This is a quick outline of the class schedule for November.  More pictures will follow.

The November 14th class is full.  This class will make a Fab 50′s Bracelet.  This versatile piece is designed by the very talented Glenda Payseno and is being taught with her kind permission.  There appears to be a lot of interest in that class, so we are prepared to repeat it on November 21st at 10:00am and are taking bookings for that date.

The November 28th, 10:00 am class will be a Christmas Tree Ornament Drape.  Pictures to follow.

The December 5th 10:00 am class will be a French beaded Christmas tree We will be making the tree, the decorating will be ‘homework’.    This class requires beads prestrung on wire, so we will have a bead spinner, beads and wire available for you to use at the store to prepare, or you make take the beads and wire home at the time of booking.  There won’t be time during the class to string the beads. registgration for this class will begin the week of Nov 7.

All classes require pre-booking and pre-payment to allow us time to prepare your materials.  Maximum class size is 6.

In October, we have a couple of great bracelet classes scheduled.

The class on the 17th will be a variation of the Hungarian Wave.  I ‘designed’ this bracelet, in that I frog-stitched until everything fit to my liking,  but this stitch fairly screams out for this treatment so I’m betting it’s been done before, even though googling Hungarian Wave didn’t get me very far.

On the 24th, we will be repeating the Flat Spiral Bracelet because we have had numerous requests.  This time we will have several colourways options.

The fee for each class is $30 including materials.   Classes are limited to 6 students.  These two classes will be held starting at 10:00 am on their respective dates.  Please pre-register to give us time to prepare your materials.

For those of you eagerly awaiting the polymer clay, we have a full range of the standard Premo colours in stock now as well as Liquid Sculpey and glaze.

We had our first class at the Gotta Love Beads store in Owen Sound on Saturday.  It was a huge success.  Many thanks to everyone who attended and participated with so much energy and enthusiasm.  And thank you to Barbara, our wonderful teacher.  She has promised to come back with another class for October – hint – swarovskis.

Our next class, the flat spiral bracelet is fully booked.  If there is interest, we will re-run it sometime soon so let us know.  There are a couple of spaces left in the Introduction to Peyote Stitch class on the 26th.

Our second class will be held on 19 Sept 2009 at 10:am and will teach the flat spiral stitch.  You will make a very elegant bracelet that looks something like this:

The bracelet you will make will be this stitch but in a very sophisticated combination of black crystal and firepolish with a black oxide toggle clasp.

The class will be taught by Renate.  It will last about an hour and a half.   The store opens at 11:30  and you may continue working but the teacher may not be totally available to you at all times.  The class fee is $30 plus applicable taxes and includes all materials.

Our classes must be booked and paid in advance.  We have the right to cancel if necessary.  Our classes are kept small – maximum 6 students so everyone gets the attention they need.

Book in-store and pay by cash, credit card or debit, or if necessary you can call us and provide your info and we can issue you a paypal invoice.

Our very first class at Gotta Love Beads in Owen Sound will be held on Sept 12, 2009 at 1:00pm.  It will last about 2 hours.  This is a basic stringing class and will teach crimping and finishing techniques.  The teacher is Barbara.    In this class you will make an illusion necklace like this:

You can choose your colourways from these:

Our classes must be booked and paid in advance.  This gives us time to prepare your materials as selected.  We have the right to cancel if necessary.  Our classes are kept small – maximum 6 students so everyone gets the attention they need.

If you have a bead design board and tools, feel free to bring them.  Otherwise you are welcome to share our classroom tools.  The cost for this class is $30 including materials.

Book in-store and pay by cash, credit card or debit, or if necessary you can call us and provide your info and we can issue you a paypal invoice.

It’s been super-busy getting the store up and running, but in between I managed to do a little bit of beading. I decided I wanted a little pouch for my personal air cleaner so did a little pattern of my tzu Bella.  For some reason, to me, she looks more like Oz’s cowardly lion.  I added a kumihimo braid for a neckchain and we’re all set to go.

I haven’t been around for a bit because things here went from busy to crazy.  I’ve had a sense for some time now that I should open a bricks-and-mortar store and over the last month and a half, the idea has solidified and turned into a lease, displays, pos software and more.  Here is a picture of the store, in the gorgeous Chicago building

Gotta Love Beads - The Store

in Owen Sound, on 10th Street East.  The sign in the picture still has the previous shop name on it, but new signs are in the works.

Beginnings of a Tools and Wire Display

As you can imagine, prepping all the stock for retail is an enormous job. Here’s a few pics showing the state we’re in at the moment.

Seedbeads Rack

Obviously we are stilll in construction, but it is coming together.

Teaching - Playing Area

It’s not an enormous shop but I wanted to make sure there was space for a little nook where we can have small classes and where people can drop in and sit and chat and bead.

I love Peruvian ceramics and animal beads of all kinds.   And since I like to help out in dog rescue, these poodles just caught my eye immediately.  Just added a bit of sterling wire, some swarovski crystals for a  bit of sparkle and a pair of heart charms and whipped up a pair of fun earrings to wear with my dog-rescue-t-shirt and jeans.  I wish they had shih tzu beads.

Couldn’t really stop there, and I just had to laugh when I came across these silly smiling puppies, so perched them on some rhinestone rondelles for them to use as pillows/beds.  These guys look like they have been up to something definitely naughty, maybe been into the scotch?

Well it was almost time to cook dinner, but thought I’d do one more pair, and decided to switch to gold-tone.  These gold stone fishes just seem to float along under their amber czech firepolish bubbles.