What’s on your bench?
New materials and supplies are the greatest inspiration for me.
I've been cutting some fun materials to connect via rivets and other methods. This stuff is for a class I am calling Urban Conchos -- and whoa! check out the antique pipe flaring sets I found at the Flea Market. I also scored a nice lot of Bamboo Knitting Needles at a yard sale last week. Soon, I will cut them up for pendants.
Originally Published 6-30-2016
I love to work. It's so delicious to sit down at the bench and play with a wide range of fun and inspiring stuff and let the old gray matter go gonzo. I've had a hard few months helping my sister navigate the dark waters of a medical crisis, and now she's nearing home port. The joy I feel for her eclipses all the hard and nasty stuff on my plate right now, and somehow I have managed to stay strong, help her as I can, and to keep my eye on the prize while steering us straight. Sorry I've been away, but she is more important.
Now that we are here, I am actually happily excited for the near future. Life is good.
Speaking of the near future, Bead Fest is coming, and in case you aren't connected, I've got some fun new classes on deck that I am making sample objects for. There are two new ones I LOVE: No Torch Captures and Connections, and Urban Conchos. Both are a departure for me -- they are technique driven and intended to stretch your design skills, rather than technique driven and intended to increase your tool mastery -- but don't worry, I've still got tool classes too, lol.
And, my most awesome teacher's assistant (the aforementioned super-sister) will be there helping you/me/us and playing really good setup tunes, troubleshooting your Dremel collets, standing by you as you rock the Genies, and running the classroom shop -- so I can totally focus on giving you a great class. What would we do without her, right?
So, here's a peek at what's on my bench now. If something looks fun, try it. I'd love to see you in class if you can come!
Let's have fun together and celebrate the end of a hard journey. Feel free to come by and say Hi to my sister and I -- even if you aren't in class. For those of you already coming, I can't wait to play with you in class.
PS: It's been rough, but now that we are almost home, I promise to visit you here more often. See you soon and thanks for your kind words, well wishes and support.