2011 BIG BEAD SHOW!

SATURDAY - 15th OCTOBER 2011

THE BIG BEAD SHOW hits Sandown Park in Esher!

Not only will there be a stunning mass and eclectic choice of delectably gorgeous beads from top class suppliers and exhibitors!! ... this year, for the first time ... the show is holding WORKSHOPS and I am delighted to be one of the tutors!

So do please come along and take part in a "Taster" WireWork Jewellery Workshop
as I will be running 3 workshop sessions throughout the day:

10.30am-11.45am * 12pm-1.15pm * 2pm-3.15pm

The workshops are already getting booked up quickly, so if you confirm your place NOW, you wont be disappointed on the day!

These 'taster' workshops will cover essential techniques such as 'MAKING LINKS ON BEADS' 'FORMING SPIRALS', 'CREATING BEAD CAGES' and 'MAKING JUMP RINGS', which will enable and provide you with the opportunity to make a very special and unique piece of finished jewellery to take home. I will also be happy to divulge any of my wirework tips and tactics, so please feel free to ask when you attend!

Below are some samples of the types of pieces that could be created within the workshop session:

Bead Cage & Spiral Necklace
Plaited Cord with Threaded Bead Pendant


Corded Bead Bracelet

Bead Cascade Pendant on Chain

Beads Unlimited of Brighton are very kindly providing a fantastic choice of beads for you to make your pieces and they will have wonderful offers to hand out on their stand throughout the day! So, don't miss out!The whole event is being organised by BEAD MAGAZINE

who I am sure you are already familiar with for their inspirational magazine
and for BEAD TV!

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To avoid complete despair and years of regretful disappointment
pre-book the workshops for £10.00 by emailing:
Elizabeth@ashdown.co.uk
or else ... (and that's only IF there are ANY places left ...)
pay £12 at the show.

ALL the tools, gorgeous choice of beads and worksheets required,
will be available for your use on the day –
provided by Beads Unlimited of Brighton
So, if you don't want to miss your place for this very unique opportunity ...

... before all the places get taken!

I very much hope to see you there!!(Guaranteed Creative Fun and a uniquely original piece of jewellery to take home!)

COILING GIZMO

I am often asked
if I have a favourite
wireworking tool
or gadget?
It's always difficult to
name just one ... but
as far as gadgets go ...
I think it would have
to be the -
COILING GIZMO or
SPIRAL BEADMAKER.






This brilliantly simple device, was invented by a talented
Canadian artist called LEROY GOERTZ, who worked in
many different media. His first love was wood (making furniture)
and later he used wood in his sculptural work . In the early '70's
he began experimenting and working with glass (this was as a
result of teaching at Oregon's school for delinquent children)
and developed his lampworking skills using a torch flame and
molten coloured glass rods. In the early 1990's he gained an interest
in bronze sculpture, which led to working with wire, evolving techniques
for creating jewellery using coiled wire ... hence, the invention of his
COILING GIZMO!
His most recent work involves casting in precious metals for a wearable
line of sculpture.

















You can read all about his COILING GIZMO and other
coiling inventions here:

http://www.coilinggizmo.com/












Now back to the gadget, you can purchase this in the
U.K. from: www.wires.co.uk (my very favourite wire supplier!)
Also, www.gjbeadeads.co.uk supply a 'deluxe' 5 handle mandrel
coiling tool ... and so do many other bead suppliers on the internet
around the world. So there is no excuse for NOT being able
to purchase one!

Even though it is possible to coil wire by hand, it is a labour
intensive process and this gadget will provide you with a device
to create coils for mass producing jump rings, creating spacer
coil beads, beaded beads, spiral beads and 'pompom' beads ...
amongst other wonderful wirey things!! It just consists of a
couple of crank handles and a bracket, but it does the job!
It's such a time saver!








You can follow so many tutorials on 'You Tube', so if you are a
complete beginner that's where you can learn how to make
your first spiral beads.






















Also, just cut the coils into segments and use them as
'spacer' beads. Below is an example of an eyeglass
chain using this technique:























Or, here's an example of a Choker Necklace (and I have
made a Gallery Bangle using this method too).























It's also great for making shapes: thread the
coils onto wire wiggles and curly coils and you
can create a variety of Necklace, Earring and
Bangle designs ... here are just a few to whet
your appetite!























(Above) A Red & Black Necklace Design





















(Above) Crazy Coil Bangles

I have even use use coiled sleeves for some of my ring shanks.






You will also
find some
more images
on an older
post of this
blog - dated
Tuesday
22nd June
2010 ...







Not only is the Coiling Gizmo great for making
spiral beads and wire spacers, etc... but it will
provide you with instant gratification, when creating
POMPOM beads!
















































































































If you're wondering how these POMPOM Beads
are created: they are made from a stretched out coil which
has been wrapped around itself to form a ball!

What are waiting for? Go and crank that handle and
make some colourful Pompom Beads with
different gauges and colours, with, or without beads ...

... and PLEASE do send in your images to my
FACEBOOK page as I would love to see and share them!

Happy curly C O I L I N G !!

JESSICA ROSE

AS THIS IS A 'ONE-OFF' EXCLUSIVE!
Not something I do very often.
Purely because I am so happy and
satisfied in my own studio space and teaching environment ...

HOWEVER, when the lovely and talented
Jessica Rose






















from The London Jewellery School













asked if I would run a 2 day WireWork Masterclass ...

ON: WED. 5TH - THURS. 6th OCTOBER

I had to say "YES"!!

There are limited spaces, so if you are interested, please
BOOK NOW to avoid disappointment. Also, I can guarantee
that I shall pack these classes with as many techniques, tips and
design inspiration to re-ignite your inner 'beading souls'!!

Just click on this link to share in this wirework experience:
http://www.londonjewelleryschool.co.uk/























I don't need to tell you that the venue is in London. Just the
experience of being in the buzzing heart of the city's jewellery
Quarter is exciting enough!

If you are a complete beginner, I will help you with your
first 'Bambi' steps, however, it is helpful if you already have
some experience of using pliers and manipulating wire ... but
it's not completely essential.

On the first day, I propose to give you a general introduction to
tools and materials and basic set up: starting with elementary
techniques such as 'making bead links', 'spirals',
'cages for beads' and 'clasps':





Bead Cage
& Spiral
Projects














Above, are some of the types of pieces you will be able to
create with these fundamental skills.

Following lunch, I am going to cover 'WORK HARDENING'
and tempering of wire.






These circular
links are created
from compressed
hammered wires.














You will learn to make various shapes and motifs,
such as 'hearts' and 'wiggly~squiggles' (that's a technical
term!!) and with these shapes, you will be able to create
unique chain links.

Wire motifs
& shapes
















You could also, just stick to one linking system and
create a simple 'S' link bracelet (as shown below):






















DAY 2: will start with an introduction to creating Frames for
Bangles and Pendants. Everyone will have the opportunity
of creating a unique beaded cuff bangle.




Beaded
Cuffs










Following lunch break, I am going to encourage some
free-style designing, using all the skills you have learnt.
There will be the possibility of designing a 'torque' style
choker necklace:







Blue Bead
Torque
Frame
Choker












Alternatively, you could make pendant frames for necklaces:








Beaded
Pendant
Frames













Or, have a go at making some exclusively
original BROOCHES!























These beaded frames not only make good brooches, but
stunning necklace focal pieces, can be wired onto ring
shanks and bangles, etc..., etc..., need I go on!























~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I DO HOPE THAT'S GIVEN YOU A 'TEASER' OF WHAT'S IN
STORE ON THE 2 DAY MASTERCLASS...

I CAN GUARANTEE THAT YOU WILL LEAVE WITH RECHARGED
CREATIVITY, NEW TECHNICAL SKILLS AND A MASTERY
OF WIREWORK ... AS WELL AS SOME BEAUTIFUL PIECES
TO 'SHOW & TELL'.

I VERY MUCH LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING YOU!
xxx