Spread The Love

Not Grandma's Cameo by Julia Hecht

Greetings Beady Friends!  We have some wonderful events coming up to warm your heart during our winter freeze.  In anticipation of Valentine's Day, I am teaching a romantic Victorian netted collar called Not Grandma's Cameo.  It is pictured above and uses a stone bead for the focal piece.  I will be teaching how to bezel and embellish a stone with a drilled hole through the center.  This technique is different from the rivoli bezel that Laura McCabe pioneered during the last decade. Like Laura's method, it is also a peyote technique, but in many ways it is simpler because it utilizes the the hole, something you cannot do with a rivoli.  The netting is lovely and creates a beautiful curve that is comfortable and easy to wear.  It is appropriate for almost all levels.  Advanced beginners, with just a minimum of stitching experience will be fine.  If you've never stitched seed beads, but want to take this class, please get in touch with me so we can determine if you are ready for this class. 

Not Grandma's Cameo with Julia:  2 Mondays 1/28 and 2/4 6-9 PM $55 

See the Classes page for more details.  Call with a credit card or come by to purchase a seat in this class.

For those of you who want to learn the rivoli bezeling technique, stay tuned.  I am working on a wonderful crystal creation with a Swarovski product that we just got in.    Stop by and visit me in the studio to see it in progress.  When it is completed, I will schedule it and post here and on Facebook.  Which reminds me...Please like Poppyfield Bead Company on Facebook and follow PoppyfieldBeads on twitter to get the latest news.  

FREE WIRE CLASSES - SAVE THE DATES

Saturday January 26th 10-noon  and Saturday February 9th 10-noon

These will be beginner level projects using the basic set of tools (chain nose, round nose, and nylon jaw pliers, and flush cutters).  Designs are in the works and will be posted here (as well as Facebook and twitter) along with information about how to sign up and save your seat.  Don't miss out on these great opportunities.  It is my way to "spread the love of wirework".  

NEW POPPYFIELD PRODUCTS

Beautiful new Kumihimo end caps and bails 

Czech glass buttons

New Rivoli color - Crystal Brandy

New 6 mm Fire Polish Beads

New Bicone Colors:  Deep Tanzanite and Indicolite

New Glass Focal Pendants - $6

New Seed Bead Colors - size 11's in opaque blues and greens (available in 15's by request)

The New Bead and Button and Beadwork Magazines - get 'em while they last

Tuesday Wire Meet-Up with Sylvia Abeyta

 Come join us for an informal wirework session every Tuesday 1:00 - 3:00.  Sylvia is a retired teacher and is great at explaining techniques and helping troubleshoot.  Come with your own ideas or see what's on Sylvia's creative agenda.  All levels.  FREE.  

Remember Monday is late night at Poppyfield.  We are open til 8:00 PM.  So stop by after work or after dinner and browse our great selection of beads, fiber, and metal at your leisure.  

What's Old is New

Fun With Filigrees - Vintage Inspired Designs You Create

We are pleased to announce a new class to introduce a new line of products at Poppyfield. The Fun with Filigrees classes on Saturday, May 5th and Monday, May 14th will feature customer designed jewelry using filigrees and vintage-inspired metal components. There are so many ways to embellish and connect these pieces to design everything from simple earrings to elaborate necklaces. The classes will include cold connections, such as riveting and wrapped loops, manipulating the filigrees into settings, and layering with crystals and decorative glass beads. We will also work on design concepts using mixed metals, custom components, and chain segments. With samples, ideas and demonstrations of technique, each participant will be able to design and complete one or more custom pieces. Register for either session for $25 or take both classes for $40.

Celebrate Spring

(Mixed Metals- Riveting - Vintage Inspired)

Vintage Inspired Flower Tassel Earrings

(Glass Beads and Oxidized Brass Chain)

Open Heart Earrings

In keeping with the vintage theme, I will be offering a free wire class on Thursday, March 22nd from 1-2 PM. Back by popular demand is the Open Heart Earrings class that I offered on Valentine's Day. This is the design that led to the vintage-inspired line. I had bought a bunch of square filigrees to try out. When they arrived, I realized that I could capture a rivoli inside and use the filigrees as settings. I had so much interest in this class that I ran out of filigrees. Now I've got lots of the squares, and other filigree components too. I will offer a kit with the filigrees, jump rings, chain and earring wires. You choose the rivolis, crystal bicones, and wire. Check the Free Wire Class page for details about tools and supplies.

We've had 2 rounds of the Intro to Beaded Kumihimo Class, and it was a huge success. It was so rewarding for me to see the excitement as students grasped this new technique. It was as if a whole world of possibilities had opened up. And actually, it has. Right away, the questions began as to what's next? What's possible? In that vein, I am offering a stacking bracelet class. I will teach 3 kumi designs with beads and colored fiber that work together. You can make any of the 3 bracelets (or all) and wear them together: A "Kumi Bangles" concept. Class is Sat, April 21st from 1-4 PM. Kumi brand-new newbies can take a one hour Kumi Prep class at 11:30 that morning that will teach braiding and get you ready for the class at 1:00. Pictures coming soon. Stay tuned!

Intro to Bead Embroidery Pendant

Pendant on Kumihimo Braided Rope

There is still room in the Intro to Bead Embroidery Class this Monday, March 19th at 6:00 PM. If you've ever wondered how to make those gorgeous beaded collars and bezeled cabochons, this is the class that will get you started. You could be the next Sherry Serafini, but you won't know if you don't try. I've got everything you need at Poppyfield. If you want to give it a go, call and register, and we'll pick cabs and beads together before class. It will be a blast!

Who will be the next Sherry Serafini?

(Book Available at Poppyfield)

There are still a few places left in Margo's Dogwood and Pussy Willows Class on Saturdays, May 19th, 26th, and June 2nd. Class is $65 for nine hours of instruction and a fabulous pattern. It has been too long since the last Margo flower made of 15's. Don't you agree? Give us a call or come by Poppyfield to see the piece in person.

Dogwood and Pussy Willows

Necklace and Earrings by Margo Field

Celebrate Love

Open Heart Earrings by Julia Hecht

Tuesday's Drop Everything and Twist free wire class project is "Open Heart Earrings." They celebrate self-love. A love for each and every one of us. (Supply list is on the Free Wire Class page on this site).

The 12 mm Swarovski rivolis in light siam are contained within square filigree components by Vintaj. Despite their antiqued "cages" the crystals’ brilliance and radiance cannot be contained - spilling forward into droplets of 4mm and 6 mm bicones that drip off the ends of antiqued rollo chain. Love is infectious – self-love too. Here’s the source of my inspiration for earrings that celebrate self-love:

As Valentine's Day approaches, stories of love are tossed around by the media. Walgreens and the "Marts" heart-shaped red boxes tempt with chocolates. As we walk about our towns, store windows (mine included) glare back at us, poking at buried feelings. In America, there is no way to avoid the nature of the day. While some of us grieve loves lost, or unrequited, others revel in new-found lovers. Some of the luckiest souls with deeply wrinkled faces celebrate well-seasoned, long time bonds and shared memories. No matter where you find yourself in life's never-ending changes and cycles, crest or trough, there is one core abiding and precious love that cannot be taken by anyone or anything: Self-Love.

While self-love often gets a bad rep, as the root of selfishness, and self-centered behavior - I disagree. The ability to see ourselves as basically good, despite our flaws and mistakes, provides us each with the cushion and resilience to weather the harsh realities of our lives as social creatures. We are flawed, and yet, we need each other. Everyday, we bump up against family members, co-workers, friends and strangers. Sometimes colliding flaws lead to hurts and misperceptions. If allowed to gather steam, we can find ourselves dealing with resentments and even broken relationships. It isn't a leap to walls, barricades, and emotional isolation. How, then is it possible to love?

If we can find deep love for our own soul and spirit, our heart becomes full. Unable to contain itself, it opens, and the precious contents spill forth, infecting others. Somehow all flaws seem smaller and less important. Resentments become tempered and short-lived. Forgiveness is possible. The need to hide and avoid slips away. We can gently and firmly say "no" to abuse and toxic relationships. We don't fear loneliness.

For me it is an ongoing struggle against the odds. I have been blessed with a taste of this magic. Yet, some deep-seated program always threatens to reverse the process and set me back. For those like me, it takes practice, willingness and faith. But I know, know, know, that recovery and transformation is possible. Everyday, people all across this world "work" to recover from traumas (big and small), and love themselves again. Because in the end, loving one's self, no matter how elusive, is the start. With the seed of self-love, one open heart seeks another, and the blossom of shared love becomes possible.

2 Poems and 1 Quote About Love

Was, Is, and Always Will Be

Once I was

The Heart,

The Center,

The Reason,

Then not so.

Then I was

Put aside,

Until I learned

To step aside,

Now not so.

Now I am my own

Heart,

Reason,

And Center.

This is so

And so it goes.

-JLH

Where is the love?

Elusive love hides

Before me all the time

Waiting to be found

-JLH

"There is a crack in everything God has made."

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Late Nite Update

Lot's of 8's - All Ready

It is past midnight and I am at the store for the second consecutive night. Last night I felt a bit of pressure, but tonight was really almost meditative for me. I have been working hard to get all the supplies ready for Margo's Phoenix Phlower class. I pushed to complete it all today, so that I can take the full day off from Poppyfield tomorrow...no blogging, no watering plants, no excuses.

Phoenix Phlower Class Update

The supply list is ready! Included in the hand-out is the story behind this unique flower design and its name.

All of the supplies are available including findings you will need!

Product Update

Here are the goodies that I've rolled out ...

• Size 8 seed beads - The duct tape is gone!!!!!
• Swarovski Rivolis 14mm - YUM! -
• Swarovski Crystal Pearls in 12mm, 10mm, and 8 mm - Buy 10 for a price break!
• Clasp and Pin Back with Bail - required for Phoenix Phlower

Irresistible Rivolis

Payment Update

My credit card processing has been approved and will be ready for use on April 1st. Let's all hope for "smooth swiping".

My first week is behind me. It has been great!

See you next week!

Peace and Beads,

Julia