Today we were talking about our favorite books in the store and I realized that while I do love this book, I have never reviewed it here on the blog. Sorry for the delay! I was too busy reading the book and too inspired to make the projects to actually write it up! Custom Cool Jewelry is filled with all the projects you want to make this spring, from pendant necklaces to fancy earrings. Melinda Barta shows you how to create all kinds of 'boutique' jewelry including resin pendants and on-of-a-kind toggles and many of the ideas would be great to adapt for using at charm swaps. She's used many of my favorite materials (wonder where she found them?) and I love what she created with our bezel settings, resins, charms and other bits and bobs. If you have been wanting to add some mixed media techniques to your repretoire, this is the book for you. See it here or in person at either of our stores.

Art Bead Scene Challenge for March

This month's Art Bead Scene Challenge is inspired by Matisse's painting, Goldfish. You can read more about the challenge here.

I love this painting, it hung on the wall of Marburn Elementary in the hallway across from the drinking fountains. When I lined up for recess with my class every day it was there, above my head. Also on the wall was Washington Crossing the Delaware by Emanuel Luetze, but I tried each day to be under the goldfish. Mrs. Safford, my second grade teacher always stood at the head of the line with an extended finger pressed to her lips. Shhh...now I wonder why it was so important to get 26 eight-year-olds so very quiet, only to pour us outside those double doors to run under the flat Ohio sky, but back then I just stared at the goldfish. I stood there for a long time; most second graders aren't all that quiet and her standards were pretty high. I loved looking up at the flat, printed surface with the bright goldfish and the pink, dotted background. I loved tracing the obvious brushstrokes with my eyes, thinking how I could make paint do that myself. Later, much later, as an adult I saw this painting and other Matisse paintings in person and I was stunned at how they were so alive and so deep. The print was colorful, though, and it occupied me quietly during our daily line up. Maybe all those minutes spent staring at that print did something to me, now I think I should pay it a bit of honor and enter the Challenge this month. You can enter, too, you'll win a goodie bag of handmade art beads from talented bead artists.

If I do enter the Challenge, I will be sure to use some of Elaine Ray's new brighter beads. She's bringing them to the trunk show at Ornamentea on March 13th and 14th. I wonder how I can make a necklace that is about both this painting and what it was like to be a caged-up second grader, held in line, daydreaming about swirling paint while waiting to run like crazy to the monkey bars or the swings. That may take some doing.

Betz White Workshops!

Ahh, I need some spring in my life. Don't you? These pictures make me so happy, and they make me very eager for spring to come. These felted wool and recycled textile projects are all samples from Betz White's upcoming classes here at Panopolie. She'll teach two days of great workshops where you can learn to use and reuse textiles to create accessories.

MYOB (Make Your Own Bags!)
Saturday, April 4th, 9:00-1:00, $58
You'll learn to make your own tote bags, shopping bags and grocery bags from a variety of reused materials and may leave with several finished bags. Create unique and useful bags with straps, flaps, pockets and handles. Can't sew? that's o.k. You'll learn some easy ways to make functional crafts and if you are more experienced you'll go further and make more and more interesting bags. There's a $10 supply fee that pays for a rainbow of felted sweaters, distressed denim, nylon webbing and other goodies from Betz's stash but you can bring your own crafty scraps to add to the mix.

Scrap Happy Accessories
Sunday, April 5th, 1:00-5:00, $58
You learn to make accessories and adornments for your home or self in this exploratory class. You'll turn old sweaters, ribbon bits, wool roving and more into flowers, rosettes, leaves and more for hip and crafty accessories. Needle felting and hand sewing will be used, no experience is necessary. You may make barrettes, brooches, pin cushions, scissor holders and more items will be on the menu! There is a $5 supply fee that pays for a bouquet of felted wool from Betz's own stash but you can bring your own buttons, beads, ribbon and more to add to the projects if you wish.

Both of these classes are great ways to reuse what you have...I am imagining all the super cute totes I can make from those jeans that make my rear look a bit, ahem, rounder, my hubbies old ties, my girl's outgrown sweaters, heck, from some of my own sweaters!

See more of Betz's work at her blog. Register for the classes later this week by calling Panopolie at 919-972-4767. There will be loads more project pictures up on the site soon, I can hardly wait.