Saturday, March 10, 2012

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 Michelle W. Congratulations! You have won a padlock pendant and keyhole link from Melanie Brooks of Earthenwood Studio! Send Melanie an e-mail 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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 I started teaching jewelry-making in 2006 at the Riverwalk BeadShop and Gallery which had just opened up that same year. I really wanted to be involved with this new bead shop, so owner, Nancy Plante agreed to let me teach a few beading classes. The first class I taught was how to make simple bead and wire earrings. I only had one student in my very first class. It was great! I had such a wonderful experience and that same student and I are good friends to this day! Shortly after teaching some classes, Nancy hired me part-time. I worked at that bead shop for 4 years and I taught many classes during my time there. I taught stringing, wire-wrapping, finishing techniques and knotting, to name a few.

Bohemian Knotted Earrings
Artisan hand-forged metal links and ear wires, Irish waxed linen cord and gemstone rounds.

Now, I'm preparing to teach my very first workshop at a national bead show, Bead Fest Philadelphia this August. I'll be teaching a class I recently developed around my original earring designs called, Bohemian Knotted Earrings. The earrings are based on and inspired by a project made for the jewelry book I co-authored, Bohemian-Inspired Jewelry: 50 Designs Using Leather, Ribbon and Cords due out this May.

Each earring is crafted with artisan metal components made by
Shannon LeVart of Miss Fickle Media.
I just love her metalwork. Shannon herself, served as my muse for these earring designs, as well!

Here's a little bit more about my class...
Bohemian Knotted Earrings Workshop 
Erin Siegel
Bead Fest Philadelphia August 2012
Saturday, August 18th 8:00am-11:00am
Registration now open!
Click here to go to the instructor's page and scroll down to find my name.

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.

Here are just a few examples of the earring variations that can be created after learning the knotting techniques in my class. The possibilities are endless!

Do you go to bead shows? If so, which ones do you attend? 
Do you take any beading/jewelry-making classes at the show?

Leave a comment answering any of these questions and you will be entered for a chance to win a pair of copper links and ear wires by Miss Fickle Media. Just like the ones I use in my earring designs!

Thanks for joining me today!

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

19 comments:

Unknown said...

I love those red bohemian knotted earrings (center)! I just bought a little contraption that's supposed to make knotting easy and will eventually try to make something similar.

Kristen said...

I have never been to a bead show but I have dreams of going to BeadFest in Philadelphia in August. Road trip!

TesoriTrovati said...

Welcome to the Art Bead Scene Miss Erin! You are a fresh face with a lot of really awesome designs. Congratulations on the teaching! I go to the Bead & Button show and if you were going to be there I would take a class with you! Thanks for sharing this information and so glad you are here with us!
Enjoy the day.
Erin

Alice said...

I love these Knotted Earrings, especially the yellow ones secong from the top left.

The only bead show that comes anywhere close is Rings & Things in March. I've missed the last two because of bad weather. It seems no one wants to come to Kansas, but I'm hoping one day that will change.

Off the Beadin' Path said...

I love Bead Shows! The Bead & Button is the best!! I heard there's another good one in Madison, WI the last weekend of March. Haven't done any classes yet, but it would be fun! Your earrings are the cutest!

Gale said...

Hope to see you at the Philly Fest! I'll be there taking as many classes as I can afford.

Sweet Willow Designs said...

I've attended two Bead Fest Santa Fe events. Going to the Bead Fest and taking classes was a wonderful eperience and I walked away with lots of new techniques. I'm not able to go to Santa Fe this year but may be able to make the Phildelphia one. Great experience.

Unknown said...

Erin, congratulations on joining Art Bead Scene and on teaching at BeadFest. I wish I lived closer so I could take advantage of these awesome classes. Maybe you could do a online tutorial?

Have a wonderful weekend!

Erin S said...

I love shannon's links--been using a bunch of those lately. I don't take many classes, but its hard to resist hitting the gem faire when it swings by every couple of months.

Carolyn said...

I have been to the Gem Fairs and Puget Sound Bead Festival. Haven't taken any classes yet.

Thanks for letting us know about your classes.

Carolyn
Carolynscreationswa.blogspot.com

Regina said...

I attend about one or two bead shows that come to my area every year, I would go to more, but I am usually restrcited by my budget for beads. Down the Street Bead Show is where I took a class. Since I was self-taught at the begining, I needed some instructions on the finishing touches, so signed up to make a bracelet with beads bought at the show. Love bead shows, they get my juices flowing and my head full of ideas! Good luck with your class, some day I would like to travel to one of the big shows, if only to meet all my blogging buddies.

sandi m said...

Bead and Button - so close to home. I've taken classes with some great teachers.
Your earrings are cute, cute, cute! Congrats on your teaching.

somethingunique said...

I love the earrings Erin..and have been a fan of yours before I even started making my own creation..as for bead shows...I am going to my very first show tomorrow with my friend Marla...in Detroit..I am across the river in Windsor so don't get the opportunity to go to shows..its my dream. To attend the bead and button one day and take as many workshops as possible...thanks for sharing your wonderful creations....xox

JeannieK said...

Welcome Erin and great post.

Twin Cities Bead Bazaar going on this weekend. I was not able to attend. It'a a favorite of mine.

Joyce Hennessey said...

Erin your earrings have such a great look, especially the copper element additions and the color combos just blast out. I have only been to one show and that was the last year's Bead and Button Show in Milwaukee. What an experience! I took eight classes and loved them all... My favorites were with Christi Feisen and with "The River Poet" Lynne S. These were ploymerclay... I also took a class on metal sawing from Thomas Mann, who is quite an entertaining person. Well thanks for the post

Anonymous said...

Haven't been to any bead shows lately but may get to attend BeadFest in August.

Catherine Sorensen said...

Hi, Erin!
No bead shows or classes for me, I'm afraid. They just don't come to Kansas. Right now it's not possible to go to them either, maybe someday!

It's great that you get to teach a class, those earrings are fun and quirky!

stephanie_mcginley said...

I haven't been able to attend a show or take a class...As others have said before me, they just don't come to Kansas, :( It is on my bucket list though!

Your earrings are fantastic and look like a lot of fun to create! I would take a class from you if I could!

stephanie_mcginley@hotmail.com

Leah Curtis said...

I love the blue and copper earrings in the center (last photo)!

I went to my very first bead show at the beginning of this month (it was a bead show in Harrogate, England). It was so much fun, and they did offer a few different classes. I didn't attend any of the classes, since they were mostly beginner/clay, and I already do clay.

What I was really enthralled with was the lampwork demo. Now that I would love a class in!