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 Saturday with Kerry Bogert

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 Catherine/Meadowland Designs! Congrats!! You have won a Photoshop/Photoshop Elements set of Actions. Send Brandi an email so she can send your prize.

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This week we visit the studio of

Kerry Bogert of Kab's Concepts

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While you are reading this, I'm working on making my way back home from another memorable experience teaching on Bead Cruise. Our boat docked this morning and I'm hopping from plane to plane in hopes of making it back to my family before midnight.

It sounds a little cliche when you throw around works like once-in-a-lifetime, unforgetable, and incredibly-inspiriting. Really, is there any marketing agent that wouldn't throw those words at an event in attempts to get students in the door? This, though... this experience really IS all those things and so much more. Our fearless leader, Heather Powers, has created something like no other bead show or retreat anywhere else. I'm honored to be able to teach along side her, and the other amazing instructors.

Now, it may seem a little silly to have a Studio Saturday post from me when I haven't actually seen the inside of my studio in over 10 days! HA! However, my classroom really is an extension of my studio. When in a class with me, it's like we are hanging out together in my most favorite of creative environments.

I thought I'd share with you what projects I showed students how to create in my Bead Cruise classes.

It my class, TRUE COLORS, I show students my technique for creating cold connection bezels for lampwork glass cabochons. We also add a punch of color with embossing powders on metal. 

In Sweet Tweeter, we create one of a kind pendants with embroidered birds and colorful embossing powders. Oh how I love seeing all the unique little birds my students come up with. 

I sincerely hope my students enjoyed their time in my class and on the Bead Cruise! I know I sure did!! Now that we are back on dry land, it's time to race to our studios and set to putting all our newly learned techniques to work. 

Which leads to this week's giveaway question, but first, the prize! This week's giveaway winner will receive a surprise mystery set of my original handmade lampwork glass beads valued at $25!! Just leave a comment here answering this...

As I mentioned, it has been more than 10 days since the last time I saw the inside of my studio. 
So, do you find is easier to jump back into creating after a long break or more of a challenge?

Color Wire Tips

I <3 Colored Wire! 

I'm guessing you already knew that though! Spend any amount of time looking at my work and it's pretty obvious that I love the stuff. It allows me to add extra layers of color to my work and as a color lover, I don't know how I ever got along without it before I found it. 

There are some tricks to using it successfully, though, no matter what brand you choose to use! Here are a few of my tried and true tips:

• Friction and colored wires don't mix. So, use it as part of a wire link but not as the link itself. For example, you could make a coiled cage for a bead with colored wire, but then use another metal to link together the beads with wrapped loops. 
• It's durable but not indestructible. Avoid using it for clasps as the friction when it comes in contact with the catch for the clasp can cause the colored surface to wear away.
• It works GREAT coiled but, I wouldn't use it as a core wire. I like to stick to using it to cover a core wire. For example, I like to make a coil of color, slide it onto a silver core wire, and then bend into shapes. Keep in mind, if using it as part of a bangle, you don't want beads sliding back and forth across the surface of it. 
• It makes fun headpins and dangles and bail wires for your art beads. You can even hammer it! Keep your hammer strikes straight up and down, don't drag the hammer head when you hit the wire and it will flatten nicely. Be careful not to over flatten it though. 
• Yes, you can tumble it!! Like other wires, you might find yourself needing to work harden it. You can tumble it in a rotary tumbler with stainless steel shot and cleaning liquid without damaging the surface. 

Keep these few tips and tricks in mind when adding colored wire to your work and it's sure to work great! Pop over to the Art Bead Scene Facebook page and share your colored wire creations with our followers! And if you are wondering what brand of colored wire I use, it's always Parawire for me. 

Snaptastic Winner

Thanks to all who helped welcome Kerry to the Art Bead Scene and spread the news about our Snaptastic Giveaway.  The winner is Michelle of Concatenation!

Michelle is new to the blogging world, but off to a great start - stop on over to see her blog.  Michelle has won a cd of Kerry's Snaptastic ebook filled with great photography lessons and tips. 

Is learning to take better photos one of your New Year goals? You can purchase a copy for yourself and check that off your to-do list! Visit Kerry's shop here.

Snaptastic Giveaway!

With the new year we have added a new contributor to the Art Bead Scene. I'd like you all to welcome my good friend Mrs. Kerry Bogert!  (Insert wild round of applause!)

Kerry Bogert, that names sounds fimilar...

 Rustic Wrappings 

Totally Twisted

And the soon to be released Wire Coiling Secrets DVD.

You've also seen Kerry in a handful of other books and magazines contributing projects with her unique wire and lampwork style. Be sure to check out her inspiring column on color in each issue of Step by Step Wire.

Kerry also has a busy year of teaching planned for 2013 starting off with teaching on the next Bead Cruise in March.

You can also join Kerry for a few amazing classes at Bead & Button this year.

Along with being a talented beadmaker and designer, Kerry is also an amazing photographer. Just visit her blog for proof! 

Kerry taught her Snaptastic class on the cruise last year and it is back again by popular demand.  Kerry also offers this class as an ecourse and an ebook. 

The ecourse is filled with bonus content and a 5 week self-paced class for you to follow along.  I had a chance to look over the ecourse and I picked up a handful of tips without even delving in just yet! 

We are giving away a CD of Kerry's ebook, Snaptastic!  

Just leave a comment below to enter to win. 

Pin, tweet or Facebook this giveway for a second chance to win.  (Leave a second comment letting us know you did!)

Make sure we can contact if you in case you win. 

We'll pick a winner on Monday, January 21st. 

Fit to Print Book Review: Totally Twisted

The subtitle of Kerry Bogert's new book is "Innovative Wirewire & Art Glass Jewelry." And that is exactly what you'll find in this colorful and fun book. 

I love that Kerry wrote in a conversational tone, you feel like you've stopped by her studio for the afternoon where she shares all her best tips and tricks for working with wire.

The book includes great step by step photos and clear instructions on the techniques.  The projects vary from using sterling silver wire to Kerry's signature mix of sterling and brightly colored artistic wire.  You'll learn how to make findings, your own chain, wire beads and how to use wire as a design element.

I love that the author shows 'tools' from common objects found in the studio like shaping a bracelet around a glass or links around tube of beads.  The idea that working with wire is easy and accessible is a common theme in the book.  I also enjoyed seeing the alternative views of the projects in different colors to show the versatility of the design and to spark the readers own variations.

Now let's talk art beads! Kerry is a glass beadmaker and every project in this book features a juicy collection of lampwork beads.  The projects could easily be adapted to showcase art beads of any medium.  I gave one of the projects a test run last weekend and worked up Kerry's Scrolliriffic bracelet using some of my disk beads, aquamarine stones and recycled glass, shown below.

I have wanted to make a chain using those s-links forever but just couldn't work them up successfully on my own.  After reading Kerry's directions I was whipping them out like a pro. 

You can find out more about Kerry on her blog and website, where sells her lampworked beads at http://www.kabconcepts.com/. 

Order a copy of Kerry's book today, I highly recommend it!
Totally Twisted: Innovative Wirework & Art Glass Jewelry

Reviewed by Art Bead Scene founder and editor, Heather Powers.