Interlochen Workshop: Two Drop Peyote Class Projects

At the beginning of October I taught a workshop up at Interlochen for thier adult programming classes. This time we worked in 2-drop peyote stitch to create bracelets.

Here's my student's fantastic pieces:

I always encourage my students to start going with one color and we can switch, start talking designs and color play once getting the stitch down.  Stripes are the easiest to play with and count, but I also love the random movement shapes in the lavender and read bangle and the check design that plays out in the grey and yellow one.

I actually used the check design in the Bugle Bead variation of this stitch that I made after I taught this class.

Finishing work! 

Beginner's Beadweaving class at Interlochen

I taught my second beadweaving class at Interlochen a week ago.  It was a three person class, but we decided to make it go since the adult programing at Interlochen is getting up and running. Also, I love to teach new beaders and get them hooked.  

Peyote stitch is what I like to start brand new beaders on.  This class was in two-drop peyote making a bracelet.  You can make a pretty wide bracelet with two drop peyote in a fair amount of time.  One of the comments in this class was that once you get it going, it's really simple.  It's the start that's always a little difficult with peyote stitch, but I always find it satisfying to be able to whip out something beaded as a short project myself. 

Kathy (below) isn't a brand new beader, but I'm glad she learned this stitch before taking my three day workshop with the Michigan League of Handweavers for Russian Leaf stitch, it'll help her grasp the stitch a little quicker. (Registration for the MLH Russian Leaf class closes on July 20, 2014)

I make quite a few of these two-drop bracelets when I'm playing with color or how beads work together. The below bracelet we used just what this student had already had on-hand. They're cheaper beads, so they're not as consistently shaped to fit together, but it still gives this bracelet a nice look.

Although I suggest a higher end seed bead for my classes, I can pretty much help you work with anything!

St. Petersburg Chain Stitch Class: Teaching at Interlochen

I had a great time at Interlochen the first weekend of this month.  It was the first class that I taught at this facility and it has a wonderful classroom set up.  The class check in was 8:30-9:00am.  We had a little issue as to where the class was located.  Now I'll be remembering that it is the building attached to the left of the Phoenix Theater, towards the back of the campus (away from the lake).

The above photo is the sample photo I used for the class.  I encourage people to choose their own colors, but I think in the future I will offer the exact kits from the sample image.s (if possible, I do run out of bead colors sometimes!)

Here's a small photo from my phone of 4 of my 6 students. 2 of them had  leave early and come in early to let me know.  The St. Petersburg chain really is an all-day class. The stitch needs concentration and repetition to start catching on to it.  It's kind-of a beginners class, but I really liked one of the terms that was thrown out there: Confident Beginner.  Everyone is so very different as far as their background with a needle and thread, then adding beads into it.  If you've never ever done any sort of fiber technique or worked with needle and thread (even with fabric), I would say this is a novice class.  But I have had fiber-people tell me that it can be labeled as beginner.  I prefer to start any beginner beader on Peyote Stitch.  It's a great way to start with beadweaving and see if you like it.  The stitch doesn't have as many twists and turns as the St. Petersburg chain.

I am terrible at taking photos during events, so, alas, I did not get any pictures of the group together or of their finished work.  I did send out an email that they could provide me with a photo of their finished piece for my blog post.  Judy responded enthusiastically with the below image of her bracelet.  She also started a second bracelet during the class.

One of the adjustments that I want to make to teaching this class is to use 3 different colors of beads like Judy did below.  That way I think it will be less confusing as to which is the middle of the bracelet and which is the outside while we stitch it.

Judy's Bracelet

Kathy L's Bracelet

Nicole and Diane's Unfinished Bracelets

As usual, the more I teach, the more I learn about what different students needs are and I become a better teacher. Thank you so much for supporting me, my artwork, and taking my workshops.  I really enjoy teaching, it's a wonderful break from the studio!

Me next class is in two-drop peyote stitch on June 30 2014. You can register for it HERE.

Interlochen Beadweaving Classes Summer 2014

As I work on my many projects and proposals these next few months, I am also prepping to teach workshops.  The first offerings are at Interlochen's Adult Arts Programs.  They put up a lovely write-up about me here: http://college.interlochen.org/person/jenny-schu

The first of the classes offered is Saturday, May 31, 2014.  I'll be teaching St. Petersburg Chain stitch.  We will be making bracelets, but this is also the stitch that I use for my lariat necklaces and have started layering into some of my larger bangle bracelets for a different texture.  It's a $65.00 class, and you can register online here: http://college.interlochen.org/program/jewelry-bead-weaving-st-petersburg-stitch
(I'm still not happy with this image that I took for this class, I'll get a better one soon hopefully.)

The second class of the summer offerings is my Beginning Peyote Stitch bracelet on Monday, June 30, 2014.  This is a great way to start peyote stitching.  We work 2 beads at a time (instead of one bead at a time which is how I bead for the most part) which allows us to make a wide bangle in a shorter amount of time.  I also teach how to add a button/bead and loop closure which can be used in many jewelry making techniques.  It's a $65.00 class, and you can register online here: http://college.interlochen.org/program/jewelry-bead-weaving-beginning-peyote-stitch

It's not on Interlochen's Calender yet but we have a temporary date to teach the beaded leaf, which is up on my calender on www.jennyschu.com (which I just noticed the calender is having some issues that I'll need to fix!)  Keep checking back for more dates as they come up too.

I'm excited to be teaching a private class this week.  Beginner beaders are always fun, and I do enjoy smaller, by-the-hour classes.  We'll be doing the two drop peyote bracelets, it's perfect if you're just starting to learn to bead.