more stuff finished!

I finished a few more things for the gift shop re-opening.

I have a couple more that are really close to finished - I hope to post them in the next day or so as well.

A few more Bead quilt patterns

Here's a few more patterns to play with for the Bead Quilt. I really can't say often enough how important a cause this is. A close friend and beading buddy of mine is still fighting the battle - She discovered the cancer two years ago, and she's still trying to get back to her everyday work and health that she had before. I want to help so that treatments can be better, less debilitating and more thorough. I want to help with early detection, so that the cancers don't have a chance to get too bad. Last year, Ihad a bit of a scare and it made the cause even more personal. There was an awful time of not knowing and worrying. Thankfully I had benign cysts, that are bothering me less now. I'm really lucky. But I also know too many people who weren't as lucky. Please help with this cause. Jeanette Shanigan's website: http://shanigansbeadshenanigans.homestead.com/

link to all my Bead Quilt patterns: http://picasaweb.google.com/yardchicken2/BCQuilt2009HeartPatterns#

I'm teaching a class later this month in peyote, with the goal of creating more squares, as well as donating all of my profits to the Bead quilt cause. The classes are October 25th, at the Bower Center, Bedford Art Academy. For more info on Bedford Academy of the Arts go to http://www.bedfordartacademy.org/

crochet slider bead class - update

Just a quick update on the crochet slider class: I worked up a sample in size 11's, with "e" beads for the textured section in the middle. I think this version will work better for the class. The "e" beads were much easier to work with, and still give a nice visual texture.

I removed the tubing from this slider bead, to allow the cord to fit through the center. The work still has a pretty firm feel to it, and is holding it's tubular shape well. It is actually curving with the neklace better than the version with the tube still inside. I plan on keeping this in mind.

For info on the class call the Bedford Art Academy - 540-586-4235

or visit the website: http://www.bedfordartacademy.org/

Crocheted Slider bead

The next class I plan on offering at Bedford Arts Academy will probably be a crocheted Slider Bead class. This is a sample I worked up this morning to see how long it would take. I was able to do this one in about 3.5 - 4 hours. I have already decided that I will not be using the nuggets for the textured area. I feel they are not visually as balanced as the bead soup made up of 6's and 8's, with bugles. I also found that the nuggets are more difficult to manipulate. Since this is to be a beginner crochet bead project, I need to keep the work more manageable.

I will play around with different ways of wearing this bead, and try to post what I come up with.

The class has not had a date scheduled yet. Anyone interested can contact me thru this blog or the Bedford Art Academy website. (Link for the BAA can be found on the left side bar.)

Children's Classes, part 3

Two of the Summer classes offered will be Traditional Friendship Bracelets and Macrame.

Shown above is the "Candy Stripe" friendship bracelet.

The example above, orange turquoise and yellow is a friendship anklet, done in the pattern known as Chinese Staircase or spiral.

This bracelet, in progress, is a series of alternated square knots. It is a pretty traditional macrame pattern. By using several colours, the knotting pattern is more visable.

This sample is a series of repeating half knots, which creates a tightly coiled spiral of knots. It is good for bracelets as well as chokers.

In the class, we will be using wooden beads in adition to hemp, embroidery floss, and yarns.

For a full listing of classes you can go to http://www.bedfordartacademy.org/

Here's a better view of a bracelet I posted in an earlier post. I will be teaching a class on this bracelet in April. Please email or leave a comment, if you have any questions about the class. The class is offered at Bedford Academy of the Arts in Bedford, Virginia. The class is titled "Intermediate Right Angle Weave."

RAW class in February

The Saturday before Valentines, I will be teaching a class on basic Right Angle Weave. The class will held at the Bedford Arts Academy, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

The photo above is the class project - a braclet worked in basic R.A.W.

Anyone interested can contact me at yardchicken2@yahoo.com