Clay Angels

Getting to look at some amazing precious metals clay work up close and personal was a highlight of the Tucson shows for me. If you’re not familiar with the work of Holly Gage, Kate McKinnon and Christi Anderson, let me introduce you.

Kate McKinnon lives in Tucson and you can bet I got my name on the sign up sheet for the next local class she’s giving! I noticed my teacher, Cindi Shaffer right above me. Kate is the author of several books including Structural Metal Clay and her web site says she has two new books in the making. She has a lovely eclectic web journal you can enjoy as well.

Holly Gage is from “back East” as we transplants like to say (I moved to Prescott from Connecticut 15 years ago) and she’s been interested in art since she was a child growing up in Philadelphia. Her work in PMC and Art Clay are inspiring and I especially enjoyed seeing her sculptural rainbow titanium pieces at the Best Bead Show.

And finally outside the main building at the Best Bead Show was Christi Anderson. I almost missed her! Her work goes under the name Elemental Adornments and I was drawn in by the delicate bird houses and books, all made with metal clay. I didn’t get to talk with Christi personally, but had a lovely conversation with her mother, Joanne Price. Turns out the Prices are moving up to our area. Great luck! And also turns out Christi lives in Tucson and sometimes teaches in Phoenix. Maybe we can talk her into coming up to Prescott even. The detail in Christi’s work was for me, a neophyte, simply mind-blowing. I have so many questions.

Tucson in retrospect

Crystals sparkle in the sun in Beyond Beadery's booth at the Best Bead Show.

So much to share. And we only went to 2 bead shows! Among our favorites are To Bead True Blue and The Best Bead Show, and with limited time those were the ones we decided to concentrate on.

I was on a pretty strict budget this year so I looked for new materials, special beads, ideas and helpful tools. Since I’m learning precious metals clay I was especially interested in things clay-ful and was amazed at some of the work being done in the medium (more on that in a minute).

We stopped at the Eclectica booth with all of Irina Miech’s books. Metal Clay for Beaders is already an inspiration for this newby! I picked up some clay cutters there and drooled over the vintage beads from Germany.

We visited the Soft Flex booth to hear about new products, but before we did we connected with the Wig Jig folks, who were part of the booth. We love wire work and own several of the Wig Jig jigs. We got to see a demonstration of the Centaur jig and some fun earring designs. Soft Flex’s new products are the color coordinated “trios” color wire sets, Extreme gold wire and Econoflex wire. I’m looking forward to working with some of these new wires. Lots of stringing possibilities ahead!

Some other new products that caught my eye in no particular order were:

Nunn Design – being that I love things Victorian and Art Nouveau, I loved these components. I especially liked their Patera findings, great for making charms. I discovered a new resin that doesn’t require the two-step process and can be cured out in the sun or under a UV lamp for a short time. It’s called Gel du Soleil and is available from Judikins. I’m going to order some and try it out. Here’s a link to their accessories catalog. The Gel du Soleil is at the bottom of page 3.

Bloom Speedbeader – We spent some time talking with speedbeader inventor Denise Stevens and friends watching a demonstration of this simple but time-saving tool and just had to have one. It makes stringing long strands a snap. It comes with clear instructions and there’s a video on the site. Can’t wait to give it a spin!

Beadalon – The news there seems to be teaching, teaching, teaching! Lots of Bead Master project DVDs and CDs. I especially liked the White Lady necklace! I also got a sample of their new Wildfire “thermally bonded bead weaving thread for superior stringing with near zero stretch” and I’m eager to try it out.

BurgardStudio – What fun and innovative findings and interchangeable jewelry designs. I bought the interchangeable crystal/bead ring and friend Bobbi bought one of the pendant designs. Bobbi’s brother, a machinist, was fascinated when we brought the gadgets home to look at.

There were many, many other vendors we visited and as I think of them I’ll tell you about them. Wish you all could have been there!

PMC Baby!

I confess. I’m new at this. But there’s no doubt about it. It’s alchemy and it’s wonderful. You shape clay and put it through the fire (torch or kiln) and it transforms itself into fine silver (or gold or bronze)!

I’ve taken two classes now with Cindi Shaffer of Astral Glass Studio and I’m totally hooked. The first one was offered at Prescott’s Whiskey Row Bead It! bead shop and all I can say is “thank you!”

I just ordered some “stuff”  from Whole Lotta Whimsy to make my Precious Metals Clay experiences on my own more fruitful and I’ll be picking up my order while I’m in Tucson to save on shipping. Pix to come (promise).

Whimsy is owned and operated by Sharon Dickerson and Tonya Davidson. Tonya teaches PMC for Rio Grande and will be doing a certification level 1 class in Prescott in June at Karen van Price‘s studio. The exact dates are yet to be announced, but you can be sure I’ll be there! By the way, that’s my granddaughter, Becky Lockwood, running with some of the kids at Karen’s Kid’s Clay Class pix on Karen’s blog. To keep up with classes, subscribe to Karen’s blog and you’ll be in the know. Maybe I’ll see you there?

Bead Shows/Tucson

I’m not sure we’ll be going to all of them, but here’s the list of bead shows from the guide. Our favorites in the past have been To Bead True Blue and The Best Bead Show. But honestly, we love them all!

A.B.C. Direct West
What: Beads, bead supplies
When: Jan. 28-Feb. 14, 2009
Where: A.B.C. Direct West — Ft. Lowell Rd. Between First & Stone Ave.; 355 E. Ft. Lowell Rd.

A.B.C. Direct East
What: Beads, bead supplies
When: Jan. 28-Feb. 14, 2009
Where: A.B.C. Direct East — One Block West of S. Palo Verde Rd.; 3301 E. Pennsylvania St.

The Bead Renaissance Show
What: Beads, bead supplies
When: Feb. 2-9, 2009
Where: Bead Renaissance Pavilion — S. Randolph Ave. & Michigan St. (Next to the Holidome); 3340 E. Michigan St.

The Best Bead Show
What: Beads, bead supplies
When: Feb. 4-8, 2009
Where: Kino Veterans Memorial Community Center — E. Ajo Way & Forgeous Ave..; 2805 E. Ajo Way.

Manning House Mansion Bead Show
What: Beads, bead supplies
When: Feb. 3-8, 2009
Where: Historic Manning House Mansion — 450 W. Paseo Redondo.

To Bead True Blue
What: Beads, bead supplies, art jewelry, textile arts
When: Feb. 1-6, 2009
Where: Doubletree Reid Park — 445 S. Algernon Way.

Tucson Bead Show
What: Beads, bead supplies, art jewelry, textile arts
When: Feb. 7-9, 2009
Where: Doubletree Reid Park — 445 S. Algernon Way.

The Whole Bead Show
What: Beads, bead supplies
When: Feb. 4-9, 2009
Where: Windmill Inn — N. Campbell Ave. & River Rd.; 4250 N. Campbell Ave.; (520) 577-0007.

Hawaii Revisited

I bought this blue and silver glass pendant in Hawaii in 2007. It took me this long to decide how I should use it. Somehow it begged for the twisted wire treatment. Fun to wear.

Off to Tucson and Beads, Beads, Beads!

We leave for Tucson early next week for the famous Tucson Gem & Mineral Show. It’s really so much more than that, with eight bead shows (count ‘em, 8!!!) in various locations.

A great way to see what’s there is to look at the Colored Stone Tucson Show Guide. We’ll take lots of pictures and share our favorite beady sights when we get back!

Beading Books

My two beading books are available pretty much everywhere, including amazon.com and in most major bookstores. I invite comments, corrections, suggestions (and accolades)! The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Beading Illustrated covers all the basic techniques and has lots of reference material and resources. The Projects book builds on the basic techniques with beginner to intermediate projects for you to enjoy. They both cover wire work, off-loom weaving, loom work, stringing and even French beaded flowers.