Class Sign Ups begin tonight at 6 PM

Join us tonight if you can...you can check out the new class samples and each person that enrolls this evening will receive a $10 gift card.
Check out all of the classes here.

Hope you can join us!

Registration for new classes begins Saturday, January 19th at 10 AM

Ready for new classes? All this week, new classes will be posted to the website. We have added some great new classes like Looming with Seed Beads, Riveting and Cold Connections, Wire Work with a Jig and Etching on Copper and Brass. More details will follow...keep checking the website all this week for specific dates and times.

Want to register early?
Come in Friday evening 6-9 PM and register in person and recieve a $10.00 gift card. This offer applies to in-store registration only. One card per customer.

Check your calendars and give us a call, classes fill up quickly. For more information on classes go to our FAQ page.

Designs in Wire

There are several classes on the new schedule that highlight one of my favorite materials...WIRE.

Designs in Wire is a great one to hone your wrapping skills. We use heavy gauge wire in class, and students make all sorts of components and pieces to use in jewelry designs.

Here is a quick project for you to try...

Materials Needed:

• 14 gauge sterling silver wire, dead soft. About 18"


• an assortment of freshwater pearls 6-8mm


• headpins


• daisy spacers or other small spacers to enhance drops


• Round nose plier


• Flat nose plier


• Wire Cutters

The necklace is made in 4 sections.

The bottom is a 3" piece of wire, looped at each end. About 20 freshwater pearls are individually wire wrapped and slid onto the wire to form a free-floating cluster.

The sides are about 6" each, curved in slight "C" shape and looped at each end.



The back is made up of several pieces. A hook (Cut 1 1/2' of wire. Use round nose pliers to make the loop on one end and the curve of the hook on the other.) 6 figure "8" pieces and a wire wrapped dangle. Two figure "8" components connect the center to the side wires. (For the "8" components, cut an inch or so of wire and loop each end in the opposite direction. Adjust the loop sizes according to how much wire you have cut. The top and bottom loops do not have to be the same size.

I make all of the individual components first, and then assemble them together. Lengthen if needed by adding more figure "8" pieces.

Good Luck!

Treasure your Memories...

Christine and I were proofreading the class schedule yesterday(Feb-May 2008) in preparation for the printer. We realized that I had not scheduled any classes for the first weekend of February.

I quickly fixed that problem and added two...two of my very favorites...

Saturday, February 2, 10-5 Treasure Necklace. Some of you may have seen this necklace as I like to pull it out during certain classes to demonstrate various techniques like wire wrapping or adding chain to pieces, or color palleting. I have not taught this class in a while (perhaps during the whole Beadissimo 5 years). But I used to teach it quite regularly at national shows like Bead and Button.The one pictured above is my personal piece. It has a variety of charms, rings, beads and other mementos that I've collected over the years. This is a perfect piece to showcase your own treasures. (Sorry about the funny picture, I couldn't remove the background)

Sunday, February 3, 10-4 Picture Pendants. This is a good one...I had a student spontaneously yell out during class "This is like CAMP!" THis class is fun. Bring photos of loved ones, or scenery, or random bits of paper that you have been saving and put them between two pieces of glass, solder the edges...and presto...Pendant!

Both classes are for all levels and are $95 each.

Sign-ups begin Saturday January 19th at 10 AM. (Preview is the night before, Friday 6-9).

I an really looking forward to these classes...check your schedule and spend the weekend creating memories.

Kate

Kate on DIY Craft Lab

Check out Kate on DIY Craft Lab. This photo was taken on set during filming.

The project was this fabulous purse made of potato chip bags...

The episode just aired on December 31st...but you have a second chance to view it on February 7th. More info can be found here.

Want to get a head start and make your own? The instructions can be found here.

Bead Brunch, Sunday, July 1

Bead Brunch for July will highlight the work of Beadissimo Instructor, Stephanie Riger. Stephanie teaches three classes on the summer schedule: Bead Crochet, Crocheting with Wire and Macrame Bracelet. (pictured below)

There will be two demos. One at 10:30 on Crochet Techniques and one at 11:30 on Macrame Techniques.

Stephanie's classes are fun and informative and are appropriate for all levels. There are still spaces remaining, so consult your schedule and give us a call. We will be happy to register you over the phone. Hope to see you on the 1st.

PMC was a blast...

...last Friday. Kate taught Intro to PMC on Friday, June 22. Most of the students had never touched Precious Metal Clay before. (PMC consists of microns of fine silver suspended in an organic "clay" binder. Shape, dry and refine the clay then fire in a kiln and presto...a piece of fine silver that looks like it took HOURS to fabricate.)

Here are a few shots from class:

One student using a mold to shape the clay.

(The mold is the light purple object at the top of the photo).

PMC also shaped with a mold.

Check out the same piece as it's drying on the hot plate.

(The one with the red stones at the middle right of the photo.)

After the pieces are dried and smoothed, they are fired in a 1650 degree kiln (with the door closed).

Clasps before firing:

Clasps after firing, polishing and embellishing:Two photos of Kate's finished clasps that she fired in class. These are samples for the upcoming PMC workshop in the fall that will focus on Making Your Own Clasps.

The next Intro to PMC class is Saturday, July 21, 10-5. Check out PMC class information here.