Starman TrendSetters

It's official! I've been selected to be part of the 2018 Starman TrendSetters. Check out the awesome talent I get to be part of.

What an amazing group!

I've already had a chance to try some new designs, but that's inside info for now. Please check back for more information about what's coming soon.

It is an absolute honor to be part of such a select group. I will give it my best to provide the highest quality for my students.

Thank you all for your support as I've grown and found my place here.

Bead & Button 2018 Classes

I've been accepted to teach at the Bead & Button Show 2018 with three classes. Open browsing is live and registration starts January 9th at noon. Seats fill quickly, so get yours soon.

Check out my classes HERE.

Thanks for looking.

Prototypes for Everyone

In my efforts to make my beading more accessible to everyone, I've been working on some component and simple designs that would make great beginner level projects, but keep with my funky style. I'm really happy with the depth to these designs as the beads dome in the middles and give the project a nice sense of depth that many basic designs lack. I'm loving tying out all the new beads, and though it can be hard to stay on top of ALL the new shapes, I have been trying to get to as many of them as I can, as quickly as I can. All of these are designs I've done since returning home from this year's Bead & Button Show. (In addition to all of my Bead & Button 2018 submission beading.)

I haven't found a good name for these ones, but I love the way they turned out. The names are just placeholders...until inspiration hits.

Zoliduos & Kites - The Zoliduos are a fun new shape and the Kites add an interesting challenge with the difference of sizes on each end. It worked great for adding space to this design.

Starbursts/Volcanos - Using Gem Duos, Super Duos, Nib-Bits, Prongs, and Seeds

FlowerCups - Using Beams, Prongs, Top Hole Rounds, Nib-Bits, and Demi Rounds.

I hope to make these into quick & easy patterns that will be available on my ETSY site soon.

Thanks for looking.

Another dodecahedron

This little guy came about when I tried to mix my In A Pinch with Crescents, but didn't want the extra layer across the top of the crescent as it would block the crescent from view. It took a little convincing, but it worked out great and I have a new little beaded bead for my Dodecahedron series that will eventually become something bigger, but I have to see where it goes.

In the meantime, here's the latest...

Thanks for looking.

Earrings to match

I've been working hard to create the earrings to match my beaded beads and component pieces. Here are some of the new beauties that have finally found their way to fruition. There will be kits for these in my classes for their corresponding pieces.

12 Dancing Princesses

Globular Clusters

Quasar





















Thanks for looking.

BABE! Classes

I'm teaching at BABE! (Bay Area Beading Extravaganza)
Check out my classes HERE.
Also, check out the photos below.

12 Dancing Princesses

 Crystalline Crescents

 Roman Dodecahedron Secret Keeper

 Spherical Stars

Bead & Button 2018 Submission

I've been working really hard the last couple of months, getting ready for next year's Bead & Button Show a year in advance really pushes me to stay on top of what's new and going to take off.
For this year, I have another couple dodecahedrons, but I've tried new techniques and new styles of beads. (Even some that aren't out yet! I used samples for my piece, so I hope I can get more soon.) I wanted to make sure that I can get a good number of classes accepted, so I submitted several different kinds.
So, check out what may be coming to Bead & Button 2018!

12 Dancing Princesses - Fun with Super Duos, Quadratiles, Crystals, and more.

Crystalline Crescents - A unique rope made of crescents and seeds with a fun mandala medallion.

 Globular Clusters - Sparkling chatons accent each star shaped bezel on this unique beaded bead.

 Heavenly Bodies - First there was Spherical Stars, now this advanced level variation adds all new potential as the beads can be arranges all together to make an intricate necklace or a necklace earring set. This set uses the unique RounDuos by Potomac Bead Co.

 Puffy Polyhedrals - Inspired by the new Iris Duos and Miyuki Spacer beads, this set is a sparkling, spiky treasure that lacks the hard edges of other dodecahedrons.

 Quasar - These were a class last year, so I'm hoping they do even better this year. Check out my other post for more info. (Under DodecaBeadron)

 Serpentine Bliss - I've been sitting on this design for several years, but it got such good reception at Meet the Teachers this year that I've finalized the pattern for a class that's sure to be a hit.

That's all of them. Thanks for checking them out! Fingers crossed that I get a good selection for next year's show.

Until next time...

TOHO Challenge

Better late than never...
I finally finished my TOHO Challenge. I'd have finished on time if not for an awful flu season, but it's been totally worth the wait. Check out what I did with my set of beads, selected by TOHO, for me and others to do whatever we want without adding to the kit.
This felt so far outside my norm, but I love how it pushed me to think with new colors and styles of beads.
You'll notice I kept to my dodecahedron shape, but this is inspired by the Roman Dodecahedrons that have been found all over Europe. Their origins and purpose is unknown, so is the use for this little piece...Too big to wear, but too fancy to just put away.
This one was so much fun to do, I'll probably teach a class for it with a pattern later on.

Thanks for Looking!
I'm excited to try again this year.

12 Sides on the Brain!

Back to designing for the last few days, as the back pain allows... Spinal Stenosis in the upper back is the worst. BUT inspiration is everywhere and so are these snub dodecahedrons.

This first one is called In A Pinch because it just barely even works as a design. I'm torn as to if I should drop the 11/0s in the corners for 15/0s to see if it works better, but I just love the 11/0 size for the outside... Maybe use them on the inside, too? This one needs a little tweaking. Take a look at the prototypes.

These next two are one of my favorites. I love the way the crystals turned out on the corners. It gives them that little bit of shimmer that sets the whole design over the top for me. This one I'm debating on calling something between Concave and Convex-ing because they are both the same design, but have different thread paths that cause the faces to either be concave or convex. ??? I tried to duplicate the convex faces on the second one, and it just wouldn't go. The first one just had one face that didn't automatically want to face outward when I worked it up. Very perplexing for me as a designer to have to choose one over the other for the write-up vs. variation. I think a third will be the deciding factor, but I need more bicones first. You decide, Concave or Convex?

 

Thanks for Looking!  These will be a tutorial and class later this year.  BTW, look for new tutorials and kits in my Etsy Shop all year!