Bead Dreams Competition and Exhibit

Here is a chance to let your light shine!

Pictured right is our very own

Barb Fajardo's entry from 2007.
(used with permission)

Each year, Bead&Button magazine sponsors Bead Dreams, a juried competition of exceptional bead artistry from around the world. And they have a polymer clay category! They display the accepted pieces at the Bead&Button Show and award ribbons in five categories. The outstanding piece among category winners receives a Best in Show trophy and a $1,000 gift certificate from Fire Mountain Gems and Beads.

Barb would be glad to answer any questions you might have regarding the process.

This is a great opportunity to get your work seen and we have many talented artists in our guild! Entry deadline is April 4th!

Wire Work Demo

Peg writes : Our February Demo was terrific. Barb Harper always does a super job and comes so well prepared. Barb took the group, most of us real newbies to wire work, through the basics of tools (some of us thought pliers were, well, PLIERS :-) Who knew there were so many sizes and kinds... and that cheap ones can hinder your work?

She showed us different gauges of wire and suggested about a 20 for ear wires (ah - another of the inscrutable things... why is thinner wire a HIGHER gauge number?) Her lovely little spirals on earrings are 24 gauge and she recommended an art wire especially for learning with... before we move to sterling or gold filled etc. I was tickled to get my very first ROUND loop... seemed always to get flat ones before!

Barb is such a generous spirit that she brought enough lovely earring blanks so we could move right to the wire work and not have to also make the blank. Her handout was very helpful info... and has some tips for earring wires (we were a little poky learning the basics and didn't get there) and Barb may come back and teach us some more techniques another month. Unique ear wires and wire work really make jewelry more special. What a perfect compliment to polymer clay work.

It is always so much fun to see the wide range of different ideas people have for the technique we learn. Guess that is why our meetings and workshops have been such a boon to me... always learning something new and getting sparks of new ideas.

Downloadable Projects from Kalmbach Publishing

You have heard of Bead and Button magazine but did you know you can get downloadable projects? Many well know artists are listed; Jody Bishel , Dotty McMillan, Lindly Haunani , Mike Buesseler, and Christi Friesen to name a few.

One of my favorite artists Jana Roberts Benzon has her Millefiori Floral Corsage available.
Stunning!
http://www.beadandcraftbooks.com/ajpdf060730.html

In Italian, millefiori means "thousand flowers" and refers to a centuries-old glass-making technique. Using polymer clay to creat this brooch Jana's technique is dazzling, well isn't all of her work?

Jana Roberts Benzon personal webpage is at http://www.janarobertsbenzon.com/

Next Meeting February 10th

Next meeting:
Feb 10: Barb Harper~Wire Working
Our DEMO this month; Barb Harper has agreed to teach us some wire working techniques... wouldn't it be nice to be able to create your own bails and other findings?

Coming soon: Dayle Doroshow!

One look at Dayle Doroshow's portfolio and you will be scrambling to get out the registration form and sign up for the workshop being held in April at our new location!

This mixed media artist enjoys creating and teaching others and we get her for 2 days.

If you enjoyed this glimpse...go to the link to see lots more!

http://dayledoroshow.com/blog/portfolio/

Did You Know?

Two of our members were featured on Polymer Clay Daily?
Yes it is true, read for yourselves!
Here is the link:
http://polymerclaydaily.com/2008/01/29/710/