Last weekend at Bead Gallery Inc in Melrose, MA

Spring is here and, as my buds and branches in the garden begin to bloom, so does my teaching schedule. Last week we beaded for 3 days at Bead Gallery Inc (no felting on this trip). Ruth, a "regular" at our twice-a-year-workshops, where I ALWAYS premier at least one fresh new design, (this time 3!) was a real trooper, taking all 5 workshops! Her Dragon Bracelet is embellished with powder blue pearls which not only enhance the frosty beads but, also customized the fit. Patty, another "regular", who admits to being there as much for the camaraderie as the beading FINISHED her gold and blue Dragon Bracelet. Other Bead Gallery beaders I long to see when there were kept away by surgery or work gigs or, dare I guess, a better offer? We keep in touch on Facebook, meanwhile.
Speaking of Facebook...did you check out our page, Facebook.com/TulipBeadingNeedles? Come share the love for Tulip; love of beading; love of our community; ya know, alllll the love!!! Please post your love letters here; pictures of your work, your bead group, your inspirations. Don't forget to "like" us and send a SASE to receive your Tulip cellulose head pin.
Right now...I'm in BWI waiting to board the second leg of my flight to Liberty MO for a long weekend of beading and felting workshops at Bead Browsery. Hope to share some of that fun in a post tomorrow or Saturday. Until then, happy beading. Love, Carol

Facebook.com/TulipBeadingNeedles ... First week

Last weekend I devoted to creating a Facebook page for Tulip Beading Needles . There is much more to it than I'd realized and I am actually grateful for that. Sure, it took and is taking more time than I'd imagined but, it can be a source of much more information than I'd expected.
This week I've never enjoyed Facebook more. Reading the hundreds of posts from hundreds of friends having big bead adventures in Tucson , has allowed me to enjoy it vicariously.
And also this week is the maiden voyage of the Tul page. it is fun to watch the number of "likes" climb. a couple times a day I look to see if there are comments to reply to. Twice this week I noticed in other beaders' photos, Tulip Beading Needles or Tulip Bead Crochet Hooks.
Tulip assisted me with this logo for TulipBeadingNeedles.com and also some great product pictures. As soon as Hyomin has asked each member of Tulip staff, 84 in total, of which 44 are women:), if I may post their pictures on Facebook, I'll share my tour of the Tulip facilities in Hiroshima and our evening outings and subsequent exhibit in Tokyo at the Great International Quilt Show. Some of the photos had to be deleted because they caught too much proprietary info about manufacturing but there are still plenty to share. It's the people that mean the most to us though anyway.
Friend Jane-Michael Stallings made a video using Tulip loom needles with the bead spinner. It is posted on the timeline, because she was kind enough to advise me on how to do that. Now, I have to learn how to post on Fb each time there is a new blog posting, how to post a PDF to the blog or websites Carolcypher.com and/or TulipBeadingNeedles.com (to share recipes of beadwork). Small world...Jane-Michael (also has her own Fb page Unique Beadwork by Jane Michael) works at Lapis Lane Beads , a beadstore in Austin Texas, and one of my customers carrying Tulip Beading Needles.
See you on Fb?
Please don't forget to "like" Tulip Beading Needles.

Oops...here are the two missing pics from previous post

A pair of bracelets I've named Sparkling Shoko, in honor of Shoko Akiyama, a friend and confidant who has translated/interpreted for me when I have exhibited with Tulip Co at the International Great Quilt Show in Tokyo. Last year she and Masami Oda learned one of my bracelet designs so they could in turn share this with the dozens of Tulip staff that wished to make bracelets too.
Turns out that one Wednesday a month staff from the Tulip Co factory meet for crafting together. I have promised to send Shoko beads and a recipe to share another new project with Tulip co-workers who attend the craft Wednesdays.
Later this month Tulip Co. will again exhibit at the Tokyo International Great Quilt Show. Several weeks ago when they invited me to join them once again, circumstances dictated that I would be unable to attend. I will be there with them in spirit.
The other picture is a modular piece that features the beaded beads I'll be teaching: a firm yet unstuffed type of pillow and the one I call trillium (though i SHOULD call them potato chip because you can't make just one!). I've just completed a new necklace featuring this pair of beaded beads...hmm, can I add a pic here? Lets see.