Step By Step Wire Feb/Mar 2011

I'm a cover girl!

Whoohoo! On newstands now! I am so excited to have my Riveted Flower Rings featured on the cover of the latest edition of Step By Step Wire.

If you are looking for those beautiful glass flower beads that I used, They are part of Lampwork Bead Artist, Lisa Kan and you can find them on her website. I just love them!

If you would like to use those colorful metal flower components, you can find those at Glass Garden Beads.

Everything else, including silver and copper strip for the bands, metal design stamps, tools and more, can be found at Beaducation.

You can also find a whole bunch of great classes there as well... but I might be a little biased!

And please do drop me a line if you have any questions about the project, or of your finished pieces. I'd love to see your work.

The Bead & Button Show Class Catalog is LIVE!

...and up today.

If you clicked on my teacher link to get to my site, let me say a big WELCOME!

Follow my site to learn more about me, my classes, stuff I make and even a tutorial thrown in every once in a while.

I am teaching two classes at the Bead & Button Show in June. I love to teach metalwork and these are two of my favorites!

Capped and Dapped Beads

In this class, students will learn the joys of tube riveting. These beads are a great focal bead in a beaded design or look great simply strung on a chain.   ***Edited to add that class is full****

In addition to working with copper and sterling silver, students will also work with anodized aluminum sheet. The sheet is used in the sample above and makes a very striking piece.

Ring Roundup

In this class students will have the opportunity to create a selection of rings. From simple and stamped bands to set stones, we will cover it all!   ***Edited to add that there are limited seats available***

Check out the entire class catalog and show information at the Bead&Button Show website. Hope to see you in class and if you have any questions about my classes, send 'em my way!

Knitted Socks for me...

 I love hand knit socks... 

I have knit several pairs and consider myself pretty adept at the whole knitting from the cuff down, turning the heel, and decreasing for the toe.

My sock world has just turned upside down. Literally.

I made a pair of socks from this book, and it's changed my life.

Here's the story.

In August I spent a lovely week at GGFI. That's the Golden Gate Fiber Institute. Magic. Amazing. Inspiring. If you are into fiber, this is your dream vacation. GGFI is the brainchild of Morgaine Wilder of Carolina Homespun and Judith McKenzie McCuin fiber guru. I can't wait to go back next year.

One of the things I did that week was spend 3 hours every afternoon learning about socks from this sprite of a woman.

 

That's Cat Bordhi. 

Her superpower is to comprehend the very essence of knitting structure and to bring others along for the ride. This class was all about making socks that fit your personal footprint and in the process I learned how to knit.

Sure, I've been knitting for years. I've made sweaters, hats, slippers, an Ipod cover. Painstakingly following patterns. Never straying from the formula. That was knitting. This class taught me KNITTING.

We started by tracing our feet.

That's Cat's footprint.

Then you cast on 6 stitches using Judy's Magic cast on, toe up. Increase to 12 stitches and knit one plain round. Then we followed this pattern:

Then you try it on. And check the fit. And knit. And try it on and check the fit. And knit. Increase on the sole when you feel like you need more room. Add a stitch pattern if you want.

You record it all on your footprint.

I learned to knit intuitively. How to anticipate where I needed to increase to get a perfect fit. I did not follow a step-by-step pattern. Your foot is your pattern.

Finished. And they fit perfectly.  You can see the second pair that I started over to the left.

Here they are center stage. They'll have a contrasting toe, heel and cuff. I am using a simple knit 2 together/yarn over (K2TogYO) pattern every 6th row to make it interesting. The variegated yarn is Claudia Hand Painted, from our goodie bags and Louet Gems in Fingering Weight, Sandlewood colorway, from Cat.

If you are a sock knitter I would bet this book will change your life. It did mine.