Beadwork Magazine's June/July issue hit the stands, I am tickled to report, because it features another Master Class by moi. The topic this time is a way for the timid beader to conquer their intimidation of cubic right angle weave. The editor had sent me a loaner camera and asked that I make a video that would be offered on the web as a bonus to the article.

It was amazing how uncomfortable I was sitting there before a little video camera. That entire first day was spent making dozens of attempts, stopping, deleting and starting again. I even resorting to taping a script next to the camera. But, at day's end, I simply called it quits and assured myself that in the morning, with a fresh start, I'd get it right in the first take.

What a gift it was to have that opportunity to try my hand at this medium. I now own one and am in the process of providing video material to support for some of my instructions and kits.

You've seen Janet here many times in studio class shots and at Bead Blasts, modeling her beautiful beadwork. When I've enumerated here the numbers of beaders married to wood turners, I've counted Janet among them. Here she is with her handsome and delightful husband Bob. Together they are BoomerangPro: makers of beautiful wood crochet hooks and beading looms.

Generally, I purchase the beaders' spools of fishing line/beading thread, especially since I implore beaders to purchase theirs at the beading stores rather than box stores. This week, in time for preparing the kits for the 7 classes I am teaching at the Bead & Button Show, a chain sport-store sent a discount coupon for fishing supplies. As I try to keep the cost of the kits minimal for these classes, I succumbed to the discount purchase. In the fishing line aisle, look what I saw! To my surprise, Fireline, now offers a braided tine, nearly indistinguishable from PowerPro. Imagine the confusion this will cause for beaders everywhere! It is even in the moss green of PowerPro.

At the Meet the Teachers event on Wednesday evening of the Bead & Button Show I will offer kits for the classes that were sold out Glass Bead Inspired Lariat, Fireflies at Sunset, Two Sides to Every Story and Felted Bangle with Beaded Bead. To keep it simple, I'll confine the color choices for the felt bangle to the wool and beads used in this bangle and the more colorful one in the class catalog. In class, however, students will have an array of colors to choose from, to use solidly, in combination or blended.

Caroline at Moral Fibre Felting Studio in UK reports that there are vacancies in the 2-day workshop March 2 & 3. So I am trying to spread the word to beaders across the pond, in hopes that they will join us in a day of felted beadiness. Those beaders who mention the blog, Jean Powers or Spangles will receive a free kit for Fireflies at Sunset (My popular Bead and Button Show 3 hour class, offered twice this year. One class is sold out and there are a few seats left on Sunday just before we all go home.
Although my weekend workshop in Hand Felted Jewelry and Beads in Gallipolis OH sold out in two days, one person had a calendar conflict, making a seat available for you. Contact Marlene at FeltingMadness@wildblue.net.
Next weekend I will be at Beads By Blanche in Bergenfield NJ, teaching Felted Component Jewelry. We'll create felt components all morning and in the afternoon, fabricate finished jewelry using our fresh felt and glass, wire, chain, bead components on hand in this abundant store.
This week's new experience was to tape myself using a flip video. It is a short piece about cubic right angle weave with demonstration and tips. It will be linked to the Master Class I have written for June/July Beadwork Magazine. It breaks my heart that so many beaders are intimidated by r.a.w., let alone, cubic r.a.w. So, I'm offering up a cheerful and meditative approach. Just the way we love peyote for its short and sweet repetitions of the same step, we can love r.a.w., hence, c.r.a.w. Don't let those pesky changes in direction cross you up and put you off. Just repeat the little mantra to yourself and ...voila...you're a right angle beader!
The Glass Bead Inspired Lariat Workshop at The Bead & Button Show filled up the second day of registration. But, if you are in the New York area, you may like to know that the Bead Society of Greater New York has asked me to teach it on March 13th. Nancy Tobey, whose beautiful glass bead inspired this piece, is sending me beads in a few color choices.
Hope I get to bead or felt with you soon. Even if we cannot be in person, perhaps I'll be turning out videos, after this week's flip adventure. Ya never know.

My bead show experience is always made complete by a visit to Gary Wilson's booth. He and his wife Kathy remain as cheerful and gracious throughout the show as they appear in this photo, explaining to each customer the origins of each stone. My earliest knowledge of Gary was in an article I read some years ago in Lapidary Journal (or was it Ornament?). I was charmed to read how his childhood fascination with rocks led him to become the rock whisperer we know and love today.
For a few years I have been collecting his solid stone rings. It is a way of carrying a bit of Mother Earth with you throughout each day; a comfort, a thing of beauty and a pleasure to hold and rub and wear.
Even though I am not teaching the Marcasite Chain with a Silver- Lined Bronwen Heilman focal bead at this time, I had to drop by and see what she has been up to.


The first time I met Sewdish PMC artist and teacher Gaby Friberg was about 5 years ago in Orlando at a bead show. She took a couple of my beading workshops there. Over the years I am delighted at the frequency that we meet again. Sometimes I find that she has registered to bead with me again and other times we run into each other in the exhibit hall at bead shows. Yesterday, as often is the case, I spotted her husband Rolf first, to find Gaby nearby.

Marlene Blessing and I met to discuss our taping of Beads, Baubles and Jewels for PBS television. We decided we'd talk about felt jewelry and I would give a brief explanation of making hand felted complex cane felt beads. It was so much fun. She is charming and professional and made it a breeze. This is the third one I've done for this producer, so we can say I have been broken in...I know the drill. When I know particulars about showtime, I'll share it here. (Yes, she IS familiar. Marlene was editor-in-chief of BEADWORK magazine and you saw her photo and read her welcome inside each issue. Recently she was promoted to editorial director and Melinda Barta has taken over as editor.

I'll share some of my finds at the show another time. Goodnight for now.