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Cindy Holsclaw has dabbled in crafts for longer than she can remember, but she’s always been most fond of geometric structures. After many years of exploring these mathematical forms in modular origami, in 2006 she learned that these structures could also be made with beads. From then on, she was hooked! In 2009 Cindy started writing patterns for her own beading designs, and in 2012 she dove into designing and teaching beadwork full-time.
With a background in academia and a doctorate in biochemistry, Cindy takes an analytical approach to her design style; she likes exploring different bead shapes and variations on the established beading techniques, and she’s constantly thinking of new ways to put beads together. Biochemistry and mathematics continue to inspire her and often show up in her finished work. As an educator, Cindy challenges her students to learn something new in every class, while giving them the tools they need through her very detailed beading patterns.
In 2015 Cindy was named Designer of the Year by Beadwork Magazine, and a series of her beading videos were published by Interweave in the same year. Cindy has taught at the Bead & Button, Bead Fest, and BABE! shows as well as at several bead stores and bead societies around the country. When not on the road, Cindy makes her home in San Diego, California with her musician husband and baby daughter.
Contact Cindy:
beadorigami@gmail.com
facebook.com/cindyholsclaw
Visit Cindy’s website and shop at:
www.beadorigami.com
Shona Bevan
Talisman
A talisman is an object traditionally thought to have magic powers to bring good luck. Lucky or not, this beautiful beaded pendant will certainly bring a magic sparkle to whatever outfit you wear it with!
This Talisman is a fully reversible pendant featuring two Swarovski rivolis captured back-to-back in a bezel embellished with tiny Czech beads. The rivoli bezel forms the centrepiece of a crystal encrusted wheel suspended from a delicate rope with integral beaded beads.
The project is worked in variations of RAW and CRAW using Japanese seed beads, Czech embellishment beads and Swarovski pearls and crystals. Students must be comfortable with CRAW to complete this project.
At least three additional colorways will be available.
Shona is a London based bead designer who loves to create a big impact with tiny beads and makes elegant, wearable jewellery with a focus on beautiful finishing.
Primarily self-taught, Shona began beading as a teenager and her love of beads has continued ever since. At the request of a local beading group who wanted to expand their beadweaving skills Shona began teaching her own designs in 2013 and is now a regular instructor at many UK venues.
Thanks to the support and encouragement of other bead designers Shona applied to teach at the Bead&Button show in Milwaukee and in 2015 began her international bead teaching career, which has so far taken her to Germany, the Netherlands and the USA.
Shona has been published several times in the UK beading magazine “Bead & Jewellery” and her super-sparkly Trellis bracelet is a featured project in the Jean Power book “Beading: Learn It, Love It”.
You can see more of Shona’s work on her website at www.shonabevan.com
Cindy Holsclaw
Frozen Flame
The Frozen Flame pendant features several tendrils of twisty flames surrounding a sparkly focal crystal. This reversible piece also includes a second crystal on the back, bezeled with several layers of intricate netting.
While I set out to create this piece to mimic a specific shape, don’t let that stop you from wearing it the way you want: you can change the position of the bail to turn it upside-down, or leave off the back and attach a pin for a fancy brooch.
You will learn how to weave this piece using netting, RAW, and coiled CRAW; a variation of twisted CRAW that naturally twists and coils based on its specific thread path. Like traditional CRAW, coiled CRAW makes a supple rope that can be firmed up with additional embellishment, and this technique can also be used to make twisty components and additional structural beaded forms.
Previous experience with CRAW is strongly recommended prior to stitching this piece.
At least 3 colorways will be available, all at the same price.
Beki Haley
Sabrina
Sometimes falling back on a tried and true colorway will help you produce pieces of beadwork you will love. That was the case with me and Sabrina. So....I named her after someone I always wanted to be when I was growing up....Sabrina Fairchild - from the 1954 film Sabrina. I would have also settled for just being Audrey Hepburn!
Sabrina has a beautifully bezeled Swarovski Navette stone in Embellished CRAW, a Peyote Petaled Pearl Flower and another oldie but goodie from my repertoire of days gone by....Graduated Spiral Rope.
A fun project open for lots of color combination and a skill set in beadweaving techniques that you can apply to many other projects.
Additional colorways will be available!
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Your 2018 Beaders Dream Retreat
San Diego Class Lineup......
Beki Haley has been in love with beads for over 40 years now. She was introduced to the amazing art form of seed bead weaving by her grandmother when she was a child. That early start in exploring the intricacy and fine detail that can be attained with seed beads has stayed with Beki throughout her life. Even as a young teen, Beki loved teaching others all the beautiful things that can be created with beads. She has over 30 years of teaching experience in several different venues from large auditorium settings to intimate one-on-one classes and everything in between.
Training as a classic silversmith at a young age gave Beki an appreciation and understanding of the art and beauty of jewelry design. Beki uses those formal skills to teach the technical aspects of jewelry design. In her classes, the students learn the importance of attention to detail and craftsmanship while exploring their natural creativity. Her love of beads led Beki to open her own bead store, Out On A Whim, in 1986. With her husband, four children, several animals, and days filled with beads, Beki’s life is complete. During any stressful time in her life, Beki turns to her beads for comfort and calm. The meditative action of beading is the perfect tool to bring peace and joy to her otherwise busy and chaotic life. Sharing that joy by teaching others how to create with beads is a blessing beyond measure.
Learn more about Beki from her Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/beki.haley
Contact me at: info@BeadersDreamRetreat.com
Visit my business website at: Whimbeads.com