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.

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.

July will be 'Hot' with Classes

Can't stand the heat? Come into the air conditioning for some great classes during July! And, yes, you may want to bring a sweater - our air conditioning works very well.

July has some amazing classes, including our new Summer Arts Camp classes for youth. We also welcome three new instructors!

What's new July 1st - 14th: (these are in addition to other repeating classes!)

Tuesday, July 2
Netted V's
6:00 - 9:00pm
Instructor: Maria Rypan

Thursday, July 4
Sprinkled Diamonds (left)
1:00 - 4:00pm
Instructor: Sureka Sriharan

Intro to Bead Embroidery (right)
6:00 - 9:00pm
Instructor: Stephanie Dixon

Friday, July 5
Peruvian Wire Crochet Chain Earrings
4:30 - 8:00pm
Instructor: Gio Paz

Tuesday, July 9
Diamonds, X's and Zigzagging Motifs
6:00 - 9:00pm
Instructor: Maria Rypan

Friday, July 12
Wire Crochet Pendant
4:30 - 8:00pm
Instructor: Gio Paz

Saturday, July 13
Peyote Bootcamp Part A - Flat Peyote
10:00am - 5:00pm
Instructor: Pamela Kearns

Sunday, July 14
Tree of Life
11:30am - 12:30pm
Instructor: Bonni Poch

For complete information about all classes including descriptions, class and kit fees, please consult the website.

Next week: Summer Art Camp classes for youth!

Still time to catch April classes

Wow, can you believe how fast time is flying; before you know it, another month will roll by! Not to worry - there is still lots of time to take some April classes. For complete information, including class and kit fees, please consult the on-line calendar at http://www.beadfx.com/classes.php and click on "April".

Soutache Lesson #1: The Basic Module
Thursday, April 18
6:00 - 9:00pm
Instructor: Angela Peace
This class will introduce students to Soutache Bead Embroidery and how to stitch the Basic Module.  Students will learn how to handle the soutache braid, manage tension, place stitches correctly, define the curve, add beads and how to finish a piece.  These techniques will be used to make a pair of earrings with design options.

Create a Felted Brooch
Saturday, April 20
9:30am - 1:30pm
Instructor: Dawn Liu-Smyth
Students will use merino wool roving to design and wet-felt a layered flower brooch.  Students will be encouraged to explore colour and texture as they work with the wool fibres.  Some basic needle felting and bead stitching will also be covered so that students may embellish their brooch. Student will leave with a completely felted brooch and will begin to embellish the centre of their flower with beads.

Jewellery Making 101
Sunday, April 21
11:30am - 2:30pm
Instructor: Pamela Kearns
Do you want to create jewellery for yourself but have no idea where to start? Join us for this 'newbie' course and discover just how easy creating jewellery can be. Participants will be able to create up to three of pairs of earrings and a bracelet. You'll learn how to use headpins, open and close jump rings, create wrapped and simple loops, and discover out how to use crimps. Prepared projects are not used - you will create your own designs using your own assortment of beads brought to class; time will be available during the class to select beads. Silver-plated findings are included as part of the kit fee.

Metal Clay Play Day
Sunday, April 21
11:00am - 4:00pm
Facilitator: Jennifer Tough
Would you like to work on your metal clay projects in a fun, social and supportive environment? Join us during our periodic play days. We will provide access to basic tools and texture plates, but you are required to either bring or purchase your own Art Clay and supplies. You may also peruse our extensive library of videos and books during the day.  Kiln time will also be available for a nominal fee. A facilitator is on-hand to help with tips and answer questions. Note: This is not a class, and is intended only for those that already have some experience with metal clay.

Key to My Heart Peyote Necklace and Bracelet
Thursday, April 25
6:00pm - 9:00pm
Instructor: Pamela Kearns
Peyote is one of those basic stitches that, when learned, it opens doors to lots of ideas! Learn how to do flat even-weave peyote and learn how to read patterns to create beaded beads. Wire-wrap the beaded beads and combine with wire shapes and charms to create a necklace or bracelet (or both!). As the peyote stitch takes time to learn and do, students will be able to start the project during class time but complete it at home.
 

Twinkling Twins Bracelet
Friday, April 26
6:00pm - 9:00pm
Instructor: Stephanie Dixon
Have you been lusting after the beautiful colours of Twin and Superduo beads, but not sure how to use them? In this class you will create an embellished right angle weave bracelet using seed beads, two holed beads and Swarovski bicones.

Soutache Lesson #2: The Harp Module
Saturday, April 27
9:30am - 12:30pm
Instructor: Angela Peace
This class teaches The Harp Shape Module and will expand on the skills learning the Basic Module class. Techniques to be covered include how to handle the soutache braid, manage tension, place stitches correctly, maintain the curve, and add multiple beads. These techniques will be used to make a pair of Harp Shape earrings with design options.

Hot Connections Bangles
Saturday, April 27
10:00am - 4:00pm
Instructor: Iris Rogers Melamed

In this class you will learn how to successfully create 3 sterling silver bangles from different types of sterling silver wire. We will start by twisting round wire. Next we will measure and form the twisted wire, half-round wire and round wire into "D shapes", making sure that the joins fit perfectly. We will solder our shapes closed and then form the bangles on a bracelet mandrel. Finally we will texture, finish and polish the bracelets.

Intro to Bead Embroidery

Sunday, April 28

11:30am - 2:30pm

Instructor: Stephanie Dixon

Learn the basics of bead embroidery including how to bezel a cabochon, even count peyote, beaded backstitch and how to professionally finish the edges.  Choosing cabochons and basic color theory will be discussed. A small pendant is the beginning project which will not be completed in class.

Also, join BeadFX at the 

15th Annual Knitter's Frolic

Saturday, April 27 - Sunday, April 28, 2013 Frolic Marketplace: Saturday only, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Admission $5.00 at the door. Frolic Workshops: Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Sunday 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Where: Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre; 6 Garamond Court, Toronto (near Wynford Drive and Don Mills Rd.)