Up coming class

I am so excited, next week I get to travel to Arizona and teach 2 days of classes.

Friday there will be an artist's reception where I will do a demonstration on riveting and then I will be teaching my Rustic Copper Bangles and my Disk Pendant on both Saturday and Sunday.

Here are the photos of what I will be teaching:

Flint Handmade Show 2016

I had such a fun time at the Flint Handmade Show on Saturday at the Flint Masonic Temple, lots of great vendors and I got to see some friends and make new ones. It was so great visiting with my friend Molly and seeing what new glassy things she is up to these days.
Here are a few photos of my booth.

2016 Show Schedule

Red Opal Designs show schedule 2016




Flint Handmade Spring Craft Market, Flint, MI   April 30, 2016 10am-4pm

Art on the Mall in Kalamazoo, MI  June 3-5th

Sounds and Sights Chelsea Art Market, Chelsea, MI  July 29-30th

Crafting with Grace Arts and Crafts Show, Ann Arbor, MI  October 8th, 2016 10:00 am – 4:00 pm

New Grace Apostolic Temple 

2898 Packard Road * Ann Arbor, MI * 48108 

http://www.craftingwithgrace.com 

Winter Wonders Holiday Glass Show,  November 5, 2016 10am-4pm

Birmingham Unitarian Church, 38651 Woodward Ave., Bloomfield Hills, MI  48304.  There is a map at http://www.bucmi.org/mapbuc.htm

Chelsea Art Festival

I just wanted to show you some newer work that I had at the Chelsea Art Market. Big thank you to everyone who came out and braved the heat!

2015 Show Schedule

This is my show schedule for 2015- hope to see you soon!

February 6th- Teresa Robinette's Home - Chandler, AZ
May 13-16th - Soft Glass Invitational- Teaching and show - Pennsylvania
June 5-6th - Art on The Mall- Downtown Kalamazoo, MI
July 3 -  Teresa Robinette's Home - Chandler, AZ
July 24-25th - Chelsea Art Festival - Chelsea, MI
August 1st - Art in the Park - Holland, MI
October 4th - Bead Bonanza - Southfield Center Pavilion -Southfield, MI
November 7th - Winter Wonders Holiday Glass Show - Birmingham Unitarian Church - Bloomfield                            Hills, MI
December 4-6th - Detroit Urban Craft Fair - Masonic Temple - Detroit, MI - pending application
December 12-13th - DIYipsi - Ypsilanti, MI - pending application

See you in Kalamazoo!

This weekend is one of the many fun outdoor art shows going on in Michigan. It is located in Kalamazoo and is this Friday and Saturday in the downtown area. Here is more information: http://www.junejubilee.org/
I have done this show for the last 2 years and I have the pleasure of sharing a space with 2 other talented bead artists and we have lots of laughs. Here is our table from last year:

And here is a preview of what I am bringing with this year:

Hope to see you there!!

Michigan Art Show recap

So, I finally feel like I have a momentum going here in Michigan as far as the bead/jewelry/art fair shows are concerned. I have been really happy with the feed back that I have been getting this year and I am really happy with my display (for now!) I thought it would be fun to look at some of the progression.

This is the Art on the Mall in Kalamazoo in June. I have done this show twice now and it is quickly becoming one of my favorites. Kalamazoo has a really great energy and everyone turns out in full force for this event. I share a booth with two to three other artists who have fantastic work and we all compliment each other really well.

This is the Chelsea Sounds and Sights Festival and the first time I have done this show. This show is in the process of a re-birth and had a good turnout. The plans for the next show include more artists and more music. This show was in July and was a warm weekend, luckily I had my mom there to help me.

New wooden displays for necklaces and a new display for earrings.

New displays that were given to me by a friend, don't they look great?

New work

Cause I cannot resist any dog with a mohawk!

 The last show was the DIYipsi Indie Art Fair. This was inside at the Corner Brewery in Ypsilanti and was lots of fun. This was my first time in the show and I met lots of really great artists.

DIYipsi

My friend Jen, a happy supporter of my work.

The next show scheduled is the Bead Bonanza put on by the Great Lakes Beadworker's Guild in Southfield. I have been doing this show since I moved here and I look forward to seeing my customers from that area. Come out and see me: October 5th 10-5pm Southfield Municipal Complex 26000 Evergreen Rd in Southfield.

My adventures at the ISGB Gathering in Houston, TX

This year the ISGB (International Society of Glass Beadmakers) annual Gathering was held in Houston Texas. This was the first time I have been to Houston and was really looking forward to seeing the city. The Gathering was held at the Regency Hyatt Hotel downtown, so there was not much in the way of shopping, but I was able to get a ride to a local boot store and take the light rail to a funky eclectic shop nearby.  Since there was so many things happening at the meeting that I hardly noticed that I did not see much of Houston.
All of the talks and demos at this Gathering were fantastic, my head is spinning with inspiration and new techniques to try. I got to hang out with friends and fellow beadmakers, and made some new friends too. I was really excited to see my piece that was excepted into the RAD exhibit among some really amazing work by other artists. The whole experience was incredible and it will take my brain some time to process all of it.

I took a photography class with Doug Baldwin to learn how to take better photos of my jewelry for submitting to shows and exhibits. This is a photo Doug took of one of my pendants. He made it look so easy and inspired me to practice and practice to get the best photos.

My Cowboy/girl hat in the Beads of Courage display that will be kept in the local children's hospital for everyone to see. I feel so honored to have one of my beads there.

Sharon Peter's chicken wearing boots and a hat.

Marcy Lamberson's cowboy riding a chicken

Another view

Beads of Courage presenting the ISGB with an award.

Some of the work from the Pendant Exhibit

Pendants by Marg Karg who is part of my East Central Region.

My table at the Bead Bazaar. 

Partial room shot of the Bead Bazaar.

One of my favorite necklaces that sold.

My piece that was excepted into the RAD exhibit.

Me and my roommate Sue Angell

My bead exchange haul.