WIRE CROCHET CLASS ON FEBRUARY 8, 2014

Cupid's Gift wire crochet class

 Now that the Christmas rush is over, I would like to remind everyone that I am teaching Cupid's Gift on Saturday, February 8, 2014 at the Fashion Institute of Technology from 10am-4pm for The Bead Society of Greater New York.  NOTE: we have had to change the original January date to February.
     Why the name?  Ancient Romans believed that the rose got its thorns when Cupid shot an arrow into a rose bloom after being stung by a bee hiding in its petals.  In this class you can combine Bohemian glass spikes from York Beads, wire crochet, size 8/0 seed beads, and crystals to make a modern interpretation of that myth that can be worn as a pendant or brooch.  Students will crochet a flower of wire and add two sizes of spikes and crystal roundels to the center.  Crocheted wire leaves, a bead crochet stem of seed beads and more spikes, a crocheted wire backing, and a pin back will complete the project.  Prior crochet experience is helpful.
     The fee for members of The Bead Society of Greater New York is $65 plus supplies; the fee is $95 for non-members.  Kits will be available in class for $65 or you may bring your own supplies.  A supply list will be provided once a reservation is paid for.
     To register, call Carole Horn at (212) 650-1778 between the hours of 9am-9pm.  Once you have put your name of a workshop list, you must immediately send in your check.  For more information about workshop policy, you can visit Bead Society Greater New York.

OCTOBER 2013 CLASSES

Wow, October is almost here.  That means that I will be teaching 3 beadwork classes at The Innovative Beads Expo in Edison, NJ on October 12 and 13.

  First is a wire crochet class on Saturday, October 12 from 10:30am-1:30pm :

Wire Crochet class projects

Learn to crochet with wire by making this fun flower and the charming birds nest earrings. Students will learn which sizes of wire are best for crochet, tricks for working with wire, the chain stitch, single crochet, how to add beads to your work, and how to crochet flat shapes and in the
round. Crochet experience helpful but not necessary.

Class Fee: $60. Pre-register before 5pm on October 9 and save $10
Kit fee: $30
Kit includes: practice wire, 28 gauge colored wire, 24 gauge colored wire, seed beads, Swarovski pearls, long Magatama beads, ear wires, 2 crochet hooks

Students to bring: scissors, bead mat, diagonal wire cutters, nylon-jaw pliers, chain-nose or round-nose pliers (optional), task light (optional).
TO REGISTER FOR CLASS

Second, also on Saturday, is a Russian Spiral class from 2-4:45pm:

Russian Around

More color choices for Russian Around

With just thread and needle, you can make these striking earrings or pendants. Using a variation of the Russian spiral stitch, students will make a tube of bugle beads and seed beads. Then we will join the tube into a circle and embellish it with sparkly Swarovski crystals and more seed beads. Add a seed bead loop on top for an ear wire or neck cord and you are ready to wear your new creation.

Class Fee: $60.00 Pre-register and save $10.
Kit fee: $25
Kit contains: bugle beads, 11/0 seed beads, Swarovski crystals, ear wires, thread, and beading needles.

Students to bring: scissors, bead mat, task light (optional), magnifiers
(optional) if you have trouble working with small beads.
TO REGISTER FOR CLASS

On Sunday, October 13, I will teach the Turkish Delight bead crochet class from 11:30am-1:30pm

Turkish Delight bead crochet bracelet

Using a bead crochet stitch that I learned in Turkey, this sparkly bracelet is for beaders who wants to go beyond the standard tubular bead crochet and work with loops of beads. Students will learn how to string beads in a pattern and crochet the Turkish Loops stitch in the round. Once the bead crochet is done, students will make a button and loop closure and embellish the loop with peyote stitch or needle-woven flowers and leaves. Bead crochet experience is helpful.

Class Fee: $60. Pre-register before 5:00pm on October 9 and save $10.
Kit fee: $35
Kit Includes: over 150 4mm, Czech, fire-polished beads, 11° Japanese seed beads, assorted beads for closure loop, 2 bead caps, 1 button, 1 spool braided nylon cord, Fireline, steel crochet hook, and beading needles.

Students to bring: scissors, bead mat, task light (optional), magnifiers
(optional) if you have trouble working with small beads.
TO REGISTER FOR CLASS


If you have any questions you can contact Innovative Bead Expo or email me.  See you at the bead show!




 

SNAKES, BUTTONS, AND KNOTS



Black and white bead crochet snake

     August was a month of finishing up a  few bead projects in between supervising 2 major house repairs.  First was the black and white bead crochet snake necklace for one of my favorite clients.  It was interesting working with only black, white, and grey; so few colors requires a different kind of patterning. 

Wire crochet with daggers, niobium button, and farfalle beads

 

My second exploration involved a niobium button from my friend Marti Brown of  The Dragon's Odyssey.  Marti makes lovely niobium components as well as creating jewelry and teaching classes.  For those who don't know much about niobium, it is a soft, grey, metal used industries such as steel production and space vehicles.  Luckily for those of us who love jewelry, niobium can also take on beautiful colors when heated and anodized

.

 At first I was thinking about making a bracelet and using the button as a fastening but I wanted to try something different.  Then I put the button down on a wire crochet flower that I made a few months ago.  The niobium button looked like it was just waiting to be paired with the daggers from York Beads, another of my favorite stores.  Some farfalle beads and a fire-polish center worked to fasten everything together.

 

Micro-macramé bracelet from class with Joan Babcock

My final project of the month was to finish the micro-macramé bracelet that I started when I took a class with Joan Babcock at Bead and Button in June.  I need to work on my tension and some of my knots are backwards, but I was pleased to be able to follow the instructions and finish the project. I know--because I say this to my students all the time--that my work will get better with more practice.

 

 

  

APRIL BEAD CLASSES AT INNOVATIVE BEADS SHOW

Need a fun time after the madeness of filing your income tax? I will be teaching 3 classes on April 27 and 28, 2012 at the Innovative Beads Expo in Edison New Jersey.  Here is the info:
                                                    
                                            WIRE CROCHET




Learn to crochet with wire by making this fun flower and the charming birds nest earrings. Students will learn which sizes of wire are best for crochet, tricks for working with wire, the chain stitch, single crochet, how to add beads to your work, and how to crochet flat shapes and in the round. Crochet experience helpful but not necessary. When: Saturday, April 27, 2012   10:30 am-1:30 pm Class Fee: $60. Pre-register by April 24 and save $10 Kit fee: $30 Kit includes: practice wire, 28 gauge colored wire, 24 gauge colored wire, seed beads, Swarovski pearls, long Magatama beads, ear wires, 2 crochet hooks Students to bring: scissors, bead mat, diagonal wire cutters, nylon-jaw pliers, chain-nose or round-nose pliers (optional), task light (optional).                                                FANCY PANTS

Start from the very beginning and learn to crochet beads with a chain stitch to make this sparkly necklace that combines pretty nylon cord with a variety of larger beads. Students will learn how to string beads in a pattern, crochet the basic slip knot and chain stitch, crochet with beads, braid 3 strands together, fasten a clasp, and make dangles. No crochet experience needed. When:   Saturday, April 27, 2012   2:00 pm-4:45 pm Class Fee: $60. Pre-register  by April 24 and save $10. Kit fee: $30 Kit contains: nylon cord, size 6̊ seed beads, Magatama drops, 6 mm stardust beads, 4 mm stardust beads, 6 mm beads, 8 mm beads, vintage Czech beads, bead caps, clasp, jump rings, crochet hook, and needle. Students to bring: scissors, bead mat, pliers for opening jump rings, task light (optional).                                          AROUND THE BEND

Learn tubular bead crochet with slip stitch so that you can make the lariats that are so popular right now. Students will make a 3.5 inch tube of size 8̊ beads that can be strung as a straight tube or turned into a teardrop-shaped pendant with a few simple wire work techniques. You will learn how to string beads in a pattern, bead crochet in the round, add a new thread; finish a piece with bead caps, and how to combine the bead crochet tube with wire and crystals to create a fun focal piece.

Students must know how to make a slip knot and chain stitch before class.
When:  Sunday, April 28, 2012   11:30 am-1:30 pm
Class Fee: $60. Pre-register before April 24 and save $10.
Kit fee: $30
Kit Includes: Size 8̊ Japanese seed beads, size 8̊Japanese hex or triangle beads, nylon crochet thread, bead caps, Thunder Polish crystals, assorted accent beads and metal charms, 20 or 22 gauge wire, ribbon or cord, crochet hook, beading needles, and safety pin.

Students to bring: scissors, bead mat, task light (optional); also round-nose pliers, chain-nose pliers, diagonal wire cutters, and nylon-jaw pliers if you wish to make the tear-shaped pendant.

Here is the link for class registration Register for Bead Classes.

CROCHET WIRE NESTS FOR MY BIRDIE

My friend Yoshie wants me to wear my new MAKUstudio bird to the NY Bead Society meeting tomorrow night so I needed to finish the necklace.  Since I  hated to cut the pretty ribbon, I decided to make a small scarf ring as a fastener in back and crochet two wire bird's nests for counterweights.  You can see the finished necklace above.  I can wear the ribbon ends in front with the bird or hanging down my back for a dramatic exit.

The bird's nests were so much fun that I made two more sets and turned one set into earrings. 

If you want to try your hand at crocheted wire bird's nests, here is a site to get you started: http://www.craftstylish.com/item/604/how-to-make-wire-crochet-jewelry/page/all.

I did things a bit differently, starting with using 22 gauge wire which I would not recommend.  It makes great-looking bird's nests but it is hard on the wrists and fingers.  I will try 24 or 26 gauge wire next time.  Also, I chained 4 instead of 3 for a slightly bigger nest.  I formed the nest over the end of a large crochet hook to make it deeper and used the second tail to make a few squiggles and loops on the top edge of the nest.

Now I can't wait to wear my new necklace tomorrow.

UPDATE:  I stumble across an excellent tutorial for making another type of finding for the hand-painted ribbon if you don't want to just tie the ribbon or cut it and add a lobster claw and jump ring fastener.  Check out Jen Cameron's website Glass Addictions for instructions or just to view some lovely jewlery.