The morning started off with a big cup of coffee and lots of headpins. I taught four lovely women how to make a clustered necklace. That means a nice group of beads, each strung on a headpin, gathered into a fun, textured, chunky cluster. I loved seeing how each of the ladies worked with their color choices and tried a little bit new with their bead selections. Each of them left with something wonderful to wear--a couple casual with leather and a couple fancier with great ceramic and glass beads.
My designer friend, Kelly, led the lunchtime class on some gorgeous wrapped rings. I was jealous, but took some time to go wander around Occoquan, which is such a cute little waterfront town.
My second class of the day was on the Squiggle. That's, of course, my favorite thing because just about any way you curl, twirl, or bend the wire, you end up with something interesting. And, to make it even better, you get to hammer it! My two students enjoyed the hammering the most--no surprise--and came up with some really great, unique pieces for themselves! You can see below that we worked with some silver and some copper. Then, they both fell in love with the great colors of the Kazuri beads--these are ceramic beads handmade by women in Kenya. (If you click the link you can read the story at a Kazuri supplier's website.)
If you're interested in learning something like this, let me know! I'll be teaching again at Off the Beading Path in May plus, I'm always willing to open up my bead workshop slash dining room table to help you create something wonderful. :)
When I asked the gals if they learned anything in the two plus hours we were together they both responded with, "You're really funny!" So, my teaching technique may be left wanting, but they still want to come back so there must be some entertainment value! haaaaaaaaaaaaaa
It sounds like you had a completely successful first class! Congratulations :)
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