Boston Bead Company

I'm so lucky to have a bead shop in the town I live in! I think I must have made that an unconscious priority when considering where we would live. The two consecutive towns I've lived in for the past 10 years have both had bead shops in them and I've been intimately involved with both in one way or other. I mean, what jewelry designer fortunate enough, wouldn't want a relationship with their local bead shop? I know that's something I've always been passionate about.

I recently made a connection with the owner of Boston Bead Company, Carson Eddy. She has two gorgeous store locations in Massachusetts. One in Cambridge and one in Salem, where I live. Carson's shop is beautiful and well stocked with findings, components and beads. She holds exciting events, like bead trunk shows and also features local bead artisans, like my friend Keith O'Connor. Her staff is friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. Oh, and the classes rock! I've taken several classes here. I regularly fall in love with the projects they select to offer.

Recently, Carson graciously invited me to celebrate the local Salem Arts Festival with them by hosting a book signing for my book, Bohemian-Inspired Jewelry and offering to have me teach a class as well! I'm so honored and grateful that she extended this invitation. I didn't waste any time saying "Yes!". Since our initial email contact, I've enjoyed several meetings with Carson and her staff while we were planning the book signing event and the class. Carson is so friendly, inviting and easy to talk to, as is her team of employees. It was a pure joy to work with them. I couldn't be happier with this collaborative event and every effort that was made to make it a success!

Although, I wished more local people would have come out to our events, I loved meeting and chatting up the few folks that did come. I was content to just put myself out there and participate in my town's art scene. I'm also happy I had more time to visit with Carson and her amazing team. We had a fun time chatting about family, business, books, beads and the beading community and craft industry. It's nice to have someone local that "gets it" to talk to. I've had some interesting enlightenment during our conversations about such things as well as some confirmation on some of my own thoughts.  I feel fortunate that I have a great business owner like Carson who cares deeply about her customers, her community and local artists. I'm thrilled to pieces to now have my book sold in both of her shops. I'm proud to have her business establishment in my community and recommend it to you.   If you are ever in the New England area, Boston Bead Company is a can't-miss-it, must-visit and a must-shop bead shop!

Book Signing Tomorrow Night!

I'm participating in my local Salem Arts Festival starting tomorrow night! I'll be doing a book signing with Bohemian-Inspired Jewelry at Boston Bead Company in Salem, Ma. on Friday, June 6th, 2014 from 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm. Please come by and say hi and enjoy some spicy refreshments!

Then, on Sunday, June 8th 2014 from 10:30 am - 1:00 pm at Boston Bead Company, I'll be offering my "Spice Trader" Triple Row Macrame Bracelet class. Learn a fun macrame knotting technique to make this colorful, spicy bracelet!
Register for class online at www.bostonbeadcompany.com

Come on out and celebrate the arts. Hope to see you there!

Book Signing and "Spice Trader" Macrame Bracelet Class

Hello all! I'm participating in my local Salem Arts Festival this year. The festivities have a "Fire and Spice" theme. I'll be doing a book signing for my jewelry-making book, Bohemian-Inspired Jewelry: 50 Designs Using Leather, Ribbon, and Cords at Boston Bead Company in Salem, Ma. on Friday, June 6th, 2014 from 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm. Please come by and say hi and enjoy some spicy refreshments while we chat. I'd love to meet you!

 Then, on Sunday, June 8th 2014 from 10:30 am - 1:00 pm at Boston Bead Company in Salem, I'll be offering my "Spice Trader" Triple Row Macrame Bracelet class.
 Description: Learn to make a unique 3-row, square knot macrame bracelet with Irish waxed linen cord, colorful glass rounds and metal beads. Finish off your bracelet in spicy style with a loop/button closure and a beaded tassel!

Register for class online at: www.bostonbeadcompany.com.

If you are local or in the Boston area, please join me for these events. Hope to see you there!

Bohemian-Inspired Jewelry now has a FaceBook page. Click here to Like us on FaceBook!

Bead Fest Philadelphia!

Bohemian-Knotted Earrings Workshop

Saturday, August 18th

I'll be at Bead Fest Philadelphia this weekend! WHO'S WITH ME? If you are going, I'd love to meet up with you. I'm there all weekend long this year. Friday, August 17th - Sunday, August 19th. 

Here's a list of events where you can find me:
 

Friday, August 17th

Meet The Teachers Event

11:30 am -1:00pm

I have a table at the 'Meet the Teachers' Event. I'll be promoting my workshop, Bohemian Knotted Earrings and I'll have samples, kits and handouts for the class on display. I'll have a few of my bohemian knotted earrings available for purchase as well as, books, kits, tools and Irish waxed linen cord! Come see me and see my earrings in person. There's still spaces left in my class and still time to sign-up at the event!

Friday, August 17th
Knotting Demonstration at the Demo area on the show floor
3:15 pm

I'll be demonstrating some of my knotting techniques to make my earrings. Come see how it's done in person.

Saturday, August 18th
Bohemian Knotted Earrings Workshop
Room #20
8:00 am - 11:00 am

Students will learn basic knotting techniques to make three pairs of stylish earrings. Techniques covered in class will included: lark's head knot, half-hitch knot, overhand knot and how to use knotting tweezers for precise knotting.

Online registration for classes is now closed BUT, you can still registrar at the event. There's still time and a few spaces left! 

Bohemian-Inspired Jewelry BOOK SIGNING! Saturday, August 18th

Primitive Earth Beads Booth #528, 530, 532

1:00 pm -2:00pm

Meet me and Lorelei! Get your copy of our book, Bohemian-Inspired Jewelry signed by BOTH of us. Copies of the book will be available for purchase at the Primitive Earth Beads booth #528-532 all weekend long.

Please come and join us! See you there this weekend.

Ornamentea: Part 1-Book Signing & Make n' Take

I'm back from my whirlwind trip to Raleigh, NC to visit Ornamentea! Last Friday, Ornamentea hosted a book signing for our book, Bohemian-Inspired Jewelry. Then, on Saturday, I taught my Bohemian Knotted Earrings Workshop. What a great time. First of all, shop owner, Cynthia Deis was the most amazing, gracious host. I'm so thrilled she wanted to have Lorelei and I there. She runs an incredible bead shop and after chatting with Cynthia and seeing her shop for myself in person, I have a much deeper appreciation for her and her business. I was blown away. What a gem of a store. I really don't know how she gets customers to leave when it's time to close up and go home. It must be difficult because Ornamentea has a wonderful inventory of anything a beader or crafter could possibly want and everything is displayed so beautifully from ceiling to floor! Plus, helpful, friendly staff, great bead events and truck shows and cool classes. I can't say enough about how wonderful this shop is. You must visit.

This table is in the middle of the shop when you walk in. It is brimming with all kinds of treasures. Beads, buttons, crepe cord, spools of linen, silk ribbons, jewelry and even chocolate! Yum. Copies of our book are on display here along with a fun box of fibers and beads to go with it. One lucky person who came to our book signing on Friday night won this stash of goodies.

Along with the book signing event on Friday night, Ornamentea hosted a Make n' Take project from the book. The chosen project was my Leather Ruffle Hoops. Most of the supplies I used in the original earrings came from the store. I helped some of the staff set up the work table for the make n' take before the evening got started. Above, I am showing Jordan how to make the earrings. I was lucky enough to have her as my assistant for the project that night.

Here I am helping Lil with her make n' take earrings. Lil was actually the lucky winner of the fun box of fibers Ornamentea gave away at the book signing later that evening! Lucky girl.

Here's Jordan running the second round of the make n' take project. She did a fantastic job of making sure everything went smoothly. I'm so thrilled with how it all went. Everyone seemed to really be enjoying making the earrings. It was busy the entire night, but I did get to chat with a few after they finished their earrings. They loved them and most everyone I saw wore their earrings out the door.

Here's Lorelei and me at our signing table. On the table, we have a few of the original jewelry pieces from the book. We're talking to Amy, one of the lovely gals who came that night. She was really sweet and cute. It was so nice chatting with her and absolutely everyone who stopped by. And speaking of some others, Lori and I got to meet some special friends we know from the bead blogging community. The amazing LeAnn of Summers Studio. We have 3 of LeAnn's handmade components incorporated into projects throughout the book. We also got to meet the lovely Marcie of La Bella Joya! It was such a pleasure to meet both of these ladies in person. I've admired each of them for years now. Marcie actually came the following day on Saturday for my Bohemian Knotted Earrings class. I'll be talking more about that in another upcoming post. Stay tuned for Ornamentea: Part 2-My Class!

Bohemian-Inspired Jewelry

now available at Ornamentea.com!

Mark Your Calendars!

I will be at Ornamentea in Raleigh, N.C. on July 27th & 28th! The shop is hosting a book signing and Make n' Take on Friday, July 27th from 6-8pm. Then, on Saturday, July 28th from 10:30am-1:30pm, I'll be teaching my Bohemian Knotted Earrings workshop. I'm so excited for these upcoming events!

Friday, July 27th

What: Bohemian-Inspired Jewelry 

book signing and Make n' Take project

 Where: Ornamentea

509 N. West St.

Raleigh, NC 27603

When: Friday night, July 27th 

6-8pm

Click Here for more info. 

Leather Ruffle Hoops 

 Join me Friday night and make one of my earring projects from Bohemian-Inspired Jewelry called, Leather Ruffle Hoops. Chat with me about incorporating fibers and cords into your jewelry. I will have several original jewelry designs from the book that you can see in person. Feel free to ask me questions about beading and the process of writing the book with my co-author, Lorelei Eurto. Purchase a copy of the book that evening or bring your own copy and I'll be happy to sign it for you!

Saturday, July 28th

 

Bohemian Knotted Earrings

What: Bohemian Knotted Earrings Workshop

 Where: Ornamentea

509 N. West St.

Raleigh, NC 27603

When: Saturday, July 28th 10:30am-1:30pm

Price: $65

Click Here to registrar. 

Class description:

Learn simple knotting techniques to make a trio of bohemian chic earrings! Using waxed linen cord, you will learn 3 different ways to attach colorful beads to a ring component.

Students will learn basic knotting techniques to make three pairs of stylish earrings. Techniques covered in class will included: lark's head knot, half-hitch knot, overhand knot and how to use knotting tweezers for precise knotting. Using waxed linen cord, students will learn 3 ways to use knots to attach beads to a ring component. Students will have the following color choices for each pair of earrings: red, orange, green, turquoise and blue.Variations on the three designs made in class will also be discussed, so student will be able to expand on the techniques they have learned. 

I'd love to see you in class! Hope to see at Ornamentea!