This morning the Hand Felted Complex Cane Bead Necklace workshop began by asking each felter to select 12 of the prepared roving segments from the hundreds on hand. They are THIS happy already? What WILL they do when they come around to cutting their canes into beads, and see how fabulous they are?
After a couple hours of building the canes, we broke for lunch. Then we resumed making the canes and felting them. Then came the fulling process. There was only the tiniest hint of whining, and I think it was just to tease me. Alas, we took knives to the canes and beheld the fruits of their labors.

Jan is shown adjusting the length of her necklace before adding the finding.
Connie finished hers and was willing to wear it, even though it was still damp.
I suspect these beaders will be doing some more felting. They all opted to make the optional purchase of the Turbo Felting Boards we used in class.

The Great Lakes Beadworkers' Guild concluded our weekend of workshops with one more meal together. We tried 2Booli, a Mediterranean restaurant new to all of us. I could have had Greek salad, hummous and other familiar foods I love but, since the owners are Lebanese I chose to try their traditional Lebanese fare. Especially since one of the beaders in our party could share with us what she has earned about Lebanese cuisine from meals with her in-laws. The food was fresh and delicious. The crushed lentil soup was smooth and beautifully seasoned. My entree, shawarma, was marinated and grilled chicken served with grilled fresh veggies.

Thank you GLBG for another delightful time with your kind, creative and adventurous members. I look forward to returning.

Today three beaders arrived to the Advanced Elements of Beadwork workshop wearing felt jewelry. Well, Linda Darmes, above, wasn't actually wearing her felt until I asked her to for this photo. Her piece is still in progress and will be entered into a juried competition for exhibition in the Lawrence St. Gallery, in Ferndale MI. The exhibit will showcase collaborations between beadworkers of the Great Lakes Beadworkers' Guild and members of the local branch of the ISGB called Glass Act. The beadmaker she is collaborating with is Darlene Dombrowski.

Linda G. is wearing a beautiful necklace that combines her bead weaving with one of her hand felted beads as a focal element. B.T.W., the gorgeous sweater she is wearing is one of her hand knits. Its subtle sheen and graceful drape is due to the bamboo yarn.

Audrey wore a strand of felt beads. She was quick to say she had not made them but, we applauded her good taste to purchase them! She will be hand felting her own set of complex cane felt beads in tomorrow's workshop.

Sharon, a board member of the GLBG, wasn't wearing felt today but, she was wearing a Carpet of Beads Bracelet (a retired kit of mine and a project in MASTERING BEADWORK) and an incredible Jeannette Cook necklace she made in a workshop with her.

Tomorrow is the deadline for submitting proposals to teach at 2010 Bead and Button Show. Mine have been submitted and hopefully received (I'll check tracking when I finish here) but, I cannot resist sending this newest one, Spike and Sparkle Necklace, shown below.
Tonight at Beadzo (Tivoli NY) Terri started one after I taught her how to set a rivoli into the bicone circles we've been making (picture above). If B&B accepts this class, it will be offered as a 3 hour class and most people will finish the pendant and the liquid silver chain it hangs from.

Once again I've submitted the Complex Cane felt beads Necklace but, this year as a 6 hour class, rather than 7 hour workshop. This is possible because the Turbo Felting Board makes it so much faster. Yippee. There are also felt bracelets, bangles and lariats among the submissions. Can't wait to see what they choose.

Today I finish packing for the next week's Puget Sound Bead Festival . It is held in the incredibly beautiful Hotel Murano , whose guest rooms and public spaces are appointed with the work of 40 glass artsits. It is like living in a gallery. A visit to every floor is a must, because each floor features the works and stories of a particular artist.
I am teaching the felted and beaded wire bracelet like the one shown here (by permission HAND FELTED JEWELRY AND BEADS), a felted flower to wear as a brooch or to add to the felted lariat/belt : each of these offered as half day workshops.
This photo is a heap of complex cane felt bead necklaces. Create your own in a full day workshop on Thursday July 9. Choose several colors of fine merino wool to construct the canes. Then combine the canes into a single complex cane. Felt it until firm using my favorite new Turbo Felting Board ($30 gets you one of your own to keep!). Cut the felt cane into individual beads and string them into a necklace. This is the only Complex Cane Felt Beads Workshop I currently have on my calendar. Hope we get to felt this together in Tacoma WA next week.