This Weekends' Classes

I'll be teaching two fabulous classes at beadFX this weekend. To the best of my knowledge there is still room available.

Wire Lace Crocheted Multistrand Necklace

Saturday, April 10th, 2010 2:00 - 5:00

Learn how to create a beautiful multistrand crocheted necklace using Crystallized Swarovski Elements and Wire Lace. Choose from a variety of beads and colours of Wire Lace. This necklace is beautiful and a bit funky too.

Skill Level:Beginner

Prerequisite: None

Price: $30 (+GST), payment in advance required

Supplies: $45 plus tax. Kit includes written instructions, crochet hooks, wire lace, Swarovski Crystallized Elements and findings. The kit makes a 3 strand necklace.

Need to Bring: A positive attitude and a smile!

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Crocheted Cuff Bracelet
Sunday, April 11, 2010 1:00 - 4:00

Learn how to create a beautiful cuff bracelet with the single crochet stitch using beads and Artistic Wire. Choose from a variety of beads and colours of Artisitic Wire. Cuff bracelets are so hot right now and are all the rage in fashion magazines. This would be the perfect accessory for any outfit - but I'm thinking prom dresses at this time of year!

Skill Level: Intermediate

Prerequisite: Wire Bead Crochet Basics class recommended. Must know how to do rows of single crochet.

Price: $30 (+GST), payment in advance required

Kit Fee: $30.00

Need to Bring: A positive attitude and a smile!
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To enroll in either of these classes, please call 416.701.1373 or toll free 877.473.2323

Tangled Web

Cynthia and I had some gorgeous beads to work with for this month's Celebrity Designer Challenge at BeadFX. We were given some 8mm Swarovski's rounds in Light Azore and Violet, a 20 mm Swarovski Square Donut in Crystal Vitrail and an 11/0 Colour FX mix called Samba. I absolutely loved the colours! But those darn 11/0's I could have done without. I like my beads BIG!

But I am always up to a challenge. To work with the 11/0 seedbeads, I bought myself a bead spinner. I have always wanted one, bought one for my Aunt Penny, but had yet to get one myself. This was the perfect opportunity.

My first idea was to load the beads on a thread and combine that with a complementary novelty yarn. It looks fabulous. But the piece I made was to long for a bracelet and too short for a necklace. So back to the drawing board.

I ended up creating a wirework base with 20 gauge Artistic Wire. Then a la Rachel Nelson Smith, worked in the seedbeads between the 20 gauge wire on a smaller gauge wire. After that, I worked in the Swarovski's.

I am pretty happy with the results and you should see how this sparkles in the sun. Not that there has been much sun lately.

Cynthia created a spiral rope and some "chicken feet" with hers a la Kate MacKinnon.

It's so fun to see how different our designs are - and that I have yet to submit something crocheted!!

Cynthia and I have both received our next challenge beads - woo hoo - bigger than seedbeads! Stay tuned!

The Dixon Chick at John Bead

On Friday and Saturday, I had the pleasure of spending the day with the amazing folks at John Bead. They were having their warehouse sale and asked me to come in as a guest designer to promote the extended line of colours that they are carrying of Artistic Wire in 26 gauge. Ooohhh, the colours! My favourite new colour by far is the Gun Metal. It is a beautiful sort of bronzed gunmetal colour that is a very flexible wire and is so beautiful to crochet with.

It was a day for seeing old friends and meeting new ones. Some of the people I had the pleasure of meeting are:

Crystal Mountain Beads: I met Rose Turner, who owns the store with her sister. They have a lovely store in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Please check out their website. Looking at it, wish I could just beam myself over there immediately. They have Zinc beads - yes ZINC - I never even knew such a thing existed. The beads are lead and nickel free. They also have a wonderful assortment of lampwork beads. Rose and I will be talking soon about setting up some classes in her store. Remember, with the Dixon Chick - crocheting is NOT a prerequisite! I will teach you all you need to know to make my signature necklaces.

Canadian Beading Magazine: Oh, I was like a little girl meeting Santa for the first time, when I met Pat Frazier, Publisher and Allison Savage, Editor-in-Chief from Canadian Beading Magazine. Do you remember the awe and excitement that you felt the first time you met Santa? A little scared, want to be on your best behaviour, want to show that you are a good girl? Well - yep, that was me. I am a HUGE fan of this magazine - the ONLY Canadian Beading magazine out there. I am looking forward to having some discussions with them about putting in some wire bead crochet patterns... would you like that? Let me know! And please continue to patronize the magazine, enter their contests, write letters to editor, put ads in the magazine and buying the kits. Aren't the Beading Etiquette articles an absolute riot?

Here are some pics from the fun time at John Bead.

This is a new design I created for John Bead using Preciosa. This picture doesn't do it justice - but it is very blingy!!!

A special thanks to Lynda, Christina, Krysta and Brian from John Bead for making me feel like one of the gang. Let's do it again soon!

The Wait is Over...

For those of you who were wondering - where did the Dixon Chick go? Well, here I am. Shortly after my last post on Canadian Thanksgiving, my computer's power supply went the way of the dodo bird. This was very disconcerting to say the least. I chalk it up to "The Curse of the Volunteer Coordinator". Apparently, the same thing happened to Kimberly Harris when she was the Volunteer Coordinator for the Toronto Bead Society.

My last post was entitled: Busy, Busy, Busy. And it is still true - but I thought I would provide some updates.

My name is Mommy: the last post started with the Marlies game that Declan and I went to. Well, as season ticket holders - we go to them all. There was another one last night - a very special one for us. I organized a group of 70 kids from Grades 6, 7 and 8 and teachers from St. Antoine Daniel to go down to the school day game yesterday. When booking the tickets with my sales rep, Darryl, I asked if they had chosen the minor hockey player that carries the Marlies flag onto the ice and skates around with it. They had not - so of course, I suggested Declan. And he was chosen as the McKid! It is hosted by McDonald's and the group sits in the McDonald's zone. It was a great experience for both Declan, his dad and myself. He got to greet the players as they came off the ice, right in front of the dressing room. They high fived him, smacked his pads with their sticks and generally had a fun time with him.

I also went to the Bahamas with some fabulous gals from my softball league. There will be many a post on that trip - but here is a pic or two to whet your appetite:

Beading: Well tomorrow is going to be quite exciting! I am off to John Bead for their warehouse sale. Shopping again you say? Perhaps, but they have asked me to demo my wire bead crochet technique with the new expanded line of 26 gauge Artistic Wire that they are carrying. Christine, Lynda and I have been hatching some ideas and I can not wait to reveal the new design this weekend. All I can say is HOLY BLING MOLEY!!!! Think Preciosa....

All will be revealed...

MWAAAHAHAHAHAHA!

PS. A special shout out to Cynthia Fawcett - HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! (tomorrow)