USA - Vermont

Well after about 30 hours in 3 different planes of ever decreasing sizes we finally laid our weary heads on a pillow in New Hampshire for our first nights sleep in the USA.
Three hours in this building site at LAX airport was not a lot of fun ,

 

But I loved this couple waiting at Cleveland airport tapping away on her macbook so intently.

Imagine my delight when we arrived at the breakfast in out hotel to find a waffle machine with maple syrup in jugs. Regular reader will know that this sort of treat really gets me excited.

We then had a pleasant drive to Vermont where I was to speak that night to Maple Leaf Quilters and then today to teach my Beading workshop.
My talk went quite well although Peter had to step in at the last minute to change the pictures on the computer but he was terrific. I think his aside comments and gestures amused my audience more than my talk but he was great at it

Today I taught my workshop to a very full class in a really large room at a local church.

Had a quick lunch downtown where I had an enormous turkey sandwich with cranberry mayo (very yum) with chips and then back to class

My students really seemed to enjoy themselves and I was given some lovely little presents.

 On the way home up the mountain we stopped a few times to get some pictures of the changing leaves. Evidently last week they had a big windstorm which blew lots of leaves off but it was still breathtaking. This area has recently been the victim of an enormous flood which turned a little creek into a raging torrent which took away bridges and house. So scary.

 And as I type this lying on my bed covered in Ann's great grandmothers quilt I have this beautiful view from my window. How lucky am I?

Beading Obsession

I have quite a few new beading converts in my latest Online Beading Class. I only posted the technique to attach Cabachons yesterday and this is what Sarah has created already.

I love her comments - do you think she is hooked?

Cabochon's have replaced my children in the list of things I am most passionate about this week. Okay, not quite, but certainly they are fun, I don't have to help them with homework, clean their room, take them to swimming lessons or wonder if their actually listening to me or in some other universe ...

So, enough of my little tantrum, here is my first effort, I guarantee there will be more to follow because they are so much fun and so pretty! 

This is why teaching gives me so much joy. 

Next Online Beading Class

I have been teaching quite a few workshops lately that have a small component of beading in them. This has definitely whetted a few appetites and when I mention that I also have an online workshop I keep getting asked when it is.

So I have decided to run another one starting 14th July which will run until mid August. There are 6 lessons which each comprise videos and notes. The videos are available for future reference for the forseeable future (or until youtube decides to remove them) and are clear and detailed. There is also a class blog where you can ask questions, post pictures and just chat to your fellow students.

The price is AUD$60 for the six lessons and there is also a kit available with everything you need in a variety of colourways.

There is a link to a taster on the right hand side of this blog

You can sign up here.

Beading Student Final Piece

 

I was thrilled to receive this image and comment on the Online Beading Workshop Blog and have Karen's permission to post her comments as well.

Hi Lisa,

Well, I think I have a bit of everything on this 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" piece of embellished felt! I did not glue the cabochon and after two tries I think I got it right. Thank you so much for providing the impetus to work with my beads. You showed me lots of ways to turn a seed bead into something special.

I'll watch your blog for more beading classes and continue to wonder why I can't have a "bead wall" like yours!

warm regards,

Karen

It has been very exciting running my first online workshop and I am all ready to start the next one on March 17th.

Just six days to go if you want to sign up and I am sure you will really enjoy it,

More Student Beading

 

I think it is a case of the students outdoing the teacher here. Carole has combined all the techniques in my Online Beading Class into one magnificent piece. She says she has to go back to the neglected housework but I think she should just keep beading don't you?

This is Amanda's piece and I think it would make a beautiful design for a necklace 

Linda has done two beautiful cabachons and I can see this piece growing and growing

 

I have had to push back the start of the next workshop until 17th March as I will still be away on the original date and may not have perfect internet access. Enrolments are being accepted now on the website.