One Last Look at Some of the Masters at Work

I just have to take you back to the Bead and Button Show one last time. I was so impressed watching these gentlemen work at the flame off, I wanted to give you one last look.













MilonTownsend


















Doug Remschneider



















Thought not at work in this photo, Louis Wilson.


















Rashan Jones making a stunning candy dish. It was amazing to watch these gentelmen work!

Sara Sally Grand Bead Class at the Bead and Button Show

Wow! Wow! Wow! You can call that my reaction to the class I took at the Bead and Button show taught by Sara Sally LaGrand. Not only is she a classy lady, but she is an awesome bead maker. Be sure to look at Sara Sally's website for a better look at her beads.

The class I took from Sara involved both color theory and the use of silver glass in bead making. For our non bead maker friends out there, silver glasses are not silver colored rods of glass, but glass rods inundated with silver that react in very distinctive ways when kissed by the flame of a torch.

Now, when you visit Sara Sally's website, you will see examples of beads using silver glasses made by a master bead maker. My class beads weren't the best, but I certainly learned a lot in this class about treating silver glasses more kindly than I had in the past. Here are my beads from the class.


















I love the pod beads and the crater bead. It cracked, though, but I will find a way to wear it! Thank you, Sara Sally, for the great class.

Oh, and Sara Sally was also featured in the Convergence display at the Bead and Button Show. The Convergence display was sponsored both by the Bead and Button Show and the ISGB (International Society of Glass Bead Makers). Here's Sara Sally's entry. Trust me when I say this, the photo does not do her work of wearable art justice.

















Do you see what I mean when I say Sara Sally is an amazing artist? She's also a class act person! So ends another day at the Bead and Button Show!

Flame On! Another Day at the Bead and Button Show.

Another day at the Bead and Button Show. Activities today included a lot of shopping, meeting friends from Wet Canvas, a soldering class, and The Flame Off by master bead makers to support Breast Cancer Awareness. This gathering of master glass workers supports BCA because the pieces made tonight by these and other artists were donated to the silent auction that, last year, raised $28,000! Awesome! We watched the guys with the big torches--the boro boys. Amazing! Take a look at this video for a small sampling of what went on tonight.

Soon, I'll be showing you the beads I made in Sara Sally LaGrand's class! Hers are amazing. Mine weren't quite so amazing, but they were decent. That blog will happen when I am able to get a good photo.

More tomorrow!

Meet the Teachers at the Bead and Button Show

The room was full of some of the finest bead makers, sculptors, seed bead artisans, wire workers, in other words, you name the category, and it was represented during the Meet the Teachers Event at the Bead and Button Show in Milwaukee. Pictured here is Laura Andrews (center) and friends. Laura is almost a neighbor since she originates out of Rochester, Minnesota, which is only about 75 miles from me. Be sure to check out her website. You'll be able to see some of her jewelry, and a photo of a kit I purchased from her. I love Laura's work! I'm anxious to get home and start to work on my kit. This event, like so many others, helps to make the Bead and Button Show an event to remember. More tomorrow. Today I took a class from Sara Sally LaGrand. I wanted to wait to show you photos from that class because I want you to see some of the beads! More later!

Jennifer (Jangles) Heynen at The Bead and Button Show

Here's my setup for Jennifer's Class. I was learning to make ceramic glass beads. My teacher was Jennifer Heynen aka Jangles on Etsy. Take a look at her store to get an idea of the types of beads that Jennifer taught us to make.

Jennifer explains and demonstrates the techniques of ceramic bead making, and she makes the process look so easy. We were given a complete kit to work with when we made our beads. The kit included clay, glazes, and tools.
The book which Jennifer wrote was optional. I did treat myself to that book. It is wonderfully written, and explains the techniques she teaches in her class.




Here's Jennifer. I know it looks like she's singing to her class, but she didn't treat us to a rendition of any song. She is simply and exciting and excitable teacher. I love her necklace! Who wouldn't want to wear one of her gorgeous pieces! Wow!










Thank you, Jennifer, for the awesome class!

Tonight is Meet the Teachers. You might see two blogs tomorrow. It all depends on how much time I have after the event to write. See you later!