Venetian Mirrors - my fourth Class in New York

I am very happy to share with you my fourth class being taught in New York in June 

"Venetian Mirrors"

I am ecstatic to say I just finished writing the tutorial for this very intricate, very step laden design.

You cannot see here, but the back has very intricate beading on it as well.  In fact the back looks very antique/vintage - well in keeping for its inspiration - the Hall of Mirrors in Versaille. 

I have done the pattern on the back to lift the rhodium plated montee cases up off the skin, 

enabling base metal allergy sufferers to wear a Venetian Mirror bracelet for themselves.

I seriously felt it would be pretty impossible for me to illustrate this design, but after 45 hours 

of writing over two and a half weeks it is completed. 

It takes so long to write as I am only able to focus for a maximum of about 4 hours, sometimes less. When I complete a long session of writing my brain feels what I call "fuzzzzzed". Kind of a not quite in the present when you stop, almost numbed.

 

I learnt a lot from illustrating this design. I had to really deconstruct the steps to come up with the

best way to explain each bead being added. Also being a monochromatic piece it was a challenge to show the additions and thread paths for ease of understanding.

So here is "Venetian Mirrors" I hope you enjoy looking and should you require any more information

on the classes just click on the image and you will be taken to the class details.

Gaining a Better Finish

I find it a terrible shame that a person goes to all the trouble of making a lovely

peyote band design, then attaches a slide clasp on each end, leaving the 

clasp mechanism in full view. 

In my opinion that isn't showing the piece the best way it could be shown.

With a little extra effort the mechanism can be disguised, giving your

new design a better finish.

.

I hope next time you make a new Peyote band design this technique will be 

beneficial to you.

 

Writing, Writing, Writing

In the last couple of months I have hardly touched beads - and I am missing them !!

My beading area is covered with a cloth so things don't get dusty!  Sheeeesh !!!

 This is not a complaint, just stating how I feel. 

I started out playing with beads and fell in love with bead-weaving. I got the chance to play

everyday and see what I could create. Somewhere along the journey my creations were

in demand so I added writing tutorials to my skills. Sometimes I enjoy writing as I can be 

creative in the writing, layout and look of my tutorials. It is very gratifying to illustrate a

tutorial and when all is finished the illustration looks just like the piece you created….thank God!

But other times I just get fed up with writing as it feels never-ending.  

It was said to me recently that I should sit and design and when I have a new piece, write the tutorial straight away. Yes, I agree, but that is in an 'ideal world'.

If I am flowing with designing I don't want to stop, generally one design leads to another design,

to another design and so on…….when designing juices flow you have to go with it. Don't you agree???

The problem with that is I end up with five or six new things and then I am ready to write!!!

The Buddhists say endeavour to achieve the "balance" in life. At 65 I am still struggling with that one.

Well enough griping from me.

Today, I am very pleased to share "Oriental Rose" 

the third class I am teaching in New York in June. I hope you like this one also.

For more information on classes, click on the image below.