Class #4: Bezeled Stone Pendant
Instructor Information:
Melody MacDuffee is the author of four books (three of them on wirework) and five wirework booklets. Melody has taught her distinctive jewelry-making techniques all over the U.S. and as far away as Morocco and West Africa. Her Craftsy Instructional video, Filigree Jewelry with a Twist! came out in 2015, and she is a regular guest artist on Jewelry Television’s Jewel School. Melody was also the winner of Bead & Button’s 2019 Bead Dreams Grand Award in the wire category.
Melody is also the cofounder and director of Soul of Somanya, a fair-trade non-profit that offers paid training and steady, living-wage employment to disadvantaged Ghanaian artisans. Melody will be bringing a lively trunk show of colorful West African beads and purses with her, as well as beautiful cabochons and stone pendants, so be prepared to Shop!
Description: For those of us who don't have--or don't enjoy working with--torches and other fiery devices, here's a fun way to turn small-ish cabochons into striking, one-of-a-kind pendants. Begin by making the basic Quick and Easy Bezel (scheduled for Saturday, April 20th from 10am-noon), and then go on to embellish your bezeled stone with lavish loops of beaded wire fringe for a completely unique effect.
Instructor provided kit:
- Size 11/0 and 15/0 seed beads in a wide variety of colors and finishes to choose from.
- 18-guage, 24-guage, and 28-guage dead-soft wire in your choice of color-finishes.
- A wide variety of cabs (at an extra charge) to choose from. (Students are welcome to bring their own, preferably in the 18-25mm range, give or take.
Items the students need to bring to class:
- Beading mat, light source and reading glasses.
- Wire working tools: chain nose pliers (not ridged); round nose pliers; wire cutters.
- Cabochon (if you want to bring your own), preferably no larger than 18-25mm, give or take.
- Optional: metal file, awl.
Skill Level: Intermediate
Date/Time: Sunday, April 21st, 2024, 1:00pm-5:00pm
NOTE: If you have already taken the Quick & Easy Bezel class on Saturday, you can opt to use the bezel you made there as the basis for this one. Then you can just show up at 2:30pm. That piece forms the basis for this piece.
Class Location: New Mexico Bead Company, 4111 Louisiana Blvd., Albuquerque, NM http://www.nmbead.com
Total Cost: $55