Late-April Classes will Shower you with Creativity

Forget worrying about showers of rain (although we all love May flowers), this April you can count on showers of creative classes!

We have a number of NEW classes during the last half of April including a new Chinese knotting project with Angela Peace. Tuesday Tasters continue with an added evening session; you'll love the little beaded bead! Jen Rosen has a fun new wire bracelet and metalsmith Kelly Garland will share how to do a beautiful flower pendant in sterling silver.

Of course we have lots of encore classes! Iris Rogers Melamed will show how to do cold connections - no torch required! Jenn Jevons has two Art Clay Silver classes and Bonni Poch will take you to the next steps of bead crochet. Seedbeaders will enjoy Pamela Kearns' and Maria Rypan's classes and mixed media enthusiasts will love Anne Marie Desaulniers' project.

Also this month are two shows! Join us at the Knitters Frolic on Saturday, April 30. We'll have everything knitting enthusiasts need to add beads to their knitting creations. We'll also be showing our beads, findings and more at Toronto Bead Society's BEadFABULOUS, also on Saturday, April 30!

Classes scheduled April 16 - 30:

Saturday, April 16
Bead Crochet: The Next Level
Instructor: Bonni Poch
10:00am - 2:00pm

Introduction to Art Clay Silver

Instructor: Jenn Jevons

10:00am - 5:00pm

Sunday, April 17
Mold Making for Art Clay Silver
Instructor: Jenn Jevons
10:00am - 4:00pm

Peyote Stitch Boot Camp

Instructor: Pamela Kearns

10:00am - 5:00pm

Tuesday, April 19
NEW Tuesday Taster: Beadsmith Beaded Bead Earrings
Instructor: Pamela Kearns
2:00 - 3:00pm (daytime)
6:30 - 7:30pm (evening)

Thursday, April 21
NEW Double Happiness Halo Earrings
Instructor: Angela Peace
6:00 - 9:00pm

Open Studio: Mixed Media Evening

Facilitator: Anne Marie Desaulniers

6:00 - 9:00pm

Saturday, April 23
Intro to Lampworking, Part B
Instructor: Amy Waldman
10:00am - 2:30pm
Class continues Sunday, April 24; 11:30am - 4:00pm

Treasure Boxes

Instructor: Anne Marie Desaulniers

10:00am - 5:00pm

NEW Wire Wrapping: Squiggles
Instructor: Jen Rosen
10:30am - 1:00pm

Sunday, April 24
NEW Flower Power Daisy Pendant
Instructor: Kelly Garland
11:30m - 4:30pm

Jewellery Making 101

Instructor: Pamela Kearns

12:00 - 4:00pm

Tuesday, April 26
Loom Series (3 weeks)
Instructor: Maria Rypan
6:00 - 9:00pm
Class continues Tuesday, May 3 and
Tuesday, May 10; 6:00 - 9:00pm each evening

Thursday, April 28
Fiesta Brick Stitch Earrings
Instructor: Pamela Kearns
6:00 - 9:00pm

Friday, April 30
Metalsmith Essentials: Cold Connections Part 1 - Rivets
Instructor: Iris Rogers Melamed
Time

Saturday, April 30

Toronto Bead Society BEadFABULOUS

Toronto Reference Library

10:00am - 5:00pm

Toronto Knitters Frolic

Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre

6 Garamond Crescent

9:00am - 4:30pm

For complete information on classes and show, please go to our website. Click on 'Classes' and follow the links to the April class calendar.

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

 Wednesday, April 20
Wednesday, April 27
Open Bead Night
Facilitators: Bonnie Cottingham, Pamela Kearns or Malliga Nathan
6:00 - 8:00pm

Thursday, April 21

Thursday, April 28

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.

Let's talk texture!

Texture is one of those things that we seem to take for granted. It's all around us, but how often do we make a conscious effort to notice it? Raindrops on a lake, cracks in cement, rusty metal, peeling paint and rippling grasses, are all examples of textures in the great outdoors. Now let's examine some ways to include texture in your work!

Pair the creamy texture of pearls, with the soft sheen of silk. Match semi-precious stones, with fibre, wire, leather, buttons or metal. Create a collage of textured elements, and then add a smooth coat of resin. Or how about heavily texturing your polymer, epoxy or metal clays, before including them in a cutting edge piece of mixed media jewellery?

Adding texture to your work should be as natural as breathing! I suggest that you start with a simple pair of earrings, and then branch out to bracelets and necklaces? Pair the smoothness of a lamp work (or ceramic) bead, with wire, pearls and/or faceted crystal. Or how about adding knotted cords, leather dangles, or even feathers? You might also be interested in taking a look at the "Earrings Everyday" blog, for a daily dose of inspiration.

Experimentation is what it's all about! When you're wrapping a component, does it always need to be neat? Sometimes a purposely-messy wrap is all that's needed to turn the ordinary, into the extrordinary! Of course, that particular example might not fit your personal style, but I'm sure that we can all take small steps to add more texture to our work.

Books, magazines, workshops and the intenet, are full of examples of highly textured jewellery. My favourite magazines, such as Jewelry Affaire and Belle Armoire Jewelry, are packed full of exciting eye candy! Inspiration is always there, if you look closely enough! Why don't you give it a try?

A Bevy of Bezels

Today, we're going to chat about the wonderful world of metal bezels!  As you can see from the photographs, BeadFX has quite an extensive collection, which is great for aspiring mixed media artists (all that metallic bounty in one place)!  I'll let you in on a secret though; you don't really need to know anything about mixed media, to use these remarkable products. Bezels are versatile, and suitable for an endless variety of uses. We even carry the popular Susan Lenart Kazmer, Hobnail bezels and the Klick line of interchangeable components.

Believe it or not, I haven't tried everything yet, but imagine your bezels, filled with any of the following: collaged paper, photographs, downloaded images, pencil sketches, minature landscapes, old love letters, a child's art, postage stamps, paper napkins, ephemera, text, commercial and hand painted papers, eggshells, broken china, sea glass, fibre, dried flowers, charms, beads, glitter, shells, and even more! Didn't think of that, did you?  If that's not enough, you could also fill them with either Crystal Clay or Apoxie Sculpt, and then embed Swarovski crystals, old keys, watch parts, game pieces, or other exciting stuff, and wait for it to dry! Don't you just hate, waiting for things to dry?

But what about Polymer Clay (PC), you say?  I'm sure that someone out there, has been purchasing bezels, and filling them with all types of PC.  They're metal, aren't they?   So why couldn't you bake them at low temperatures?  I'm not telling you to do this, but in the spirit of experimentation, I just might!  The official disclaimer is.....do this at your own risk, as I don't know how the coatings and finishes will react.......but I'm a Mixed Media Artist, so serendipity is my friend!  Besides, I like the distressed look!!!

You've filled your bezel, so now what do you do?  More choices! You could top it up with Ice Resin, after adding a lovely edging of Iced Enamels, and perhaps some of their Inclusions.  How about trying one of our glass tiles (but not all will fit)? You wouldn't need more than "a little spit and polish", for the various clays.....unless you'd like to add a dab of Renaissance Wax.

A few of my images to tempt you!

When using paper products, with your resin, remember to seal carefully.   Mod Podge or white glue is recommended (as are other types of collage or decoupage mediums), but don't forget to seal the front, back and edges, to avoid staining.  Botanicals should also be sealed!  Mix the resin slowly and carefully (instructions on package), wait five minutes, and then add to the bezel, a little at a time, to avoid air bubbles. Pop any that you see, and don't forget to cover your pieces while they dry.....no dust motes, or cat hair allowed!!! If you're not yet confident enough, to do this on your own, or just like the structure of a hands-on class, check out my November Resin workshop.   It's not on the schedule yet, but it's definitely in the works (and you could probably get yourself on a waiting list). Keep tuned!

Anne Marie

Getting to know...Anne Marie Desaulniers

Mixed-media has been a relatively new addition to the range of techniques and classes that BeadFX has offered. Anne Marie Desaulniers has been leading the charge by offering several classes in Intuitive Bead Embroidery, Paper Beads, and Altered Dominoes. Her classes have been very well received and more are on the way!

Anne Marie has always been a 'creator'. "I’ve been involved in artsy pursuits all my life," says Anne Marie. "It started with playing with my grandmother’s scraps, moved to art lessons and sewing clothes, then being pressed into service for fancy wrapping paper jobs and flower arranging. I’ve always loved to work with my hands. Art is as necessary to me as breathing!

Altered Dominoes

"I backed into creating jewellery," she admits. "As a self-professed fibre person, I became interested in jewellery 10 or so years ago, while taking basic classes in stringing and off-loom weaving.  A technique junkie, I learned what I could and then quickly abandoned any involvement in beading, until stumbling onto the Bead Journal Project in 2007. I was working with Intuitive Bead Embroidery, but still not creating jewellery. It’s only in the last year, that I’ve renewed my interest. New areas of opportunity have opened up, since blending jewellery design, with my love of fibre and mixed media.

Intuitive Bead Embroidery

Learning her craft of mixed-media was a process. “I started out with sewing my own clothes, graduated to quilting, then art quilting,” says Anne Marie. “I took some jewellery classes, wandered off into photography, paper, paint and mixed media, then hand and bead embroidery.  I’m currently blending this knowledge, by applying it to mixed-media jewellery and other projects."

Anne Marie is inspired by all that is around her. “Mountains, the ocean, water droplets on a leaf, rust, decay, recycling, re-purposing, vintage jewellery, fabrics and lace, my favourite colours of blue, red and green, the sound of birds outside my window, running water, rain, rocks, flowers, trees, tiny baskets and bowls,” says Anne Marie.

Anne Marie’s approach to her projects is as intuitive as her projects are. “As an intuitive artist, projects just seem to happen! A bead, a piece of fabric, an idea, a theme, or even a dream, might spark my imagination. Find just one object that interests me, and I’ll be able to create something special around it!  Perhaps not immediately, but my house and my mind are exploding, with projects just waiting to happen,” she explains.

Intuitive Bead Embroidery

“I collect and record ideas in a very haphazard and totally undisciplined way,” continues Anne Marie. “I jot down notes on napkins, envelopes, sticky notes and the odd sketchbook, surf the internet, save endless photos, and dabble in photography.  My best ideas seem to come out of my imagination, dreams or a tight deadline."

Paper Beads

Anne Marie thoroughly enjoys teaching. “The energy in the room,” exclaims Anne Marie enthusiastically. “Creativity is electric, and there’s no beating the concentration and satisfaction in my students faces, when they’re enjoying the process.  They energize me to do better!”

Anne Marie’s advice to others who create? “Exercise your creativity, and make some memories! Don’t worry about the dishes in the sink or the dust on the table.  If you feel the urge to create, just do it! Some may be organized, tidy and planners, and others intuitive, messy and disorganized.  It doesn’t matter! What matters is that you’re doing something to feed your soul!”

Upcoming classes with Anne Marie Desaulniers:

Sunday, June 8

NEW Charm School: Inchie Charm Bracelet

11:30am - 4:30pm

Complete information about this class and more can be found on our website. Click on Classes and follow the link to the current monthly calendar.