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!

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!

Aftermath

I think I've been grinning at least this large since first arriving at That Bead Lady yesterday morning to launch Contemporary Geometric Beadwork!  And it was noted by many today that I haven't STOPPED grinning yet!

Great kindness, great conversation, great fun and great passion have this all-too-clear effect on me.

To spend a day surrounded by beady beauty, with fellow beaders to talk with, and student beaders to share with....*sigh*.  Heavenly!  Quite simply heavenly!

Beads are such an elementary communication between people.  Before any written or etched symbols achieved common use, we communicated via our adornments; status, wealth, ownership, skill - all these important social and societal cues were shared without a word being uttered, simply by the aristocrat's rare gems or the slave's bolted collar.  From involuntary shackles to joyously donned betrothal bands, humankind has found myriad ways to adorn our persons to convey information.  Even without a common language, the earliest nomadic populations could identify the leaders of any community they came across by their additional ornamentation.

Living in a place and time where languages are increasingly common and points of reference easily shared, beading has achieved the timelessness of true art.  It has returned to its roots in conveying information from heart straight to heart, without any known language being involved, simply by being.  The opportunity to share the skills and insights I've come to love is a rare and delicious gift and I cannot think of any way I would rather spend a day, than in teaching and sharing this wonderful world I love so well.

I've already listed additional workshops with That Bead Lady, so please check my calendar.  I have more lovely surprises coming soon, so I hope you'll visit me again.  If you have a beady story to share feel free to email me; remember, TO PLAY IS HUMAN, TO BEAD DIVINE!

Happy Beadsday!

That Bead Lady Book Launch Party

 What a day!  What a wonderful, fabulous, fun and exciting day!  "Contemporary Geometric Beadwork" is a hit!

I arrived at That Bead Lady to find Cathy Lampole and her manager, Allison, had set up coffee and beverages, and surprised me with a cake!  Flowers on a display table, books and samples and cards galore - what a great welcome!  People were excited going through the book and it was wonderful signing their copies to them, knowing that they'd be exploring the ideas and trying their own in short order!

My workshop was full and I was astonished and delighted to find beady buddies had found the class listing online and signed up, coming from around Southern Ontario to join the class on this most special, wonderful day.

I am so blessed.  So many delightful people willing to share their love of beads and beading, explore techniques they've never attempted,  and encourage each other to build and grow in their skills... today was truly eye-opening for me.  My heart and soul have taken wing and I am flying.  Thank you all.

Happy Beadsday!

Party Party Party!

Are you ready for your visit to That Bead Lady tomorrow?  Cathy Lampole decided to open EARLY at 11:00 AM so we'll have more time to chat about Contemporary Geometric Beadwork and all things beady both before and after the workshop (12:30-3:30PM).  Staff will be on hand to help you with your bead choices and selections all day long, from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

It is an unfailing source of amazed and amused delight when I reflect on the fact that it was fully 40 years ago that I first began to work with beads.  Roughly shaped, opaque seed beads were sold in glass test tubes with cork stoppers and were very hard to find.  Monofilament fishing line (in the days before legislation-mandated UV breakdown) was the fibre of choice.  Having no other resources, I looked at pictures of what I wanted to make and came up with what I now know is a cross-needle Right Angle Weave variation.

Who knew that the nerdly, quiet, fearful child would find in those most basic materials the stuff of which dreams are made?

I look forward to meeting you and hearing how you first made the acquaintance of bead art in your own life.

Happy Beadsday!

Party Time!

Please consider this my personal invitation to you to visit That Bead Lady on Sunday March 17.  Cathy Lampole and her staff are almost as excited as I am that the book is finally out and are throwing a party to celebrate!  I'm teaching a workshop from 12:30 - 3:30 and will be on hand all day to sign books and answer questions.  Bring in your book for signing, or purchase one on Sunday.

You'll enjoy owning a copy of Contemporary Geometric Beadwork and  this lovely store will see you well-stocked-up to try all the new techniques from the book.  Come join the fun!

Happy Beadsday!

Spring is springing....

... and beads beg for beading!  Baby Bette just had a romp on my bead tray and drifted off to sleep in a piece currently under construction....isn't life FABULOUS?

Add to that - MY BOOKS HAVE ARRIVED!!!!  Everything will be mailed out this week and I cannot WAIT to hear what people think about it!!!!!  This book really is unique and different and a new way of enticing beaders to stretch their personal envelopes and add to their toolbox of techniques.  Have you ordered yours yet?

Lots more to come!

Happy Beadsday!

That Bead Lady

 Now, I know that many of my readers aren't from Ontario, or even Canada, and that's a real shame for any number of reasons.

One reason is the exquisite jewel box of a bead store in Newmarket, Ontario.  "That Bead Lady" is owned and operated by Cathy Lampole, her gracious manager Alison Layton, and a loyal crew of lovely ladies.  They always have a cheerful greeting and a welcoming smile for everyone.

I know quite a few bead stores and as far as I am concerned, they are ALL splendid - covered inside with beads how could they be anything different? *G*  Some shops are brisk and bold and eye-grabbing, while others are warm and cozy and fascinating.

"That Bead Lady" is bright and cheerful and fresh.  The various types of beads are arranged by size and colour and type.  The open floor plan and waist-high tables make it easy to browse for specific items, or consider an inspirational find.  The displays are put together by Alison, who has a special flair for setting these up.  I particularly like how the samples on display run the gamut of style and colour and are clearly labelled by the name of the beader; it's lovely to see from one to the next how a specific style is particular to each person.  The light is bright and clear and shows the beads very well, making selection a breeze.

I have to admit my favourite place is the bench by one window.  There's a window ledge almost a foot deep, where I love to put beads while considering colour combinations, so I can see them in natural light.  In fact, I think I can safely blame the myriad of beads used in my pink Fortunteller directly on the huge variety available and the ability to mix 'n' match combinations at this shop!

I'm pleased to announce that I've booked two dates with this lovely shop.

On Saturday February 23rd I'll be teaching a class that is perfect for anyone wanting to expand their Peyote skills.  We'll work with increases, decreases and variations to create dimensional, geometric shapes, perfect for component work.

On Sunday March 17th we'll have a bit of a party to celebrate receiving the actual, printed, GORGEOUS first-edition copies of "Contemporary Geometric Beadwork".  You can purchase a copy at the store, or visit my shop if you're not local.  I'll be delighted to personalize a copy just for you!  There will also be a slightly more advanced class that will expand on the February class and explore some of the concepts central to the book - bellybands, wings and horns.

We are going to have TOO MUCH FUN! Wanna come play?  Visit "That Bead Lady" to register.  I can't wait to meet you!

Happy Beadsday!

The Book Is Coming! The Book Is Coming!

The beautiful, BEAUTIFUL book now has a confirmed shipping date of February 28th!!!!  I've got my labels all ready to go and am putting together the last bits of swaggery... I'll get them off in the post as soon as is humanly possible after arrival.

Do you have yours on order yet?  I've been through every page, in full colour, and you are going to LOVE THIS BOOK.  It's so different from anything I've ever seen before; all due to Kate McKinnon's distinctive genius, I assure you!

A TON of eye candy, with plenty of descriptive and illustrated information regarding technique, elementary instruction, exciting projects and a host of inspiration to super-charge your own geometric explorations.

Happy Beadsday!

... and getting hotter!

I have no idea where Baby Bette is running off to, but she's trying to drag my newest project along for the ride!  Something tells me she's got the heart of a magpie....  The ideas overflow and I cannot bead quickly enough...

Remember - preorder swag goes only to those whose book is ordered and paid for by January 31st.  I should be sending them out by the end of February, and I am just so excited for everyone to hold it, see it, devour it....*sigh*  I hope you all have cameras!  I'm dying to see what you make after reading it!

Happy Beadsday!

Growing

Illustration by John Tenniel for
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
by Lewis Carroll

I can feel the new life, new inspiration, new hope growing within me.  My mind and muscles are expanding and finding new ways of working.  Perception is altering and the byways and footpaths of creativity have never looked more inviting.  How appropriate for a New Year!

Volume I of Contemporary Geometric Beadwork is off at the printers, and it's time to get on with packaging, sorting, planning, etc. and a host of other duties involved with getting the books from the printer to YOU, you beautiful world of beaders!

Thank goodness for Kate McKinnon, who has generously shared her hard-earned knowledge and expertise with me about the fine-points of self-publishing, etc.  There is so very much I simply never considered, that now seems so clear I think I must have had blinders on earlier in the process.

Volume II is already working up and looks FABULOUS; new works, new ideas, new structures plus variations of everything you'll learn in Volume I; the universe has opened her treasure chest of possibility and there's no locking it back up now that we've found the key!

Happy Beadsday!

Looks like...

A beautiful sky today with fluffer-nutter clouds and clear, limitless blue.  I am so full of joy - our book has gone to the printer!  The plates are being prepared, there is a little more colour-proofing, etc., and before you know it, your post carrier will be bringing you YOUR book!

All orders finalized before the end of January will STILL be given immediate access to our pre-release treats on our Book Blog, as well as the goodies that will be sent with the book.

The generous sharing of talents by a multitude of beaders and more around the world has really been a tremendous inspiration and lesson for me.  Too many to mention have shared their finished work, asked perceptive questions that forwarded the efforts to explore and offered different perspectives that gave clearer illumination to any number of concepts.

I am grateful to you all and so blessed to have gotten to know you.

Thanks for a wonderful journey; I can see many byways, turns and wanders leading far into the future...

Happy Beadsday!

Hip to be Square!

Kate's just put up a screenshot of one of our Squares pages - take a look!

Isn't it exciting that so many artists are finding inspiration in the most basic of beginnings?  And then taking it 10 steps further?

The response to the Specials for Pre-orders eBook has been overwhelming and overwhelmingly positive.  It's a rare thing to receive so much community feedback and involvement and find chords being struck with other bead artists around the globe.  Beadwork is truly a global artistic language; without barriers, borders or  limitation.  Multiple artists are discovering similar or even identical techniques through their own explorations, then those explorations lead to further enhancements and embellishments... the truth is that NO ONE is born knowing how to bead.  We all have to learn.  If someone knows something you find intimidating to contemplate, but would like to be able to make, just know that they've either had more time to play with their beadwork than you have to date, or they had exposure to a teacher or class or book that you haven't encountered yet.

The community involvement with Contemporary Geometric Beadwork has helped us to ensure that the techniques we present go beyond the usual project-oriented book.  We want our readers/beaders to understand WHAT they are doing, so that they will own the idea behind the technique and be able to apply it at will, to bring forward their own, entirely new, original designs.  Those new designs will then inspire others, and so on and so on....

Happy Beadsday!

Rainy Sunday Happiness

I truly love the rain.  I like being wet.  Being cold is quite novel for me and something I enjoy.  The sound of rain makes me happy all the way through.  Yeah - I'm weird! *G*  I awoke this morning to a glorious rainstorm, tip-tapping away at the downspout outside the window, dancing with plinking steps across the puddles in the driveway and whooshing commandingly  through the gutters, to the great dismay of a number of squirrels trying to leap from house roof to garage roof and vice versa.

And then the day got even better.

I checked out the blog of Cath Thomas, a brilliant beader based in Geneva, Switzerland, and she has posted a beautiful review of Contemporary Geometric Beadwork.  She not only took the time, obviously, to go through the Pre-Release eBook but also noted all the little extras we have been spending time and energy to get just right - from the perfect quotations to illuminate an idea, to the encouragement to expand beyond a pattern into utilizing technique at will...please take the time to read this review; I think it does a great job of introducing the book to everyone.  For more thoughts, check out our FaceBook page for community comments.

Thank you, Cath, for your kindness in taking the time to do this and posting your thoughts for others.

Happy Beadsday!

It's madness out there!

I cannot believe the THOUSANDS of people accessing our pre-release eBook on the Specials for Pre-Orders page!  It is BLOWING MY MIND.  And they have such NICE things to say....*G*

To add to the happy hubbub, I spent a delightful time skyping with the fabulous beader Cath Thomas, who is featured quite nicely in Contemporary Geometric Beadwork.  We got in touch to discuss a pattern and before I knew it a full hour and a half had flown!  She's absolutely terrific and so much fun to talk to...the fact that she's a bad-ass beader is a total bonus! *G*

I can't wipe the smile from my face and return to my chores - it's just too much of a happiness day!

Happy Beadsday!

Happy Saturday!

The Pre-Order Special of the eBook has been added to the Specials for Pre-Orders page and it is OFF THE HOOK (or substitute whatever laudatory phrase you wish).  Just check out our FaceBook page for some of the earliest responses - it`s a hit!  I`m so delighted and glad that people are appreciating the mountain of work and design and generosity of spirit that are involved in creating something of this nature.  Kate has really designed a whole new way of communicating with beaders - new or advanced - in a way that clearly resonates!

I cannot put in words how humbled and grateful I feel when people whose beadwork I`ve admired for years take the time to comment on my work and share their delight in what we`re creating.  It`s truly a global phenomenon and I`m being contacted by people from around the world - what more validation could any artist desire?

So, to everyone out there - THANK YOU!

Happy Beadsday!

Attack Of The Killer Butterflies

Tomorrow morning will see the release of our Totally Awesome Preview to our pre-orders.  Our Specials for Pre-Orders page will see a whopping 180+ pages of amazement uploaded...wow.  I get dizzy and nervous and excited and thrilled and terrified all at once just thinking about it!  The actual paper book will have a further 60 pages of total bead delight, so once you've seen this preview remember - we have more coming your way! *G*

It's a wonderful thing to be part of this whole endeavour.  The community input is truly unique and the participation from beaders worldwide adds an incredible spice to the stew we are making.  Eventually there will be an interactive, ever-evolving and active eBook for subscription as well, but right now we are finalizing the print edition and it feels GOOD.

The print edition will be sent to the various distributors (Kate, me, etc.) on JANUARY 9!  From then, it's a quick wrapping, labelling and off to the Post Office!  It's only about three weeks from now - yahoo!

Remember, if you are ordering your book prior to publication as a pre-order, you will receive not only the book, but also the benefits!  You'll have immediate FREE access to our Specials for Pre-Orders page, as well as well as a FREE copy of the "Contemporary Geometric Beadwork" ebook, both PDF and interactive live form (sent as available) and a FREE Secret Swag Bag that is a little thank-you from me, to you.

Just LOOK at all the amazing things you'll enjoy exploring, right along with us!

I am so excited and I can't wait to start seeing even more photos and hearing from people about their own new ideas and creations, sparked off by the book.

Happy Beadsday!

Privileged

The only word to even begin the pathway to what I feel today is "privileged".  Kate McKinnon has welcomed me into her sanctum sanctorum and allowed me to feel at home.  I have enjoyed every single cup of coffee during this time in a beyond-words-gorgeous owl mug by the talented Allison Shock.  The detail and beauty of this clay creation moves me profoundly and unexpectedly.

Kate has also shared her acupuncture and although I have long had an interest in this, it's not something you'd undertake without a personal recommendation of practitioner.  Larry was personable and open and made my first experience of acupuncture not only painless (utterly - never even felt the needles go in OR out!), but profound.  I now know so much better, so much CLEARER, what Kate has been saying about the effects on her.

Those who know me know how much I crave a chill, the opportunity to cozy up in a sweater and curl up in a comforter, but I can never do this as my personal thermostat seems to be perma-set on "BOIL".  Well, to illustrate just one of the myriad small changes accumulating for me, I was COLD in bed last night and actually pulled up extra covers!  The real kicker, however, is that it is currently 61 degrees in Tucson, which for me is a balmy summer day - usually!  However, I am actually sitting here in jeans wearing a SWEATER for heaven's sake!

Not only is my corporeal being working more correctly and efficiently to design, but the book work has been a JOY.  It's incredibly easy to work with Kate; she has so many of the same perceptions that I do and it's so stimulating to discuss any differences or concerns.  We've worked long, LONG days and things are coming together so beautifully. I know this book will be one for the ages; long after a beader masters a concept they'll still be referencing it for details and inspiration.  I am so utterly humbled by the generosity of spirit and calibre of design people have so wonderfully contributed to make this book.  Thank you all!

Happy Beadsday!

Abundance

The world is just offering up so much fabulousness...the beady world is going to be graced by TWO geometric beadwork books this winter!  Kate McKinnon and community will be providing the instruction and eye candy of Contemporary Geometric Beadwork (which will still include the utterly amazing work of Jean Power), and the OVERLOAD of Jean Power's cool geometric designs will stuff ANOTHER amazing must-have book!  I'm not that surprised; when you get two incredible geniuses focusing towards one goal, you are simply BOUND to get more ideas than can be reasonably fit into one book!  Rather than chop it up into bare tastes of the subject matter or overwhelm with a multi-volume SET of books, they sat down to consider how best to handle the overwhelming volume of creativity and came up with what IMHO is the PERFECT solution.  Jean's work will still feature in Kate's book, while the wide-reaching body of work that is Jean's OTHER work, that cannot be crammed nor shoehorned into Kate's book, will fill an all-Jean, all-POWER book of her own.  I am so thrilled to be associated with two such generous, fabulous women artists.  These gals both know how to SHARE!  Something I've had recent occasion to value highly....

Happy Beadsday!

Cone Heaven

I've been knee deep in the delicious delight of cones for a couple of days now, writing up instructions for various projects and new designs.  I have BARELY begun to explore them, but already have a ring, lariat, pin and more done plus more in the making!  This is being seriously TOO MUCH FUN.  The possibilities are pretty well limitless.  Every single beader brings their own style sense, colour awareness, personal aesthetic, cultural sensibilities, etc. to every item they make.  You can send out identical instructions and even when followed to the letter, different individuals will produce very different work.  It's so exciting to see all the work people are sending for the book.  Seriously, if you haven't pre-ordered you are SOOOOO missing the boat!

Happy Beadsday!