Our members in print

Our very own Board Member, Robin Milne shared her excitement about her  photographs being published in a third magazine article.  Donna Ryan-Kocun is the author of all three projects in Step By Step Wire Jewelry and Robin photographed the projects step by step.  Their 1^st article was in the issue Spring 2008, Colorful Foxtail Necklace and was featured on the cover, the second is on the newsstands now, Fall 2008 Bling, Bling Ring and the third will be Winter 2008 and is also featured on the cover.  Way to go Robin and Donna!

Wheaton Arts and Cultural Center – great day trip

I think I am technically supposed to blog about glass beads, but this post is about the “glass” part of that!! If you have a chance, schedule a visit to the Wheaton Arts and Cultural Center in Millville NJ. You can read all about it at www.wheatonarts.org I was just there, and it reminded me what a terrific spot it is. The historic glass collection is focussed on NJ and is beautifully displayed. The gift shops are lovely, and this time of year they have a wonderful Christmas shop. Although the high end of what they sell in glass is pricey, they have plenty of affordable stuff, even some glass BEADS! Best of all, you can make a reservation to make a paperweight at the furnace, which is done by appointment only. My husband did it, took about 40 minutes, and then they mail it to you when it is cool. I can believe how beautiful and professional it looks, you could give it as a gift or just treasure it yourself, and he reports it was a lot of fun. Check out the website for more info. I hope everyone is working hard on holiday gifts (I haven’t started, but I should……) Jeri

Your Chance to Win 800+ Pounds of Delicas!

(Thanks to member Mary Alexander for this hot tip!)

A very creative bead artist named Gini Farnham has decided to close her online bead store. She is selling chances to raffle off all her beads. The winner receives her entire store stock of 11/0 Delicas (EVERY COLOR, including the recently discontinued colors) as well as some larger Delicas and Japanese seed beads.

Somebody just did the math on Gini’s inventory list. Gini’s stash is over *800 POUNDS* of delicas in every color including the discontinued colors.

People can join together in groups to buy a single raffle ticket. Then they get to divide the stash any way they see fit.

If Gini doesn’t get at least 100 participants, everyone will get their raffle ticket money back.

Everyone who enters the raffle will receive an additional gift from Gini: free access to her vintage photograph collection. These photos are copyright free (recently this included more than 66,000 photos and still counting.)

Here’s the link to her webpage: www.CarpeBeadum.com, where she has posted the entire inventory of stock included in the auction, and describes the raffle process in more detail.

The contest will end at NOON Eastern Time October 18, 2008 with the drawings for the Grand Prizes to be held at that time.

Gini’s contest is real and honest – Suzanne Cooper’s newsletter #110 included a link to Gini’s site.
http://www.suzannecooper.com/newsletter/newsletter-110.html
———-

Why is Gini selling all her beads? Like many of us, she is trying to balance a full time job with her personal life. Hers has a few extra challenges. Her two year old child has Downs Syndrome. Gini has just had a stroke. she can still work and take care of her family, but feels it’s time to let go of the online bead store.

Suzanne Hye’s Work Featured on New Product

Beadsmith has a new product in the works – “Silverline.”  Silverline is a knitted wire which comes in gold and silver color and different thicknesses.  It can be braided, shaped, embellished…there are lots of possibilities!  In fact, Beadsmith has agreed to provide us with Silverline for a future meeting where we can all play with it.

Some months ago Beadsmith sent me some Silverline and asked me to play with it.  I came up with a few ideas for it and brought them into Beadsmith to show them.  A few weeks ago I got an e-mail with an attachment of the new packaging for the product, and my projects and my name will be appearing on the packaging!  It’s very exciting for me.

Silverline Packaging

Barbara Egnor featured in “Imagine the Uncommon Things”

Barbara Egnor delighted us with her polymer clay necklaces at the September meeting – they looked just like stones!  I called her “Barbara Rubble.”  Her necklaces inspired Kim Cavender, polymer clay artist, author, and instructor.  Kim also has a blog titled “Imagine the Uncommon Things: Musings on polymer clay, creativity, rocks and other things.”  Her blog can be seen at http://kimcavender.blogspot.com/.

The necklace shown below, made by member Barbara Egnor, inspired Kim and she writes about meeting and talking to Barbara in her October 1, 2008 blog post.

Barbara Egnor Necklace

Donna Ryan-Kocun in Fall Issue of Step-by-Step Wire Magazine

Our own Donna Ryan-Kocun has a beautiful project in the fall issue of Interweave Press’ Step-by-Step Wire Magazine.   Stop by your local bookstore and get a copy! 

bling bling ring Wire wrapped square crystal showpiece. by Donna P. Ryan-Kocun

Bead Society Members Teaching at the Newark Museum

Several of our members will be teaching classes this fall at the Newark Museum.  Take a look!

Wire Jewelry: A Comprehensive Primer with Sandra Lupo

Create beautiful wire jewelry! This comprehensive course covers techniques and tools for working with
a variety of wire. Weave, crochet, spiral, coil and hammer wire, then embellish with beads, cabochons
and found objects.

All Levels
Eight Fridays, October 17 – December 12, 10 am – 1 pm
Member: $189, Non-member: $210, Materials: $25

The Potato Chip Net Bracelet with Mary Alexander

This fun-to-make bracelet is a variation on the regular, three-bead-net stitch, but uses different size
beads, which causes the beadwork to develop hills, valleys and ruffles. Finish the bracelet with a hidden clasp.

All Levels
Saturday, December 6, 10 am – 4 pm
Member: $72, Non-member: $80

Wire Working for Jewelers: The Freeform Necklace with Marlene Kuser

Learn to bend, twist and forge wire to make a beautiful freeform necklace. Techniques covered include
making your own findings, bead wraps or clusters and superficial aging of the wire.

All Levels  Sunday, October 19, 10 am – 4 pm
Member: $72, Non-member: $80, Materials: Cost
of wire

Ronnie Lambrou Wins Bead Museum Competition!

Member Ronnie Lambrou has won First Place in the Bead Museum’s First Annual International
Juried Jewelry Design Competition.  Her necklace, designed with hollow lampworked beads made by member Jeri Warhaftig, won for the glass division of the competition.  Her necklace will be on display in the Museum until December 31, 2008.

The Bead Museum is located at 400 Seventh Street, NW, Ground Floor, Washington, D.C.  Their website can be found at http://www.beadmuseumdc.org.