Planting Spring Seeds of Creativity with more May Classes

This is the time of year when garden centres get busy - rich topsoil, lots of gardening tools and, best of all, plenty of seeds that promise full blooms and delicious vegetables. Classes are like that too! Our instructors plant seeds of know-how with a promise of beautiful jewellery. Yes, we need to cultivate and give ourselves some practice in new techniques but, when you have a wonderful finished piece that you're proud of, you know know the effort was worth it!

May classes continue with Liz Reynolds who will show you how to add colour to metal clay without heat. Cindy Goldrick has a new leather class and Anne Marie Desaulniers will take seedbeaders on a new free-form journey. Marilyn Gardiner brings us a new chainmaille design. Pamela Kearns, who might be pushing the Christmas season a bit, is teaching a new ornament project using triangular peyote.

And, of course, we have lots of encore classes with Kelly Garland, Jenn Jevons, Iris Rogers Melamed and Amy Waldman that you will love.

Here are the classes scheduled April 15 - 30:

Wednesday, May 18
Lampwork: Just a Taste!
Instructor: Deb Muss
6:30 - 8:30pm

Thursday, May 19
Introduction to Art Clay Silver
Instructor: Jenn Jevons
12:00 - 7:00pm

Friday, May 20
NEW Faux-namel on Metal Clay
Instructor: Liz Reynolds
12:00 - 5:00pm
(Class continues on Saturday, May 21; 12:00 - 5:00pm)

Open Metal Studio: Metalwork

Facilitator: Cindy Goldrick

5:00 - 8:00pm

Saturday, May 21
Exploring Formfolding
Instructor: Cindy Goldrick
10:00am - 1:00pm

NEW The Leather Look

Instructor: Cindy Goldrick

2:00 - 5:00pm

Thursday, May 26
Jewellery Making 101
Instructor: Pamela Kearns
5:00 - 9:00pm

Friday, May 27
NEW Funky Freeform Peyote Rings
Instructor: Anne Marie Desaulniers
5:00 - 9:00pm

The Art of Jewellery Maintenance

Instructor: Kelly Garland

6:00 - 9:00pm

Saturday, May 28
NEW Celtic Wings Bracelet
Instructor: Marilyn Gardiner
10:00am - 1:00pm

Intro Weekend to Lampworking

Instructor: Amy Waldman

10:00am - 2:30pm

(Class continues Sunday, May 29; 11:30am - 4:00pm)

Hot Connections 1: Intro to Soldering
Instructor: Iris Rogers Melamed
10:30am - 4:30pm

Sweetpea Necklace or Bracelet

Instructor: Marilyn Gardiner

2:00 - 5:00pm

Sunday, May 29
NEW Caldera Christmas Tree
Instructor: Pamela Kearns
10:00am - 5:00pm

Wire Wrapping: Arrowhead Pendant

Instructor: Jen Rosen

12:00 - 3:00pm

Complete information about each class and open session, including course descriptions and fees, is on our website. Click on 'Classes' and follow the links to the May calendar.

Bring your projects and join us at our FREE open beading sessions! 

Wednesday, May 18
Wednesday, May 25
Open Bead Night
Facilitators: Bonnie Cottingham, Pamela Kearns or Malliga Nathan
6:00 - 8:00pm

Thursday, May 19

Thursday, May 26

Afternoon Bead Tea

Facilitator: Pamela Kearns

1:00 - 3:00pm

We are pleased to offer these FREE sessions; however we request that you use our merchandise in our facility. Thank you.

Classes Roar in March

Has this winter been like a lion or lamb for you? I guess it depends if you like the cold and snow! For me, it looks nice but never minding driving in it; however it does give me lots of time and encouragement to be indoors to bead.

The latter-half of March brings us some very creative classes! To begin with, we've expanded our Tuesday Taster classes to include an evening session. If you're not aware of the Tuesday Taster classes, they are a quick one hour class for only $15 that includes the kit! It gives you chance a try out a technique and you leave the class with a finished project. The same project will be taught from 2:00 - 3:00pm for those who prefer the day and from 6:30 - 7:30pm for those available in the evening.

Angela Peace has a NEW knotting project for Cavadoli lovers and Pamela Kearns is teaching a chainmaille collar using Regaliz licorice leather. Anne Marie Desaulniers will also be sharing how to use up leftover bits and pieces to make a great necklace. Check out our encore classes too!

Here are the classes scheduled March 16 - 31:

Thursday, March 17
Micro-Macrame Primer: Knotted Rings
Instructor: Angela Peace
6:00 - 9:00pm

Open Studio: Mixed Media Evening

Facilitator: Anne Marie Desaulniers

6:00 - 9:00pm

Saturday, March 19
Jewellery Making 101
Instructor: Pamela Kearns
10:00am -2:00pm

Hot Connections: Connecting Components

Instructor: Iris Rogers Melamed

10:00am - 5:00pm

Sunday, March 20
NEW Harlequin Knots
Instructor: Angela Peace
11:30am - 4:30pm

Tuesday, March 22
Tuesday Taster: Spring Flowers Earrings
Instructor: Pamela Kearns
Daytime: 2:00 - 3:00pm
Evening: 6:30 - 7:30pm

Thursday, March 24
NEW Open Weave Chainmaille on Regaliz Leather Collar
Instructor: Pamela Kearns
5:00 - 9:00pm

Thursday, March 31
Wire Wrapped Pendant
Instructor: Bonni Poch
6:00 - 9:00pm

NEW Rockin' Circles: Stash-busting Wrapped Loop Necklace

Instructor: Anne Marie Desaulniers

6:00 - 9:00pm

 Complete information about all classes and open sessions is on our website. Click on 'Classes' and follow the links to the March calendar.

Bring your projects and join us at our FREE open bead opportunities: 

Wednesday, March 16
Wednesday, March 23
Wednesday, March 30
Open Bead Night
Facilitator: BeadFX staff members Bonnie Cottingham, Pamela Kearns or Malliga Nathan
6:00 - 8:00pm  

Thursday, March 17 
Thursday, March 24
 Thursday, March 31 
Afternoon Bead Tea 
Facilitator: Pamela Kearns
1:00 - 3:00pm

 BeadFX is proud to offer these FREE open sessions; however please use our merchandise in our facility. Thank you.

Discovering more about... Chainmail

Chainmail – the name evokes thoughts about knights of the roundtable, dragons and jousts! But what exactly is chainmail?

Chainmail was the earliest form of metal armor worn by the average soldier during the Middle Ages. It was a flexible armor which was made from interlinked metal rings. It is believed that the word 'chainmail' was an English combination of two words. 'Chain' meaning a series of metal rings or links fitted into one another to make a flexible ligament and 'mail' from the French word "maille" which is derived from the Latin "macula" meaning "mesh of a net". Chainmail is also referred to by derivatives of the word such as: Ringmail; Chain armor; Ring armor; Mail.

In the early feudal period of the Middle Ages a knight wore a cloth or leather tunic covered with iron rings or scales, and an iron cap with a nose guard. About the beginning of the twelfth century he adopted chainmail, with a hood, or coif, of the same material for the head. Making chainmail was undertaken by the blacksmith. Making chainmail armor involved the linking of iron or steel rings, the ends of which were either pressed together, welded or riveted. The rings were formed when they were stamped out of a sheet of iron and then used in alternate rows with riveted links.

Late 17th Century European

It is believed that chainmail was invented by the Celts. Chainmail history dates back to antiquity and was adopted by the Romans after they realized its potential after fighting the Celts. In the 14th century, plate armor began to replace the chainmail worn by knights. However the chainmail was not completely discarded by the knights who continued to wear a shirt of chainmail beneath plate armor to protect the joints and the groin. Plate armor was extremely expensive and the average soldier during the Middle Ages still used chainmail as their most effective form of protection. The history of chainmail shows its decline and use with the invention of the musket in 1520 and the subsequent use of gunpowder in various weapons.

The use of chainmail spread to Scandinavia, North Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, India, Tibet, South East Asia, and Japan.

Mail continues to be used in the 21st century as a component of stab-resistant body armour, cut-resistant gloves for butchers and woodworkers, shark-resistant wetsuits for defense against shark bites, and a number of other applications. 

Modern safety glove

Except for some of the modern applications and for re-enactments, the majority of chainmail that you’ll find now is jewellery and incorporates beads, crystals and other components. Chainmail jewellery is created by jumprings that are connected to each other in various patterns.

You too can experience the fun of chainmail in any of Marilyn Gardiner’s classes! You can also enjoy Marilyn’s interpretation of chainmail through the projects in her new book, Modern Chainmail Jewelry. 

Upcoming classes with Marilyn Gardiner: 

Love Knot Crystal Bracelet 
November 14
9:30am – 12:30pm

Viper Basket Bracelet 
November 14
1:30 – 4:30pm

Getting to know...Marilyn Gardiner

Marilyn Gardiner

Marilyn Gardiner is a welcome fixture in the Toronto GTA beading world! As an established artisan, Marilyn has brought beading and chainmaille to many of us through her easy-to-understand kits and classes that lead her students to exquisite jewellery.

Being creative was a family tradition in Marilyn’s family. “My grandmother did embroidery and rug hooking,” explains Marilyn. “My mother was an excellent seamstress and made all my clothes, including my wedding gown.” In addition to on- and off-loom beadweaving and wirework, Marilyn crochets and has worked with stained glass.

 

Marilyn has always loved jewellery and, while working, amassed a large collection of purchased jewellery. “Soon after retiring, we visited a bead show in Tucson, Arizona, just for something to do,” she explains. “I was totally enthralled!”

“While in Tucson, I signed up for every class at a local bead store. That summer, I took a week-long class with William Hodge in Haliburton. I also bought kits from Maria Rypan and Cathy Lampole,” adds Marilyn. “I devoured beadwork books, especially those by Carol Wilcox Wells. I continue to take classes from experts in all areas of jewellery making.”

Marilyn actively collects and records ideas for future projects and classes.  In addition to learning about new chainmaille weaves, she also decides how to best show off the patterns. “I love to acquire special beads, such as  art glass focal beads, gemstones and crystals, to combine with a weave for a new piece,” explains Marilyn. “A project may also be the result of problem solving or a challenge such as a multi-strand bracelet or an asymmetric design.”

“I’m inspired by colour, texture and geometric designs. In an effort to record ideas I sketch, take photographs, make notes and collect web references. I collect them in Evernote, a free software program,” adds Marilyn. “I do get behind in these tasks so I end up with notes all over!”

An accomplished instructor, Marilyn enjoys teaching. “I love seeing beginners walk away excited and happy. I also get to see experienced chainmaillers happy that they’ve mastered something new or have learned a different way of doing something they already knew.

When she’s not in the classroom, Marilyn (and her team) are busy doing all the background work that it takes to run a successful business including preparing for bead shows; working on her website and on-line store; creating, writing instructions and preparing kits for new projects.

Upcoming classes with Marilyn Gardiner:

Sprite Delight in Argentium Sterling

Sprite Delight in Copper

Sprite Delight Bracelet

Saturday, November 16

9:30am - 12:30pm

Foxtail in Argentium Sterling

Foxtail in Copper

Foxtail Bracelet

Saturday, November 17

1:30pm - 4:30pm

Crossover Bracelet in Argentium Sterling

Crossover Bracelet in Copper

Crossover Bracelet
Saturday, December 7
9:30am - 12:30pm

Beez to Butterflies in Argentium Sterling

Beez to Butterflies

Beez to Butterflies in Copper

Saturday, December 7
1:30pm - 3:30pm