Studio Saturday with Erin Siegel

Welcome to Studio Saturday! Each week one of our contributors gives you a sneak peek into their studio, creative process or inspirations. We ask a related question of our readers and hope you'll leave comments! As an incentive we offer a free prize each week to bribe you to use that keyboard.
The following week we choose a random winner.

This week's winner is Cheri of Creative Designs by Cheri! Congratulations, Cheri! You have won Ephemera Pendants from Marie-Noel Voyer-Cramp of Skye Jewels! Send Marie an email with your address and she will get your prize out to you soon!

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This week we visit the studio of

Erin Siegel of Erin Siegel Jewelry

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www.beadcruise.com
I'm preparing for a trip of a lifetime aboard a luxury cruise liner! I have dreamed of this since I first heard it even existed. Yep, I'm going on the Bead Cruise 2013, March 1st - March 9th hosted by our fearless leader in the bead community, the gracious, Heather Powers. I jumped at the chance to be apart of her Bead Cruise. Perfect combination of a little bit of business with a whole LOT of pleasure. Plus, it's amazing opportunity for me to do something I have never done before. It's my very first cruise ever and really this will be my first trip outside the US, besides Canada. Geesh, I'm 35. I think it's about time I saw the world a little! I had to rush and get my passport for the first time, too and everything. Well, I got my passport in plenty of time and I'm ready to get away on this cruise!

Did I tell you my word for the year is EXPAND? Well, it is and apparently, I'm kickin' it off with a whole lot of 'expanding my horizons' in a very literal kind of sense! Cozumel, Grand Cayman Island and Jamaica, here I come. I'm so excited and so looking forward to this incredible adventure. I'm ready to be inspired by these amazing places we are visiting. Since I don't know if I'll ever get to go on a trip like this again, I went all out and signed up for the shore excursions at the three ports of call. Mayan ruins in Cozumel, snorkeling at Sting Ray City in Grand Cayman Island and a Reggae beach party in Jamaica. Hoo Whoo! Ya Mon. I feel so Irie!...Sorry...A little Jamaican talk for ya. ;)

Jamaican Reggae-Inspired Earrings
In fact, I've already been inspired by the cruise before even stepping onto the boat. I made myself these Reggae-Inspired color block earrings to wear on the beach in Jamaica!

Not only will this be a vacation trip of a lifetime, but I will also be teaching my Bohemian Knotted Earrings Class as well! Go here to see all the classes. I'm now getting all my beady goodness ready. I'm making kits for my class and extras to sell. I'll be bringing my other jewelry kits from my book and also kits and tutorials for my Macrame Flower Bracelet, some of my favorite supplies, materials and tools such as Irish waxed linen cord, Macrame boards and knotting tweezers. And of course, a few copies of my book, Bohemian-Inspired Jewelry: 50 Designs Using Leather, Ribbon and Cord.

 Bohemian Knotted Earring Kits 

available for purchase in my Etsy Shop

Whether you are taking my Bohemian Knotted Earring class on the Bead Cruise or not, you can purchase a kit for the earrings in my Etsy shop! The kits included all the materials you need to make the three earring styles, Sun, Fringe and Chandelier. The kits come in Solid Copper for $30 OR you can upgrade to Sterling Silver for $40. All metal components are handmade by Shannon Levart of Miss Fickle Media. If you can't make it to one of my classes this year, you can purchase my Bohemian Knotted Earrings PDF tutorial in my shop for the instruction on how to make the earrings.

Not only am I teaching a class, but I'll have the opportunity to take two of the classes offered on the cruise. Ronna Weltman's Go Organic With Polymer Clay and Kerry Bogert's Sweet Tweeter class. I'm very excited for both of these classes! I'm thrilled to have the time to connect and learn from these two amazing artists, authors and instructors.This is a rare opportunity because most times when you are teaching at an event, you won't have the chance to take any classes yourself or even just chat with the other instructors.

Can't wait to meet all those aboard Bead Cruise 2013. Many will be new to me. I'm looking forward to seeing my familiar bead friends and fellow instructors, Heather Powers, Beverly Herman and Kerry Bogert, again and I'm looking forward to meeting instructors, Tracy Stanley and Ronna Weltman for the first time. I'm honored and humbled to be in the company of all these talented and accomplished women.

I can't wait for this journey to begin and I know it will not end once I step off the boat. I will forever hold the memories from the trip and the experience. The places we visit will influence and inspire my future jewelry designs for years to come, which leads me to my questions for you this week:

Have your travels influenced your jewelry designs? Where have you gone? How have those places inspired your creating? 

Dream Catcher Pendant Kit
 Leave a comment answering any of these questions and you will be entered for a chance to win one of my new Dream Catcher Pendant Kits in my Etsy Shop.

Thank you for joining me today and Bon Voyage!

 
Erin Siegel is a jewelry designer, beading instructor and co-author of the jewelry book, Bohemian-Inspired Jewelry: 50 Designs Using Leather, Ribbon and Cords. To find out more, visit her blog: Erin Siegel Jewelry.