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!

Sunshine, Shows and Other Stuff, like "Mudrs" Day

First of all, how about this wonderful Spring weather????  I don't know about where all you guys live, but here in Eastern PA, its been great!  In past years it has gone from winter to hot summer with very little Spring weather (to me, spring weather is the mid 70's with sun and occasionally rainy).  This year it is dead on and I am loving it.  Here is a photo a good friend of mine took this spring, it makes me happy to look at it, and I plan to make a bracelet inspired by it.

Photo by Chris Hill, of This is Bucks County.
Speaking of Chris, he stopped by the show this weekend in Bethlehem PA.  It was a wonderful show, with great people and a great location.  How could you not like being set up here?

Shady spot, slate sidewalk, with two lovely flower pots on either side of my tent.....I LOVED my spot.  Plus, I was smack dab in the middle of the show, which is always a good location, in my opinion. The people at the show were great, I met lots of other artists and just loved chatting and sharing ideas, methods and favorite tools with each other.  I met tons of wonderful people, who really enjoy art as much as I do, and so I talked and talked and talked.  I talked so much, I am losing my voice...but thats ok, it was worth it!
It has been a big relief to see that my copper and bronze work is being well received.  I wasn't sure how it would go, being mostly into silver, but thankfully, its going great.  I have come to love the look of the metals, so earthy and organic feeling, and I can still create AFFORDABLE one of a kind creations.

My elclectic bracelets were a hit!  I made them ALL weekend long.  Here's a couple shots of what I opened with..............

By the end of the show, only two leather cuffs remained.





And here is a shot of some of the replacement bracelets I made, but I didn't get pics of all of them, and by the end of the show, I could have combined them into one display.  I was dreaming of making bracelets over the weekend, since that seemed to be all I did.  I made bracelets and talked.

I will be listing some new components in the Artisan Accents shop soon, as well as some bracelets and earrings into my Staci Louise shop.  I plan to make more of these butterfly hearts for bracelets, because they were so popular, and I'd like to share the components with you. 

I will blog with a list date and giveaway this week, so stay tuned!

Here are some in the process of patina'ing.  I slightly curved them to fit just right on your wrist.......

Whew! I am trying to plan a fun day with the kids this week.  I miss them so much after a busy time like this.

And speaking of those little wonders, I hope all you moms had a wonderful Mothers Day!  My kids just amazed me with their sweetness.  On Saturday, when I got home from the show, my Mom and her Dad (my Poppop) had taken the kids flower shopping and they planted my flower pots for me. 

Plus- the flowers they plant at school for mom (which my daughter over-watered in the day and a half she was hiding it from me, and it died....she was sooo sad!!!)  so they got new ones for that too!

And my hubby surprised me with a new tank and tree frogs last weekend when he had the kids while I worked that show........

And last but not least, they gave me poems and pictures, and my 4 year old gave me $1 from his bank. I cried. Isn't that so sweet????

look how Julia spelled "mothers"  mudrs- hows that for phonics?

Gosh I love them!  I hope you all were blessed by your loved ones!  All the mama's out there deserve their special day!

 

The Proper Procedure for Removal of Wolfe Spiders

Ok, it may not be the proper procedure, but its how it went down here this morning.



1. Oldest boy of 9 comes in to wake mother in a panic, because the biggest and fastest spider he ever saw has invaded his room

2. Youngest boy of 4 gets his spider catching gear to go in and be the hero

3. Mother tells the boys not to be scared, because the spider will not attack you (all the while being scared the spider might attack her)

The spider is still at large, and I hope I don’t have to act brave in front of my little guys, because, I really hate spiders.


Ahhhhh, I guess it means that spring is truely here.  Bugs and all.  I'll take it, I guess.

How about you, are you a brave spider catcher, or do you still scream like a little girl (or want to anyway) when you see an 8 legged critter?

To Snow or not to Snow....that is the question!

Remember that first snow of the season?  The one that has the children squealing with delight.  The one that sends you off to bundle in your favorite sweater and settle in with a cup of something warm, to watch the snow lightly fall, and color the world in soft peaceful white.

Now- fast forward a few months later, to March.  To the beginning of spring.  This is what I heard this morning from the kids, as they saw snow falling, on March 23rd...a few days into spring.

Collin (my 4yr old):  "SNOW!!!"
Julia:  "no, really????  but it was spring yesterday." (said in a rather upset voice)
Collin:  "really."
Julia:  "*sigh*  I guess its not spring"
Collin:  "Do you like snow Julia?"
Julia: "yes"
Collin: "well I hate it.  I LOVE spring."

I think they ask me once a day when we can go camping or have a fire out back.  I guess winter is only fun for the first couple of snows, and even the little ones need a change.

They just make me smile.  I thought I'd share.

So, do you like snow, or LOVE spring???? 

I love that we get to have all the seasons here in PA, and wouldn't change it!