August, 2011

My Lovely Beads, e-Newsletter

Back to school!

Almost all in this issue is about the Bead Art Fair that took place last August in Hamburg, Germany and made great success! We were happy to exhibit at the show and participate in all show events. So, read:

Contact us with any questions at info@mylovelybeads.com.
Best regards, MyLovelyBeads.com Team

Stone of August: JADE

Stone of August:
JADE


Balances male/female energies. Stone of protection, provides barrier against attacks and illness. Encourages meditative travel. Helps in making the dream process productive and healing. Zodiac signs: Libra (Balance), Capricorn (Seagoat), Aries (Ram), Gemini (Twins).

More Info

Chicken blood stone - Chinese treasure

Chicken-Blood stone is one of the most prized ornamental materials in China. The stone gets its name for its bright red color, resembling fresh chicken blood. The stone has eight basic colors, which blend or combine in different layers: red, black, white, yellow, green, blue, gray, and purple. It is primarily used in carvings and seals.

Chicken blood stone is a fine-grained mixture of clay and quartz, with varying amounts of red cinnabar. Since both the clay and cinnabar are very soft, it has cannot be worn in jewelry and is reserved for ornamental objects. Besides, since cinnabar contains mercury sulfide, which is highly toxic. Care also needs to be used when storing the material, as cinnabar tends to darken when exposed to sunlight. It is the bright red of the cinnabar that gives this material it distinct appearance and any darkening will lower its value.

Chicken blood stone is found only in Changhua County (Linan district, Zhejiang Province) in China and Balin County in Inner Mongolia. However, the stones extracted from the former region are considered more precious and valuable for their higher quality and vibrant color. Balin stones contain less cinnabar and are looser and softer in texture and appearance.

According to records, the first excavation occurred in the early Ming Dynasty, six hundred years ago. The excavator who found the chicken blood stone reported it and sent it to the emperor. During imperial times, all chicken blood stone had to be sent to the Imperial House, so commoners had no chance of ever seeing it in their lifetime. The stone was a national treasure exclusively owned by the imperial family.

The emperor would give the stones to high-ranking officials on special occasions, and only officials above a certain rank were allowed to have it. The stones were also used as accessories on the hats of those officials to show honor. Thus, the stone became a symbol of power.

Beaders Best Bead Art Fair 2011

Two weeks ago bead artists and bead lovers in Europe celebrated their first big professional holiday: Beaders Best Bead Art Fair 2011 in Hamburg, Germany friendly opened its door to visitors. The first Bead Fair received a lot of positive feedbacks. More than 1,500 visitors from different countries attended the show and we can witness we couldn't see unhappy faces!

Andrea Ott, the editor-in-chief of the Perlen Poesie magazine that was the supporter of the show, says, "We were pleased with the good atmosphere among exhibitors, visitors, workshop teachers and participants. A great deal of personal contacts between shop owners, wholesalers, distributors and manufacturers were made. Exhibitors from Germany, Great Britain, the Czech Republic, Austria, Switzerland, Latvia, Sweden, Ukraine and the USA took part in this exciting international event."

The second Beaders Best Bead Art Fair will take place on 18-19 August 2012 at the Buergerhaus Wilhelmsburg, Hamburg, Germany. There will be another holiday - and the next opportunity to take part in three days of workshops taught by internationally recognizes artists, and visit the extraordinary 2-day-Fair. The workshops will begin one day earlier, on August 17, 2012.

Photos from Beaders Best Bead Art Fair 2011
 
About workshops at the Beaders Best Bead Art Fair 2012

Kerrie Slade's look at the Bead Fair in Hamburg

Bead artist Kerrie Slade

Kerrie Slade is a beadwork artist living and working in Mansfield, England and was featured in our newsletter. Kerrie has had her work published in over 30 international books and magazines but now prefers to sell more detailed patterns from her website. Recently Kerrie had the opportunity to travel to the very first Bead Art Fair in Hamburg, Germany where she taught classes and sold her fabulous beadwork kits.

Kerrie wrote this article about her first teaching experience at the Bead Art Fair during the weekend of August 19-21 for Beading Daily Blog and was kind enough to permit us to reprint the article. Kerrie has plans to teach throughout Europe and the US in the near future.

Kerrie says, "It's Monday, the day after the first Bead Art Fair in Hamburg, Germany. As I write this, I am sitting in the sunshine at a cafe on the banks of the River Elbe, drinking tea, eating delicious Apfelkuchen and wondering if the previous two days really happened or whether I dreamt them.

Ever since I first received an invitation to teach at the fair (which was over a year ago) I knew it was a not-to-be-missed opportunity and it had an exciting feeling of 'firsts' about it. This was going to be the first fair of its kind in Germany, I had never taught beadwork before and it would also be the first time that many of the international beaders, teachers, designers and exhibitors would get to meet in person.

Although I was incredibly nervous, I knew I wanted to be part of this event and so I spent much of the following year designing my class project, writing instructions, preparing kits and gaining some teaching experience.

From the minute we arrived at the hotel, familiar faces began to appear and myself and my long suffering husband, Simon, were warmly welcomed into the large group of people who regularly travel all over the world to exhibit and teach at shows as we busily set up our stands ready for the show to open the following morning.

The first day of the fair arrived and we strolled to the venue down tree-lined avenues in dappled sunshine, Simon pointing out interesting architecture and me half listening and half wondering if I had forgotten anything! With everything in place, the doors opened and the hall filled with people keen to view and buy the huge range of beads, lampwork, supplies, kits and finished beadwork on offer.

My two days disappeared in a whirl. Half of my time was spent teaching my eager students in a beautifully bright and airy classroom with the windows flung wide open, watching as leaves and petals grew from busy fingers. The rest of my time was spent talking to beaming beaders in fragments of various languages with lots of gestures, handshakes, hugs and smiles - knowing that despite any immediate difficulties, we all spoke the one common language of "bead".

So, if you ever get the opportunity to attend the Bead Art Fair in Hamburg, my advice would be to grab it with both hands!"

Photos from the Bead Fair
 
Email: mail@kerrieslade.co.uk
 
Website: kerrieslade.co.uk
 
Blog: kerrieslade.blogspot.com
 
Article by Kerrie Slade on her art

International Bead Award Contest. Winners

On August 20, 2011 the winners of the International Bead Award Contest were announced at the Beaders Best Bead Art Fair. It was an exciting event! First place winners are:

Lampwork Category
       1 Place: Helix - Jacky Teuchert-Rimkus, Germany, jackys-glas-art.de
Loomwork Category
       1 Place: Spring Has Sprung - Erin Simonetti, USA, simonetti.com
Off-Loom Category
       1 Place: Art Nouveau Restored - Zoya Gutina, USA, mylovelybeads.com
Bead Crochet, Bead Knitting Category
       1 Place: Diagonal Bubbles - Jolanda Violante, Italy, sinfoniediperle.blogspot.com
Embroidery Category
       1 Place: Cascade - Angelika Kenner, Germany, schmucksyndrom.de
Paper, Textile Category
       1 Place: Altes Kyoto - Dorit Koppen, Germany
Polymer Clay, Ceramic, Porcelain Category
       1 Place: ...Love way... - Natalya Leitman, Russia, flickr.com/photos/madllen/
Wirewok Category
       1 Place: Beach Dreams - Chris Wrinn, USA, gildedowljewelry.com
Mixed Media Category
       1 Place: Born in the Sands - Svetlana Sametis, Latvia, orubis.ucoz.lv
Public voting
       Art Nouveau Restored - Zoya Gutina, USA, mylovelybeads.com
 
Our warmest congratulations to all winners!

Full list of International Bead Award Contest winners

Perlen Poesie Magazine. Issue 10

Perlen Poesie, Number 10 is coming out on September 10! In that issue:

• Beadpassion with the love of nature... Zoya Gutina implements that into all of her designs. Using many different techniques she adds enchantment to her necklaces opulence of which is unparalleled;
• Workshop Spiral Techniques - everything turns... Impressive designs can be achieved with these techniques;
• Scrumptious Beads... Angela Brackrogge: Jopanda - her artist name stands for handmade glass beads with subtle gradient colors and elaborate shapes. Look and enjoy!
• Winners of IBA 2011... Look at the winning pieces of the international jewelry contest IBA 2011. Savor the diversity of ideas and - maybe - participate next time!

The magazine is published in Germany by Beaders Best Verlag Company, you can subscribe it. If you live in the USA, you can directly or via Internet buy single issues of the magazine at the Beads by Blanche bead shop.

Perlen Poesie Magazine. Issue 10

Subscribe to Perlen Poesie magazine
 
Buy Perlen Poesie magazine in the USA

Upcoming events

Alexandria Festival of the Arts 2011 Alexandria Festival of the Arts 2011

September 10-11, 2011
         Saturday 10 am - 7 pm
         Sunday 10 am - 5 pm
King Street between Union & Washington sts., Alexandria, VA

Voted one of the top 100 art festivals in the country by Sunshine Artist magazine. The 8th Annual Alexandria Festival of the Arts is one not to be missed! Discover spectacular paintings, life-size sculptures, jewelry, photography, ceramics and more.

The Alexandria Festival of the Arts transforms the streets of Old Town Alexandria into an outdoor art gallery featuring 200 of the nation's top award-winning artists. The free outdoor art festival will line six blocks of King Street showcasing different artworks. This popular outdoor event will feature art with prices ranging from $20 to $20,000. The show is set up along King Street and stretches all the way down the street to the Potomac River.

Art Activated at the Torpedo Factory

September 10, 2011, Noon-4 pm
Torpedo Factory Art Center
105 N. Union Street
Alexandria, Virginia 22314

Let your creative side play at this 4th annual event taking place during the Alexandria Festival of the Arts! Become a part of the creative process with hands-on projects, artist demonstrations, and special taking place throughout the afternoon. Enjoy artist demonstrations throughout the day including pottery on the wheel, painting, sculpture, and much more. Visitors are also invited to try their hand at different art techniques including clay throwing and fiber art at special "Try Me" stations. Guests will get creative with hands-on projects including the popular Champagne Cork Chairs Workshop, Bubble Gum Painting, and Screen Printing.

Note

If you don't see the newsletter properly formatted please click here: August Issue
 
If you want to read and see the previous issues please click here: Newsletter Archive

If you do not want receive our newsletter and you wish to remove your email address from our mailing list, please click the following link to unsubscribe.