Bead Cruise Workshops: Recap

Last Sunday I flew back in from Florida after a 10 day trip on the bead cruise.  This was my second year attending and I had an amazing time!

Fashionably matching the tiles in Puerto Rico with my maxi dress.

This trip included stops at 3 bead stores (1 in Florida, 2 in Puerto Rico), 3 workshops, 4 ports and countless parties.

I was honored to have my beads featured in two of the workshops on the cruise.  The first was for Beverly Herman's Star of the Sea class.  

Photo by Beverly Herman

The Star of the Sea necklace featured my stoneware cabochons.  Techniques in this workshop included bead embroidery, peyote and herringbone stitches.

Making the decorative starfish

I have a pretty good handle on basic bead embroidery but bead weaving...bead weaving and I have a history of not getting along very well.  This little starfish took me FOREVER.  Thank goodness Beverly is a very patient teacher!  I only managed to get this starfish and the base bead embroidery done during this workshop.

It didn't help that this workshop was held in a room with an amazing view of the ocean.  LOL!

Working hard on their necklaces

I had also signed up for Tracy Stanley's Byzantine chain bracelet class.  I taught myself Byzantine weave last summer so I ended up assisting some of the other students in class.

Erin Siegel working on her Byzantine weave.

Norma making her chain.

The third workshop was Erin Siegel's Tribal Inspired Beaded Bracelet.

Photo by Erin Siegel

This workshop involved knotting waxed linen and included my ceramic buttons as the clasp!

Selecting the right button for each kit

Here I am working diligently on my bracelet.  Waxed linen is so easy to work with. 

I ended up buying some knotting tweezers from Erin and they were well worth it.  They really get the knot right up against the last bead.

My completed bracelet

Sarajo and Kathleen sat behind me in class and we had a blast.  Speaking of Sarajo, she was the lucky winner of the massive AJE door prize on the cruise!  Congrats Sarajo!  Enjoy playing with all those beads!

I actually made another variation of this bracelet over the weekend.  I have plans to make more in different colors.

Overall, the cruise was fantastic.  I did have some sea sickness here and there but I didn't let it ruin the trip for me.  If you ever get the chance, I highly recommend going on it.  You'll learn new techniques, make new friends, enjoy tropical locales and just have a great time.  

If you'd like to see more photos from my trip, make sure to check out my blog later this week.  I'll be posting a recap with lots of photo highlights.  

Happy Beading!

Bead Cruise Recap

 On Saturday morning my ship docked back in Bayonne, NJ.  I had just spent the last 8 days on the fabulous bead cruise hosted and organized by Heather Powers.  If you can go next year, DO IT.  I had the best time ever.  Here, let me show you...

The night we left port there was a meet and great and a pendant swap.  I created the layered stoneware pendant on the left.  I wire-wrapped the sea glass with bronze wire and finished it with silk ribbon.  I wanted it to have a "lost city of Atlantis" feel to it.  The amazing seed bead pendant on the right was what I received!  It was made by Wendy Zollars.  Thanks Wendy!

Our first full two days out at sea were spent in workshops.  I took a full-day cubic right angle weave workshop by Beverly Herman and Heather's cast away necklace for my half-day class.  I found CRAW to be horribly frustrating but Beverly had me doing it!  Bead weaving really isn't for me though and I"ll probably stick to bead embroidery (less counting, lol).  We used a bead spinner in Heather's class and I made a mess.  There were a LOT of beads stuck to the bottom of my pants by the end of the morning.

Dinners on the ship were fun (and tasty).  We had a whole group of tables for our party so you could sit with whomever you liked each night.

There was also a vendor night!  The teachers each set up a table with their wares (kits, tutorials, beads, etc...). Erin Siegel convinced me to go on the cruise and she was my roommate so I got to help set up her table for vending.  I LOVE merchandising!

After two days at sea, we stopped in the Bahamas.  I got to go snorkeling and then venture through the straw market.  Sadly, the straw market is mostly imported stuff and does not reflect the original purpose of supporting traditional handmade straw items on the island.

We got rained out the following day for CocoCay but we all ended up beading and creating fabulous jewelry.  On Wednesday, Barbara Bechtel came and picked us up at Port Canaveral. She took us over to Beads by Baker.  What...a...fantastic...store...  No, seriously.  This store was packed with czech glass, trade beads, seed beads, tools, gemstones, blah blah blah!

Yeah, for realz it was that awesome.  $$$$$$$$$$$$!!!!!!!!!  ::wallet explodes::

After my wallet exploded, we did some additional non-bead shopping in the area.  Then Barbara dropped us back off at the ship and we headed back out to sea.  There were more workshops, yummy dinners and all sorts of fun stuff.

Random fun stuff from the cruise!

One evening there was a PJ beading party.  My awesome peeps here at AJE donated a bag FULL of awesome art bead/components and Glynna Merritt White was the lucky winner!  Congrats, Glynna!  I should also mention there was a crystal clay Make N Take (see lower right-hand photo).  I haven't finished my piece but I should probably work on that...

Our final evening at sea, Heather hosted a farewell party.  Those of us that created entries for the jewelry contest presented them that evening.  I made the three piece set on the left.

I had an amazing time on this trip.  I got to spend time with old friends, make new friends and finally meet friends I had only known via the internet.  Heather is going to release the details for the 2015 cruise later this spring.  I highly recommend going if you can.  I hope to be able to attend again next year.

Happy Beading!

Diana P.
Suburban Girl Studio LLC