New Fall Jewelry Making Classes

This is an exciting time and a very challenging time of year at Kathryn Bowman Studio. Creating new jewelry making classes is always what is going on around here in July. I just met the deadline earlier in the month for fall into winter jewelry classes at Lady Bug Beads, the bead store I teach at here in the St. Louis area. Their new schedule runs from October to January. All of those classes will be available for signup on August 23rd online and at Lady Bug Bead's 10th Anniversary Celebration. Wow, can't believe I have taught for Lady Bug for ten years. "How time flies, when your having fun?", as the saying goes.

My Lady Bug classes are three popular repeats and three new classes. The popular repeats are: Bead Rope Crochet, Wire Findings, and the Morphing Plum Blossom. I only offer Bead Rope Crochet about once a year. It is the most challenging thing that I teach, and not everyone is up to how much work it is, and that's fine. The Wire Findings class is an action packed three hours of hands on making. Being able to make your own wire connections, hooks, and earwires, is an essential for any dedicated jewelry maker. And, of coarse, the plum blossom and it's many variations is an ever popular class and loads of fun. That fun isn't just in class but goes home with you to make beaded beads that you can adapt to your own jewelry designs. The new classes are; Dagger Down Earrings, Squares and Super Duo Cuff, and Three Metal Medallion Pendant and Toggle.

Dagger Down Earrings

Squares & Super Duo Cuff

Medallion Necklace with Toggle

•  The Dagger Down Earring pushes the plum blossom beaded bead in a new direction and I wanted to share that with my students. Very fun! 
• Squares and Super Duo Cuff is for the advanced student that has been doing square stitch with beads for a while, but wants to push it to a new level. By including Super Duo beads in the mix, it will have the student dancing a new step and seeing how well they are paying attention with each stitch. This cuff is definitely my greatest accomplishment recently in "how can you really, really challenge yourself," arena. I have to admit I had a few frustrating moments and restarts, before I got it to work. Come join me and be challenged.
• The Three Metal Medallion Pendant and Toggle has a little bit of everything for the metal worker. You will be sawing, piercing, filing, riveting, wire wrapping, and, of coarse, including a few beads. I like it hanging long, but the student may choose to have it hang higher, and that will all depend on your taste and what you want to do.

All in all, a good line up of classes at Lady Bug Beads, including students just beginning through advanced. Don't forget to see the other instructors offerings for the fall and winter. There are some really talented ladies teaching classes at Lady Bug Beads, and you don't want to miss out.

That deadline being met, I'm on to the next. I will be teaching for a weekend at Bead Boutique, October 5 and 6. Still getting that all set up times and costs, but the classes are coming together nicely. Saturday morning we will make a metal pendant, using basic metalsmithing techniques. In the afternoon on Saturday we will learn how to make the Plum Blossom beaded bead and as many variations as we can fit in. Sunday afternoon we will make the Dagger Down Earring, which is the Plum Blossom beaded bead in it's newest form. This will be my first excursion out of town to teach at a bead store. I'm really looking forward to meeting Kansas City beaders and see what they are doing with beads.

Through all of what I have just been telling you about developing classes, I am really working on the class proposals for Bead and Button Show 2014. Morphing Plum Blossom, Dagger Down Earrings, Squares and Super Duo Cuff, and the Three Metal Medallion Pendant and Toggle are in the proposal line up. Believe it or

Plum Gold, Flower Petal Necklace

not I have ten more ideas that I am working on for proposals. I am working on all of the ten simultaneously, for some reason. I may have a bright idea or finding a solution to a problem in one project, while steadily working along on another proposal project that is more predictable. Now, whether all ten will make it in the final cut, depends on a lot. The technique has to be interesting to a wide variety of jewelry makers and skill levels. With bead projects I have to consider bead availability, because for each class at Bead and Button I will make a kit for each student. An obscure bead may really make a design, but I have to be able to repeat that same design at least 12 times for the number of students I have in class. Oh, and what if I do that same class twice, times that by two. I'm not going to do any metal classes that include etching metal for 2014. It is someone else's turn to teach metal etching. Teaching how to etch involves a lot of equipment that has to be moved around almost daily, while I am at the week long show, and I've decided to streamline those many moves and cutting out etching was going to be essential to making the moves easier. I really had a lot more fun at the 2013 Bead and Button Show than I had in a long time. This was mostly due to a lighter schedule, and a break in the middle of the week to catch our breath. It was so much fun to get out in Milwaukee and be a tourist. With this in mind, I may teach a little more for 2014, but I will definitely take a break in the middle of the week.

Check out my fall into winter schedule. There are a few times set aside at my home studio you might be interested in. You will need to e-mail me at, 1kathrynbowman@gmail.com to get anything set up at my home studio. I like to screen who's coming to the house, please understand. Hope to see a few of you in class. Until then, happy jewelry making.

Bead & Button Show, The Annual Report

My teaching assistant, Meghan Copper, said on the drive home, "it's an experience." It always is. This is the eighth Bead & Button Show I have been to and the sixth that I have taught at. And it is still an experience. It's hard to explain to anyone, or prepare anyone in advance. If you make jewelry, you have to experience the Bead and Button Show once in your life time. This year I taught fewer classes than I have in the past. I have always taught everyday of the week, that I am in Milwaukee. This has created a grueling marathon of an experience. I must say, I enjoyed the lighter teaching load. We actually had more time to shop and really see all of the new products and innovations the world of jewelry making comes up with each year and to see the city of Milwaukee. Yes, we even did side trips.

Delta Center, Milwaukee, WI

After a beautiful drive from St. Louis to Milwaukee, the week started with getting a mountain of tools and supplies into the Delta Center, where the show is held. It was actually rather painless. There was virtually no one in this huge convention center as we loaded in about 5 p.m. on Saturday. Fortunately, I had done it before, but I could tell Meghan was having some doubts. We ended up having to cross a very large exhibition hall in the dark, with only tiny red exit lights on the opposite side, to guide our way to the doors we needed to go through to get to our class room/home for the next three days. It was a bit spooky, but we persevered. With all of our equipment parked where it needed to be, we headed to our hotel and dinner.

About four years ago, I discover that I could really save on hotel cost by not staying downtown Milwaukee. Ten minutes drive north of downtown Milwaukee is Glendale, WI. I have found the hotels cost half of what the downtown hotels are charging and free WIFI. In Glendale there is a Mall with great shops, lots of restaurants, and a more relaxed safe atmosphere than downtown. This is a great option for those that travel to the Bead & Button Show by car. I understand the conveniences of being able to walk through the sky-walks to class or show from the downtown Hyatt Regency or Hilton Hotels. It no doubt works better for most show attendees, especially for those that fly in. I have found the Glendale hotels an easier option for me.

Early Sunday morning, June 2nd, we were back at the Delta Center setting up for a day of class. We got the tools out, kits for sale ready, and each student's place set with bench pin, instructions, etching kit, and a bag of treats and goodies.The day went by quickly, as we guided all of our students through making the Three Metal Articulated Bracelet. Monday we taught the Ginkgo In Motion Necklace and on Tuesday we taught the Articulated Bracelet for a second time. Everyone of the students worked so hard. They were focused and ready to learn everything they could in the short time we spent together. All of these classes are packed with various metalsmithing skills, so the student experiences and does a lot. By the end of Tuesday we were a bit dazed from three long days of teaching, talking, and sharing stories with a very interesting group of students. We were ready for a good nights sleep, without the need to get going so early, and into high gear right away.

All we HAD to do on Wednesday was in the evening, Meet the Teachers. We eat a late breakfast and

Crowd rushes in at Meet the Teachers Event.

headed to the American Science and Surplus Store. I had been hearing about this place for a couple of years and had never had the time to visit. It was most amusing. This store buys up surplus anything with a lot of camping, science, and art supplies on our visit. That could change tomorrow though, as it is what every they are able to find at surplus. After the surplus store, we made a quick stop at the Delta Center to set up the display for the Meet the Teachers Event. By then we were getting hungry and headed over to the Milwaukee Public Market. We looked at all of the beautiful food on display and there were mounds of it, made our selections, and had a nice lunch. Feeling nicely satisfied we headed off for a stroll around the Third Ward district. This is an area of Milwaukee filled with boutiques, eateries, and galleries. Just up our alley when it comes to interests, so it wasn't hard to wile away the afternoon. By 7:30 we were back at the Delta Center for an evening of meeting new jewelry makers, chatting with old friends, and enjoying banter with our fellow teacher neighbors.

Pabst Mansion

Thursday was another goof off day. I'm feeling really spoiled by now. This day we got serious about being tourists and went to see the Pabst Mansion. Very nice. Well worth the visit. Beautiful carvings every direction that one turns, amazing attention to detail in every way in each room both by the artisans that created the mansion and the amazing restoration. It is a nice peek into a time of, no holds bared, decoration dating around 1900. After our tour, we decided to head back to the Third Ward and hangout until shopping opened at 4 p.m. at the

Just a sampling of the tools.

Bead & Button Show. As always, the shopping was fabulous and all things in great abundance on the show floor. Meghan and I took off in different directions to satisfy our different interests. Meghan spent most of the evening laboring over the perfect cabochons to purchase. I passed by where she was a couple of times, as I shopped around. She was starting to feel a little guilty that she should pay some rent to the vendor, she had been there for so long. It was an evening about tools for me, and Meghan did finally narrow down to a few stones she would bring home. I must say, she made some excellent choices.

Bead Dreams Contest - Wire

Bead Dreams Contest - Objects
Oriental rug made with seed beads.

Bead Dreams Contest - Finished Jewelry

Friday would be our last day at the show. I had a three hour class at 5 p.m. called Toggles By You. The day started off slow, then over to the Delta Center for some more shopping, and then high energy teaching through the evening. We spent considerable time looking at the amazing work by the artists that enter the Bead Dreams contest. This work is always over the top and so inspiring. Then a few more purchases were made as we reviewed what we had seen the evening before. We had a nearly full class that evening. There was a lot to get done during class to make three different toggles, with a different skill attached to each one. It was impressive to have most everyone get finished and everyone seemed to be having fun as they worked away. After class we pulled everything out of the Delta Center (there is a pack horse aspect to this part of the event), and headed for the hotel.

It's always a good feeling to head home. I've done so much traveling in my life and the feeling about going home never changes. We had an uneventful drive home, and got to St. Charles around 6 p.m. It was a great trip. Really enjoyed the pace, my students were interesting and ready to learn, and made a few good buys on the show floor. Meghan was an excellent help. She was intuitive about seeing what needed to be done, and was great at filling in a part that I may had forgotten with a description or aspect to a skill. Really helpful. Now it is time to create new classes for 2014. This is always a creative and challenging time. What will I come up with? What are you interested in learning?

Toggles, Toggles, Toggles

Toggle designs ready to be etched.

Bracelets and necklaces need a connection, so we can wear them, and take them on and off. I believe that connection should be an organic part of your design. While a toggle is a practical need, I say have fun with it. I have made my own toggles for several years. In the beginning, it was my goal to have a handmade toggle on every bracelet I made. I met that goal quite some time ago, and now I want to share my toggles with you. In reality I have been sharing these toggles in my kits for about three years. I feel, that handmade toggle, adds to the uniqueness of my jewelry making kits. I have a few toggles on my web site and in my 1 Bead Weaver Etsy Shop. This year I am making it a focus to expand what I am offering.

Toggles after etching, cut out, and some domed.

It all starts with etching design into metal. There are graphic designs, bubbles, and, of course, floral designs. Got to have flowers. I am introducing four new designs, you will be excited about. There is one over sized toggle for that statement bracelet you got in mind. There are two flower toggles, and one that is a fan of leaves. It’s been fun to create the new designs. There are a few more in my sketch book, that will, hopefully, get into production later this year.  Right now I am making the toggles in copper, brass, and nickel silver.

I’ll have these toggles at Bead Blast in Kansas City the first weekend of May and, of course, at the Bead and Button Show in Milwaukee the first week of June. I really want to be out among my clientele, before I decide how many of these I will make in Sterling Silver. If there is enough interest that may be in the future as well. All are in production right now and will be online as soon as I can get the done. Until next time, happy jewelry making . . .

Art Wear Unlimited, a different kind of show.

Last December I was doing a show in Chicago, The Inside Show, and a couple of ladies visited my booth. We kibitzed and laughed. They were lovely, didn’t buy anything, and moved on. I didn’t think much about it. It was kind of how the show was going. About an hour later, they were back, backed me into a corner of my booth, and invited me to be in their show next April, Art Wear Unlimited. Wow! I had heard about this show. A couple of my artist friends had been in this show, and had great things to say about it. Needless to say I was thrilled.
This is an invitation only show, organized by Kathy Sackhelm and Linda Brodson. This duo travels around the United States in search of the unique, inspired, and original wearable. They show a few artist they have grown to love over time, but are always looking for up and coming artist just breaking into the art world, or not yet discovered. They present the Art Wear Unlimited show in the Spring and the Fall, with flare. They thoughtfully bring a beautiful array of wearable art together for the Chicago buyer, that appreciates their fine taste, vision, and expertise. Over time Sackhelm and Brodson have developed an exclusive mailing list, which is key to the success of their shows. They present one-of-a-kind quality wearable art that includes mostly casual and some dressy clothing, accessories, hats, scarves, gloves, and studio jewelry, in a wide price range, and with styles to suit any fashion taste. What these ladies do is great for the artists they invite, and a true gift for the buyers that
they have gotten to know so well over time. This will be the fourteenth Art Wear Unlimited experience these ladies have put together, at the Highland Park Country Club, in Highland Park, IL. Check out the Art Wear Unlimited website to get a preview of the Spring 2013 Sale and Show.

So with the excitement building, I am bringing together necklaces, bracelets, cuffs, fashion rings, and earrings. This is almost too good to be true, but I just pack everything up, make a detailed inventory, ship everything to the fine ladies that organize the show, and go on about my art business. Of course, that inventory list is the killer for me. For those that know me, you know how I hate to tag and inventory. But, it must be done. Sackhelm and Brodson arrange all of the wonderful art wear from the 40 artists that participate, into a boutique atmosphere in preparation for the show.
The FACTS:
What – Art Wear Unlimited

When – April 23, 2013, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
         April 24, 2013, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
         April 25, 2013, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Where – Highland Park Country Club
          1201 Park Avenue West
          Highland Park, IL   60035
Wish Kathy Sackhelm and Linda Brodson luck, with the show. Wish me luck, with the work I will be presenting. Wish the other 39 artist’s luck, with their work and careers.  It’s all good.

Scrap to Treasure

Not sure how I got started last week. This wasn't in the plan. Certainly had a lot of other things I should have been doing. Perhaps it was simply therapeutic. I started tearing apart jewelry creations I made ten or twelve years ago. Things do pile up. We all have failed design efforts, but what do you do with them? There are those projects that were clearly part of a learning curve and didn't quit make the mark on great color choice, design, or sound structure. What to do with all of those projects, becomes a space issue? I found myself being rather unemotional about it all. After all will they really do me or anyone else any good down the road? Where do you put it?

As I said, I didn't plan on sitting there for two hours one day, and two more the next morning, but I have to admit, I really got into tearing some of these old jewelry creations apart. Out of it I now have beads that are free to be in other creations and can have a new, possibly, happier life. There was sterling silver chain, closures, jumprings and scrap. I throw all of the silver parts I can reuse in the tumbler, and it came out looking shiny and new. I was amazed at how much scrap silver I ended up with.

So I’m off to the place I recycle silver at today, Hauser and Miller. They are located in St. Louis where I live, but you can ship your scrap to them for recycle. Just click the link on their name above, and you will find all of the details on how to do that on their web site. You can no doubt find a reputable location near you as well. There are a lot of “We buy Gold” places popping up over the past few years, since precious metal prices have gone up so radically. Take your time and investigate who you are dealing with. Contact the Better Business Bureau, to be sure about the location you will be dealing with. Be sure that you are getting current market value for any of your precious metal.

It feels good to have cleared out the studio a little bit. I have more jewelry I can cut apart, and intend to work away at it over time. This is all in hopes of having no extraneous “stuff” sitting around the studio. What a lofty aspiration? Wish me luck and I hope I’ve inspired you to start your own clearing out.