So much creativity

This weekend we were fortunate to host Marjorie Garcia Barnes for one of her last teaching engagements in the US. She is moving to China in a month! YIKES!

Good news, she will be back. We are already talking about class next July.

Marjorie is brilliant. That’s just all there is to say. She has been designing jewelry since she was a young girl and each piece is not only beautiful but it is fun and dramatic and uses all sorts of interesting techniques. You don’t have time to get bored with any of these pieces.

She is so giving of her knowledge. It’s a joy to be around her.

So many of these techniques can apply to needlepoint too.

On Saturday we learned the basic techniques to make our own versions of Marjorie’s Queen of Hearts Necklace. Yep, more bead embroidery. Watch out. I am loving this technique. It’s bound to be showing up in more of my needlepoint.

Both of these necklaces are Marjorie’s. Same design but so different.

We learned how to mount the beautiful hand painted cabochons.

This is mine.

and Jamie’s.

We learned how to bezel fancy crystals.

On Sunday, we went in an entirely new direction. We learned how to make these little lovelies. We could make fish or hearts or anything in between.

She taught us how to make bezels and work with crystal clay to fill them and embellish them with all sorts of pretty sparkles.

Ok, so fire is still not my friend but I get the idea.

By the end of the day we were pretty far along.

Mine is wearable as is, but there’s a lot more fun stuff to be added!

We learned the basics of bead stringing and crimping beads too.

As if that wasn’t enough, we also had the add on opportunity to make this fun little necklace.

It’s the same technique as the heart/fish necklace but created in a pre made bird bezel. The crystal clay holds all the pretty beads and rhinestones in place.

We even patina’d our own charms.

Whew! That’s a lot in two days. I’m happy and feeling creative. We had a wonderful weekend of playing, creating and learning. Thank you everyone who came.

Thank you Marjorie for coming and being the so good at what you do.