Getting to know...Giovanna Paz

Giovanna Paz has brought us a whole new way to crochet wire! She has been teaching eager students Peruvian wire crochet to create amazing jewellery.

Since childhood, Gio has been creating jewellery. "I loved to wear it; it was just a part of me," says Gio. "When I was in school I loved drawing. As a teenager I did lots of cross stitch. I used to make my own patterns and create pictures of infants and other designs for home decoration."

"I learned my craft by taking several courses in Peru and then by playing around with various crochet patterns," explains Gio. "That was the start of my passion for wire crochet."

What inspires Gio? "Everything," she says enthusiastically! "I see a stone and my mind starts thinking about what to do with it. I love looking at images of jewellery on the internet and trying to apply wire crochet to the designs. Nature inspires me by the amazing colours it has to offer. Going shopping inspires me to want to create jewellery to match a new outfit. The universe is infinite with inspiration."

Gio creates and decides on projects by following fashion trends and listening to her students. "I am always thinking ahead," she says. "I mix wire crochet techniques around my inspirations. There are days I simply spend designing new creations to teach. I also travel to Peru to go to small cities to learn more. I am always searching, collecting and creating wherever I go."

Gio had other aspirations in jewellery making. "I tried to be a silversmith," states Gio. "I went to courses and - wow - I couldn't continue. The machines were too much. I used to cut my fingers all the time and I just gave up. I didn't like the fact that I had to depend on machines to create jewellery; but, when I learned about wire crochet, my life was fixed! It was just wire and a crochet hook - no machines. I felt free and that is where I found my passion."

Her favourite part about teaching? "The best part is when I see my students' happy faces ... the smiles! Then they write you and tell you that they are creating more, or they send photos - that makes me feel totally amazing!" In contrast, the least favourite part is the frustration that some students feel. "That is when I just focus on them," says Gio, "and explain that all artistic pieces take time and patience. In the end all is good."

Her advice to others who create? "Work hard for your dreams and never give up," says Gio encouragingly. "Focus on what you create and know that each piece as unique, believing in yourself and your gift. Work, work, work rather than invest lots of money. Working hard is the only way you see results."

Upcoming classes with Gio Paz:

Friday, February 28
Peruvian Wire Crochet Chain Earrings
6:00 - 9:00pm

Friday, March 21
Peruvian Malla Covered Pearl and Wire Bead Earrings
6:00 - 9:00pm

Friday, March 28
Peruvian Malla Covered Pearl  Necklace
6:00 - 9:00pm

Complete information about Gio's classes can be found on our website. Click on 'Classes' and follow the links to the appropriate month's classes.

May Blooms with a Bouquet of New Classes

Forget May flowers - there are lots of new May classes that will get your creative juices flowing! By the way -- remember Mother's Day is coming up on Sunday, May 12. Consider a special gift from you to your mom with a class! Gift certificates are available in any denomination you wish or sign her up directly by calling the store and registering her.

In addition to some favourite returning classes, here are all the new projects and techniques that will be taught in May:

Textured Herringbone
Saturday, May 4
9:30am - 12:30pm
Instructor: Maria Rypan
At first glance it looks like a braided soutache trim, but it’s really rich lush hex, seed and bugle beads beadwoven with a single needle and Fireline® into a modern vintage classic. Maria’s unique off-loom version has some twists and turns. See the transformation before your eyes as you bead along! The textured Herringbone makes a great strap for a pendant because of its unique chevron in richly colored hex, bugle and seed beads. Choose your favorite pendant from a Converter Kit collection of fluorite slices. No two are the same courtesy of Mother Nature.

Three Exquisite Pairs of Earrings: Intro to Chainmaille #2
Sunday, May 12
9:30 - 12:30pm
Instructor: Marilyn Gardiner
Marilyn continues her intro to chainmaille series! The ancient art of chain mail is all about weaving metal rings into interesting patterns. Come and expand your earring collection—while trying out a fascinating jewellery-making technique. You will learn three new chain mail weaves that you can use to make bracelets or necklaces in the future. This second class has patterns that are a wee bit more difficult, but still easy: Triple Knot Earring, Scherzo Earrings, and Japanese Flower Earrings.

Celtic Labyrinth Bracelet
Sunday, May 12
1:30 - 4:30pm
Instructor: Marilyn Gardiner
An out-of-the-ordinary bracelet! You’ll love these square mazes that lay flat & link together to make a design that only looks complex. Make it with either Argentium™ sterling or with Jeweller’s Bronze rings.

Double Strand Pearl Knotted Bracelet
Tuesday, May 14
6:00 - 9:00pm
Instructor: Rae Huggins
In this class the main focus will be on the ancient art of pearl knotting using pearls to create a double knotted bracelet that you can wear at the end of the class. During this class there'll be demonstrations using tweezers, an awl, and pearl knotting pliers. I’ll also demonstrate how to ream pearls using two types of bead reamers.

Box Style Knotted Bracelet
Thursday, May 16
6:00 - 9:00pm
Instructor: Angela Peace
Make an elegant box style bracelet using an easy to learn knot technique. The bracelet can be finished with a sliding closure or metal findings and clasp. You will find lots of applications for this new knot which when knotted without beads, produces a round cord suitable for use with pendants and beads with larger holes.

Wire Crochet Rings
Friday, May 17
5:30 - 8:30pm
Instructor: Giovanna Paz
Giovanna is a brand new instructor to BeadFX and brings an amazing wire crochet technique! Using 28gauge wire, a crochet hook and a simple pattern and a hammer, students will create an beautiful wire ring.

Discovering Tubular Herringbone
Thursday, May 23
6:00 - 9:00
Instructor: Pamela Kearns
It’s soft and supple – and very easy to do! Using two-hole twin beads, you will learn how to make tubular herringbone spiral to create a slinky bracelet. Once that is complete, you'll learn how to make a beaded bead using the twin beads to slide onto the bracelet.

For complete information and details about all May classes, go to www.beadfx.com; click on classes and events; click on May. 

PLUS BeadFX will be at the
Toronto Bead Society's Spring Bead Fair
Saturday, May 25; 10:00 - 5:00pm
Sunday, May 26; 11:00 - 5:00pm
Toronto Reference Library
Appel Salon, 2nd Floor
789 Yonge Street (north of Bloor at Yonge)
Drop by the store to pick up a TBS Spring Bead Fair postcard to give you $2 off the admission price.