Pages

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Spring is Flinging Changes!

Spring has sprung, the grass has riz, and here the bluebird invite is!

Okay, so it's a rough fit.

I am hereby cordially inviting you to visit my relocated blog at Spiritbead and correct your bookmark or re-subscribe at the new location.

There is so much buzz about Contemporary Geometric Beadwork on social networking that I have finally bowed to the pressure to interlink my web presence. *sigh*  The walls, they are a-crumbling.

Please do come visit.  I love you all and will miss you terribly should you choose not to come along for the ride.  Always more happening....

Happy Beadsday!

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

BeadFX

The name really says it all, doesn't it?  I'm LOVING introducing you to the wonderful bead stores in my area.  I started with the oh-so-fabulous That Bead Lady in Newmarket, and I'm continuing today with BeadFX in Toronto.

BeadFX is a great well-rounded jewellery artist's shop - from seed beads to metal clay, they have it all!  I recently had a run of FASTfire BRONZclay fired by the shop and was impressed with the knowledge exhibited about the product, appropriate firing method and request for me to select an item from my order (26 pieces) for a test firing.  Now THAT is thorough!

Now I love my metal clay, and seed beads have my undying devotion, but what marks BeadFX as a unique place to shop is their endless, ever-changing supply of lampwork beads.  From elegant small spacers, to complex, patterned and textured focal designs, the lampwork gets me (and my budget!) every time!  This is the ONLY bead store I know of that carries lampwork and they do it very well, indeed!  A number of artists are represented so no matter your need, there's a lampwork bead to fill it.  I tend to work within a variety of favourite monochrome colour palettes and it is a difficult decision which beads must remain behind when I leave!

Another singular aspect of BeadFX is their dedicated workrooms.  There is a large, purpose-built metal working bench and exhaust hood in one room, another well-ventilated and spacious room for lampwork and other torch or kiln firing with a THIRD space for seed bead work!  The benefit of having dedicated spaces in which to conduct classes is obvious, but they also offer studio time for customers without a workshop at home to work on their art in a properly set-up space.

BeadFX is hosting a Book Party for Contemporary Geometric Beadwork on Saturday April 6th from 12:00 Noon to 2:00 PM.  For those seed beaders out there, I will be teaching a workshop from 2:00 PM until 5:00 PM.  I know a lot of people living in Toronto don't have cars to be out and about everywhere, but public transportation isn't difficult; I think you'd call this location NE Central.

I hope you'll come out; I'd love to meet you.  Remember, you can check my calendar at the bottom of my page for workshops at BeadFX and That Bead Lady.  I'll be posting more as dates are confirmed.

Happy Beadsday!

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Surprises, as promised!

I did promise some happy news yesterday, didn't I?  Well, I do work hard to keep my promises!  I am thrilled beyond words to let you know I have booked four new workshops and a Toronto-area book launch!  I've had the opportunity to introduce you to That Bead Lady - the fabulous beady haven in Newmarket that I love so well - and will be teaching three workshops in the coming weeks:

Bellybands, Wings and Horns (April 28, 2013; 12:30 PM-3:30 PM)
The Rainbow Helix Bangle (June 1, 2013; 9:00 AM-4:00 PM)
Double ConeFlower Ring (June 16, 2013; 12:30 AM-3:30 PM)

The shop is a bright and beautiful place to bead, so visit That Bead Lady and sign up for your chance to play with us!

I'll post tomorrow to introduce you to the shop itself (at least as I see it), but I'm far too excited to keep the news a secret another minute!

I am happy and honoured and pleased as punch to announce that we have booked a Book Launch Party and related workshop for the Toronto-area crowd at BeadFX on April 6th!

Join us at BeadFX on April 6th from 12:00 Noon to 2:00 PM for the book launch - lots of lovely books, beads, beady people and creative conversation!  From 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM I'll be teaching Bellybands, Wings and Horns - a workshop specifically created to introduce the essential building basics from Contemporary Geometric Beadwork.

Isn't life a wonderful, beady place to share?

Happy Beadsday!