Speaking and Teaching at the Needlework and Textile Guild of Michigan

If you follow me on Facebook, Twitter or Linked-In, you may have noticed that I had a busy week last week of speaking, teaching, selling and modeling.  I had a small panic about the lack of jewelry I had on hand to sell so I did switch gears to make a few more jewelry pieces and took a break from my large project.

On Tuesday morning I drove to Birmingham, MI to set up my jewelry and my laptop for a presentation on my beadwork (and other artwork that I dabble in) to the Needlework and Textile Guild of Michigan.  My talk ran about an hour and fifteen minutes, then I was able to speak to guild members while they took a look at the jewelry items that I sell.  I got a ton of great feedback from the members, it was all very exciting.

(Group Shopping Photo)

After the talk and lunch, we started in on the first half-day of the workshop I was teaching.  I taught 2-Drop Peyote Stitch and went over very basic design elements of the stitch.  I had 11 ladies in the class the first day for the bracelets.

Day 2 (a full class day) I had 9 students and we worked on finishing our bracelets, then after an hour or so we switched gears to making our rings.  The rings we made are a small version of the bangle bracelets that I make.  I require everyone to use the delica beads for this project.

I found that on the second day it was really great to have 2 projects going.  Every student needs help at different levels and I try very hard to get around to everybody.  While some of my students were waiting for me to get around to them for help on the ring (tubular peyote), they could work on the bracelet from the day before.  I know I don't like to have idle hands while waiting, so neither should my students!!!!

(Group Ring Shot)

I would like to shout out a HUGE thanks to all of my students.  Jeanne Sarna of Page Additions gets all of the photo credit for this blog post (I'm so bad at remembering to take photos).  I had a wonderful time working with everyone and thank you for your patience while I got around to you for individual help. 

Make and Take Ring Workshop

"Make and Take" Beaded Ring Workshop

with Jenny Schu.

Learn the very basics of the peyote stitch in this simple, sweet little ring workshop.

Only 2 hours long, $25.00

When: November 15, 2011 from 2:00pm-4:00pm
  November 15, 2011 from 6:00pm-8:00pm
  November 20, 2011 from 2:00pm-4:00pm

Where: Grove Gallery Co-op
    325A Grove St.
    East Lansing, MI 48823

How: Contact Jenny- jenny@jennybehler.com for class availability.  You will then mail or drop off a $25.00 check to Grove Gallery (address above), check made out to Jenny Schu. with day of class writeen in the memo line.

Limit 6 per class.  Must register at least 1 week before the class you want to take or else it may be canceled.
The $25.00 covers everything. 2 hours of instruction (and print-outs), beads, needle and thread to make your ring at Grove Gallery.  You may purchase any of these materials to take with you at the end of the workshop.

Here's for the Wolverines

I've never been much into "sports" per se, but the longer I live in a Big Ten college town and the amount of anti-Michigan stuff that was hanging around two weeks before U of M vs MSU, I had a little Wolverine spirit well up in me.

I painted my toes alternating Maize and Blue, and I started in on my first-ever team-based beaded piece. It doesn't have the block M on it or anything, but it's just a little comment that notes my pride of going to such a wonderful Art School. I'm sure my professor is cringing a little since we were instructed in the very beginning that this was art school, we weren't making team paraphernalia.

So, here's my little bead-mix for one of my basic bangle designs. I also feel ok about it because some of the color forecasting for this fall is putting these exact colors together in pieces. I have to say, I was sad that University of Michigan lost the football game.

(I'm still trying to figure out my tripod...excuse the blur.)

Red Party Blend Mix Bangle Beaded Jewelry

I have been drooling over the delicious colors in the Fall 2011 Express Magazine that came to my home a few weeks ago.  I'm not usually into red at all.  But for some reason it's got me inspired at the moment.
You can see one of the dresses that I was particularly drawn to here.  So I pulled a bunch of oranges, reds, purples and fuchsias and decided to do a little mix to see how I liked it.

I think it looks like a mini party on my wrist, so I tried out making a ring to match (rings have been a project that has been on my to-do list) which adds a very tiny flash of color if you don't want to go too bold. Which I will get a photo of soon.

This mix was so exciting and different as far as my usual use of colors, I rolled with it and made a leaf pendant and bracelet in the same colorway.

All that's left is a sweet pair of the cluster earrings and my display over at Grove Gallery Co-op will be good to go for the fall!