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Sara Richardson
is the associate editor
for Step by Step
Wire Jewelry and
Lapidary Journal
Jewelry Artist.
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When I first joined the staff at Interweave five and a half years ago, I had no previous jewelry-making experience. I came from a journalism background, and worked at newspapers and for publications that only lawyers read. From the very beginning, I was encouraged to take jewelry-making classes. And believe it or not, I wasn't overly enthusiastic about doing it at the time. (I laugh now when I think about it!)
Sure, taking classes made sense. I had a lot of terminology I needed to learn for work, and there really wasn't a better way for me to
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Here are a few samples of what I've made in Bead Fest classes. Fom top to bottom: Lisa Niven Kelly's stamped cuff bracelet, Lisa Niven Kelly's "Tornado Beads" bracelet, and Sue Ripsch's Turtle Bracelet. Just three examples of the many techniques you can learn at Bead Fest! |
remember the new words until I physically created something using them. But I was nervous. Manual dexterity was never my forté. And I can be a real klutz sometimes! When I first brought magazines home to my mom to show her what I was editing, she told me, "Oh, that's pretty. But I just don't see you making jewelry."
Epiphany
I loved the first class I took, but unfortunately, I couldn't afford the equipment, and didn't have the space in my small apartment to make lampwork beads. I struggled with my second class, involving more advanced metalsmithing. It was very difficult for me as a complete beginner, and I didn't have a patient instructor. But then I took my first wire class, Tornado
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| Among the workshops you can take at Bead Fest Texas will be (from top to bottom) Torch Enameling with Stephen James, Cabochon Links with Dale Cougar Armstrong, and Wire Weave Rings with Laura Andrews. |
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Beads, at Bead Fest with Lisa Niven Kelly. That's when I finally discovered that, yes, I really
can make my own jewelry!
The beads were easy to make, and freeform...so if I screwed up my wrapping, it didn't really matter much. And I learned how to make my first wire coils, and learned basic stringing to make a bracelet. I took another class from Lisa at the next Bead Fest. Even though I was a little more nervous because it involved metalsmithing; stamping and forming a sterling cuff bracelet. I came through the class with relative ease. These classes finally gave me the confidence to buy my first jewelry-making materials and started me on the path to crafting enlightenment.
At yet another Bead Fest, I decided I wanted to learn more about chain maille. I took a couple more Bead Fest classes from Sue Ripsch, who explained how to make the intricate-looking weaves in ways that made it easy to understand. Not only that, she made sure that every student was on the right track. If they weren't, would patiently explain them again until the student got it. (Me included!)
Bead Fest Comes to Texas!
Now you can take advantage of more jewelry-making knowledge and skills. Bead Fest is coming to Texas. It will be held from October 1-3 at the Arlington Convention Center. It's just like the other Bead Fests you know and love...several great vendors will provide all the jewelry making supplies you need, and you can take a variety of inspiring classes! Sue Ripsch is teaching three great chain maille classes. Learn wire wrapping with renowned expert Dale "Cougar" Armstrong. Discover Debora Mauser's incredible Wild Woman Bangle. Learn the awesome metalsmithing techniques of Kim St. Jean...and so much more! Check out the complete list of classes here.
Whenever I bring up what my mom told me years ago, she tells me now how impressed she is that I stuck with jewelry-making and turned it into one of my passions. I've come a long way, baby! And you can, too!