Ndebele - old work! Lots of new stuff to come :)

Ndebele with an increase - bracelets

Bead Junction Classes

Upcoming Classes and Events:

Thursday October 13th, 2005: 7:00 – 9:00pm
Swarovski Cubes Bracelet, Patricia Huff

Make an easy bracelet using Swarovski cubes and right angle weave.
$25.00 class fee, plus beads, Beginner



Friday October 14th,2005: 7:00 – 9:00pm
Stripes Bracelet, Heather Taylor

This is an easy Ndebele bracelet that is a great way to play with colour.
$15.00 class fee, $29.95 kit fee, Beginner +




Saturday October 15th, 2005: 10:00am – 12:00pm
Spiral Rope Basics, Patricia Huff
Learn the basics of how to do spiral rope, it works up quickly!
$25.00 class fee, plus beads, Beginner


Tuesday October 18th, 2005: 6:30 – 9:00
Stitch n’ B*tch Session – Our very first!
Having trouble with a pattern or project? Once a week, come to our table and through the meditative qualities of beadwork and patient assistance, soothe your soul. No charge, drop in event. (Held every Tuesday)

Wednesday October 19th, 2005: 6:30 – 9:00
Techniques Night
Crimping – try out the different pliers, crimps, cord and crimp covers.
$5.00


Thursday October 20th, 2005: 7:00 – 9:00pm
Checkerboard Bracelet, Heather Taylor

A sophisticated version of the Stripes Bracelet.
$15.00 class fee, plus $29.95 kit fee. Beginner +





Friday October 21st: 9:00 – 11:30pm
Friday Night Frolics- Our very first!
On the 3rd Friday of every month the store will be open until 11:30pm. Come discover the Roncesvalles neighbourhood – lots of great restaurants, coffee shops and even the Revue movie theatre; and then drop by to bead with us. For those with children, get them tucked into bed, have the significant other stay in, and come have a girls’ night out. Hope to see you!


Saturday October 22nd, 2005: 1:00 – 5:00pm
Mended Heart Pillow, Mary Kroetsch

Embellish a heart shaped pillow to learn bead embroidery techniques.
$25.00 class fee, $25.00 kit fee, Beginner


Tuesday October 25th, 2005: 6:30 – 9:00
Stitch n’ B*tch Session
No charge drop in event.

Thursday October 27th, 2005: 7:00 – 9:00pm
Waves Bracelet, Heather Taylor

Curvy gorgeous bracelet is a variation of the Stripes Ndebele Bracelet.
$15.00 class fee, plus $34.95 kit fee, Beginner ++


Friday October 28th, 2005: 7:00 – 9:00pm
Peyote Primer, Patricia Huff
Get started with one of the most popular bead weaving stitches.
$25.00 class fee, plus beads, Beginner

Tuesday November 1st, 2005: 6:30 – 9:00
Stitch n’ B*tch Session
No charge drop in event.

Thursday November 3rd, 2005: 7:00 – 9:00pm
Spiral Rope Basics, Patricia Huff
Learn the basics of how to do spiral rope – it works up quickly and there are lots of variations to play with!
$25.00 class fee, plus beads, Beginner

Friday November 4th, 2005: 7:00 – 9:00
NanC Meinhardt’s Frothy Bracelet - Part 1, Heather Taylor
Make internationally renowned artist NanC Meinhardt’s Frothy Bracelet. This is taught in 2 parts with homework in between, Part 2 is Nov. 11th.
$25.00 class fee, each part, plus beads, Intermediate

Saturday November 5th, 2005: 10:00am – 12:00pm
Swarovski Cubes Bracelet, Patricia Huff
Make an easy bracelet using Swarovski cubes and right angle weave.
$25.00 class fee, plus beads, Beginner

Saturday November 5th, 2005: 1:00 – 5:00
Bead Embroidery Sampler, Mary Kroetsch
Make a traditional sampler to learn various bead embroidery techniques.
$25.00 class fee, $25.00 kit fee, Beginner

Friday November 4th, 2005: 7:00 – 9:00
NanC Meinhardt’s Frothy Bracelet - Part 2, Heather Taylor
Make internationally renowned artist NanC Meinhardt’s Frothy Bracelet. Part 2 of November 4th’s class.
$25.00 class fee, each part, plus beads, Intermediate

Tuesday November 8th, 2005: 6:30 – 9:00
Stitch n’ B*tch Session
No charge drop in event.

Tuesday November 15th, 2005: 6:30 – 9:00
Stitch n’ B*tch Session
No charge drop in event.

Wednesday November 16th, 2005: 6:30 – 9:00:
Techniques Night
Finishing Loomwork – have a piece on the loom that you’re dreading finishing? Bring it in for an evening of solving finishing dilemmas.
$5.00


Friday November 18th: 9:00 – 11:30pm
Friday Night Frolics
On the 3rd Friday of every month the store will be open until 11:30pm. Come discover the Roncesvalles neighbourhood – lots of great restaurants, coffee shops and even the Revue movie theatre; and then drop by to bead with us. For those with children, get them tucked into bed, have the significant other stay in, and come have a girls’ night out. Hope to see you!

Saturday November 19th, 2005: 1:00 – 5:00
Fantasy Feather Brooch, Mary Kroetsch
A brooch that uses theatrical techniques to make a “faux” feather brooch.
$25.00 class fee, $25.00 kit fee, Beginner

Roncesvalles Polish Festival

Although Bead Junction isn't open yet, we'll be participating in the Roncesvalles Polish Festival. It's quite a fun event which includes pierogy tasting! We'll have jewellry, kits and beads and a display of some of the classes we'll be offering. So, keep your fingers crossed that the rain will go away, and drop by to say hello.


Have a great weekend and hope to see you at 389 Roncesvalles :)

Toronto Bead Store Announcement

I'm pleased to announce that Patricia Huff and I are opening a full service bead store in Toronto called Bead Junction. Our grand opening is Saturday October 1st, and the store is located at 389 Roncesvalles Avenue, Toronto. Hope to see you there!

Bead and Reel (4)

Bead and Reel (3)

Bead and Reel (2)

Bead and Reel (1)

My flabbergasted response to Rio Grande's justification for price gouging.

"So, you mean that your August 2005 catalogue is not the most current? How unusual, I guess you'd better send me the most recent one so I can keep up with your prices. Do you re-issue them weekly, I mean, it's still August 2005 isn't it? Or are you currently issuing the 2006 one now?

I understand that prices fluctuate, and most retailers plan their pricing to reflect that. No other US retailler of any kind has EVER charged more than is published in their catalogue - otherwise why bother having a catalogue? Or even a website if you have to phone for the prices?

Also, does that mean that your prices GO DOWN when things like currency fluctuations are in your favour? I highly doubt it - I feel that you are just trying to justify whatever price you want to charge. What exactly increased the price of the Colores resin?

As for returning it, it would cost me MORE than the additional cost - so I'm better off financially to keep it and just swallow your extra fee.

I think this is VERY poor policy, and I will attempt to avoid purchasing from Rio Grande in the future as I could never know what you'd be charging me. I belong to a number of online groups and won't hesitate to give my opinion of Rio Grande's pricing policy in the future.

Heather Taylor"

Rio Grande's response...

Wow, a fast reply - they must have to send this out many times a day...

"Dear Heather,

Thank you for your email. The price for item 638960 is currently $108.00. If you refer to page 722 in your catalog you will see under our "pricing guidelines" section that while we do our best to hold prices steady during the course of the year, prices may still change without notice. Prices are always fluctuating due to factors beyond our control such as currency exchange rates, fuel surcharges, freight charges, raw material fluctuations, labor cots, and customs duties. We highly recommend to all of our customers to call and verify pricing before they place an order in order to avoid any surprises.

We understand that higher prices are never good news so if you feel the price of your kit is too high, you can always return it within 30 days for a full refund. I will also send you a current copy of our catalog so that you can have our most up to date pricing information.

If you need any further assistance, please feel free to contact any of our Customer Service Representatives at 800-545-6566 (7 AM - 6 PM, US Mountain Time) or at info@riogrande.com and they can assist you with any additional questions you may have.

Sincerely,
Rio Grande
Written Response Teamresponseteam@tbg.riogrande.com"

Note to Rio Grande

Finally today I sent a note to Rio Grande about the overcharge. This is what I wrote:

"RE: Invoice No. 000000 I was charged $108.00 for item no. 638960, the complete Colores Resin system. Your August 2005 catalogue shows that item on plage 710 as $97.50. Please credit my VISA with the difference. Thank you. Heather Taylor"

Proportion Study B & W

More on Rio Grande

Hmmm, must be a mistake, I was charged $108.00 for a $97.50 item.

Rio Grande Order arrives!

Whoo hooo my order with the resin stuff has arrived.

Colour study - rocks

Rio Grande Order

Ordered Colores Resin kit from Rio Grande today. :)

Report on Bead and Button 2005

Bead and Button 2005 was fabulous! I was like a teenager, except it was about beads, not boys.

I was a little nervous going into Cynthia's workshop, but after 3 days of intense beading, I found it very rewarding. Don't ask what I made - I really just "sampled" - worked out design issues, etc. But I do know that something is already bubbling in my mind about this. I sat next to Suzanne McNeil (Design Originals publisher - the booklets with the Panda on them) and probably about 70% of the class were bead store owners and /or Cynthia groupies (they had taken many courses with her). They had a great class dinner at a French restaurant on the last day with Cynthia and the editors of the various Kalmbach Bead publications - I even got a diploma. Wine flowed freely, but contrary to French tradition the cheese plate was served first - mind you Wisconsin is known as the dairy state. I sat with Mindy Brooks (current editor of Bead and Button) and Marlene Vail the show organizer. I learned lots of inside stuff. Did you know that Interweave was sold recently? Did you know that the Arton couple go to Tucson? I shared a room with Maria Rypan and we sat up beading late into the night. Mind you she has more stamina than me! I also took a class with Susan Lenart Kazmer which was fantastic (you've probably seen the necklace made of old pencils she made).Anyways it was great, a real hoot, and I spent too much money on kits and beads. I've already made a ring by Laura McCabe - a real bling ring - with a 1" dia. swarovski rivoli in the centre surrounded by 46 2AB swarovski crystals (oh my).

Whew. I can hardly wait until next year!

Paisley Brooch

Day one in Milwaukee.

Hoffman Brooch. Today is the first full day in Milwaukee at Bead and Button. But yesterday I went to the wonderful Santiago Calatrava Quadracci Pavillion, the Art Museum here. I spent a lot of time there last year. They have a wonderful Arts and Crafts show including some brooches by Hoffman (but not the one above). It's a bit synchronistic - I've picked up some Arts and Crafts and Art Nouveau images for Cynthia Rutledge's class, and this exhibit is going on!

Milwaukee Here I Come

The big Bead and Button show in Milwaukee is starting on Sunday, and I'm gonna be there!