Jay is right. New Jersey pizza is worth eating!
After a quick lunch they selected their wool and commenced hand felting their 3 bangles each.
No whiners in the bunch. Everyone made their 3 AND had time to start the odd-count peyote beaded bead.
We even had time to discuss deconstruction techniques. A couple beaders created windows or channels in their felt, to hold the bead bezeled Rivoli.
This was a fun and exhilarating group. Yes, when they invite me hack next year, I'm there!
Would that I could include more photos. This blogger app on my devices keeps changing and I have trouble making the changes work for me. The pics are in my device and not on my Mac, so there you have it.
Hope I sort this out by the time the new iPad arrives!

Weekend with the Delaware Valley Bead Society

My trusty Garmin directed me beautifully to the D.Vine, yup, divine, home. Debbie is gracious and charming and lovely. We met a few of the Delaware Valley Bead Society members for Thai dinner. Actually, it was one of those Asian fusion restaurants, though trendy and popular, I just don't "get". Thai and Japanese and Chinese are distinctly different cuisine. But hey, I'm old enough to recall how popular the "continental" restaurants were a few years back. It is just as much a stretch to present Italian and French cuisine from the same kitchen....,I digress, sorry.
But, before I leave this topic, my lemongrass grilled shrimp with veggies was superior and I, dare I say, envied Karen's sushi and sashimi entree. No have not seen anything that fresh and authentic looking outside of Japan.
This weekend we will felt no few than 3 bracelets. Plus they will also learn undulating peyote, my fast new way that I had to "dope-slap" myself for not inventing in time for MASTERING BEADWORK, double needle odd-count peyote and a secure, quick and sparkling bezel. These 3 or others we'll explore, will be used to complete each bangle.
This group has some very talented jewelry makers: beaders, metal workers and metal clay sculptors, and fewer bead stitches...until the end of the weekend. There will be a dozen or so mad hot bead stitchers soon.
Well, more fun to share after the workshop. Goodnight for now.

Kalahari Mirage Necklace

Kalahari Mirage Necklace is being offered twice at the Bead & Button Show this June. Unfortunately this new rendition of the blog app removed the ability to imbed links so I have to ask you to go to www.beadandbuttonshow.com and look up classes B121587 and B122616 .
Elaine is working on her green kit of Kalahari Mirage Necklace. When she showed up wearing that sweater... Well, it's such a knockout, I might have to offer this kit as an alternative choice to my students at B&B.

Bead & Button Show added sessions

The Bead & Button Show has added duplicate sessions for my more popular classes.
Three are Prelude classes for June 1st & 2nd, the Friday and Saturday that kick off the full week of show to follow.
Saturday June 9th from 9-5 is the entirely Swarovski crystal (except the thread and the closure) necklace composed of approx 1600 of the dazzling little beauties. And it is fun to make... And dazzling to wear...And will make cubic right angle weave a cherished addition to your beading repertoire. Because Swarovski is sponsoring the crystal, this daylong workshop is a real value at $164.
Check out http://search.beadandbuttonshowstore.com/beadandbuttonshow/default.aspx?searchtext=&mode=search

Crochet and Scrumbling

Irma mentioned her knitting & crochet group at our studio class. She enjoys the group but feels challenged to produce straight edges in her crochet. I told her to avoid even trying and take up instead, free form crochet or "Scrumbling" as James Walters and Sylvia Cosh called their highly textured, multi-patterned and potentially colorful style of crochet. Gosh, can it be 15 or more years since I took their workshops in "Scrumbling" at The Wool Room? It was life changing! Every stitch was a step on a yarn adventure. It provides the opportunity to use every size hook and every and all yarns in your stash. Their book THE CROCHET WORKBOOK and Jame's book CROCHET WORKSHOP are next best to a workshop. (r.i.p. Sylvia)
The very first exposure I ever had on the Internet was when James Walters posted my scrumbled coat in The Gallery section of his website.
The colors aren't exactly true but the extraordinary texture is evident. What a fun and creative process is free form crochet. I would crochet a patch the size of a notepad or placemat and then arrange the pieces like a puzzle and connect them.
When I taught in Australia the first time, crochet teacher and author of FREEFORM KNITTING AND CROCHETJenny Dowde was also teaching at that conference. I knew we would be fast friends. I'd read a lovely book review she had written about one of my books AND she is a free form crochet devotee and fellow fiber goddess! What's not to love?
While I was with Tulip Co last month, Mr Harada gifted me the gorgeous limited edition of blue Etimo crochet hooks (left, below)
On the right is the set of Tulip bead crochet hooks called Sucre...and they ARE sweet, in French or any language... silky soft in your hand with a perfectly crafted point that slips easily into the bead stitches. The beadstores carrying Tulip beading needles sell these gorgeous hooks individually and by the set.
Wow, I feel like getting my yarn basket out...but not until I finish the new sample I'm beading for an April workshop at Bead Gallery Inc.

Just 2 more quintessential items to share from my Japanese adventures last week

Those of you who have beaded with me know how much I love these sweet little pins...even more so now that they make them in Tulip shape.


During my tour of the Tulip plant and offices I saw this package of enormous pins. They are large replicas of the cellulose head pins seen on the left. I'm told teachers use these large ones for demonstration/educational purposes.
Please forgive me if you must sit through this while I tell the story once again:

For many years Tulip has been providing sewing kits to 4th graders studying handicrafts. Among the items in the sewing kit is a cellulose head pin. The children are encouraged to write their name on it, learning the value of the smallest tool.

How I love that story. It seems to me quintessentially Japanese. In contrast to my experience of elementary school...learning to use paper cups and a growing number of other disposable items.
Tulip staff knows I am charmed by this story, these pins and even more, to know Mr Harada's father invented the machine that made their first cellulose head pins.

Until a few months ago, before having my first Tulip fine beading awl, these pins were my fav item to tease knots open in beading thread.






Fumiko Ishikawa gifted me this 3 level lacquerware bento box. It is decorated with momiji, or maple leaves, the symbol of Hiroshima. We didn't have a chance to visit after I opened her gift and didn't ask it's origins. But, looking on line, it was made in Ishikawa prefecture. (This prefecture shares her name.) In Kyoto and Kamakura there was so much lacquerware I admired. I am delighted to have this gorgeous bento box as a reminder of Fumiko and this wonderful time in Japan. Plus, I carry at least one meal a week with me. This 4.5" cube will be a beautiful way to pack and enjoy these meals.



There... I seriously hope this concludes my posts about this recent trip to Japan.
There might be posts that describe the factory tour, but only when I start to put that all together.


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