Are You a Lover of Beaded Learning?

I am knee deep in making plans for my 2014 teaching schedule. As I create new samples and design projects that will demonstrate techniques, I'm always wondering to myself "what do students really want to be learning?"

I have never met a beader yet that wasn't interested in learning something new.

Be they students, random shoppers in a local bead store or commenters on a blog, everyone has something they are aspiring to know how to do someday. I hear/read excited "OH, I wanna learn that someday" sentiments all the time! We are all constantly evolving our styles, eagerly devouring new techniques, and seeking knowledge of how the next cool trick might make our beading lives even better.

Right? Right.

So, I thought that it would be great to open up the comments today to a discussion about LEARNING! I think it would be a great insight for instructors as they design their class proposals, and cool for students too. Maybe someone else is excited to learn something you didn't even know existed!

Here are a few questions to get you started commenting...

• What is your dream class... what would have you in your car or on a plane and into a classroom in a heartbeat? 
• Do you like learning techniques or would you rather leave your class with a finished project to show off?
• Retreats vs. Big Bead Shows... which do you prefer?
• What technique is on your list as a must-learn? Bead weaving, stringing, wire working, metalsmithing, lampworking, polymer clay, ceramics, etc... what's next on your list?
• What jewelry designer or bead artist do you wish would start teaching?

I look forward to reading your thoughts!! Start sharing!!

Studio Saturdays with Missficklemedia

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 weeks winner is Adee. Congratulations! 

You have won a this bracelet from the studio of Lorelei. 

Send Lorelei an e-mail with your address and she will get it right out to you.
This week we visit Shannon LeVart of missficklemedia.com in her studio(s)!

I would love to show you a picture of a studio that sparks radiant light of boundless creativity.
 But I do not have that. I have "places". Spots, if you will. Tucked here and there in my little house. And most of them you have to climb mountains of laundry to get to. But I am grateful I have them. These little niches in my house have allowed me to stay sane as a mother, feel cared for as a wife and have emboldened me as a woman.
 I hide from the kids in the bedroom and roll clay.

 I shut myself away in the utility room and whack away at metal on the work bench my husband put together for me.

 I stand at the side kitchen counter and put this bead with that bead and this chain with that finding and I send these projects out to the acceptance of the handmade jewelry community.

 It's scattered. And distracting. I go into the utility room to start a load of laundry but I see patina developed on a piece of copper and the next thing I know I am heading outside to seal it, the laundry still sitting in the basket.  But it works. 
 Somehow, I have slowly built a job for myself using my passion for jewelry making. I refuse to let my circumstances get in the way of creating. No money, no space; it doesn't matter, I am doing what I am meant to do.

 Do you have a special place in your house that you create from? Your coffee table? Your nightstand? Your kitchen table? Please tell me I am not the only one who doesn't have an actual studio. Leave a comment letting me know where you create from and we will draw a name next Saturday for this awesome prize...

 Just kidding. You don't have to do my laundry unless you want to.
This is the piece you could win by leaving a comment; a vintage brass bezel showcasing a blue bird and antiqued ice resin, drilled and set with a brass eyelet for easy wire-wrapping.

Have a wonderful weekend from where ever you're at!
Much Love and Respect,
Shannon
missficklemedia.com