Precious Sparkle Beads - workshops

I've been busy on holiday here in Illinois - I brought beads over from Precious Sparkle Beads www.precioussparklebeads.co.uk and have been busy creating some projects for workshops in the Autumn. Dawn fancied some knitting and crochet and I think the semi-precious beads have worked really well. I'm back home in about a weeks time and then will get dates sorted out. Here are the projects - get in touch if you'd like to find out how to make them.

Fimo jewellery designer - Karyn Kozak

Went back to the Geneva Art fair yesterday and spotted this amazing Fimo jewellery designer: www.karynkozakdesign.com. Her colours and the patterns she created were just amazing - I took some images of earrings on my phone but not too clear so this pic of a bracelet and necklace are from her website.

Nuno felt dress

spent the day at an amazing art fair in Geneva Illinois and spotted this fabulous dress. I think it is made by the nuno felting technique but I'd have to ask my friend Ellie what she thinks.

Beaded bag

Out and about today in a small town nearby - Geneva, Illinois. I spotted this gorgeous beaded bag in a small antique shop. just loved the simplicity of the pattern. I think I'll have to take my proper camera with me as the phone image isn't quite clear enough.

Hat party

they do things differently in the US so yesterday I'm making a hat for a hat party that my sister-in-law is hosting. I decided to make a paper hat from newspaper but Jackie gave me a charity hat and said I could do what I wanted! Paper flowers made from strips of newspaper, fringed and rolled then twisted strips wrapped in wire and shaped around a pencil. Finished off with some pipecleaners. This is actually me before the party starts - heaven forbid I have a drink of two!

Great jewellery designer

Visited a French market in Wheaton, Illinois and found a local jewellery designer called Seize the Bead. Her jewellery designs  were just fabulous and I'd love to have got a bit closer but have to be satisfied with this pic of her stall. Choice of beads, colour mixes and way she put the quite simple but stylish jewellery together was fabulous. I especially liked how she used a square filigree stamping and bent three corners in to enclose a Swarovski Rivoli Chaton.

crochet with semi precious beads

I'm on holiday near Chicago but brought some fab beads with me to try out some crocheting and knitting. Today I was using purple drop beads and tiny round orange beads from Precious Sparkle Beads www.precioussparklebeads.co.uk. I used a fine lilac wire - 30 swg and a 3.5mm crochet hook. I'm thinking 5 strands the same and then plaiting together.

Bead Technique videos

I bought myself a video camera last week and am really looking forward to getting technique videos on my website. David and Charles my publisher has morphed into F&W media and so we're all trying to become more media savvy. I'm also hoping that some of the videos will go on the E-bead website too. www.e-beads.co.uk .
I'll start working my way through the basic techniques in the Bead Jewellery Bible but if there is anything anyone would like demonstrated just contact me through the blog or my website: www.dorothywood.co.uk.

I'm off to the States and the end of this week and so will try to keep updating the blog and hoping to find all sorts of goodies in the US to share.

working for magazines

I've been really busy the last week and a half doing papercrafting projects for Cardmaking and Papercraft magazine and Quick Cards magazine. I find it hard doing the blog then because I feel it should all be top secret until the magazines come out but then days go by and I haven't written anything!

I'll need to find a way to incorporate what I'm doing every day into the blog.

Meanwhile I've also been cataloguing and photographing my mother's commemorative ware. She's got a huge collection and it's time to get it sold. I think this is the oldest piece a beautiful plate from Queen Victoria's diamond jubilee.