Cougarisms

Beadfest Philly2008 ~ 7

2008-08-28T10:05:00.003-04:00

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'!!

Beadfest Philly 2008 ~ 6

2008-08-28T09:59:00.002-04:00

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!

Beadfest Philly 2008 ~ 5

2008-08-28T09:51:00.002-04:00

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!)

Beadfest Philly 2008 ~ 4

2008-08-28T09:48:00.002-04:00

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!

Beadfest Philly 2008 ~ 3

2008-08-28T09:45:00.002-04:00

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!

Beadfest Philly 2008 ~ 2

2008-08-28T09:40:00.002-04:00

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.

Beadfest Philly ~ August 2008

2008-08-28T09:32:00.002-04:00

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.)

Pop-a-Top

2008-08-28T09:29:00.002-04:00

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.)

New Familiar ~ July 2008

2008-08-28T09:23:00.002-04:00

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!

Shopping in Franklin, NC

2008-08-28T09:17:00.002-04:00

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.

Franklin, NC 2008

2008-08-28T09:11:00.002-04:00

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.

My Third DVD Now Available from JTV !!

2008-08-06T22:21:00.004-04:00

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.

Stardust Designs Bead Shoppe ~ June 2008

2008-07-01T11:06:00.002-04:00

I have been teaching in Nashville for more than 8 years now, and my favorite, and exclusive, location is at Stardust Designs Bead Shoppe. Mitzi has some of the most unique supplies for sale in the area, including the scrimshaw work of Mary Bailey. The atmosphere is relaxed and you'll find different things in each little nook and cranny. (Don't forget to open the drawers in the dental cabinet!)
This past weekend I had the opportunity to work with several returning students, as well as some new to my 'wired world'.
Stay tuned to my Class Schedule page to see what we'll be offering for classes when I return in October 2008!

Skye paints with Sonja ~ June 2008

2008-07-01T11:01:00.002-04:00

As I've mentioned before, Sonja Kiser is an art teacher for a middle school in Grahn, Kentucky. As a fine artist, her favorite medium is water color. When she came to visit this time, she treated us to a small showing of her paintings and spent some quality time with my daughter, Skye, teaching her different water color techniques. (I think she's created a new passion for Skye!)

Sonja's Faceted Session ~ June 2008

2008-07-01T10:55:00.003-04:00

Sonja Kiser has been working with me for less than 1 year and is producing some awesome pieces! During our recent 3 day session, we concentrated on a variety of settings and ways to use and work with faceted stones of all shapes and sizes. When she returns for her first 'Designer' class in October, it's going to be exciting to see those ideas she has in her mind come to reality!!

Panda Wire Group 2 ~ June 2008

2008-06-22T21:58:00.002-04:00

I mentioned Kim's gardens - she served very tasty lunches, and treated us to veggies from those gardens. Kim also surprised me with an ice-cream birthday cake! How cool is that?! (Yes, I am officially on the other side of that hill, and curious about the rocks that form the next one!) Yes, I'll be back to work with these awesome folks in upstate New York again next year ~ maybe I'll even take time to see Niagra Falls next time.

Panda Wire Group, Rochester, NY ~June 2008

2008-06-22T21:46:00.003-04:00

Kim Pandina hosted a two day, intermediate designs, session for her wire group in her home in Rochester, NY. Saturday, we made my Victorian bracelet design and Sunday we accomplised a prong-framed faceted stone pendant. (These are two very intense and detailed classes!) Everyone made great looking projects, and left loaded with new knowledge and techniques using faceted stones. Kim and her partner have a beautiful yard, filled with flowering plants, a hothouse full of unusual cacti and a nice veggie garden. (In her "spare" time, she enjoys canning!)

Betty's Bead Group, Buffalo, New York ~ June 2008

2008-06-22T21:34:00.002-04:00

Thursday I boarded yet another plane to fly to Rochester, NY for 3 full days of classes. Betty Schnellinger had taken classes with me at Beadfest events and then traveled to my studio for semi-private sessions. She returned to her home in Buffalo, and scheduled me for an intensive, all day beginner's workshop for members of her bead group. We worked from 8:00am until about 7:00pm, completing three full projects. These ladies were a lot of fun to work with. They provided a wonderful lunch buffet, and made some beautiful projects. I know I'll be back next year, to take them even further with their gorgeous work and designs. Many thanks Betty!!
(Also to her husband Jim, who makes unique handcrafted pens, one of which was presented to me as a thank-you gift!)

Thailand Adventure 2008 ~ 9

2008-06-16T11:33:00.004-04:00

After flying back to Bangkok from Chiang Mai, we spent a day in the city, and visited a convention center which was hosting a cultural event featuring craftsmen from each province and their skills. We then hit the road to travel to the shore at Hua Hin. A few of us walked down to the tall Buddah you see on this point. Charlie got some great photos on our way, while I picked up some amazing shells. We all enjoyed our stay there, our rooms were in turrets, completely round, and each day a variety of fresh flowers were scattered on our beds. (Green orchids one day!) We shopped at the night market, lazed by the pool and indulged in a massage and salt-scrub in an underground spa.

Thailand Adventure 2008 ~ 8

2008-06-16T11:22:00.002-04:00

After visiting the Elephant Camp, we had lunch at the Bai Orchid & Butterfly Farm. As I love orchids and try to keep a few alive at home, Charlie and I found the way they grow here very interesting. Some of them were simply hung on a wire with their roots exposed to the air and growing/blooming profusely, while others were planted in half coconut shells with a bit of moss ~ beautiful. (The constant fans blowing mist, and koi ponds and fountains keep the humidity high for these delicate beauties.) They also use a special process to preserve the actual orchid flower, (as well as butterfly wings), to make into jewelry pieces edged with 14k gold plating.

Thailand Adventure 2008 ~ 7

2008-06-14T23:56:00.002-04:00

Ok, so the elephants deserve two pictures!! Charlie and I really loved our ride through the rainforest. The vegetation is incredible, huge trees, voodoo plants everywhere, and the rocking tranquility was wonderful. Our driver has been with his elephant female, (Mae Boonma, age 35), for four years. Of course, she had a mind of her own and didn't always want to go where he wanted her to - but eventually complied. She even pulled a flower down from a tree for me. Had to be the highlight of my week.

Thailand Adventure 2008 ~ 6

2008-06-14T23:46:00.003-04:00

One of my favorite activites during our visit to Chian Mai was visiting the Maesa Elephant Camp. Absolutely amazing! While learning about the relationship between the elephant and its rider/trainer, it made me wonder if Anne McCaffrey used research on these wonderful giants when she wrote about the dragon riders of Pern - very similar. We were there first thing in the morning to see the elephants come out for the day. They began by visiting with all of us, and then moved into the river where they enjoyed a vigorous scrubbing from their human. They moved into an open air arena to 'show off' by dancing, playing soccer, and painting! Yes, they would hold a small paintbrush with their trunk, and painted pictures of trees, flowers, et. Very cool. I really loved my "huggs".

Thailand Adventure 2008 ~ 5

2008-06-14T23:39:00.002-04:00

At the base of the temple mount, is the Orchid Jade factory in Chiang Mai. Here we enjoyed a short informative video and then a tour of their workroom. Their showroom is full of gorgeous carvings and jewelry, all created with jade, jadeite, native star sapphires, star rubies, as well as regular rubies and sapphires in a variety of designs.

Thailand Adventure 2008 ~ 4

2008-06-14T23:34:00.002-04:00

Loved this version of the 'Art God', Ganesha. I also splurged and purchased a beautifully carved jade pendant with its likeness.

Thailand Adventure 2008 ~ 3

2008-06-14T23:28:00.002-04:00

In Chiang Mai, we visited the temple on top of the mountain. It was overflowing with statuary, flowers, and worshipers. Every male is required to spend time as a monk to help prepare him for life. While a monk, they are not to have any physical contact with a female, even their sister! The penance for touching or for being touched by a female is to retire to a temple and pray for a full year.