Bead Fest 2016: Prep, Teaching, Friends and Beads

You know, on Greys Anatomy, when Meridith says, "you're my person"?  I love that so much.  When I go to Bead Fest, I think that about everyone, they are my people!  

I have experienced so much kindness and friendship from my fellow bead community, that I leave Bead Fest happy and overwhelmed (in a good way).  

I never vend there in Spring, but have been teaching there the last two years.  So, in order to do that, I must prepare for classes, and make kits, and also make beads for students to purchase or to trade with friends.  

Prep can be a grueling process.  However, once I get over the boredom of making all the little bits and pieces, I really really enjoy assembling the kits and getting excited to teach my classes. 

I had to make blanks for a carving class, condition polymer, anneal tons and tons of wire and label and package everything.  There were bead mixes to make, bronze clay beads to make and instructions to write and print.  

This year I taught Wild Wire Choker- which is a wonderful beginning /intermediate wire class.  It is a short 3 hour, but intense class.  It is really packed with lots of different spins and tricks on very basic wire techniques.  You also learn to use sari silk and make your own crimps from scrap wire.  It is such a great class, and I really think that my students will find lots of ways to use the things they learned.  Mostly, I hope it is freeing, and allows them to relax, and learn to go with the flow, even if the wire isn't doing what they thought it should do.  

Our class was first thing Sunday morning at 8:30 am!

My son Aiden had come with me to Bead Fest to shop and help out in my classes.  He is a great assistant and fun to shop with too!

Set up was a bit frantic on Sunday morning when we ran into a hiccup and had to swap out all the tables in our room!  I honestly looked a hot mess!  You can see the desperation on my face!  LOL! But we did it, and room 18 was ready for the day in time.

My class was full of amazing students and it was nice to see some familiar faces in there too!  I had some students who had never touched wire before and they walked out wearing their finished necklaces.  Everyone buckled down and wrapped and wrapped wire.  I was really proud of how willing they were to get to it and work, and how much diversity and creativity went into their pieces.

Here are the students / student work

Then we had an hour and a half to clean up, eat and set up for the next class

Aiden decided to practice his carving a bit more before class.

Up next was carving polymer.  Another wonderful class, that is 50% safety and 50% fun.  I was thrilled to see that by the end of class most everyone was being careful to not carve toward open flesh and they seemed to enjoy themselves.  Carving is so very relaxing, and the students agreed that is was something they would definitely do again!

Here is the project we did

and here is their work!  I was amazed at how fast everyone picked it up.  I also love the individuality of student work!

We closed Bead Fest classes as the LAST CLASS STANDING.  We had fun laughing about how they were circling waiting for our class to be over so they could clean it up.  They were rolling carpets up as we packed our bags.....lol  It was a great class and we had a lot of fun!

Of course, I also had beads I made to sell and trade, some necklace samples and I also made some rings.  I loved Marsha Neal's new spiral beads and so I made her ring from one (and one for me, and another to make sure she could find one she liked) because she is always such a great friend to me.  I have been practicing rings, and just thought this was a great opportunity.  Anyhow, here is some of the stuff I made for the show.

Marsha Neal and Jenny Davis-Reazor were both together in Artisan Alley.  They were kind enough to let Aiden and I stash our stuff behind their booths while we shopped on saturday.  Their booths were our little home away from home, and that is just one of the things I love about my creative fun beady friends.  They are more like family!  I also got to see Suze Weinberg and Diana Ptaszynski, stopped by CB&Co to see Kristi Evenson, got to visit Yvonne of My Elements, just to name a few.  I got to shop a bit with Heather Marston and her daughter and got hugs from Dianne Miller too.  Heather Boardman took time to drop by and I got to see her for a bit too.  I tried to at least say hi to everyone, but I will admit, I was very distracted by all the beads and on a hunt for some very specific things.  

(Bottom row center is my son and I.  I really love that he enjoys beads and jewelry as much as I do!)

(pictures from Suze, Andrew Thorton, Diana and me)

Saturday my mom brought Julia by to shop at My Elements and see Yvonne, whom she just adores!!!  My mom picked up some really AWESOME Green Girl studio necklaces (and I drooled over some of her new paper dolls) and then we all went out to lunch.  I wish I had gotten some pictures.....but I was just too busy enjoying our time together (and bead shopping, and eating...lol)

I got almost everything I had set out.  I wanted more of those great electro-plated stone beads, more large holed HUGE crystal beads, beads for bracelets and earrings, pyrite for necklaces, earrings and bracelets and small ammonite strands.  I found all but the ammonites.  I really really really wanted them for earrings and bracelets for my spring shows.  Oh well.    Here is the loot I got, its good stuff.  I also had to grab that gigantic turquoise!!!

I picked up some things from Marsha and Jenny of course, and had to have Anne Gardanne's new enameled beads with silver shimmer on them!!!  but I am maxed on art beads, so I was good in that area

All in all, it was an amazing weekend.  I love my creative friends, I deeply love teaching, and I always feel a combination of exhausted and exhilarated after weekend of such goodness.

If you missed it, try to make it to Bead Fest August.  It will be a blast!

Bead Fest Spring: Shopping Class and more.....

My mom and Julia accompanied me this weekend to Bead Fest.  We headed out Friday night and stayed at the Marriot Courtyard.   We had dinner, went swimming and enjoyed some girl time together.  

Saturday we ate breakfast and prepared to BEAD SHOP!  The show opened at 10 and I was due to demo at Parawire at 11.  So I made a quick stop at Holy and Pure Gems.....got a nice batch of beads there.  Then we went and said Hi to our vending friends.  

Demo'ing was a lot of fun.  I got to meet some people who follow online.  Its always nice to be able to meet people in person! 

I used parawire to make some of my donut pendants while sitting there- a fun in and out sort of weave that can be used lots of ways- and I made some clasps with it as well.  I found that the Vintage Bronze is my most favorite color.  Sort of like an old antique brass- so rich.  

Then I had an hour to shop before returning to ParaWire. I made sure to go and see my art bead friends again, and we traded for some goodies.  Heather of HMB and Michelle of Firefly Design Studio traded with me for some art beads.  I ended up chatting with them for my break and then back to Para Wire.  

My mom and Julia went to see a movie and then checked out an antique store nearby until I was done the demo's.  Then we shopped.  We made our way around the whole show.  

I got to see CB & Co and C-koop's booth.  Looked really nice, and I just love Kristi's jewelry.  It was even better in person.  I knew my mom would like it too, and she ended up buying a pair of earrings from her.  

 

CB& Co Booth

I made sure to hit Hands of the Hills for my unique goodies and beads- and I picked up an antique brass belt.  Its soooo amazing.  I also got some brass do-dads for the boys, and some other bone antiquities.  

Then, I just peeked in Intrinsic's booth, and ended up with a heavy bag of gemstones.  They also had nice $2 bags of metal beads and Aiden's big request from me was to get him some metal beads.  Julia hit their $1 section.  I told her she could get 3 and when I checked out there were 11 in my basket.  That's my little bead addict!  How could I say no?  

I came home with some REALLY good loot and can't wait to create now.

 left to right:  ammonite faceted beads, matte kyanite top drilled, faceted pyrite, LARGE labradorite beads, two strands of lovely turquoise, antique brass belt, goldish druzy beads and center drilled rutilated quartz

top to bottom- art beads from Firefly Studio, HMB Beads, bone beads, rough kyanite coins, charms from HOH, ammonite donut pairs, grey ammonite pendants, and DRUZIES

 Left to right- recycled glass beads, mamoth bone beads, fossil clam shells, kyanite rectangles, small drilled ammonite beads (for earrings), fossil coral slabs, excellent fire agate faceted nuggets

ceramic bee, headpins and fish by Firefly Designs

HMB Glass disc beads

After a long day of bead shopping I was looking forward to a relaxing girls night and early bedtime since I was due to teach Sunday morning.  But Julia got a stomach bug, and we spent our WHOLE night up in the bathroom.  POOR GIRL.  she felt so terrible.  Thankfully she is such a big girl that she let me sleep a couple hours......it was a REALLY tough night.

In the morning she was still not feeling well, so we checked out of the hotel very very early......my mom dropped me off at Beadfest to teach and ran Julia back home.  Then she turned around and came back to help me with class.  (isn't she great?  I would be lost without her)

Not only did she do that all for Julia and me, when she came back she went into the show and picked me up some of the druzy shell cabs that I was drooling over. 

 She really knows how to cheer me up.  

Despite no sleep, my class went well.  It was a small one, but I think we had fun.....lots of gabbing and creating.  Its a packed class, and in 4 hours we go from a pack of white polymer, wire and beads to a finished necklace.  The ladies were wonderful, and they all made amazing pieces of jewelry!

(really bad lighting in the classroom)

I love when the students put their own spin on the pieces!  Alison Lee made a whole new shape for her focal.  That is the magic of polymer clay, you can make it into whatever YOU want.  Make it just your style.

Though it was an exhausting weekend, I had a blast.  I really LOVE teaching.  I enjoy nothing more then watching those light bulbs go off when people learn something new, and then do it.  They all left with pieces to be proud of and techniques they can use a million different ways.  It is so rewarding!

Now to unpack and get back into the swing of things.  Julia is home today to recover, since she is JUST finally eating this morning.

(just a little mess to put away)

Thank you to all who stopped by and said hello or took my class.

Enjoy your week!

Classes and Why I Teach

I have had some changes to my Spring Teaching Schedule for Bead Fest.  The full day ring class has been dropped.  However, my Sunday class, Painted Polymer Fossil Talisman is still on and has some spaces still available.  

This is a wonderful class that I had a blast teaching last August.  It is packed with techniques, both polymer and jewelry assembly.

What I love about teaching is that I get to share what I have learned with you, and I hope that you will take that, and use it to further your art.  I not only teach techniques, but also share tips for making quality pieces and making things easier along the way.  I hope that my class will encourage you to play and grow as an artist, and most of all, find your voice as an aritst.

My students rocked this class last time, here is a sample of their work.  I was so happy to see they nailed the project, while each having their own personal spin on their beads.  Most of them were beginners in at least one aspect, either polymer or wire work or both.  They did wonderful!

Since my Saturday class was canceled, I will demo'ing for Para Wire a couple times on Saturday.  When I know the times I will let you know.  Please stop by for some free wire demo's.

You can find more info on my class and sign up here

https://www.eiseverywhere.com/ehome/105619/stacismith

At August Bead Fest I am teaching a couple classes.  Both of them I am really excited about.  The first is a full day class, but I know it will go fast.  We will be learning to form a polymer sugar skull, paint it with my techniques, and then to cut and texture a copper backing from sheet metal, and rivet them together.  We will practice riveting first, which is a technique that you will be able to use a million different ways.  And to make it more fun, we will be using ball head rivets on the final project to make things looks nice.  

At the end of the day, you will go home with your own Sugar Skull necklace and a lot of new techniques.

Then on Sunday at the August Bead Fest I will be teaching a short 2 hours class with some fun and loose heavy gauge wire work.  This is another one of those classes where I think you can take this project and then find a million new ways to use it.  I totally love this one and I think you will too.

For more info on my classes in August or to sign up you can follow this link

https://www.eiseverywhere.com/ehome/106987/StaciSmith

I hope you can make it out for one of them- it would be great to meet more of you in person!

Sugar Skulls for Bead Fest

I told people at Berks Bead Bazaar that I would have more of my bronze Sugar Skulls for Beadfest in August- and it looks like I will! 

my first sugar skull piece!

I think I am only going to get about a dozen made, and there may be some loss in the batches, as they are prone to crack.  I can work with most of the cracks along the edge, but sometimes they crack on the face and its just too hard to repair.  If all goes well, I should have 10-12 skulls for sale. 

Here is the first batch right out of the kiln, with a brief cleaning.  They still need a tumble, antique bath, then they need to get riveted to a copper backing. 

 sugar skulls out of the kiln this morning

Making them is a multi stage process, at first I have to work quickly, to get all the designs in while its a certain "mid-dry" and then they need to dry for days as I add slip to the backside to help prevent cracking.  I am so thrilled with the results though!  Its worth the wait!

Please stop by booth #371 if you are coming to BeadFest- I promise to have all kinds of new goodies for you to fondle !!!!

And remember to print and use this coupon to save $10 at the door!!!!

Just click and save this picture and print it out on your computer- print a few for your friends too!

I also got to do a trial run of my Painted Polymer Fossil Talisman class yesterday. 

These are samples of what I am teaching- making these polymer focals and beads, painting them to look old and organic, and then making them into this necklace

It was amazing.  I will be blogging about that next week on LMAJ- but for now, I want to show off what the ladies made....................

Here are some of the extra beads they got to make, since we had all day and it was only the 4 of us

And here are the finished pieces they made.  It was amazing to see them come full circle at the end of the day. 

I think I am really going to love teaching. I have taught small groups before, and did a ton of training at my old job....and I always loved the interaction I got to have with people.  So I am really looking forward to teaching at BeadFest!

You can sign up for my class here if you are interested

https://www.etouches.com/ehome/79000/StaciSmith

I promise we will have a great time!!