It seems like forever since I've blogged, but I was busy scheduling our Summer 2011 class schedule. I have a sneak peek for you all. A little bit of a beautiful necklace called "En Pointe" by Marcia DeCoster. For all of you gals in the neighborhood the class will be on Saturday and Sunday, August 13th and 14th. You may check out the schedule in a week or so by going to The Beading Frenzy.
My friend Jamie at J'me Boutique in downtown San Mateo is once again reinventing her business by launching a vintage clothing section in her shop. Today was the grand opening and the Mimosa's were yummy! If you're local ladies, check it out at 60 East Third Avenue. I wish you could see an up-close picture of the brooch necklace she is wearing, very cool!! And don't forget to recycle your old jewelry into something new. Stop by TBF on Saturday, April 16th or 23rd from 2:30pm until closing and let us help you give a new look to your old pieces.
It's hard to believe that our second annual Beading by the Bay retreat is in the past. The weekend was awesome! Beginning with a great Trends presentation by my friend Ron Rock of Swarovski Elements, having great food prepared daily and last but certainly not least three awesome women who taught three terrific projects. We certainly shared many laughs together. I want to personally thank all of you who made the weekend a truly wonderful experience.
I'm looking forward to next years workshops featuring Sherry Serafini, Rachel Nelson Smith and Marcia DeCoster.
Yikes, Silver today was almost $37 raw/ounce. Well until it starts to drop, (ha ha) if ever, I have discovered that brass is a great alternative. Most silver jewelry being done today is translatable to another metal besides silver. Unfortunately, I do have trouble offering chain maille in copper or brass. In my opinion, sterling is still the best metal when weaving jump rings together forming simple to intricate chain designs.
This past Sunday, I sat in on a class by master Metal Smith, Iris Sandkuhler. I was interested in her techniques for texturing, stamping, antiquing and riveting metal. The class was suitable for beginners and was a pleasant way to spend a rainy afternoon. I have a new appreciation for brass components. I will continue to bring in more variety of brass items so that students have a reasonable alternative to the higher priced silver.
Vintaj makes some great brass filigree beads and components, Tierra Cast has introduced a new brass plate to their wonderful line of casted clasps, beads, findings and charms (and they are manufactured in California to boot!) and Softflex has manufactured a great craft wire called Vintage Bronze which goes perfectly with our collection of brass beads, findings and chain.
It has been rather cold here in Northern California and in fact the forecast is for snow in the San Jose hills, yikes! Okay, I admit it, we Californians are wimps when it comes to temperatures below 50 degrees. I am so looking forward to spring when bulbs start blooming and trees begin to show their delicate blossoms, a sure sign that the weather will also warm up!
In the meantime, it's easy to create your own beaded blossoms to admire. I was gifted a kit in Tucson called Blossom Necklace by Val Hirata, a Swarovski Elements Ambassador from Hawaii. I am sharing a picture of my finished piece. The wired blossom is a great use of article 5621, the twist bead, pictured in Crystal Golden Shadow (outer layer) and Crystal Tabac (inner layer).
While in Tucson, I discovered something new and interesting -
woven wire chain. Perhaps some of you have already discovered this interesting wire item. For me it was a first. A company named Silver Silk has developed a patent pending machine that knits wire into a supple, durable knit that can be as small as 1.2 mm and as wide as 4.8mm (flat) in width.
I haven't had a chance to play with it yet, but I brought three colors into the shop; silver, gold and bronze.
This past Sunday, I sat in on a class by master Metal Smith, Iris Sandkuhler. I was interested in her techniques for texturing, stamping, antiquing and riveting metal. The class was suitable for beginners and was a pleasant way to spend a rainy afternoon. I have a new appreciation for brass components. I will continue to bring in more variety of brass items so that students have a reasonable alternative to the higher priced silver. 
