Shades of Blue

Whirlwind of colorful beads and women

Beachcomber Pendant by Betty
(using Hydrangea Bead Soup)

Beads on Metal Pendant by Adrienne
(using Autumn Leaves Bead Soup)

Wander with Color Necklace by Adrienne
(using Grass, Spring Rain, Deep Teal, Dark Chocolate, Olive Grove Bead Soups)

Wander with Color Bracelet by Kerstin
(using Dark Chocolate, Grass, Tropical Punch, Fuchsia Bead Soups)

Beachcomber Pendant by Dini
(using Twilight Bead Soup enhanced by Dini)

Start of Wanderlust Bracelet by Joie
(using Spring Rain Bead Soup)

It all began with Adrienne from Wales... Our conversations last winter snowballed into an Autumn Festival with 5 days of classes, food and wine and even a bit of massage on the last day.

What amazing, creative, fun women! Some came for a day, others for the whole week, all were a joy to have in my home.

Colorful, prolific Dini joined in for all 5 days!

Turns out Carol lives in my home town right next to my old high school!

We beaded in the 'barn'

and ate downstairs - Kristi and Pam from Bellingham Washington, Adrienne from Wales, Dini from southern Oregon, Betty from North Carolina, Carol from Gig Harbor.

Dini and Joie (co-publisher of EYE FOR COLOR, did I mention college roomie and dear friend?)

The 'gang' from Tacoma - Jacquie, Candace, Lynda Janeen - friends for decades (we heard lots of good stories)

Kerstin from Bellingham joined for the weekend - so good to meet her in person after long admiring her amazing photography. See her photos from the workshops here.

I didn't capture a photo of Charron from Winnepeg - she hopped out early to travel up to Vancouver for Canadian Thanksgiving.

Autumn Festival in 2 weeks!

Wanderlust Bracelet

Monday October 5

Looking forward to a creative explosion in my barn with a small group of gals, lots of beads, food and wine!

Beads on Metal
Tuesday, October 6

Beachcomber
Thursday, Oct. 8

Wander with Color
Friday - Saturday, Oct. 9-10

Come join us!

Autumn Festival

Jewelry Workshops in the Barn

October 5-10, 2009

Wanderlust Bracelet - October 5, 2009

At the prompting of a wonderful, creative, fun gal from Wales - I have decided to hold a series of Jewelry Workshops in the Barn the week of October 5 - 10.

Beads on Metal - October 6, 2009

Beachcomber - October 8, 2009

Wander With Color - October 9-10

Yes, I will make a multiple course dinner one night, hold a luncheon another day, a brunch yet another, and of course bring out wine and hor d'oeuvres - all interwoven with color and beads. It is usually beautiful here in early October - so perhaps the brunch and luncheon will be outside in the garden... If it's chilly we will be inside with a fire going. Lots of beads, food, wine (no, I won't forget the chocolate!) and a small group of fun, creative gals (max 10 people).

An invitation just went out to my mailing list, but if I forgot you - you can find out more information here . By the way, you don't need to have any prior experience!

Beachcombing - Featuring Student Work

Beads, seaglass, shells
Add a group of creative souls
and beautiful art and friendships are made!

Made by:
Janis Garich at
Great Lakes Beadworker's Guild 2008

Made by:
Adrienne Goodenough at
Art & Soul Portland 2007


'Tide Pool Treasures' (see this in 2009 Convergence!)
Made by:
Judy Carlson (lampwork and beach glass toggles) and Cynthia Lohry (beadweaving)
Bead & Button Show 2008

Made by:
Sandy Jandik at
Art & Soul Portland 2008

Made by:
Pat Wiley at
Great Lakes Beadworker's Guild 2008

Made by:
Gina at
Art & Soul Retreat, 2008

With Gina at Art & Soul in Portland, 2008
(I'm the one with my eyes nearly closed)

Many of the sea treasures seen in the student work above were sent to me by two former students who have become my friends and fellow beachcombers. They walk beaches from Prince Edward Island to Texas and send me their treasures to share with other students: Jacqueline Talarico and Marcy McKenzie - so many thanks!

I will be teaching the Beachcomber workshop in the upcoming venues:

May 4, in Hampton VA at the
Art & Soul Retreat

June 5, in Milwaukee, WI at the
Bead & Button Show

Get your Creative Juices Flowing!

Art & Soul Retreat is just around the corner!
April 30 through May 4
Hampton, Virginia

Art & Soul is an artistic haven, full of creative people - both students and teachers, fabulous classes in all kinds of media and a not-to-be-missed Vendor Night. I always take as many classes as I teach and come home full of ideas, inspiration and new friends from all over the world.

Here is a peek at the classes I will be teaching:

Beads on Metal
(Sunday, May 3)

Metalworking and bead weaving come together! Create colorful components with inspirations on the back using metalworking techniques, a bead soup and a sense of whimsy. Then join and embellish to create bracelets, earrings, perhaps a decorative touch on a purse or sweater? Your imagination is the limit!

Eye For Color
(Sunday evening, May 3)

Color surrounds us, influences us and evokes emotions - when we are surrounded by colors we love, we feel energized, creative, peaceful and happy. In this 3 hour crash course on color, you will explore color with a variety of mediums and learn to observe nuances of color, why variations in value and saturation add depth and intrigue and analyze why some color combinations are exciting while others seem flat. You will come away with new color combinations to try in your projects and feel confident enhancing the combinations you already know and love. Whether you are comfortable with your own sense of color or a little intimidated, you will learn techniques that you can apply in your creative projects and in your home and will come away with tools that will help you develop and enhance your own...
EYE FOR COLOR.

Beachcomber
(Monday, May 4)

Bags bulge with treasures after a day at the beach. Transform these shells, sea glass, stones and other finds into extraordinary wearable / visual art with freeform techniques that will inspire you to comb the beaches! Learn how to encase and interconnect shells, sea glass, stones and other pieces to create flowing, organic works of art.

I hope you get the bug, feel spontaneous (like I was for ArtFest!), treat yourself to an amazing few days and come join me!

As an aside, here is a beach fort my kids made on my mom's beach Easter weekend. I gathered sea glass (for my classes!), my mom and husband gathered wood and my sons built...


Easter morning was foggy and dripping. I was up at 4:00 am to write and as day emerged, I couldn't help gazing outside at my mom's incredible view - even in the rain...


Being exhausted and a little dazed, this popped into my head...

Morning mist
Silouette of trees
Damp Earth
Hint of breeze

Waking early
Gazing out
Wondering what
The day is about

Camera in hand
Coffee mug steaming
Should be writing
Instead of dreaming

The day will come soon
So much to do
Happy to sit
And ponder a few

Yes, yes, silly I know! I promise - nothing so trite in my book...

Thanks to all of you who sent wonderful vibes from around the globe - I met my deadline! I finished my manuscript, I consumed lots of chocolate, I am catching up on my sleep, I'm watching lots of soccer games...

...and gearing up for Art & Soul!