May 2006 Bead News from Rachel Nelson-Smith

MAY 2006

BEAD NEWS

Hi There Happy Beader,

I hope spring has sprung in your area. We're still having rainy weather here off and on... I just returned from a teaching trip to Charleston, South Carolina. It was beautiful there and I had a fine time. However, I did return with a limited number of kits on my hands: Sumptuous Strata Cuff, Crystal Shiva Earrings, and Wealwian Curve Necklace.

I hope the beads treat you well and remember to send pics of your finished pieces my way and to ask your beady questions on my bead board!

My Best,

Rachel

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UPCOMING EVENTS

We still have a few more presentations scheduled to be given by Mary Ann Miller and Denise Peacock. If you live in the area, please come by for some beaded inspiration! Email me if you have an event you'd like to list in the June Bead News.

Mary Ann Miller

Mary Ann will speak to us about her business of dealing in gemstones with a focus on metaphysical properties.

Monday, July 31st, 8:30 - 9:00 pm

Santa Cruz High School, Room #40

Tuesday, August 8th, 8:00 - 8:30 pm

Jade Street Community Center

4400 Jade St., Capitola, CA

Denise Peacock

Denise runs her own jewelry design business offering up her delicious bead jewelry across the United States. Visit Denise's website at www.delisch.com.

Wednesday, July 12th, 8:30 - 9:00 pm

Santa Cruz High School, Room #40

KITS & DIRECTIONS NOW AVAILABLE!
Three new kits are now available this month! Apparently it is ALL about crystal!!!
Sumptuous Strata Cuff 12 left! This piece is made on memory wire so bring out your steel cutters! It features two rows of Swarovski bicones, a 9mm Swarovski margarita, a centerpiece flower sprinkled with crystals, Czech glass, Japanese seed beads, and round sterling silver wire in 20- & 24-gauge. Complete Kit: $65 Directions Only: $20 click on the pic for ordering info	Crystal Shiva Earrings 14 left! This piece features Swarovski crystal and 26-gauge round sterling silver wire and earwires. Complete Kit: $40 Directions Only: $20 click on the pic for ordering info
Wealwian Curve Necklace 6 left This piece features Swarovski crystal, freshwater pearls, sterling silver wire, and Japanese seed beads. Complete Kit: $105 Directions Only: $20 click on the pic for ordering info

NEW PROJECTS

Surprise, surprise, no no new projects! Maybe for the July Bead News! These are the ones from last time...

Bead Bezelled Cabochon

Offered at The Beading Frenzy

Easy Summer Garden Bracelet

Offered at The Beading Frenzy

Hand-forged Chain-links

Offered at The Beading Frenzy

Ootheca Cuff

Offered at The Beading Frenzy

RACHEL'S BEADING MESSAGE BOARD

There is now a message board online where you can as me and other board members questions and post replies. I've been getting a number of bead-related questions lately which have been answered by email and will try to get that happening on the board. If you have any questions, please post to the board! We already have 3 memebers! :)

Check it out:

http://jewelryworkshop.proboards61.com

There is a poll on your favorite beading technique!

Ask me questions in the online forum!

UPCOMING ARTICLES

Oh boy, what in the heck have I been doing with my time?!? There are no new articles to mention!

UPCOMING BOOKS

Watch out for "Not Your Mama's Beading" edited by Kate Welsh. it is due out this Fall. Here's a tiara I contributed, one of 6 or 7 projects!

UPCOMING CLASSES

For the full schedule click here.

San Mateo, CA

Bead Stringing, Sunday, May, 28th, noon - 3:00 pm

The Beading Frenzy

Capitola, CA

Bead Stringing, Saturday, June 3rd, 10:00 am - 1:00 pm

Capitola Parks & Recreation

Capitola, CA

Earrings--Doorway to Wire, Saturday, June 3rd, 2:00 - 5:00 pm

Capitola Parks & Recreation

San Mateo, CA

Perfecting the Wrap, Monday, June 5th, noon - 3:00 pm

The Beading Frenzy

Capitola, CA

Extraordinary Jewelry Workshop, Wednesdays, June 7th - July 12th, 1:00 - 4:00 pm. No class 6/14 & 7/5.

Capitola Parks & Recreation

San Mateo, CA

Multi-strand Bead Stringing, Wednesday, June 7th, 6:00 - 9:00 pm

The Beading Frenzy

San Mateo, CA

Briolettes, Caps, & Double-wraps, Thursday, June 8th, noon - 3:00 pm

The Beading Frenzy

San Mateo, CA

Hand-forged Chain-links, Thursday, June 8th, 6:00 - 9:00 pm

The Beading Frenzy

San Mateo, CA

Sumptuous Strata Cuff, Saturday, June 10th, 11:00 am - 2:00 pm

The Beading Frenzy

San Mateo, CA

Easy Summer Garden Bracelet, Saturday, June 10th, 3:00 - 6:00 pm

The Beading Frenzy

Milwaukee, WI

Embellished African Helix Bracelet, Thursday, June 15th, 8:00 am - 3:00 pm

Bead and Button Show

Milwaukee, WI

Wrapped & Wrapped Again Bracelet, Friday, June 16th, 6:00 - 9:00 pm

Bead and Button Show

Milwaukee, WI

Leitara Earring, Saturday, June 17th, 2:00 - 5:00 pm

Bead and Button Show

Milwaukee, WI

Sumptuous Strata Cuff, Sunday, June 18th, 9:00 am - noon

Bead and Button Show

For the full schedule click here.

BEAD ADVENTURES

Traveling to and from and teaching at Bead Expo in South Carolina was my most recent venture out of the house. The enrollment was so low in advance of the show I didn't expect to be going, but at the last minute, my husband and I decided I ought to go and teach. With the last minute decision came quite a bit of pressure to book flights and accommodations and to make sure I had all the kits ready! It was quite ridiculous to decide to go, but we're funny people so we went ahead with it. The flight was booked just 8 days in advance of leaving so it was both expensive and inconvenient. I'm happy to say that I can not check "fly red eye" off my list of things to do in life. My goodness! I was teaching until 9:00 pm in Santa Cruz, CA and had to fly out at 11:32 pm out of San Francisco. My students and husband were kind to get me all packed up and on my way! After being away for 30 hours or so I wasn't so chipper, but I did have my Sonicare toothbrush in my carry on bag. Check "brush teeth in unknown airport" off the list of things to do, too. In fact I checked a few more undesirable things off the 'to do' list: take a taxi ride in a dirty smoke-filled van, keep talking on the phone even after the taxi dispatcher hangs up on you, sleep in a cheap hotel where truckers run their engines all night nearby, appreciate electric light in a motel bathroom that has none, wonder if I should be wearing shoes while walking across the carpet... But! It wasn't all bad. The room, after all, was very very cheap! And, don't get me wrong, I actually love that sort of atmosphere. It is the kind of place that makes me feel good about being an independent woman and getting through it alone. Really as close to camping as I want to get.

The three classes I taught went well. Since they were smaller we were at liberty to socialize and I let passers-by into the classroom to see samples and shop. I enjoyed the moment when one of my students remarked, "you know everyone!" I just want everyone to think I'm cool so I end up being very sociable!

Thursday, I taught the half-day classes and went to the show's "Meet the Teachers" event. Many lovely teachers were there, Dallas Lovett & his assistant Glenn, Marcia de Coster, Patsy Silva, Janice Berkebile, Jeannette Cook, Phyllis Deintenfass, Beth Kraft, Doris Coghill, Jeanette Shanigan, Susan Lenart Kazmer, Paula Walter, and Nancy Eha among others.

My Aunt Mary and Uncle Lanny drove down from Aiken and we made the three hour trip back up north together. I stayed and visited with them until the wee hours of Sunday morning when Uncle Lanny drove me to a nearby airport to fly back to SFO.

It is very very very very nice to be home!

See you next month!