Bead & Button Show registrations are pouring in.

Opening day of registrations for the Bead & Button Show is always thrilling. Teachers are sent an access code so we can see the numbers climb on our registrations.
This year I'm teaching 11 classes, as I've mentioned, and it is always a mystery how those 11 were selected from the 20-something I submitted. The greater mystery up until today is, which classes will be the most popular.
Going into this I expected B130475 Chameleon Necklace to be one of the hot sellers. It works up fairly quickly, offers both a technique and a finished necklace which is quite versatile. The bead choice here just happens to look great on just about any color blouse, sweater or dress. In an earlier post I showed it on turquoise, purple, fuchsia, mint green and yellow and it looked great with each...hence the name chameleon.
Sunday, when I met up with Claudia Waite (while she is in Manhattan performing at the Metropolitan Opera House) and Genevieve Martineau of Bead Gallery (a Melrose Massachusettes beading destination where I teach twice a year...3 day weekends in Spring and Fall), Claudia mentioned she'd already beaded a few Chameleons since I taught it at the Bead Gallery in October. A couple hours into registration and I see about a quarter of my seats are sold and, though its doing well with registrations Chameleon isn't one of the top 3. Go figure. Claudia and Genevieve remarked to me that the photo just doesn't do it justice. (No photos ever do, most Beaders will tell you.)
Well...I'm struggling not to fixate on the B&B website, so I will go jump on the elliptical. Maybe I can avoid checking it again until bedtime.
Here's a pic of Claudia beneath a billboard featuring her on the far right (in the scene, not politically ;)

This weekend Beaders the world over, are strategizing for the 8th...

Beaders are browsing the classes on line and/or studying the pages of their Bead & Button Show catalog so they can be ready for the opening of registration on the 8th.
If you click here , and type my name in the instructor box, you can see my 11 class schedule.
Mind you, the big rush for registrations is right on the 8th. Some classes only accommodate 12-16 students so, Beaders sit poised to hit the keyboard right at noon (I think), so they don't get shut out of their top picks. A short time later, Bead and Button Show management looks at the numbers. If there are no or very few registrations for one class and yet another class by that instructor filled right up, they sometimes juggle things around, replacing the lesser class with a repeat session of the popular class. In past years I've heard Beaders lament that they noticed there were a ton of cancelled classes, when in fact, the content was simply swapped out. This year I think there are well over 800 offerings! Sooooo many choices.
At some point teachers are provided access to their registration numbers for their classes. Until then, I confess, I am on tenterhooks.

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.

http://www.tulip-japan.co.jp/kyoutsu(englis)/syugei/lace.html
In lieu of a photo, as I continue to figure out how to incorporate them into blog from the iPad I am traveling with, click on the link to see some crochet hooks by Tulip Co. in Japan. While here at the Bead & Button Show I received a parcel from Kazue at Tulip Co containing her newly designed crochet hook made especially for bead crochet. Now I am eager for the vendors to open so I can purchase the supplies to start using them. They are the comfort handle I admired in their new line of hooks last year. It pleases me that they have found a distributor in U.S. It is Caron company. Can this mean that we will soon be able to purchase fine quality Tulip brand hooks, needles and felting supplies in our local yarn and stitching stores? I am delighted.
Moments ago at lunch I met up with Martina, a German beader and Facebook friend. She is wearing a necklace that looks at first glance so similar to Fireflies at Midnight ( new black version of Fireflies at Sunset). It is bead crochet. She placed memory wire inside and wears a bead dangling from each end. Sweet.
More later, gotta run...

Sunday,yesterday, was the first official day of the Bead &ButtonShow. It was sensational to meet up with so many people I love to see here. Adding to the joy, I have a chance to spend a little time with my Japanese friends and also reunite with the German beaders I met while teaching in Germany in March.
A perfectly wonderful day wrapped up with a late evening Hand Felted Bangle Bracelet class. This added session didn't sell out like the one later this week. But, it was a hearty group of a handful, so to speak, of Americans plus Wendy from Australia, Evalie from Saudi arabia and Cyndi from Nova Scotia.
Nancy Cain and I had a chance to visit briefly as she packed up to vacate the classroom I'd occupy after her. She shared with me how I will be able to accept credit cards via my iPad. This will be such a wonderful option to offer those who wish to purchase my kits on Wednesday night at Meet the Teachers event. I applied immediately and hope to have it up and running by then.
Today was chock full of tiny bursts of socializing with: European Facebook friends like Petra and Sabine; Japanese beaders Emi, Takako, Keiko, Yumiko, Kimie, and Kumiko; Laurie (of lomi lomi massage in March blog entry); Suzanne, Merle, Stacey, Mary from BSGNY; Anna, Laura, Michael and yet another Laura ( that were in Germany also at Creativa).
Motoko and I had an utterly fabulous meal at the Milwaukee Chop House. She got her dose of steak while stateside.
We're going to watch part of her new acquisition from Borders: a 3 DVD collection of Anthony Bourdain's No Reservation! Good night. More tomorrow, hopefully with pictures.

Isn't it fascinating to see how each beader organizes her stash? Kathy likes her "Cropper Hopper", an item appropriated from scrapbookers.
We had a new beader join us in our Bead Blast. She is Jessica, shown making Fireflies at Sunset from the kit. She is a quick study and left with a finished necklace. She even designed and beaded a rivoli and loop closure. When the first session of Fireflies sold out at the Bead & Button Show, they added another session at this, their 10th anniversary show, in June. Fran purchased a partially felted, or could have been needle felted, vest from etsy. After fulling it, she has begun to embellish it.

Amy (wearing THE original Fireflies at Sunset necklace) is checking out the amazing and ginormous "rivoli" that Kathy gave me. It came with a card she'd written, saying it is a pleasure to meet me. She revealed that she'd waited a day to give it to me, to be sure it was indeed, a pleasure. Ya gotta love her honesty. She is a fine beader, tells good stories and has a great sense of humor. Hope she is a keeper. And, you just KNOW I am going to bezel this rock and wear it. (I will take it off when weighing in though!) She said it is sold as a paperweight.

Check out the necklace of geometric shapes that Margot wore to my Diamonds of Fire Necklace workshop today at Perlen Akademie in Dortmund Germany. She could have joined the other 80,000 people shopping at the Creativa Expo next door but, instead, bless her heart, she spent the ENTIRE day beading with me. Honestly, she took the 9am-430pm (9 to 1630 as we call it here) workshop that focuses on cubic right angle, Diamonds of Fire. PLUS she beaded with me all evening in the workshop of Fireflies at Sunset Necklace. Diane Fitzgerald was teaching across the hall. When she dropped by and saw Margot's necklace she assumed that perhaps the book she wrote on beaded shapes might be behind it. Margot said she designed this piece a couple years ago. Just another example of simultaneous interest in geometrical beadwork that cropped up all over the place at around the same time. Especially rendered in peyote stitch. Just this week: Diane taught her Trillium design here today (based on triangles). Laura taught a design based on triangles yesterday and I taught the Beaded Pillows Necklace on Wednesday, also dependent on the basic beaded triangle. All such different manifestations of beaded triangles.Andrea (shown here) came to the Fireflies workshop with Felted Bangles with Beaded Beads she made, having seen them in the Bead and Button Show catalog.
Though the class concluded a long beadiful day, these beaders still look energized and even happy. One of them has just beaded for her first time. How exciting to usher yet another lucky person into this meditative, creative and joyous medium. She is eager to get around the expo tomorrow and set herself for the many years of happy beading ahead of her.
Tomorrow I will spend the entire day demonstrating feltmaking at the Perlen Expo (Hall 5 at Creativa Expo, dedicated to all things beads!). Kits will be on hand for those choosing to seize the opportunity to have a lesson and create some felted jewelry right on the spot.
In the evening I will continue with felting but, in a workshop at Perlen Akademie. We will make the Felted Bangle with Beaded Bead.

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.

The Bead & Button Show began accepting registrations on Tuesday, and on Wednesday this lariat class featuring a fabulous Nancy Tobey focal bead filled up and sold out! Yippee. If they ask me to fit another session into the week, I will, and Nancy is willing to make us another batch of her beauties.

There are still some seats remaining in Diamonds of Fire necklace. It is a repeat of last year's popular class using 1139 Swarovski crystals! It is sponsored by Swarovski which means I do not need to lay in all those factory packs of cystals AND it is a real value for the student. As a bonus I will also offer the convertible design that can be worn as two (or more) bracelets or as a necklace. The idea of convertible or multi-purpose pieces really appeals to me. At the conclusion of this project you are completely proficient in cubic right angle weave. You begin to interpret everything around you as being composed of little c.r.a.w. units. It opens up an entire new world of creating with beads, plus you get this gorgeous sparkling jewelry.

There are just a couple seats left in Two Sides to Every Story, a bracelet that is woven using a stitch I made up based on my explorations of tubular African stitches. The beadwork magically corrugates as you work, strategically pushing some beads forward and others to the back...hence reversible. And very cool.

There is limited seating in the Felt Bangle with Beaded Bead, 2 last I checked. It is a short and sweet 3 hour class and you leave with a finished bangle (damp but wearable). It features a bit of undulating peyote stitch and a fascinating felt adventure for newbies that offers a couple interesting tips for experienced felters. We'll be using the Turbo Felting Board (optional purchase $30). Did I mention that the TFB is discounted on my website until Ground Hog Day Feb 2. $25 with free shipping?

Fireflies at Sunset is still popular. They offered 2 sessions again this year. There are only 2 seats left Tuesday evening (last I checked) but, a few seats remain for Sunday morning just before we all leave. It is a great project to wrap up the week of beading. It is composed of easy-to-see seed beads and is a meditative repetitive stitch that propels you through the work in a near-trance state. Joy. It is my original stitch based on tubular peyote with an extra bead placed where it will articulate the beadwork, making it supple like bead crochet. Amy's bead choices evoke the colors of sunset with the little lights of fireflies. Hence the name.

Today is THE day that the The Bead & Button Show began accepting registrations for classes for the June show. I have heard beaders tell tales of sitting at their computers, poised and ready for the appointed moment when they can attempt to register for their selected workshops/classes. Competition is fierce for some classes and there are thousands of attendees (nearly 14,000 last I heard) and most classes cut off at 20 students. Truth be told, B&B contacts teachers to ask them if they will offer additional sessions, or at least this has been my experience. So, if you are shut out, check back.
Nancy Tobey, whose glass focal bead is featured in, and was the inspiration for "Glass Bead Inspired Lariat", will be so glad to hear what a hit this class is.
Again this year I am teaching Diamonds of Fire Necklace as an exercise in the joy and boundless scultpural capacity of cubic right angle weave. There are still some openings in this class. It is underwritten by Swarovski, making it a "value-added" selection. I will of course give students the option of creating the convertible version that can be worn as two bracelets or a necklace.
If you scope out the entire on-line catalog you can see which classes are still accepting registrations and which classes are sold out. As faculty, each of us is given an access code to monitor our own class registration numbers. It thrills me that of my 6 classes, 4 are nearly sold out!

However, I'd imagined that the 2 Sides to Every Story Bracelet would fill right up, since it is an original stitch that I came up with after exploring polygon ropes in exquisite details these past few years. Plus, the bracelet is pretty and feels wonderful, almost like leather. But, the very best part is that the flat beadwork corrugates as you weave, magically transforming it into reversible work.
Tomorrow, 10 members of the Arlington Middle School Fiber Arts Club will create their own nuno felted scarves during their after school meeting. The supplies have been packed and ready to go for days. I'd promised this weeks ago and was pre-empted twice by their first snow day and then their teacher's illness. Tomorrow we're on! I will take pictures to share here.
Marylyn, my web mistress extraordinaire, has revamped my website. She placed a link to this blog and from here, one can click onto my calendar. She is posting the clear-the-decks sale items to make room for the new bezel kits for Swarovski stones, rivolis and cabochons, the Turbo Felting Board (on sale with free shipping until Feb 2 ) and the books.

Yesterday I brought a few kits for 2-Sides to the Story Bracelet (Clicking on this link will transport you to the Bead and Button Show site, where I will be teaching this project. Information about classes will not be on their website until this Friday.) to a gathering of my spinning buddies. This is that stitch that I devised after an exhaustive exploration of the tubular beadweaving stitch unfortunately named "polygon". It produces flat beadwork that corrugates as you work, the beads over-lapping, resulting in its being reversible. It is quite magical. It has a most peculiar start but, 3 rows into it and you're on a roll. In 3 hours, even these non-beaders (though clever and crafty) were more than half through the project. (The hoop earrings seen sitting on the bead mat were beaded by Mary Jo using my recipe that Bead & Button published in their magazine, in their book Creative Beading and a had their editor Linda Augsberg demonstrate on PBS TV's Beads, Baubles and Jewels.
Though everyone else headed home, I remained rather that face an hour and half drive that would be much longer and scarier on ice. So, Judy and I fortified ourselves with a litle dinner and beaded until we dropped. Judy beaded a bezel for a rivoli using one of the new kits that Bead Gallery Inc and I are offering using their rare and vintage Swarovski items with my bezel recipes. A simple band of 3-bead wide peyote, makes it a beautiful and comfortable ring.
Today Puget Sound Bead Festival sent an invitation to propose workshops for their July 9, 10, 11 show in 2010. Though I met some very creative and fascinating beaders who took my felted jewelry workshops there in 2008 and 2009 and loved being in Tacoma at this event and in the verrry lovely Hotel Murano, I was unable to put it in my calendar in 2010. Giving a nod to the trend in wire and metal jewelry, they state that they will be choosing classes based on these criteria: 60% metal & wire, 10% metal clay, 10%, contemporary jewelry, 10% seed beading and 10% mixed media.
Last week Blanche and I put a couple dates on our calendars for 2010 workshops at Beads by Blanche, in Bergenfield, NJ: April 17 and October 23. In addition to those full day workshops, Blanche offers 3 hour evening workshops during the week. I just put a wrap on two bracelet classes that I will suggest to her would be perfect evening offerings. They each offer a beaded closure using beautiful Swarovski elements. One is a bezeled rivoli and the other features a pair of joined dentelles. Photos to follow as soon as I speak with Blanche.

Ronna Sarvas Weltman's polymer clay ring (we swapped her clay ring for my felt bracelet at Beadfest) inspired an entire line of felt rings. In the top photo her polymer ring is flanked by my first two felt ones. She is author of ANCIENT MODERN: POLYMER CLAY + WIRE JEWELRY.

The next photo shows several of the styles I have been working on. My workshop: Felt Component Jewelry, will be enhanced by the addition of these new designs and techniques.

It makes my heart sing every time I see someone wearing felt jewelry. So, at the studio class

this week, with 4 of us wearing felt jewelry, my heart was singing an aria!

Amy, shown here, wore her felt pendant with beaded bail. If I recall correctly, this was to have been featured in the gallery section of HAND FELTED JEWELRY AND BEADS.

BTW, The blue beaded necklace Amy is holding, she bead-crocheted a few months agao when I shared this techqniue that Kumiko had shared with me when I was in Japan in January. Kumiko had learned it from her protege, Keiko Seki, one of the contributing authors of the recent article in Bead and Button Magazine on what they call Turkish Bead Crochet. I have beaded with Keiko on both of my visits to Japan. Her contribution to the article was translated into English by Motoko Natsubori. You've read about Motoko here in previous entries. She interpreted for me when I taught in Japan each time and translated MASTERING BEADWORK into Japanese. I hope to see her at the Bead and Button Show in June.
And on the same evening, Elaine wears her felted beads bracelet. Lovely.

Jill is wearing one of my new felt rings (can't see it so good here) while working on Fireflies at Sunset necklace. I will teach this project again at next years's Bead and Button Show. It is Amy's exciting palette of colors that makes this piece so popular and the versatility of the stitch that makes it such a valuble technique to learn.

This Bead and Button Show class is called Two Sides to the Story Bracelet. This innovative new technique came to me while exploring the capacity and versatility of a South African stitch regrettably named Polygon stitch. It produces flat beadwork that corrugates as you work, making it reversible. It is so much fun to actually feel the beads shift into their positions in your gentle grasp. When I teach this many beaders call it magical. I love it. The class is 3 hours and guaranteed to rock your bead world!

This lovely piece is dryly named Glass Bead Inspired Lariat. THE glass bead is one of Nancy Tobey's signature beads. The glass bead's beaded dopplegangers as well as the actual lariat itself, feature more aspects of (regrettably named) Polygon stitch. You know how important it is to me that my designs be not simply beautiful and comfortable and pleasing but also be infused with several techniques, skills and tips to share with those that bead them. This piece does all that. At the conclusion of the 6 hours you will have a new repertoire of beadwork skills plus a lariat well under way.

Once again I will teach Diamonds of Fire. The class will be sponsored by Swarovski making it more affordable and of added value. Walk away with several completed elements of this necklace and a real comfort with cubic right angle weave. Many beaders find right angle weave intimidating. Fall in love with it here. The piece in the photo is 1139 bicone cystals. The recipe for a convertible 2 bracelet/necklace version will be shared as well. Choices are good.

When the Bead and Button Show website posts the finalized classes, I'll bring you up to date and include the links to these and my other classes.

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.

Last weekend's Bead Blast was the best ever! By request, Janet brought a trunk of her beautiful wooden-handled crochet hooks that her husband Bob turns. He also makes the beading looms, behind Janet's arm above, that have captured hearts worldwide. They ARE BoomerangPro and are appearing everywhere, including magazine articles.
Everyone shared techniques and show and tell. Pat Riesner shared how to make her crystal heart. I shared a spikey sparkling pendant I'm proposing to teach at the Bead and Button Show next June.

At previous Bead Blasts I would bead 5 rows and unbead 8, bead 2 more and rip out 4. This is not a complaint. Its the socializing, shopping, dining and laughter that I come for, and I don't expect to get any "work" done. But, this one was full of creativity and production along with all the rest.
The cabochon on the left is actually a glob of glass I purchased in Seattle last week. The turquoise peace sign was a gift from Carole and Mary from Voices of the Stones. During the weekend I actually completed the bezels using stiff stuff, gorgeous deerskin leather and the technique I taught for bezeling any-shaped item, at Beadzo (Tivoli NY -see my calendar) last week.

In that class Terri Pullaro bezeled a carnelian cabochon and strung and framed it with Swarovski pearls. It is so typical of her classic and feminine style, and is so evocative of an antique cameo that you can almost see a face in it.

In addition to the Bead Dreams exhibit at the Bead and Button Show earlier this month, there was this exhibit (top) of beadwork by Japanese beadworkers.
These pieces had been displayed in a juried exhibit at Hakone Art Museum . The beautiful catalog of this Hakone exhibit plus textiles, pressed flowers, and dolls is available through Kinokuniya bookstore in NYC.

(Click on Kinokuniya for a schedule of events, including the beadweaving workshop I will offer July 4th.
It is an honor to tell you that this 2008 catalog from Hakone contains some of my hand felted jewelry and beadwork. It is especially meaningful to me because I was there in January 2008. It was a magical day of brilliant sunshine, blue skies and everything sparkling from a fresh dusting of snow. The grounds and sculptures were breathtaking. There were buildings dedicated to exhibits of works by Moore and Picasso.


Also at the Bead and Button Show was an exhibit called Convergence. These pieces of finished jewelry featured art glass beads. This juried exhibit was sponsored by ISGB and Bead & Button Magazine. A publication is forthcoming from Kalmbach Publishing, that offers the recipes for some of those pieces.

Unable to blog while at Bead & Button Show, here is the week in review. While enjoying the Bead Dreams exhibit along come Suzanne Golden and Merle Berelowitz. Behind and to the left of Suzanne you can see half of her black and white bangle in the showcase behind her.

Lisa Garoon is one of the nearly 3 dozen beaders who have taken workshops with me in the past and honored me by taking eyt another again this year. She is shown wearing the elegant necklace she will enter in next year's Bead Dreams competition. We ran into each other at Gary Wilson's booth. She was shopping for more more of his gorgeous cabochons and I was picking out another ring or two to add to my collection of Gary's incredible lapidary work.

We find inspiration and imagery wherever we look. Here is gift wrap with interesting symbols. One right are similar graphics etched into windows of the sky bridge between the hotel and convention center.

Jay tells me that it is a rate treat to see baby seagulls and pigeons. How lucky am I to have had a few of this adorable feather balls born on the roof outside my window of the hotel. Very cute. Very loud.




These felt bracelets were made in one of the three offerings of this class I taught at B&B. The finished piece is one connected through a beaded bead and slipped on as a bangle.

Ahhh, back to the exhibits. Check out the ottoman! It is loomworked and has a wide and long rope attached to it to boot!

More of the Bead Dreams exhibit.

Tomorrow's blog entry will share the Japanese exhibit and Convergence.