My friend Heather Powers, one of the masterminds behind this exciting event, asked me to remind you that the 2010 Bead Cruise is booking right now.  The cruise sets sail on January 17th, leaving Port Canaveral, Florida for seven nights of non-stop beady fun!

You can find out all the information on booking at the site link above, and you should also visit the Bead Cruise blog, where you’ll learn more about the instructors, the projects, the cruise ship, the sites to come…

Custom Cool Jewelry
by Melinda Barta
Melinda Barta came up with a brilliant idea for this fun book. Instead of spreading her many talents out too thinly, she concentrated on just three areas: pendants, charms, and clasps.
It’s often hard to find exactly that perfect piece to customize your jewelry, and if you can make your own pendants, charms, and clasps, you can add them to readily available lain beads to create a masterpiece that is distinctively yours. Melinda includes over 275 quick and easy ideas for mixed media components as well as 7 full stringing projects. Once you start …read more

The 2009 Metal Clay World Conference will begin with a Welcome Reception on Wednesday evening, July 15th. Hour long lecture/seminars will begin on Thursday morning and run throughout the day Thursday, Friday, and Saturday morning. On Thursday evening there will be an open studio available for those wanting to play around with their new tools and or supplies. The Keynote Speaker will be the internationally renowned metal smith and author, Alan Revere, founder of the Revere Academy of Jewelry Arts, in California.
The regular conference runs from July 16 to 18, 2009, while the pre-conference classes take place on July 13 …read more

The Bead & Button Show is almost upon us!   Although most people who are going have already made their plans, perhaps this is the first time you’re hearing about it.  Or maybe you have changed your schedule recently, and you’re wondering if it’s too late.

The answer is NO!  You can still go, but you’ve got to make your plans NOW!!  The show starts on May 31, so visit the link above and see what classes are still available.  If you just want to go for the socializing and shopping, there’s all the info you need at that link too.
Anyone going …read more

Artist: Francisca Bastos
Website: Francisca Bastos Design
For almost 25 years, I have worked with stones in every shape and color, originating in different mines in Brazil and coming straight to my hands. As I receive them, they are transformed into jewelry, handmade with 18kt gold. Pearls, corals, mother of pearl, and amber, to name a few, are all organic in themselves. Pearls have their own light, which has fascinated humanity for thousands of years, amber carries energy within itself, corals bring the sea in their soul, as well as mother of pearl. The gold comes directly from …read more

JewelryLessons
Let’s not forget that there are some wonderful sources online with instructions to learn specific skills or make specific projects. Not all of them are free, but if you’d like to get the very best instruction and can’t go somewhere to take a class, these might be just the ticket!
On the other side, these are also sites that you might be able to tap into for selling your own projects if you are interested in pursuing that line of business this year.  I just heard from Eni Oken yesterday, and she says that although her site is best known …read more

As part of our on-going emphasis on education this year, I want to share some previous posts that may help you fill in some gaps! From creativity to color, from design elements to jewelry school, these resources can point you in the right direction.
Do you want to design for yourself?
This is the conclusion of my series of articles, with links to all the previous articles
Beadwork basics online
Dictionaries, glossaries, and encyclopedias of jewelry making info online
Creativity online
Color training and tools online
Jewelry design tools and articles online
Jewelry class listings by geography
Beading shows with classes
Design school directory

The Beadin’ Path in Freeport Maine has a list online of all the wonderful classes that you can take there. You probably already know them as a fabulous supplier of vintage glass and Lucite beads…now get to know them as a great source for education!

Elaine Luther is teaching this Spring at the Indianapolis Art Center in Indy, IN. She’s teaching a patinas weekend workshop and a PMC/BronzClay weekend workshop.
Elaine also told me about the Metal Clay Academy, which has lists of training opportunities.
Metal & Color
Saturday 9 a.m.-3 p.m. & Sunday 12-3 p.m.
April 26 & 27
Lab Fee (included): $50
Non-Member Price: $234
Member Price: $225

BronzClay + Precious Metal Clay
Saturday 9 a.m.-3 p.m. & Sunday 12-3 p.m.
March 14 & 15
Lab Fee (included): $50
Non-Member Price: $234
Member Price: $225

Jennifer Heynen, aka Jennifer Jangles is teaching both in Miami and at Bead & Button this year!  Visit Jennifer’s site for additional information or to contact her.
Ceramic Vessels and Rattles and an Intro to Raku

Date: Sat and Sun, April 18 – 19, 2009, 10 AM to 4 PM in Miami

Description: We are taking ceramic bead making to the next level to create vessels & rattles. Students will learn basic ceramic bead shapes as well as how to create hollow forms: vessels or rattles. For those who didn’t take the 2008 class, the focus will be on basic bead shapes. But, …read more