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!
