Sunday's class was for my Victorian Bangle Bracelet. (This is actually two classes in one and I really jam my students so they have finished pieces at the end of the day.) All of their pieces came out beautifully and I have to extend sincere thanks to the entire class for staying around afterwards to help me pack-up and clean the room. I hope everyone had as good a time at this year's Beadfest as my team and I did. See y'all 'down the road'!!

Although I am sure I will get 'not so friendly' emails from these wonderful ladies, (cuz this is not the best shot), I have to share their picture with you. Lindi is on the left and Mint on the right. These two ladies are very good friends of mine, who volunteer their time to come to Philly to assist me with classes. With them around, life is a lot of fun!! Many, MANY thanks ladies!! Pictured in the center is 'Sandra Dee', (not really her name, but . . . .). I am also pleased to tell you that each of them have loaned me gorgeous jewelry pieces for the Student Gallery section in my upcoming book!

Ah Saturday - and my Ladies Prong Ring class. Everyone wants to learn to make clean, strong prongs that will hold a stone in a ring design without using wire across the top of the stone. It can be done! I think a few folks slipped out before picture time - but I am proud to say that EVERYONE left with a finished ring!! (whew!)

Friday afternoon, my Classic Cabochon Pendant class was totally full! With the assistance of my wonderful friends/team, Lindi from Williamsport, PA and Mint from Williamsburg, VA, everyone was wearing their finished pendants out of class!

Friday morning this wonderful group of ladies came in to learn how to make my 'Buzzy Bee' scatter pin. Working with lots of details in tiny places, their little bees came out beautifully! I gave them a homeowrk assignment - to alter this design into a dragonfly. Let's see who does it!

Thursday was 'earring' day. My second class, from 5 to 8pm was for my 'Angel Chandeliers'. This design can be altered to make many different styles - depending on the length of wires and what beads/pearls are used.

Most of you know that I have just returned from teaching a variety of classes for Interweave Press at Beadfest in Philadelphia. Day 1, Thursday, we began the morning with one of my favorite classes: "Yum Drops!". This group of ladies made some gorgeous earrings with a combination of sterling silver and sapphires. (No, I don't like being in these pictures, but one of my assistants insisted.)

I keep forgetting to post a picture of these wonderful ladies! Mac, (behind) and Charley have been taking local classes with me for about 2 years now and are getting ready to do their very first show! Too cool. Good Luck ladies! (Mac and Charley donate 25% of their profits to St Jude's.)

Most of you know how devastated we were when Sparky, our 13 year old boxer, crossed over. We had decided not to have any more animals. Well, the Universe had a different idea and this little tiger kitten wandered out of the woods and decided to adopt us. No, she is not allowed in the house, but she does make a wonderful studio/barn/woodshop companion. Yes, we had her spayed and all of her shots are up to date. Hopefully she'll stick around for a good, long while. As you can see, she and Skye don't get along at all!

Besides the wholesale G&LW show, we also haunt the 'tailgate' show. (I still have no idea of the 'real' name for this one.) Here we see a few members of my group, taking a break. Jill from KY, Mary from TN and Dottie from NJ. Even though we're in the beautiful Smoky Mountains, it still gets really hot! Being loaded down with goodies doesn't help, I'm sure. Our very supportive husbands work hard to keep us empty handed by making trips to the truck to unload throughout the day.

Ok, so I've not been as current as I would like, posting to this blog - but I am catching up today! Several folks wonder what draws my family and friends to Franklin, NC in July. Well, besides the fact that there are anywhere from 4 to 6 wholesale and retail gemshows going on during that week, I get to semi-relax in our favorite cabin.

Ok, so I just found out that my third wire jewelry DVD is available from Jewelry Television. Took me a while to find it on their site. Go to jtv.com and search for DVD7. Here is the info they have:
Product Description - Wire Wrap One Step Further DVD. The third in the Jewel School(tm) series, this DVD reviews basic wire wrap techniques, then introduces useful tips for adding flair and sophistication. Jewelry Designer Dale Armstrong shows how to create a Jewel School(tm) exclusive: a beautiful multi-cabochon sterling silver link bracelet and matching cabochon pendant enhancer.