Special Events
Melanie Potter @ Let's Bead! October 8-10th
Named 2010 Designer of the Year by Beadwork Magazine, Melanie Potter brings couture sewing and color theory together to design and develop aesthetic ways of using beads in unique, contemporary jewelry. She finds great joy and fulfillment in the creative process invoked through beadwork. Melanie will be at Let's Bead! October 8-10th. Three fabulous projects have been selected: Lunar Lights, Petalicious Cuff, and Flower Motif Necklace. Call the shop to reserve your place in class. Visit Melanie's website to see more of her work.
Flower Motif Necklace & Earrings
©2008 by Melanie Potter
"Motif" is the dominant theme or central idea in an artistic or literary work. This stunning necklace has the central theme of small embellished flowers recurring across the entire surface culminating in a splendid show of glamour. The bezeled stones are deep-set with many facets impregnating each flower with firey sparkle. The matching earrings are for pierced ears using sterling studs. The necklace is beaded using off-loom beading stitches chevron chain, peyote, herringbone and right angle weave.
Class date: Friday, October 8th, 9 am to 5 pm. Cost: class fee $90, kit fee $85.
Lunar Lights
©2005 by Melanie Potter
Brilliant and sparkling like moon beams, each lunar bead is created using a Swarovski crystal Rivoli which gives this bracelet a dynamic presence. This bracelet was inspired by the beauty of Rivolis and my love for right angle weave. I absolutely love the intricate work that can be done with this stitch and Lunar Lights showcases it beautifully. The bezel of the bracelet uses a graduated size technique to create a snug home for the Rivoli faceted stone. The embellishments are added to the bezel using Chevron Chain stitch and picots which give it an added sweetness. The back of the Rivoli is protected with a circular three-dimensional casing. The connections between each lunar bead forms the band. The clasp is hidden beneath a Rivoli. Class date: Saturday, October 9th, 9 am to 5 pm. Cost: class fee $90, kit fee $65.
Petalicious Cuff
©2009 by Melanie Potter
If I had one word to describe this bracelet I would say graceful. The Petalicious Cuff is a lavish bracelet swathe with small petals that boldly showcases a large flower. The base of the cuff is a thick band stitched in chevron chain and is opulently embellished with small petals in two colors of seed beads across the entire surface of the band. These two colors have the effect of adding contrast and depth to the band. The petals are very fluid and give the bracelet a very supple and luxurious textural feel. The center of the cuff is rendered with an elaborate flower that floats on a round platform stitched in circular chevron. The center of the flower sports a deep-set faceted Swarovski stone embellished with fringing that serves at the focal point of the bracelet. Sunday, October 10th, 9 am to 5 pm. Cost: class fee $90, kit fee $65.
Whimsical Wednesdays
Whimsical Wednesdays are a weekly event, appropriately named because you never know what unadvertised special we'll be offering. Sometimes it might be a free product with a minimum purchase, other times it might be a buy one, get one free deal. We're open until 8PM on Wednesdays so you have more time to take advantage of our "whimsies".