Unique LA Make and Take Schedules

The fabulous Ms. Stefani from Craftside has announced the full weekend make and take schedule for Unique LA.  I am really excited to be a part of it, and hope to see some of you there that weekend too!

We are going to make these little military style pins for my make and takes.

Here's a brief rundown of the schedule, check the Craftside blog for full details. Also in addition to all of the authors hosting Free Make & Takes listed below, there will be:

 -Copies of their books available, which they will sign for you
-Samples of projects from their books for an up-close-and-personal look
-More of their designs and creativity available for purchase
-Free makeready journals and makeready wrapping paper
-A chance to enter to win free Quayside Publishing Group books!


Saturday April 24, 2010
11:00 AM -1:00 PM Stefanie Girard, author of Sweater Surgery: How to Make New Things from Old Sweaters will have her stash of recycled wool felted sweaters & her Sizzix die cutter there for you to craft up a cute and colorful custom accessory.


12:00 PM -2:00 PM ME!!! Promoting Steampunk-Style Jewelry: Victorian, Fantasy, and Mechanical Necklaces, Bracelets, and Earrings. We'll make this fun little military pin.



1:00 PM-3:00 PM Nancy Langdon, co-author of Sewing Clothes Kids Love:
Sewing Patterns and Instructions for Boys and Girls Outfits will take you through a super cute stitching project.

2:00 PM-4:00 PM Lisa Engelbrecht, author of Modern Mark Making:  From Classical Calligraphy to Hip Hand-Lettering  will be writing your name or your fabulous touchstone word in her own bling-a-licious colorful style for free! She will have pens to try and buy along with her book!


4:00 PM-6:00 PM Christi Friesen, author of Polymer Clay and Mixed Media—Together at Last  Will be steaming it up too!!! You’ll create your own steampunk heart pendant from polymer clay and mixed media!


Sunday April 25, 2010
11:00 AM-1:00 PM Christi Friesen, author ofPolymer Clay and Mixed Media—Together at Last   Steaming it up again! Create your own steampunk heart pendant from polymer clay and mixed media.


12:00 PM-2:00 PM Stefanie Girard, of Sweater Surgery How to Make New Things from Old Sweaters  will have her stash of recycled wool felted sweaters and her Sizzix die cutter there for you to craft up a cute and colorful custom accessory.

1:00 PM-5:00 PM Tally Oliveau, Mixed-Media Dollhouses: Techniques and Ideas for Doll-size Assemblages  Create a paper doll combining vintage or modern bodies and animal head, then make a paper easel so they can stand anywhere.


2:00 PM -4:00 PM Me again!!  Promoting Steampunk-Style Jewelry: Victorian, Fantasy, and Mechanical Necklaces, Bracelets, and Earrings -We'll be crafting a military style pin.

More Happy News!

Another bit of good news that came my way last week, I am going to be  promoting the "Steampunk Style Jewelry" book and doing some Make & Takes at the Quarry Booth at Unique LA.  It's going to be the happiest booth there, jam packed with lots of authors showing you how to make lots of fun things!!! 

 Stefanie Girard of Craftside will be there and when I find out the entire workshop schedule, Ill post it here.  I'll also be taking a small selection of jewelry for sale and there will be lots of books to buy or pick up a free makeready journal or makeready wrapping paper while you are there. Don't forget to enter to win free books too!!!! We are gonna have alot of fun!

 This show looks amazing so If you live in L.A. or will be there that weekend stop by! The show is at the California Market Center April 24 and 25th. I don't know what times I'll be there but will post when we get it scheduled.

When: April 24th & 25th, 11am - 6pm both days

Where: California Market Center's Penthouse (110 East 9th Street - Map It)
Cost: $10 at the door or in advance (kids 12 and under are free).

Your admission gets you:
• Your very own collectible tote bag, exclusive-to-the-show and designed by a guest artist
(the last tote was designed by Shepard Fairey's Studio Number One!)
• Free drinks (IZZE, Honest Tea, water, beer, wine and more!)
• Unlimited re-entry for both days and access to giveaways all weekend long
• Free workshops and DIY Den with crafty handmade activities
• New! Family/Kids play and seating area
• Plus UNIQUE LA donates a portion of proceeds to a local non-profit partner each show! ...

 I'm a bit late with my beadbloggers. I had thought about doing it 15 times yesterday, but got sidetracked each time with another secret project (that I will reveal soon!)   No worries though, the blog reading is just as fun today! 

• About.com Jewelry Making  - Carpel Tunnel Sydrome is not a new issue for jewelry designers, but here are some resources that may help.
• Art Bead Scene Art Bead Scene Editor Heather Powers shows how she organized her studio for $45!
• Beading Arts Cyndi worked out a pattern for a simple but pretty floral seed bead chain!
• Carmi's Art/Life World A few word charms by the cash register are the inspiration for a new brooch.
• Cindy Gimbrone aka The Lampwork Diva A seed catalog keeps Cindy's inspiration alive. The result is a Victorian Garden Bee Skep bead.
• Earthenwood Studio Chronicles Melanie reviews a delighful new multi-media book by Sherri Haab
• Lorelei's Blog: Inside the Studio Take a little virtual shopping trip with Lorelei around the web for inspiration to participate in the Art Bead Scene Almond Blossoms challenge!
• Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!  - Spring really arrived here, FINALLY, and Jean was inspired to create some colorful, sparkly CZ jewelry with the beautiful components she found at Artbeads!
• The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton -  Just back from a whirlwind adventure in Hawaii, Andrew shares his experience in paradise and spotlights some bead-making talents.

Some good news to share - I'm certified!!!!

I've had a string of great news come my way this past week. Some I can't reveal QUITE yet (but will soon!), some is personal (getting to see my daughter again in April) but this is something I can crow about - I am an certified ICE™ Resin Instructor­!!! 

That means I can come teach an ICE™ Resin class at your store, studio or retreat.

Also,  if there's a place locally you'd like me to contact about teaching please let me know!

I'd especially like to come over to the UK (hint, hint!).

And speaking of resin, I need to pour some today. I have 4 molds with stuff in it, and a few bezels ready. Maybe I'll do it later and have them ready to work with tomorrow. 

Hope you are all having a great weekend and celebrating he Vernal Equinox!

Time to Toot my own and a few other horns today.

Frozen Charlotte Necklace ©Barbe Saint John/Saints and Sinners Jewelry

Its a beautiful spring day in SF today and I feel mostly human for the first time in forever it seems! Woot Woot!

For my own horn tooting - Check out the Spring edition of Belle Armoire Jewelry and see my article on how to cast your own Frozen Charlotte Dolls from ICE Resin.  They did a great job photographing these, because I found it hard to do myself.  Also in this issue they have a new Gallery section and TOOT TOOT to my friend Jen who has a page of her pretties there!!!  There are a couple of really great wirewrapping projects in here that blow me away. I am inspired and going to play a bit with wire this week. 


Another TOOT TOOT goes out to my good friend Traci - She has a really cool plastic fusing tutorial video up to promote her new book Upcycled Accessories that is available now. No need to throw alway all those fun and color plastic bags, she'll show you how to craft all kinds of clever things with them!!!


And TOOT TOOT to my girl Jennifer  and her sister Hope for being on CNN Money today! They are true inspirations to everyone who wants to quit their day jobs.

and TOOT TOOT to all of you for reading this far!!!

Spring Forward

 Devotion Necklace - ©2010 Barbe Saint John

To be honest, I'm not a fan of the time change. I truly feel like I have "lost" an hour, when I know it's just psychological, we don't lose anything it just shifts. Still, I feel great about "gaining" an hour in the fall and getting an extra hours sleep.

This week has been a series of setbacks. I haven't posted much because I don't want to sound like a broken record. I also believe that whatever we focus on, we bring more of into our lives, so if I wrote everyday how much pain I was in I would just be inviting more of the same. NOT a good thing. I'm trying quietly to shift focus to feeling health, not pain. I'm also trying to not complain either-that has been VERY challenging to do LOL

To keep it positive, I've gotten a few things added to my website and took a few photos over the weekend (Devotion pictured above). I hope to send out a wholesale newsletter this week, but I want to be sure I have a wellstocked website before I do.


And now time for this weeks Bead Bloggers!
A Bead A DaySimilar to the excuse, "my dog ate my homework", Lisa revises her weekly project due to an incident with a furry friend!

About.com Jewelry Making  Jump rings seem like small items when it comes to jewelry making, but they can cause big problems!

Art Bead Scene   ABS unveils the March Challenge painting - Van Gogh's Almond Blossoms.

Beading Arts  Cyndi has a fabulous Zulugrass bracelet to giveaway this week!

Carmi's Art/Life World   Button making turns into jewelry making for Carmi this week!

Cindy Gimbrone aka Lampwork Diva  When is more, more? When you've got shell pearls and lampwork glass!

Earthenwood Studio Chronicles  Another favorite song inspires Melanie to make new Heart Window pendants

Lorelei's Blog: Inside the Studio   Thinking of selling on Etsy? Read this post, Lorelei has shared some tips from what she's learned along the way.

Snap Out of It, Jean! There's Beading to be Done!  An inveterate wirer, Jean approaches new things which other designers do with ease verrrry cautiously...as if they might be wild animals! Grrrr! Should she run away? Decide for yourself!

Strands of Beads  Melissa is giving away one of her floating box pendants this week in honor of her son.

Beading Arts: Sponsorship contest on Beading Arts...absolutely free!

Beading Arts: Sponsorship contest on Beading Arts...absolutely free!

 

Candy Ring circa 2005 ©Barbe Saint John

Happy that I managed to get some things done over the past few days.  Still really tired all the time and moving albeit slowly.much slower than I want to. The good thing is I am not pushing myself and have more mobility in my arm. The downer thing is I spend more time thinking about all the things that need done because I can't physically do them.   I wish I had a helper to do things like take/edit photos, updeat the site and sweep the floor.  Did you know its nearly impossible to hold a broom and sweep the floor with one hand? I didn't, but I found out the hard way.

I finished some fun design team samples for Alphastamps, need to re-size them and send them off. I also finished 2 religious necklaces this weekend, but haven't photographed them yet.  I  finally played with my low-temp soldering station today too. How many different types of soldering does one person need??  A few I'm finding out!  I long for a proper oxy/acetyline set up but that will have to wait until we live somewhere with an outdoor space.

We found out this weekend, two of our favorite neighbors are moving out. One on this floor and one downstairs. Everyone we like moves on, and I wonder if its time for us to do the same. I am increasingly frustrated with the lack of room in this apt. The bedroom is too small, there's no living room, I need a room with a door to work in, I want the litter boxes someplace that won't track litter throughout the living space, etc...... Also, there is no place to have people over for social visits and that is so sad! Pair those annoyances with the increasing crazy/drugged up homeless population and crime in our neighborhood and I feel like that straw is really itching the camels back.   What to do?  I just don't know at this point. sigh.................

Now on to something much more pleasant, this weeks
Bead Bloggers Links!:

• A Bead A Day Want to stand out from across a crowded room? These Electric Sparkly Beads ought to do the trick!
• About.com Jewelry Making Turn a little hand-dyed ribbon and shell pendant into a trendy jewelry piece you'll wear with almost everything in your closet.  
• Art Bead Scene Got cabin fever? ABS has some beady suggestions so you can get out of the house.
• Barbe Saint John - New Jewelry from Forgotten Artifacts Barbe is avoiding work by showing some pics of recently made creations.
• Beading Arts Cyndi is running a contest on Beading Arts, and the prize is an absolutely free advertisement!
• Carmi's Art/Life World A new spring challenge from Artbeads.com means Carmi has a new brooch!
• Cindy Gimbrone aka Lampwork Diva Squee! Rings N Things sends shell pearls which Cindy mixes with her single color lampwork beads.
• Earthenwood Studio Chronicles Ferris wheels, carnivals, and comedians inspire a new Song Lore Saturday post for Melanie
• Katie's Beading Blog Surf on over to Katie's blog for ideas about making your own chain, layering components, and easy earrings.
• Lorelei's Blog: Inside the Studio The answers still hold true in this interview that Lorelei had with herself back in 2008.
• Snap Out of It, Jean! There's Beading to be Done! Jean made a necklace for a relative. Of course, it had to be perfect. Therefore she turned to Kazuri Beads!

Sleep, sleep My kingdom for sleep...........

  I look just like this cartoon, minus the curlers - NOT a pretty sight.  It's 4am, and I am still awake. My sleep schedule is so OFF since this shoulder injury. For the past week, my sleep has been series of naps nothing over 5 hours solid. I think the pain pills have alot to do with it.

   Last night I got about 4 hours of fitful, interrupted sleep due to cats fighting, dog barking at fighting cats, snoring husband and pain. I had a very early doctor and physical therapy appt this morning as well. Never fails when I need to get up early, everyone in this apt keeps me up the night before.  I got home about 11:30 am and crawled back into bed for a quick wink that ended up being another 4 hour nap.  Then again at 8ish, for another hour.  I have so much to do, and just no energy to do it. My vitamn B pills just can't keep up. I'm thankful my therapy is going well and I have some range of motion in my arm now- woohoo!!!

I am going to stay awake day tomorrow and hopefully be productive!!!!!

Getting Twisted with Totally Twisted by Kerry Bogert

Totally Twisted: Innovative Wirework & Art Glass Jewelrytot

Totally Twisted: Innovative Wirework & Art Glass Jewelry by Kerry Bogert
Interweave Press
ISBN-10: 1596681683

ISBN-13: 978-1596681682

I'm a huge fan of Kerry's work, and wass excited to learn she was writing a book.  Kerry's signature style is Joy personified as colorful glass lampwork beads and  wire jewelry. Her jewelrywork is so happy, it always makes me smile.  In Totally Twisted, she shows how to master basic wire working techniques to combine colored wire, sterling wire, and glass beads to create your own jewelry.

Totally Twisted starts off with the basics - materials, tools, techniques and conquering the color wheel. I was happy to see the color theory section.  Alot of crafters don't understand basic color theory because they've never learned about it. Kerry has a natural eye for color but understands not everyone does. The section on this is brief but very useful and informative. I think it will help beginning jewelry artists feel more confident when picking colors to work with.

The projects in the book are really outstanding. I think art glass beads can be intimidating to work with, I know they are for me sometimes.  When you spend $20, $30 or more for one bead, you want to REALLY show it off in a design.  Art Glass beads can have such a strong voice or presence, that it's hard to figure out how to build a necklace or bracelet around them . You want create something gorgeous without it looking over or under done and that can be difficult. But not to worryk Kerry shows you how to show off the bead or beads with a number of clever designs. I'm a big fan of colored wire although I don't use it myself but that may change after this book. I love how it is incorporated into these projects and makes the beads really pop! The photos throughout the book are fantastic and the explanation is clear, just like Kerry is sitting next to you.

I plan on trying out a number of these projects but first will need to buy some really amazing art glass beads to work with. Luckily, Kerry lists a bunch of art glass artists websites so shopping will be easy!!  This is a great book for your jewelry arts library for all levels of jewelry artists. I highly recommend this book and think it should be in everyone's jewelry library!

You can read more about Kerry on her blog, and shop for goodies on her website.