Tags
Humblebeads, Madison Art Glass & Bead Show, Meant to Bead, Miss Fickle Media, Taylors Falls Bead Store, TierraCast, Walter Gross
This weekend was the Madison Art Glass & Bead Show. I am very lucky to have an annual bead show right here in the town where I live! When I go to shows, I’m generally all about the shopping, but not this year. I’m branching out in 2019. Not only did I buy the Challenge Bead for the show and enter the competition (more about that later) but I took a class.
Two things I’ve really wanted to learn are how to use a torch and how to solder. I barely understand the differences with different types of metal, fusing vs. soldering, etc. I AM SO GLAD I TOOK THIS CLASS. (Sorry for yelling, but it had to be done.) I understand things so much more clearly, and I’m not scared of the torch anymore. I also thought understanding timepoints – when something was ready but not overdone – would be much harder. It was so much more clear than I thought! Our goal in class was to make a fine silver ring and some fine silver balled headpins. The teacher was Shannon who owns a local bead store, Meant to Bead.
I also wanted to try the join again and just see what would happen if I were sort of “careless” and didn’t try to really shape something. I like the look of more organic rings I buy from others, so I made another larger “ring” to use in jewelry.
It’s a little hard to show the texture on the rings, but this was a start to finish class. We learned safety and technical things. Then we started with a piece of wire and start to finish made items. I really loved how Shannon structured the class. She would give us the information, and then we could work at our own speed. That really worked for having a class open to students with all levels of experience. It gave me everything I had hoped to get from it. I’m excited to do more torch work at home. Here is my ring in action.
As I mentioned, I also entered the competition with the challenge bead. It is a gorgeous lampwork bead with copper end caps made by Walter Gross. The picture doesn’t show all the beautiful depths of this bead. Here are both sides.
Here is a (bad) picture of my entry in the case. Exciting!
Here is a little better picture of my entry.
I love how this turned out. It feels wonderful on. I made a copper chain tassel. The neck part is strung on waxed linen with Humblebeads disc beads, TierraCast coper wavy spacers that reference the lentil end caps, faceted lapis, seed beads and a copper clasp by Miss Fickle Media. There were a nice number of lovely entries. I did not win, but I had fun making this piece and seeing my work displayed.
I did do a little shopping. I always make sure to visit the Dakota Stones booth any time I have the chance. This time, they had some gorgeous large turquoise strands on sale. I was fondling some of the really large beads, but I know as much as I love the look, they are too heavy to be comfortable for me. So I bought two of the smaller (still decent sized) strands. I can always use them in separate pieces if they are too heavy.
This next purchase makes me laugh. Before the show, I told myself not to buy any African beads. That tends to be my favorite, catches my eye first, and I just feel like I could branch out. I have so many I haven’t used! However, I was weak.
These are from Taylors Falls Bead Store. They always have such a great selection of African beads and good prices. I could not resist.
I will definitely take more classes. I’ll update you on my adventures in using the torch. Quite a while ago, my dad gave me a small micro torch. I’m going to get that out and see how I like it. I wrote down the brand of torch I used (and liked) at the class, and can get that at Meant to Bead if the small one doesn’t have enough power, but maybe it will be just perfect. I really love the idea of making more of my own components to use in my jewelry.
Its Great that you got to learn a new skill at a bead show. I am a lazy solderer – which means I solder occasionally and don’t like mess. So I use paste solder with a small micro torch (a creme brulee one) and it works. Its great for flame painting and stamped solder as well. But if want ot anneal large pieces (I use my gas stove for that) or enamel, you might need a bigger torch.
So fantastic to learn new skills! And the necklace you made for the competition is lovely! Wonderful colors. The copper chain tassel was a great way to finish it off. I had to laugh about you trying to pass up the African beads. That never works. LOL!
I’m finally finding some time to let you know how beautiful your necklace is! It was so nice of you to support the Madison Art Glass & Bead Show and to purchase Walter’s bead. I, too, took the soldering class a few years ago and it was very helpful. I’m sorry we had to miss the show this year but I hope we will be able to attend next year. I’m a little envious of the beads you have added to your stash! 🙂