Last month's day in NYC

I'm once again on the train into Manhattan and attempting to catch up with you about the last visit to NYC.
My friend HyoMin Kang from Tulip Co flew in from Hiroshima for business stateside and we were able to squeeze in some time together. We dropped in at York Beads to deliver Tulip beading needles to Betcey (of Beyond Beadery fame). She and Nikia Angel were offering workshops at York Beads over the weekend. Betcey introduced me to Jennifer Vanbenschoten, editor of the on-line newsletter BeadingDaily. My initial thought was, I already know Jennifer. Then it occurred to me...we actually never have met before. We are familiar because we are Facebook friends and I read Beading Daily. She is lovely.
In the pics: HyoMin. Perry, York Beads owner and lord of the stripey and spike -bead kingdom is shown with Nikia. Betcey (left) and Jennifer (right) with me.

Felt a Fascinator in my Workshop this Saturday

Fabulous Felt Fascinator led by Carol Cypher
When
Sat, June 23, 3pm – 6pm
Where
97 Broadway, Kingston (map)
Description
Allow your most fascinating self to run free in this exploration of felt making, beaded edgings and embellish with feathers, sequins, tulle and ribbon. These bigger-than-a-barrette, smaller-than-a-hat adornments range from sweet and demure to edgy and outrageous! (Remember the Royal wedding?) For this photograph, one of several were chosen but, no two are alike.

You and the wool will co-conspire to make yours unique and gorgeous. Begin with making a flat or sculptural piece of felt from a palette of fine merino wool fiber. We'll accelerate this process by using a Turbo Felting Board (available for optional purchase), allowing more time to fabricate and embellish to your heart's desire using tulle, feathers, beads, sequins creating this work of art-to-wear. Don yours with the dignity of the Royals or the panache of Lady Gaga!

No experience necessary. All levels. Please bring a towel. If you have a feather, beads and tulle you wish to use, bring it along. These items, and more, are available for purchase in class.

Workshop fee $75: includes wool, use of felting equipment, beadwork recipe and some embellishment supplies

Register at A.S.K. at 845-338-0331 97 Broadway, Kingston NY 12401
Carol Cypher phone 845-484-6417 E mail carolcypher@gmail.com.




more details» copy to my calendar»

Thursday at Bead & Button Show

Opening day of the marketplace is always exciting. After delivering the first and very few size 12 Tulip beading needles I made my way right over to the Craft Optics booth. I got to see this special eyewear in action during the 3 classes that Marg, owner of beadfx Beadstore in Toronto, had taken with me. She likes her pair very much. I'll post about my first hand experience of them when mine arrive, possibly next week. Can't wait. Owner Jeff Caplan was charming and attentive to each and every beader, and there were considerable, who sat down to try this eyewear.
Sara from C-Koop Beads showed me the new findings she thought might be a fit for my felt jewelry. I'll keep you posted, after I put them into service. I adore her colorful enameled beads and findings.
Toho president Iwao Yamanaka presented teachers with a sample of their newest beads, slated for 2013: seed beads with larger holes! These are kinder on the eyes, permit more thread passes and will provide more beads per kilo. In this entire display of Toho seed beads, don't you just know that my eyes went right to Y310. Gorgeous. There they are in sizes 11 & 6 but, where are the 8s? Hmm.
AN ASIDE RE Size 12 Tulip beading needles: When I returned home from BB, my inventory arrived from Japan and I am now supplying your local bead stores with these lovelies. They are priced between the $4.95 sizes 10 and 11 and the $14.00 size 13 at $9.80. Just yesterday I put my first pair into service in my own beadwork.
First time in years I didn't buy a ring from Gary Wilson. Just never got over there:(
More BB Show to share in next posts...

Beyond Beadery Woodstock Revival Roadshow at York Beads

For this entire weekend, Betcey (of Beyond Beadery fame) is presenting her stockpile of Swarovski bling and her treasure trove of Japanese seed beads at York Beads in New York City. Nikia Angel is joining her and offering classes too.
I'll be in Manhattan for the day so I am delivering more Tulip Beading Needles to her there tomorrow! Including the new size 12!

"Meet the Teachers" event at the B&B Show

Amy, my librarian super-hero, arrived in Milwaukee and the Frontier Airlines Center in time to set up my table for this evening devoted to socializing and exhibiting kits and class samples. The Beaders are always happy to see her and have missed her the years that she cannot come.
Kathleen came by to say she will be in the CRAW class and to share a great story: She was wearing the Twilight in Savannah bracelet she made in my workshop a couple years ago to find Diane Fitzgerald admiring it. Eventually, Diane suggested they exchange bracelets and so, she took her up on this. Kathleen was happy to have her work admired and desired. According to her fellow Bead Society members, Diane spoke about her joy at acquiring this bracelet. Kathleen made herself another version of this feminine and fluttering bracelet.
Joyce and Joanne stopped by to say they had enjoyed our class together soooo much that they signed up for 2 more. Wow. This is music to my ears.
It was a gorgeous evening of affection commerce and visiting.

Bead & Button Show adventures

Before class I sit in the lobby at Hyatt Regency Milwaukee, using the free wifi to blog and catch whatever visiting I can. Anna Draeger sat for a moment to catch up. We had taught at the same event in Dortmund, Germany at the Creativa Expo a couple years ago and it was nice to catch up a little. She has just given notice at Kalmbach Publishing, publisher of Bead & Button magazine, to pursue teaching her gorgeous, crystal endowed beadwork professionally.
Stephanie Dixon, aka the Dixon chick sat for a moment. She is a bubbling jewelry designer and is here to once again demonstrate crystal clay<\a> plus, this year is her debut teaching at the Bead & Button Show <\a>. On Facebook her little companion shows up in place of her photo. I love this cranky looking little Poopsie Mc AngryPants.

A year later and still using the same pair of Tulip beading needles.

When I handed students in last Night's class, a pair of Tulip beading needles Cydne remarked that she was still using the same package she bought at last year's Bead&Button Show . And she does some serious beading. She is wearing a design she learned from Met Inmon and her badge shows she will be taking the Master Class with Sherry Serafini later this week. Lisa had seen the Tulip needles for sale at the kiosks in the classroom lobby and questioned the $4.95 retail price. When she heard Cydne is using the same package For a year, Lisa confessed going through several other-brand needles per project. Yes, she agreed. They are worth it.
Seated with me is Carol Perrenoud, co-owner of Beadcats. She and Virginia Blakelock have owned Beadcats for 27 years. The business is in Wilsonville Oregon and has served our beadiful community through mailorder and bead shows. Carol and Virginia are the queen mothers to many of this generation of beadworkers. Virginia's book, THISE BAD BAD BEADS was the gateway to many of us. Their catalog and magazine articles were the go to reference about threads and bead types, origins and uses. And Carol is especially dear to me and I don't think I have ever mentioned this to her... Gosh, it was probably 15 or more years ago, my drum teacher, the esteemed ethnomusicologist from Bahia Brazil, Emilia Biancardi , was wearing a gorgeous beaded rope necklace. She said it was bead crochet! Despite my search, I found only 1 person who knew the technique, Benita, a fiberartist friend and busy gynecologist in the Bronx. What to do, what to do? Then I find at the Wool Room a video lesson on bead crochet by Carol. It was the first video I ever watched that wasn't a rented movie. And I owned it! I sat there watching and re-watching, hook and beaded-thread in hand until I "got" it. Thank you Carol.