BeadCruise

Win Marcia DeCoster's New Book!

Visit the Art Bead Scene blog for a chance to win Marcia's new book.

We loved having Marcia on the Bead Cruise in 2007 & 2008! Her beadwork is completely amazing and this book lives up to it's title.

New Classes added to Bead Cruise 2010

We have exciting news about Bead Cruise 2010! We have added 5 new classes and 2 new instructors!

We'd like to welcome instructor Tracy Stanley. Tracy will be teaching 3 metalwork classes that focus on cold connections. We are so excited to have Tracy join our 2010 event. She is a popular teacher at national events across the country like Bead & Button and Bead Fest.

We've just added two new classes with Heather Powers. Heather is a well published designer, beadmaker and the organizer of the Bead Cruise. Her classes include bead embroidery and a beginner metalwork/stringing class.

Melanie Brooks has updated her Fanciful Faces Workshop class to include a bonus beaded necklace project to compliment the pendant. You'll learn the basic filigree wrapping, how to convert the pendant into a necklace with silk cord and the bonus beaded necklace project.

Visit the website today to see the new projects and details.
http://beadcruise.com/wst_page2.html

Buy one get one Free

Melanie Brooks of Earthenwood Studio is having a huge bogo sale in her etsy shop.  What is a bogo sale you ask?  It's buy one get get one free!

 

(Pictures of courtesy of Earthenwood Studio)
Buy one item at regular price and pick out a second item of the same or lesser value free.  Add both items to your shopping cart.  Check out but do not send the payment yet.  Wait for revised invoice reflecting the sale price.  This offer expires October 18th, 2009

Melanie Brooks is one of our Bead Cruise Instructors for 2010. Her classes include  Filigree Heartfire Workshop, Fanciful Faces Workshop and an optional Natural Ornaments Pendant worshop.

Welcome aboard Bead Cruise 2010 Melanie!

For more information on the Bead Cruise 2010 please visit Beadcruise.com

More than just classes!

1. Evening sessions - along with our awesome classes each instructor is going to present a mini session in the evenings. Margie Deeb is going to do a special presentation on color for our group!

 

We have two nights of our Bead Bazaar.  Bello Modo (www.bellomodo.com) is our bead vendor this year and Pam has a wide range of items that she will bring including seed beads, crystals, vintaj brass and much more!  Each instructor will have a table for kits, beads and finished goods. 

 

We also have fun group events like a cocktail party, a group photo, casino night and open beading.

 

2.  Our sponsors provide our participants a full gift bag of beads and findings.  Last year we had a design contest using items from our gift bag and we'll have that contest again.  There are also door prizes every evening.  Along with the gift bags each participant receives the Bead Cruise program, a full color mini-magazine with tips, projects and resources.

 

3.  Don't forget about the bracelet swap.  This is such a sweet way to remember the cruise.  Make a bracelet to trade.  Wrap your bracelet up, include your name or business card.  On the outside of the package write the size of the bracelet.  You'll pick a bracelet in the same size you enter.  You can create two bracelets for the swap. 

 

4.  We try to schedule our events so that we have the best of all worlds - time to take classes with our nationally known instructors, fun evening events, open beading sessions, time to enjoy the luxuries of the ship and time to enjoy the islands. 

 

5.  We'll meet each evening to dine together in the main dining room before our nightly events.  This is a great time to get to know other bead cruise participants.

 

Registration is still open, classes are filling but not sold out yet.  If this sounds like a great way to spend a week in January, then join us for Bead Cruise 2010!

 

 

Need Seed Beads?

  Foxden Designs, who has been a Bead Cruise sponsor since 2006, has them! 

In fact they have:

Over 4,125 Miyuki^® Beads

and STOCK OVER 1,375 DELICA COLORS & SIZES!

Seed beads can be incorporated into any design style for an added splash of color and texture.

1. String them to coordinate with a favorite art bead.

  

Necklace by Erin Prais-Hintz

 

2. Add them in your wire designs for a depth of texture.

 

Pendant by Barb Switzer

 

3. Weave or embroider them into sculptural forms with off-loom beadweaving.

 Necklace by Heather Powers

The possibilities with seed beads are endless, grab a few tubes from Foxden Designs and see what you can create!

Bead Cruise Photo of the Week

Cantilevered whirlpool Hot Tub, originally uploaded by thejeffreywscott.

Do you know what this is?

It's the cantilevered whirlpool hot tub on the Freedom the Seas.

We are traveling in style on Bead Cruise 2010. This is the biggest and most amazing ship yet! I can't wait to soak in that tub while we are sailing to one of our 3 tropcial island stops.

Between the beads, classes, great friends, the beaches, the food and this ship, I can't decide what I'm looking forward to the most on our next adventure.

There is still time to sign up! Visit the Bead Cruise website today!

(Photos of the Week are picked from Flickr and are not affiliated with the Bead Cruise.)

Bead Cruise Instructor Beverly Herman

Beverly Herman

Website:  www.noeasybeads.com

Beverly Herman is back again with 3 new classes for those who love seed beads!  Bev has created a new Dragonfly Necklace and a bead embroidery design featuring a ceramic sea-inspired art bead.  Both of these designs incorporate chain so you'll finish the projects quicker and be sporting them by the end of the cruise!  Bev teaches across the South and has been published in numerous books and magazines.

Full Day Class:  Dragonfly Melody Necklace


Description: Create a stunning Dragonfly with diagonal peyote. Vintaj brass components and art beads are incorporated into the necklace chain.  This class is suitable for advance beginner to intermediate. 

1/2 Day Class:  Treasures From the Sea

Description:  Capture pearls from the sea with bead embroidery and netting.  Completing the design are tiny sequin crystals caught in the net.
Some experience with seed beads helpful. This class is suitable for advance beginner to intermediate.

Optional Class: Russian Spiral Bracelet

Description: Learn a basic netting stitch to create a simply elegant bracelet or necklace.
This class is suitable for all skill levels.

For addtional information about Bead Cruise 1010.  Please visit www.beadcruise.com

Bead Cruise Instructor Mary Hettmansperger

Mary Hettmansperger

Website:  www.maryhetts.com

Did you miss Mary Hettmansperger' s awesome metalworking classes last year?  Not to worry, she is back with an outstanding collection of projects.  Check out the Miniature Metal Book & Journal Pendants, okay you may find me in this class!  Mary is offering a mixed media class showing students how to weave wire or fibers around found objects in the Looped Jewelry class.  And she is again offering her bead pod class, if you saw these on the cruise you know you don't want to miss this one!

Full Day Class:  Miniature Metal books and journals

 

Description: Using copper sheeting, cold connections, and a variety of materials, students create several books using metalwork, wirework, beading, paper, fiber techniques and patinas.  Found, recycled, dime store, industrial, hardware items can be brought to help make the books and jewelry fun and unique.  Bring your imagination and fun stuff to create these one-of-a-kind pieces of jewelry and journals. This class is suitable for all skill levels.

1/2 Day Class:  Loop Jewelry

Description: Using linen, copper, and other wires, students will learn the technique of Looping.  There will be many options for shape and design.  Students will work on several small projects that can be used as necklaces, small sculptures, or other jewelry.  Driftwood, rocks, found objects, tumbled glass and recycled items can be used both as molds and as a unique part of these pieces.  Students need to bring their own found objects to work with. Mary will have some items to work with, but your own personal found items are encouraged.  Students may not finish in the class time, but will have the material and instruction to do so on their own.  Students will have the opportunity to start several pieces and use both wire and soft fibers to loop with. This class is suitable for all skill levels.

Optional Class:  Copper Bead-Pod Necklace and Earrings

 

Description: Using sheet metal, copper wire and bead, students will create a Pea-pod shaped piece of jewelry and earrings.  Students will have enough materials to make 2 complete sets and should easily complete at least one of the sets during the class time.  This class is suitable for all skill levels

For addtional information about Bead Cruise 1010.  Please visit www.beadcruise.com

Bead Cruise Instructor Barb Switzer

Barb Switzer

Website: www.beadswitzer.com

Barb Switzer is the former editor of Simply Beads.  She has been teaching for 14 years and you'll find her at teaching engagements across the country including Bead & Button and the Hooked on Wire retreat.  Barb is offering 3 beautiful wire-wrapping classes for intermediate to advanced students.  Check out her wire butterfly, I'm speechless and can't wait to see the ones you create on the cruise!

Full Day Class:  Woven Mariposa


Description: Engineering and freeform sculpture merge in the creation of an incredible butterfly pendant. Working with an ordered sequence of ideas, guidelines and sizes, students will create one-of-a-kind butterflies inspired by the real thing or the imagination. The light, hand-woven filigree wings move, making it as fun to play with as it is to wear. Beads add dynamic color, and an architecturally-inspired bail attaches the pendant to a chain to finish. This class requires an Intermediate Skill Level - Students must know how to turn a round loop, make a spiral, and be comfortable working with heavy and light gauge wire.

1/2 Day Class: Three Times Toggle

Make an arty focal toggle that is meant to be seen, combining function and design. Learn how to craft a triple loop and a beautiful bar to finish a necklace or bracelet. Shaping, wrapping, weaving and tool innovations will be covered. This class requires an Intermediate Skill Level - students must be able to make wire wrapped loops, round loops and coil wire by hand.

Optional Class:  Wire Nautilus Pendant


Spiral heavy wire into an organic nautilus shape inspired by nature. Embellish the finished shape with an easy weave to add texture or add beads for additional color. Fun for beginners and experienced wire workers!  This class is suitable for all skill levels.

For addtional information about Bead Cruise 1010.  Please visit www.beadcruise.com

Bead Cruise Instructor Melaine Brooks

Melanie Brooks

Website:  Earthenwood Studio

Melanie Brooks is better known as Earthenwood Studio.  If you've picked up a bead magazine in the last year, chances are you've seen her beads and jewelry designs featured there.  Melanie specializes in metal filigree combined with art beads.  In her classes she'll share her tips and tricks for wrapping beads and cabochons with brass filigree.  If you've seen this style of designs in the magazines but felt intimated by how to use the filigree, Melanie's classes will be a perfect introduction for you.

Full Day Class: Filigree Heartfire Workshop  

 

Description:  Have you fallen in love with the beauty of filigree?  Feed your heart's desire in this workshop full of delightfully ornamental heart pendants!  Starting with a basic porcelain heart shaped pendant and an array of raw brass filigree components and basic findings, we will create a bounty of beautiful which interpret the heart motif in very different ways.  You will be shown the filigree work, basic metalwork and wire work techniques for each of these exquisite pendants during the demonstration.  Kits will be available for purchase so you may choose to make some or all of the hearts in your choice of several colors.  Pendants range from beginner to advance. This class is suitable for all skill levels.

1/2 Day Class: Fanciful Faces Workshop

Description: Serene and regal porcelain faces peek through fine brass filigree in this collection of detailed pendants fit for goddesses and royalty. Learn how to work with raw metal components to create your own unusual shaped bezels and settings that work well with unusually shaped cabochon faces. You will be shown the filigree work, basic metalwork, and wire work techniques for each of these pendants during the demonstration. Kits will be available for purchase so you may choose to make some or all of the pendants in your choice of several colors. This class is suitable for all skill levels.

Optional Class: Natural Ornaments Pendant Workshop

  

Description: This earthy collection of pendants is inspired by dreams of walking through a Victorian garden, filled with filigree scrollwork gates and dripping with flowers and leaves, buzzing dragonflies and fluttering butterflies. In this workshop, you will learn to make basic filigree wraps around cabochon stones, adapting them to different shapes and sizes of stones. You will be shown the filigree work, basic metalwork, and wire work techniques for each of these pendants during the demonstration. Kits will be available for purchase so you may choose to make some or all of the pendants in your choice of several colors. Click on the here to view more designs.  This class is suitable for all skill levels.

For addtional information about Bead Cruise 1010.  Please visit www.beadcruise.com