Saturday, March 30, 2013

April Polymer Clay Classes

I'm teaching 2 classes in April at Silk Road Textiles in Cincinnati.   The messaging system on the class descriptions page doesn't work for all emails, especially Gmail (I know because I work there...we're looking into it), so it's best to stop in or call to register.  I copied the class descriptions straight from the page, so that's why it looks like I'm referring to myself in the third person.  ;)

For the button class, I will provide a pasta machine and a whole bunch of neat tools to play with.  When it's summertime, I plan on doing an extruded cane class, but for now we're doing basic canework and fooling around with experimentation.

Class size is limited to 4 (5 if someone brings a pasta machine), so sign up early. 




Stacker Beads/Embellishments                             
$65
Skill Level: No Experience Necessary – appropriate for adults and teens
Fri. 4/19 10am-1pm

Students will learn how to make “stacker beads”, a polymer clay bead design by the instructor, Amy Wallace. Amy created this bead design 12 years ago, and it is popular among polymer clay artists. Her “stacker beads” were published in Polymer CafĂ© magazine in 2003. They work great as embellishments on quilts, finished yarn projects and coiled bowls as well as making beautiful jewelry.




Polymer Clay Button Making                                
$65
Skill Level: No Experience Necessary – appropriate for adults and teens
Fri. 4/26 10am-2pm

Students will make handmade buttons using various techniques with polymer clay. Safety and proper tool use will also be covered. Student may bring their own tools and clay if desired, however materials are included.

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Final Friday in Cincinnati

This is the main Annex building.  I'll be upstairs.


This is almost as last-minute as you can get, but this Friday, March 29, from 6pm-9:30pm I will be exhibiting and selling my polymer clay jewelry at the Pendleton Art Center in Over-the-Rhine in Cincinnati.  It has been  a little while since I was there.  My friend Margie has a gorgeous studio in the Annex, the shorter building directly across the brick alley (aptly named Artist Alley, from what I recall) from the 8 story main building.  There is a neon sign in the second story window...formerly the studio of Frank Satogata....just take the steps to the second floor, and I'm in the first studio, #10.  Margie has work there, as well as wire/metal sculptures from Cincinnati artist John "Wire".  Since this is my "maiden" show in her studio, I will be bringing only my most awesome jewelry....loose beads and buttons may come at a later date.

Who knows....if you come and mention you saw this blog, I may just have a special goodie for you.  I accept cash and checks with photo i.d.

If you don't want to wait for or pay for valet parking, the new Horseshoe Casino a couple of blocks away has free parking after 6pm.

Hope to see you there. 

(Updated March 29..... Tonight I had a great time up in Margie's studio.  It's such a warm and comfortable room with such a neat variety of items inside.  I plan on being there again for Final Friday on April 26.  Thank you to all who visited and purchased some of my work!)

Sunday, March 24, 2013

Addicted to Fiber

Working in a yarn and fabric store means a lot of things.  For one, I am surrounded by amazing things that I could never afford.  Most of it is totally within the realm of my pocketbook, over time.  But the cool thing is, I can be around it, talking about it, teaching about it, squeezing and touching it, five days a week, and get paid to do it.  (Although, some of my paycheck does go right back into the store....cycle of life, right?)

Then there's the other part. Being around it so much means I have a LOT of ideas of what to create.  I want to create so much more than I will ever have time for, and it often overwhelmes me.  Unless someone comes by, sweeps me off my feet and says, "Live your dream, Amy....I'll take care of the rest," sewing, knitting, polymer clay, paper cuts, you name it.... will always be for my time away from work.  Sometimes I want to lock myself into the house for a week and just see what happens.


So here's part of my newest yarn acquisition.  Malabrigo Worsted Weight ....merino wool....a perfect felting fiber.  I've gotten it in my crazy head that instead of buying wool to cut, stitch, embellish, and sculpt, I can make my own felt fabric.  And will I!  This is going to have to wait though, because I spent over 10 hours in the last week working on a giant scarf (approximately 6-1/2 feet long, and very wide) that I finished at 11:05am this morning.  Technically I still need to weave in the tails, but I wore it to work today and people loved it. 

My next project will be featured in my next post.  Here's a hint:  My mom left me with 19 pieced quilt squares that I discovered only after she died.  There will be photos.

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Saying "See ya!" to Facebook

Hello friends and fans....

I've decided to cut the cord for good and leave Facebook, both as me and as Ovenfried Beads.  It's time to simplify. I've grown weary of Facebook and the time it has stolen due to my inability to moderate my own time on it.  For me it has turned into one giant vat of advertisements and an overload of information that frankly isn't doing much to inspire me to get busy.  I will disconnect some time on Saturday. (March 23)

So if you've recently "liked" my Ovenfried Beads page on there, I apologize for the short virtual relationship that we have had.  (This past week there have been a LOT of new likes...I wonder where that came from!).  Fret not...this blog is going to stick around.

In any case, this will be the only place that I announce new classes, shows, sales in my Etsy store and other occasional random riff-raff.  Please follow this blog or visit it to get updates.

My other blog, A Very Pedestrian Snail, features my photography that has absolutely nothing to do with Ovenfried Beads or my craft adventures.  Mostly nature stuff....nature is my main inspiration for all things creative.  If you like moss, lichens and fungi, you should bookmark that, too.

I hope to update this blog about once a week if not more.  I'm branching out into fiber art again.  This is a good one-stop shop for me to post pictures of what I'm doing.  Now that I'll have the time to really create, I'll have more time to truly SHARE with you what is going on. 

I always welcome comments and questions, too, so feel free to chime in!

Have a great day!]

(March 24 update:  Getting rid of FB was like taking a whole warehouse full of garbage and burning it.  It was the best computer-related decision I have ever made.  Highly recommended.)