Marcia DeCoster/ Kim Stathis

Well the guest teacher Season here in Florida is starting off with a bang. We Just had 3 full classes with the fantastic Marcia Decoster. Author of Beaded Opulence and Beads In Motion... just to name a few.
The classes were great, projects delicious, and students were kicking with great color schemes, and more.
It was fun to browse thru Marcia's bag of jewelry, and at every moment she would change jewelry so we had a fun fashion show. Next up will are having the Findings Trunk show.. starting tomorrow  Sept 25th till Sunday the 29th.. lots of goodies there.. Then on October 11th the marvelous Kimberely Stathis. Please check her designs on the web site.. and join us for another set of great class

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Melissa Grakowsky Shippee

We just had a great class with Melissa Grakowsky Shippee. I found her designs to be very feminine and beautiful. It was fun seeing all the projects from her book I Can Herringbone. I have several that I am going to do now. As I was sitting there.. I was thinking about how many times a customer will say, I don't like the project, I will never wear that, or worse yet.. I don't like the colors. I have long been know to say that doesn't matter. If you want to become a better beader, whether you want to become a designer or not, you must sit and study, learn, and discover what other people have done, including their approach. I keep remembering what I learned when I went to the Renoir exhibition and they said that people would pay to learn from the masters, then the master got to keep the students works, and put their own name on them and sell them as theirs. Pretty interesting. Well we do pay to learn from the teachers, but we don't have to give up our bead work after learning. I learned alot from Melissa and  I am going to continue saying what I have always said... "It doesn't matter if you like the project, will ever wear it, or like the colors... If you want to be a better beader you need to travel the masters thru their road of creation! It you love the project.. that's an extra bonus.

Finally it’s Cruise time.

I’m so glad we started doing these Crystal Creations beading cruises, because it gives us the opportunity to out of the store and into the sunshine. This time we’re going on a 7-day beading vacation cruise through the Caribbean on the BRAND new ship The Reflection. It is a vacation but It seems like going out of town always takes alot of additional work.  We made a lot of kits because we offered so many projects this time for our 14 guests, and I of course had to clean off my desk so when I come back I can remember what I was doing. Oh…and cut my hair.

I donated 15 inches of hair to Locks of Love. It seems like yesterday I was donating it last time (when I gave 24 inches). Of course I also haven’t been in a salon chair since the early 90’s except for that cut.  I made an appointment, and asked for someone who would help me decide what to do since I was actually cutting if for the first time in a long time. When I got there he, the one suggested to me, was busy and I got maybe the new girl... who just said ok... what do you want?

I was so annoyed and said I want you to give me some ideas. She wouldn't or couldn't. So I just got it cut shoulder length. Funny thing is it now also looks very dark.  

So our 4^th  annual cruise, 7-days in the Caribbean, is going to be great.  But we aren't stopping here. In July, we will take our most adventurous beading cruise yet—Alaska! It departs from Fairbanks and will end in Vancouver, 11 nights land and sea. We’re really happy to be able to offer these trips. We always have felt that spending time with other beaders is the best way to be creative, and on out beading trips your come to know your fellow students as friends. Beading, vacation, classes and kits!

We hope to see you in the store sometime this February, as our two new projects Jeweled Locket and Leone have their first classes—the 28^th and 1^st, respectively.

Best,

Bead Goddess—Glenda

Chopra Center Retreat 2012

Just spent a week in Carlsbad California at the Chopra Center. It was really fantastic. We (24 in the class) learned about the Ayurvedic Lifestyle. Each day we had meditation, yoga, class, and a spa treatment, then another class, yoga, and meditation. Breakfast and Lunch were served, and we were able to have full use of the LaCosta Spa also on the property. Or I should say that the Chopra Center is on the LaCosta property. It was really an amazing week. While there outside of San Diego, I also went to the beach, and to the SRI meditation garden, which was sooooo beautiful.

Venetian Glass Bead Trunk Show

The Venetian Glass Bead Trunk show we are having at the shop is amazing.. I am so in awe over the new styles of bead that Nicole brought. Thanks to everyone who has come out. Sunday (tomorrow is the last day) I have been working on a double layered netting tonight, while watching Michael Jackson's "this is it". ..and had to take a brake. It is pretty intense. Two layers of netting interwoved between adn around each other. Happily I finally decided on a clasp for the Golden Nepal "a New vision" And now I am also working on some new earrings.. Wish I could post the photos.. but I usually write blogs when I am home and the photos are on the computer at work.. Tomorrow I will post them.

I am getting excited to take a few days off with Erkki. I am driving up to Tallahassee and then we will spend a few days in Destin. The end of the year will be here in no time now.. Well back to my earrings, netting and Michael.

Yikees time does go by...

Looking at my office right now I keep wondering how I get further and further behind when I keep working longer and harder.. wondering if I shoud work less... and easier? I saw last time I wrote here was Bead and Button show.. Well I do believe that's when I started getting behind. Takes alot of work to get ready for shows.. Since then we've had Texas Beadfest, and a couple of local shows..

Now we are submitting for Bead fest Philly, and we got 4 classes going on in Bead and Button for next year... and we have planned a cruise and a trip to Italy and tomorrow is a great Venitian Glass bead trunk show... During this time I also got Erkki off to college.. He is having fun and enjoying his theatre program. So if you get a chance, check out the cruise, and Italy trip with Maggie Meister.

Come on down to the venetian glass bead trunk show... and check out our new classes and guest teacher classes...

Luna Lights

Just got back from Bead and button show in Milwaukee. It was first very hot... then 3 days of very cold. Strange. We had tons of fun! Taught 4 classes and I was really amazed by the students.

For shopping it took me a full 2 hours just to get down the 1st isle. "Luna Lights", Liisa's very beautiful new embroidered necklace/kit, was the talk of the show! Met lots of new friends and met up with old friends. Bead and Button really do put on a good production.