Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Fall Classes with Ovenfried Beads

Hello!

It has been forever since I've been able to announce a cluster of classes.   My classes are taking place at Silk Road Textiles in Cincinnati.  Any signing up/registration has to take place through SRT, not me.  If you'd like to register for any of these, please contact them by calling 513-541-3700 or stopping in.  The address is 6106 Hamilton Avenue, 45224, for those of you who use GPS systems to find your way.  I limit my class sizes to about 5, so don't wait to register if you know you can take a class that interests you.

Please keep in mind that all of my classes require good manual dexterity in both hands.  People with advanced arthritis or other conditions that weaken the hands may have a difficult time conditioning stiff clay or pushing/pulling a thick needle through dense rope.  I'm not saying that these folks shouldn't take the class....I just want them to be aware that it could get uncomfortable and they could have difficulties.  This has occurred in past classes.

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Fabric Coiled Bowls
 
See those Stacker bead buttons?  Scroll down...there's a class for those too.
 
Students will learn how to create a specific style of functional bowls using fabric and
rope. Good manual dexterity in both hands is necessary.  I was featured on HGTV's "That's Clever!" in 2007 making this bowl, so if a TV network thinks it's cool, it's probably worth signing up for.  The bowl you see above is a huge version of what you'll be making in a 3 hour class, but it gives you a good idea.

The lady behind the company Recyclabowls took my coiled bowl class and turned it into a business.  Even though her technique is similar, she has turned it into her own "thing".  In fact, her bowls are available for sale at Silk Road Textiles.

Class fee is $35, and students must purchase 3 cotton fat quarters from SRT.  The rope, hot glue, string and needles will be provided by me.

There are two separate dates.  It's not a two-part class.

09/20/2012  12pm-3pm
10/27/2012  10am-1pm

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Polymer Clay Buttonmaking

These are some random buttons that I have made recently.
Yours will be unique...your own design.

Students will make handmade buttons using various techniques with polymer clay.  To alleviate stress and work on the student's part to gather the many tools and clay needed for this 4-hour workshop, I am including everything in the package, so the class fee reflects the added expense on my part.  I will cover some basic techniques in polymer clay (simple canes, marbling, stamping) and students will create their own buttons.
 
Note: If a student has polymer clay tools that they would like to use, like a favorite blade, pasta machine, stamp or even colors of clay, they are free to bring them, but the class fee won't change.
 
Class fee is $65.  There are two separate dates.  It's not a two-part class.

10/30/2012  9am-1pm
11/10/2012  1pm-5pm

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Stacker Beads/Embellishments
 
 

Students will learn how to make Stacker beads, a polymer clay bead design that I perfected about 11 years ago.  Stacker beads make amazing embellishments, so even though Silk Road Textiles is not a bead/jewelry supply store, students can learn this technique to embellish their own fiber art pieces or make them into beads.  I will supply all the clay and tools needed.

Class fee is $65.  There are two separate dates.  It's not a two-part class.

11/06/2012  9am-1pm
12/01/2012  9am-1pm
 
Note:  If you do not live in Cincinnati, you can purchase a PDF version of my Stacker bead tutorial on Etsy.  It's $16 and I'll email it to you.

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There are many other great fiber art classes being offered at Silk Road Textiles.  If you are interested in learning more, visit their website or "like" their Facebook page (or both) to find out more.  The full fall class schedule is going to be released very shortly. 

Thursday, September 6, 2012

Holy MACKERAL, This Girl is Busy

Hello fans!

First of all, this barrette and bracelet are starting at ridiculously low bids on eBay.  They are older pieces that I love but don't want to deconstruct. Starting bid is a SCANT $.99.  You can't even buy a candy bar for that.

Bid on this barrette here!  (Ends Sept 13)
 
Bid on this bracelet here! (Ends Sept 13)
 
 
So I want to apologize for not being a better blogger.  There are many things for me to talk about, but I just keep doing them and forget to (or choose not to) talk about them.  I guess it's part humility, but mostly part laziness.  When I look at people who ditch their dayjobs and make a living at their art/craft of choice, what I'm mostly seeing is good marketing, but I also recognize there is interest and demand for their work. 

Marketing is not my forte'.  For example, I don't even have a logo.  I used to have one, and I still have the original artwork, but it's a snail, for crying-out-loud.  Who the hell will look at a stylized snail (which happens to be inked on my left forearm...THAT's commitment) and think "Boy, this woman must have a LOT of skill and experience in polymer clay and beadwork!" I just happen to love snails.  And business cards.  I just recently received a box of 250 amazing cards from Vista Print that remind me of a) my favorite color brown, and b) a Dandy Warhols video that I just love...very artistically stimulating for me, and of course, brown and scroll-y.

About 7 weeks ago, a new fiber supply/art store in Cincinnati called Silk Road Textiles opened in College Hill.  I realize that I'm completely biased, BUT, I have to say that it's a pretty amazing place.  I'm lucky to work there, and will start teaching this month (September).   We carry all sorts of amazing yarn and fabric, and sell not only the work of 14 excellently skilled craftspeople from the Cincinnati area, but also jewelry and knit stitch markers from moi, Ovenfried Beads.  You can get a more thorough list of items sold at the store at their website if you click it above.  My favorite yarns there right now are Mountain Color, Berroco Remix, Rowan Tweed, Leilani Arts recycled sari silk, Berroco Lodge and of course, Noro Yarn.  Since I'm not sitting in the store looking around, I'm sure you can imagine that I'd come up with another dozen "favorite" items.  In any case, as a beginner (but not virgin) knitter, I'm seriously intrigued by what I see and feel, and am anxious to dig my fingers into some skeins I can call my own and create something awesome.  We also sell a ton of fabric, which I'm a little too lazy at this second to list.  You just have to go to the site.  OR, if you like to know what's happening as it happens (including classes, which will be announced VERY VERY soon), just "Like" us on our Facebook Page.

On one last note, as I'm sure I've about worn you out at this point..... I'll be participating in my first City Flea in Cincinnati on Saturday, September 15.  My friend from the Cincy Craft Cartel invited me as a guest artist, so I will have a large selection of earrings, bracelets and loose beads, with a more conservative selection of bead embroidery, buttons and necklaces. 

My next blog will feature a listing of all of the brick-and-mortar stores in Cincinnati that regularly sell my work.  I hope you will consider patronizing those stores.  They are run and staffed by hard-workin' folks just like you.  Stay tuned. If you just can't wait, go here.

I wish I had more pictures tonight.  Maybe next time.