You Pick 7 Bead Exchange

Oh, here I go again.  I love this "You Pick-7"  bead exchange on LampworkEtc. forum.  (It's the 7th edition, not 7 beads)  Here's how it works...You sign up to join and then post one picture for everyone in your group to interpret in a bead.  (It can be polymer clay, but most folks are lampworkers.  The pictures are quite diverse and sometimes they have special meaning.  There are 16 to a group and usually 2 or 3 groups and open to all levels of experience.

I love this exchange for a multitude of reasons.  I live that each ability of beadmaker is stretched- whether you're brand new or an old hand.  You can interpret the photos any way you want...sometimes I take a simple element and sometimes I do the entire picture.  The people involved in it have always been so nice and encouraging to everyone and it's small enough that you get to know some of the others better.

There are still some spots open in group 2.  Hope you're join us over there and stretch your skills a bit.  Oh, and here is the picture I chose.  I've always thought that it would make cool inspiration for a necklace and now I'm testing out my guess.  I just know that I'll end up with 15 interpretative beads from it.

Join Me for Creative Beadmaking Class at Glassic Arts in Florida

I'm teaching in Deland, Florida at Kathi Truba's Glassic Arts Studio on November 12-13th.  The class is called "Creative Forces" and teaches you how to interpret photos, words or items into 3-D sculptural beads or as surface decorations on traditional  bead shapes.

I make these for the Beads of Courage Dream Beads, but also these simple techniques work so well for custom orders, holiday ornaments and even for those family members who you hate to turn down when they say, "can you make me a _____?"  (Do you get those requests too?)

I've shown you a little sock monkey bead that I made for one of the kids in the Beads of Courage program.  That was the request.  Below is my picture that I used as a frame of reference.  I modified my piece for shorter monkey limbs (sturdier for little hands playing with it), and added the letter C for the child's name.  Here is the photo that I used as a basic inspiration.

So come join me for class in sunny Florida.  You'll come home with fresh and new ornament and bead ideas and more importantly, some great techniques that will just get better.  You can tell by the photos, that Kathi's studio is a lovely place too. 

Now here's another great part...Kathi and I have put our heads together and we're donating part of the (very reasonably priced)  class fees (both the students' and mine) to Beads of Courage.  So click here to find out more about the class.