Creativ Festival Recap

The Fall Creativ Festival in Toronto is an annual pilgrimage for crafters of every ilk: jewellery makers, knitters, crocheters, quilters, sewers, scrap bookers, felters, cross stitchers and so many more. I remember going to my first show many years ago with my Aunt Penny and Aunt Min. Penny is a weaver, beader, sewer and knitter. Min makes the most glorious quilts. Obviously, I come by my craftiness honestly, it's in my genes. 

It was also the first place that I got introduced to beading. I took a class with William Hodge. All about beading around the world. He showcased so many different types of beading including needlework of which he had made a beautiful vest and he also showed some Mexican beading such as gluing beads onto a skull. Little did I know what an impact this first foray into the world of Creativ Festival would have on me and my career. 

Fast-forward many years when I was the volunteer coordinator for the Toronto bead society and had to organize our booth at the festival. At the time I was crocheting with wire to make beautiful necklaces with beads and wire. I was lucky enough to meet Laura Timmons who also was crocheting with beads and wire. We hit it off immediately and my life was forever changed. Laura invited me to be her assistant in her classes at Bead&Button in Milwaukee and what a grand time we had. I was lucky enough to room with her and the inimitable Kristal Wick. My eyes were opened to a entire new world of beading. 

Since that serendipitous meeting with Laura, I've taught at the Creativ Festival numerous times and even taught at Bead&Button. In fact, I've never missed either show since. 

This year's Creativ Festival saw the debut of my fellow CYS Ambassadors in Canada, June Beach, Pat Reisenburger and Fernando DaSilva. Added to this mix was Calgary's Jamie North and Newmarket's Alison Layton. Although it wasn't formally announced until after the show, Alison is the newest addition to the talented group of CREATE YOUR STYLE with Swarovski Elements Ambassadors. 

I had a grand old sparkly time demoing for Dreamtime Creations and Silver Dawn Jewels. I think I did a good job of spreading the sparkle love and enabling a whole new group of people. 

As a CYS Ambassador, I attended training in Rhode Island, the headquarters of Swarovski North America. I've kept up with my training and try to learn as many different ways to incorporate Swarovski into my work. This came in particularly handy when I had to temporarily step in to start teaching Pat's class as she encountered travel difficulties. I was happy to be able to teach her class how to make a felted bar of soap and embellish it with Swarovski. 

I love what I do and hope I get an opportunity to inspire more people at the next show. 

Book signing in Milwaukee

I am super thrilled to be participating with my fellow CREATE YOUR STYLE with SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS Ambassadors in a group book signing of Crystal Jewelry Inspirations at the 2013 Bead&Button Show in Milwaukee. Hope you can come out and get your book signed!

Crystal Jewelry Inspiration Editor: Karin Van Voorhees

Here's a video by our awesome editor, Karin Van Voorhees! She was amazing to work with on Crystal Jewelry Inspiration.

Source: kalmbach.com via Kalmbach Jewelry Making on Pinterest

Don't forget to see yesterday's blogpost to enter the contest and hear what I have to say about being part of this fantastic book.

http://www.thedixonchick.blogspot.ca/2013/01/crystal-jewelry-inspiration.html

Crystal Jewelry Inspiration Bloghop

It's real! After almost 18 months of anticipation, the book by the CREATE YOUR STYLE with Swarovski Elements, Crystal Jewelry Inspiration, is here!!!






 Crystal Jewelry Inspiration from the CREATE YOUR STYLE Ambassadors features projects from 30 of these talented designers from North America. The CREATE YOUR STYLE Ambassadors approach crystals from every conceivable angle in projects as diverse as the SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS they’ve used. Wide-ranging techniques, from modern bead stitching and elegant stringing to intricate wire crochet, help beaders polish their favorite skills plus learn something new. Styles range from vintage to funky to show-stopping glam, all sporting the sparkle that only crystals can provide. Jewelry makers will get first-hand information, expertise, and instruction from the most enthusiastic and passionate crystal jewelry designers working today. The gallery will inspire you with projects from Ambassadors around the world.

It was a great experience working with Kalmbach Publishing's Karin Van Voorhees and Swarovski North America's Nicole Harper. They were so encouraging of my project decisions and colour choices.

I am so honoured to be a CREATE YOUR STYLE with Swarovski Elements - to be a part of a group of phenomenal designers and teachers in the DIY market who share my love of teaching and Swarovski crystals.

When thinking about what I should submit for the book, I wanted to choose something that is readily identifiable as "me". When I think of Debra Saucier - Crystal Clay instantly comes to mind. When I think of Kristal Wick, I think of her fabulous fabric beads.  Both of these products and techniques are in the book! I decided to go with Sparkle Sprockets, which I created as a demo on the 2011 Swarovski Cruise. They were a big hit! This little component can be used in so many different ways. See the gallery of pictures on this blog for examples of Sparkle Sprockets in action!

Please participate in the bloghop organized by Kalmbach and you could win a prize!!!

Like Kalmbach Jewelry Books on Facebook ------> https://www.facebook.com/KalmbachJewelryBooks
Like my page on Facebook -------> https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Dixon-Chick/145579212127055
Leave a comment on this blogpost and you will be entered into a draw for a prize pack!

I am currently arranging a book tour and firming up arrangements. Stay tuned for details. I highly recommend you contact your local bead store to see if they carry the book. If they don't, you can purchase it directly from the publisher at http://www.kalmbachstore.com/67019.html

Please check out the blogs of my fellow Ambassadors - they may be having giveaways as well!

Monday, 1/14 June Beach www.beachhausdesigns.blogspot.com Lilian Chen www.liliangoldgatsby.blogspot.com Fernando daSilva www.modern-expressions.blogspot.com Marcia DeCoster www.maddesignsbeads.blogspot.com Stephanie Dixon www.thedixonchick.blogspot.com Tuesday, 1/15 Anna Elizabeth Draeger Diane Fitzgerald Leslee Frumin Katie Hacker www.katiehacker.blogspot.com Monica Han www.cysdreambeads.blogspot.com Wednesday,1/16 Linda Hartung Facebook Diane Hertzler www.dianehertzler.blogspot.com Val Hirata www.cbysparkle.com/blog Jamie Hogsett www.jamiehogsett.blogspot.com Tamara Honoman www.thonaman.com/Tams_blog_dir/blogs/index.php Sandra Lupo www.sandsstones.com/blog Jamie North www.glitznkitz.com Thursday, 1/17 Lisa Pavelka www.lisapavelka.typepad.com Margot Potter www.margotpottertheimpatientcrafter.blogspot.com Pat Riesenburger www.urbanstitchstudio.blogspot.com Leslie Rogalski www.sleeplessbeader.blogspot.com Nadia Sanchez Ramos www.foufouchat.blogspot.com Renata Sanchez Ramos www.foufouchat.blogspot.com Debra Saucier www.debrasaucier.blogspot.com Friday, 1/17 Brenda Schweder www.BrendaSchweder.com Debbi Simon www.debbisimon.blogspot.com Kim St. Jean www.kimstjean.blogspot.com Laura Timmons www.therabeading.blogspot.com Kristal Wick www.kristalwick.wordpress.com Diane Whiting www.sparklesandsmiles.blogspot.com

Crystal Bangle

Sometimes you come across a beading pattern that makes your heart sing.

"My Heart Sings" Mixed Media Art by Rachelle Hartley

I found that pattern on Gwen Fisher and Florence Turnour's website, www.beadinfinitum.com.

Crystal Bangle made with filled net stitch
 
© 2005 Gwen Fisher and Florence Turnour

The pattern for this exquisite bangle is available for FREE on their website.
http://www.beadinfinitum.com/Kits/index.html#Crystal_Bangle

I made a bracelet of this last night using 4mm Swarovski rounds in White Opal AB and size 11/0's and 15/0's in Galvanized Silver. I audibly gasped on row 3 as it all pulled together. It's like a magic trick, you won't believe your eyes. The architecture of this piece is amazing and you will know what I mean when you make it for yourself.

And I encourage you all to make it. This bracelet is deceptively easy to make and you will create an heirloom piece that will be a coveted piece for years to come.

Why does this piece make my heart sing? It's because you can change the beads used in many different ways to achieve endless combinations. You can use 4mm Swarovski crystal bicones, 4mm Swarovski pearls, 4mm Czech Fire Polish or any 4mm round beads. You can use one colour throughout, or how about one row of colour A and another row of colour B? I am currently working on one that has three different 4mm Swarovski bicones per row and they are starting to spiral as I make it. I'm using Crystal, Provence Lavender and Tanzanite with Steel and Antiqued Silver tones of 15/0's and 11/0's.

I'm making mine as bracelets that will have magnetic clasps, as the width of my hand is just too big for a bangle to sit nicely on my wrist. I wonder what it would look like if I used 2.8 mm drops in place of the 11/0's.... I better finish this purple toned one first. And I have all day to play today as it's Thanksgiving here in Canada. My husband is off golfing and my son is coaching football.


Happy Thanksgiving Day to my fellow Canadians! I am thankful for so much in my life: a wonderful husband, the best son in the world, loving family, great friends, a job I love and the opportunities that being a Create Your Style with Swarovski Elements Ambassador has brought to me.

I am thankful that you, gentle reader, took the time to visit my blog today.

Crystal Rock Pavillion at Creativ Festival

I hope you'll join me and some amazing talent at the Crystal Rock Pavillion at the Creativ Festival October 12, 13 and 14, 2012. For more information about this great Canadian event please visit their website www.csnf.com

Creativ Festival Fall 2011

I've just arrived back in town from a successful trip to Guelph where I had a booth at the Grand River Bead Society Fair. It was wonderful to see so many familiar faces and to meet new people who share my passion for all things sparkly. Crystal Clay, crystals from the Swarovski Elements collection and bezel settings were flying out of my booth at record speed! A special thank you to Maryanne Walczak for all her extraordinary help this help: chauffeur, sales woman extraordinaire and butt kicker when needed. You should see her work a price gun!

Now my focus turns to the Creativ Festival which starts on Wednesday, October 19. I am teaching four classes and three make and takes! It still amazes me that I am teaching at this awesome Canadian event, as I have been an attendee for many years, even before I started making jewellery. My first crafty love is crochet and I also did cross stitch for years.I have also been known to sew my own clothes and made some pretty cute outfits for my son when he was a baby.  I'm pretty much an all-around crafty chica and this is my absolute favourite show.

Two of my classes are sold out:

313c6	Wed 12:30	Fundamentals in Wirework - Stephanie Dixon
315c3	Fri 1:00	Crystal Clay Quartet - Stephanie Dixon

But there is limited space available in another two:

314c3

Thu 1:00

Crystal Crochet Cuff - Stephanie Dixon

Create this hot off the runway look cuff that you can wear 365 days a year!

Learn the technique of crocheting with wire incorporating of 250 SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS.

You won't believe you made it.

Pre-requisite: able to crochet a swatch of the single crochet stitch.

305c3        Thu 5:00         Starry Starry Night - Stephanie Dixon and Laura Timmons

This is the necklace that Laura and I taught on the CREATE YOUR STYLE  cruise in April 2011! Learn the crochet wire technique from two industry experts as you create this stunning necklace while playing with some very unique SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS, traditionally not found in jewellery designs. Work with Swarovski Cupchains, Chaton bandings and over 35 of the latest innovations and colours. This technique will not only sparkle your imagination but also embellish your creativity!

I really hope you will come to the Creativ Festival to check out all the fabulous vendors, take advantage of free seminars and make and takes, and be inspired by the latest trends in the craft world.

Sparklingly yours,

Stephanie

ACCEPTED at Bead & Button Show 2012!!

As I posted on Facebook, would someone please peel me off the ceiling?

The Bead & Button Show 2012 has accepted 4 of my classes!

I am absolutely thrilled to have an opportunity to spread the crystal love at this wonderful show which takes place in Milwaukee every year in June. I have been attending for many years as a student, a shopper and demonstrating techniques in booths for Crystal Clay, EH Ashley, Parawire, Rings and Things and Merchants Overseas. I love this show! There are so many talented teachers giving classes and I am honoured to have been chosen.

So I bet you are wondering what I will be teaching.....

Well this is the line-up, which is of course, subject to change!

Crystal Crocheted Cuff
B121920
Sunday June 3, 7 - 10 pm

Treasures of Atlantis
B121942
Monday June 4, 7 - 10 pm

Sparkle Sprockets: Charm Bracelet
B122139
Friday, June 8, 5 - 8 pm

Crystal Mocca-licious
B121938
Sunday, June 10, 9-noon

The Bead & Button 2012 catalogues will be sent out in December and online registration starts in January. Please visit www.beadandbuttonshow.com for all the details.

Stay tuned for more details!!!

Two New Classes This Weekend

Did you know I'm teaching 2 classes at That Bead Lady in Newmarket this weekend? Two brand new classes.

On Saturday at 12:30 is The Whirlwind of Hope ring bursting with crystal and happiness! And guess what? There's no kit fee!!!



On Sunday is a beautiful crochet and wire work class that uses oodles of crystals and lovely pieces from Tierra Cast.


Seating is limited, so go to www.thatbeadlady.com to sign up today or call 905-954-1327.

Don't forget to bring or buy your own copy of BeadStyle's Crystals issue. You'll get to see my published project in real life!!




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