Book Launch Party

Today I'm celebrating the release of book #3: the Bead-Making Lab. This book is stuffed to the corners with fun projects featuring all different ways and materials to use to make your own beads. In fact, 52 bead-making projects are included along with lots of tips, beadmaker insights and interviews and jewelry for inspiration. 

I go to play with polymer clay, paper clay, upcycled paper, resin, shrink plastic, felt, ribbons, rope, leather, stones, beach glass, wood, wire and more! The projects are geared towards beginners and anyone crafty or wishing they were crafty can jump right in and start making their own beads. 

So what's a party with gifts? 

I have a signed copy of my book to giveaway. 

To enter share my book on Pinterest, Twitter or Goodreads and leave a comment below. 

Here is the link to the book on Amazon: http://amzn.to/28QXI2i

And on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26246215-bead-making-lab

I'll pick one random comment on Friday at 10am EST. Make sure I can reach you if you win!

You can also enter to win a copy on my Instagram account: http://www.instagram.com/humblebeads

And I have several giveaways going on today in my Humblebeads VIP Group on Facebook.

Just a few of the bead projects in the book!

Each chapter has jewelry design examples featuring the beads!

Wire abacus, wire next beads, paper clay birds and driftwood beads are all found in the book.

 Learn how to drill seaglass and beach rocks. And discover how to make faux sea glass with resin.

Love being green? I have quite a few projects that upcycle paper into beads and pendants. Little book pendants and paper beads from magazines give you a boho-look and give you lots of options for recycling your summer beach reads! 

Using some of the simplest materials, like cardboard, newspaper and Mod Podge I created these trendy color block pendants. Shrink plastic and Sharpie markers were the start of these doodle charms.

Oh, you can get so fancy with shrink plastic.

Love a good faux finish - here I created faux enamel with wire and embossing powder, You'll have to read the book to get the secret ingredient to complete this project! 

I dived into all sorts of fibers for the book projects and had fun with felt like these embroidered beads that make the cutest earrings! 

The jewelry projects aren't in the book, it's all about the beads - but I know you want some inspiration on how to use those beauties once you make them! 

Here are two videos with a few tips:

View on Flipagram

View on Flipagram

Workshop Winner

The winner of my workshop giveaway is Melissa Trudinger! Melissa you'll be automatically enrolled in my August workshop. 

Entries were randomly picked from comments from this blog post and the duplicate post at Humblebeads.com. 

Thank you to everyone who shared about my online workshops! 

Win a Free Online Workshop!

Win a free space in my next online workshop!

To enter:

Share your favorite online workshop with on Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest and leave a comment below. 

Click here to view the four classes I'm currently offering, click on the classes to use the easy social sharing buttons. 

Make sure I can reach you through your blogger profile if you win! 

The class you share can be one you'd like to take or one you've already taken. 

A winner will be selected randomly from the comments on Tuesday at 12pm EST. 

Prize: 

Free registration to my next online polymer clay workshop!

Registration for all workshops are currently re-opened and on sale. Save $50 off the Art of Color, Cane Design Bootcamp or Moths, Monarchs & Milkweed and $10 off Feathers & Friends.

Use code CLASS20 to save $20 off any two or more $75 classes. 

Sale ends Tuesday.

Classes are self-paced with life-time access to the step-by-step videos and instructions.

Beadmaking Class Sale!

I've opened registration for my popular beadmaking classes for the next few days and have a special offer just for you!

All classes are currently ongoing and self-paced.  You'll have lifetime access to the classroom and Facebook group.

Each class have video tutorials to watch at your own pace along with a workbook with step-by-step photos to walk you through the process. There is also a private Facebook group for each class to share your work, ask questions and met your fellow students.

To view the details of each class visit my website here.

Class Sale Details

Classes are on sale, save $50 off the regular price of the my two bootcamps and the Moths, Monarchs and Milkweed and $10 off the Feathers & Friends Workshop! 

Current prices reflect discount.

Buy two or more $75 classes and use code CLASS20 for $20 off your order!

Sale ends Tuesday.

Student Reviews:

"It has been a wonderful experience, I love the group, everyone is so kind and helpful and Heather is an excellent teacher. I have learned a lot more than I thought I would." - Kim Dworak

"This was my first experience ever with polymer (I'm a bead weaver and I learned so much from this class).  I loved the online chats too...really felt like I got to know my classmates better and we've never even met!!" - Barb Wilcox

"I'm addicted to canes now... I sort of avoided them before..." - Tammie Tusher Everly

Student Work

Lisa Caryl: Art of Color Bootcamp

Beti Horvath: Art of Color Bootcamp

 Doreen Wiley: Art of Color Bootcamp

Ann Lorenzoni: Art of Color Bootcamp 

 

Ann Lorenzoni: Moth, Monarch and Milkweed Workshop

Ann Lorenzoni: Cane Design Bootcamp

Lisa Caryl: Feathers & Friends Workshop

100 Days of Beads Challenge

I decided to challenge myself to make a new bead everyday for the 100 days. I love a good creative challenge to keep me on my toes. 

I've had this tiger lily idea in my sketchbook for a few weeks and wanted to see it come to life. I may revisit it again soon.

Tiger lilies are my favorite flowers. I love to see them growing wild along old country roads.

I created these pendants last week, lilies have been in my mind! 

This is my current inspiration, a little watercolor in a juicy summer palette. Let's see what I make tomorrow. 

Follow my 100 Days of Beads challenge on Instagram at: 

http://www.instagram.com/humblebeads

#100DaysofBeads - jewelry and beadmakers feel free to jump in too and use the # so I can follow along! 

Beads will be listed daily in my Etsy shop:

http://www.humblebeads.etsy.com

Bead & Button Events and New Bead Preview

Hello! I have been quite the busy bee over the past few months. Since April I've shared my skills with the Baltimore Bead Society, sailed the Caribbean on the Bead Cruise, moved into a new home and then spent four awesome days teaching with the Great Lakes Beadworkers Guild and in the middle of all of that my latest book was launched into the world.

The bead-making awesomeness contained in the book is going to fill your days with inspiration and creativity. 52 bead-making projects using clay, plastic, wire, paper stone, wood and fiber. I had the best time creating the beads and exploring all these different materials and ways to make a bead. You could try a new one each week for entire year! The Bead-Making Lab can be found in your local book shop or online at Amazon. (affiliate link.) I am going to host an official party for the book on June 22nd with free projects, giveaways and more! 

Whirlwind? Why yes it has been. The move was unexpected and has quite turned my life upside down. But box by box, it's being put back together as we settle into our sweet little home near the shores of Lake Michigan. Thankfully the move was just down the road. But a move is a move - are they ever easy?

With the Bead Cruise in May and a full teaching schedule I had made the decision last year not to have a booth a Bead & Button. I confess, it was one that I went back and forth wishing I could do it all. I will miss visiting with all my customers and sharing new work in person. But I am going to be at the show, shopping, doing demos and signing books. And while my head knows it's not show time, my hands have not got the message and I have just uploaded lots of new beads to my Etsy shop.

Bead & Button Events
In between my shopping adventures you can find me on the show floor this weekend doing a few demos and signing books!

Vintaj Willow Metal Sketch Demo
Booth 921 (Vintaj) 

Friday 3:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Saturday 2:00 - 3:00 p.m.

Stop by the amazing Vintaj booth to shop, visit and catch my demo featuring the Willow Metal Sketch using Vintaj metal blanks featured in my book Beautiful Elements.

Book Signing and Wrapped Silk Bead Demo
Booth 401 (Kalmbach Books)
Saturday 4:00 - 5:00 p.m.

I'll be signing copies of Beautiful Elements in the Kalmbach book on Saturday. Along with signing books I'll demo how to create the silk wrapped beads from the book. I have free silk bead kits for the first 20 participants.