Bead Retreat

A turtle and a horse that I got from Sally and stuffed and sewed together, ready for beading.



Some of Sally's stuffed leather critters, ready for her to bead



Rita's gorgeous loomed rose montee bracelet.



Some of my experimental polymer clay pieces, technique taught by Jan Jones



Mary's hands at work.



Loomed Bracelet, technique taught by Rita Sova--kit provided by Rita (thanks Rita!).



One of Sally's leather animal blanks that I bought from her and am stuffing and will bead later.



A gorgeous pair of Sally Ingrams' Diagonal Weave Earrings



My attempt at Vietnamese Button weaving, technique taught by Sally Ingram.



Mary is making these cool bottlecap earrings!


Over the weekend, I was lucky to be a part of an annual bead retreat that I've been attending for a decade. We met in Santa Fe this year and a dozen of us (plus several husbands, with varying degrees of interest in the goings-on) met, dined, beaded, played with polymer clay and buttons, shopped and all-in-all had a wonderful time. As usual, my roommate was Mary Tafoya, an extraordinary beader and artist. We also got to spend time with Sally Ingram, who makes the most gorgeous beaded critters, and who is one of the few living beaders who works in the Ho Chunk style diagonal weave and makes beautiful ceremonial hair wraps as well as long, gorgeous earrings, Sally taught us in interesting techniques for weaving or twining buttons into patterns for things like coasters, baskets and ornaments, a technique done by the Vietnamese. Many of the beaders got this right away, I struggled with it but am sure I can do it when Sally can give me a diagram of the thread path (hint, hint, :-) ). Rita Sova taught us a new technique for the Versa Loom, a bracelet with strands incorporated into it, that I love. She showed off the gorgeous loomed bracelet done with rose montees on the Versa Loom. I've already put in an order for some of the montees, so I can try and make one. Jan Jones taught us how to make neat wood grain looking polymer clay pins and showed us techniques incorporating paint and poly clay that end up with a cool crackle looking finish. Mary taught us how to make our own earwires from sterling silver wire, with several little cool variations! (will try to get a pic of some and add later!) Mary turned me onto MSNBC news, especially Rachel Maddow, who I think is fantastic! It was a wonderful weekend, and already I'm looking forward to next year!