Bead Fest Texas

I just returned from Bead Fest Texas. It was a great event and all the students were very active in their local Jewelry and Bead groups. I was amazed how advanced and dedicated everyone was. I had two students all the way from Costa Rica. It is always fun to see where people come from to attend. All my students were great and I learned a lot and enjoyed the energy in my classes. I look forward to going back next year.

Apoxie Demo Post

Fire Mountain newsletter post about all the great demo's at the Bead&Button Show, including my Apoxie demos. It was a lot of fun.

FREE 40-minute online class!

Learn the basics of filling bezels with two-part resin. From mixing to adding inclusions, this class covers it all. Instructor Debbi Simon takes the mystery out of the process and shares many tips and tricks to make working with resin simple and fun. Get started with this popular technique today! 

My Top TEN resin Tips

1. To ensure curing success make sure you have a drop or two extra hardener in batch.
2. Remember TOO much extra hardener your piece will yellow (there is a delicate balance).
3. Baby wipes are the best studio wipe to have on hand.
4. Parchment makes a nice non-stick surface to cure resined paper.
5. Mold everything you come across (two-part silicone putty)
6. Color - if you thought of it...try it! (remember, if liquid color add extra hardener if powder just mix in.)
7. Layer objects and art in multiple pours for extra depth.
8. Look in the kids toy box....so many treasures to mold and cast.
9. Pearl Ex mica powders create great effects.
10. To learn more of my tips link to http://www.beaducation.com/vids/detail/99 and download my FREE Bezel, Bezel resin class. 40 minutes of tips and techniques for free...it's easy.

Taught wonderful classes in Madison

This past weekend I was able to teach a few classes at the Madison Art Glass and Bead Show www.beadshowmadison.com/...what a great weekend. Not only was able to teach for the first time me CREATE YOUR STYLE - SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS Pave' class I was able to teach for the first time a joint class with Brenda Schweder. Both were awesome. Not only does Chris Mode put on a great show she is great to work with. Hopefully, I will be able to post soon some class photo's. In the mean time Jess from Vintaj posted a few http://vintaj.com/wpblog/ and as always she and her family is always great to see.

Upcoming Classes in March

I have had a busy week and finalizing my plans for Bead Fest Santa Fe. I am excited to be teaching one of my new classes Cold Casting with Resin and Bronze Powder.

Cold Casting with Bronze Powder and Resin:  Students will learn to make molds and cold cast with bronze powder/resin. Much like metal clay the bronze, in powder state, is added to a binder. In cold casting the binder is resin. All though the casted piece will not be sinister by a kiln, the resin becomes its binder, and the final piece looks and feels much like traditional metal.

As soon as I get back I will be getting ready to teach at the Art Glass and Bead Show in Madison, March  26 and 27th, 2011. I will be teaching a variety of classes including the above Cold Casting Class and another new class Pave'.

Create the look of Pave’ with CREATE YOUR STYLE - SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS and two-part epoxy clay. Epoxy Clay can be molded, colored and adorned with Swarovski Elements to emulate the look of pave. With the range of bezels and channel settings on the market now is a great time to add this technique to your mix to enhance and customize all your jewelry pieces.

I will also be teaching a joint class I am excited to share with Brenda Schweder, author of Steel Wire Jewelry (just released through Lark Books). Brenda will be sharing some of her secrets to creating wire forms out of steel wire that we will then be finishing and filling with resin. Make sure to join us both for Arrested Flight Butterfly.

debbisimon.com: Tucson

debbisimon.com: Tucson: "It is another late night creating. I have been playing a lot with new techniques, preparing new class proposals and getting some new pieces ..."

Another test...this time thru email.

Testing blogging from my phone.

Tucson

It is another late night creating. I have been playing a lot with new techniques, preparing new class proposals and getting some new pieces ready for Tucson. I leave for Tucson on Monday for the 8th year in a row and always very excited to see all the great new things, see everyone and catch up on the latest trends. I have been lucky that I have been able to experience Tucson...but spoiled to have access to it yearly. As I am packing up and finalizing and checking things off my list I thought it was a great time to check in and blog. I will for sure be tweeting and sending posts through tweeter and facebook, keep a watch during the week to get a peek at all the great finds I come across. Including the people, parties and events.

As an Ambassador for SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS I get a sneak peek at all their new trends including new colors and products they preview and release every year in Tucson. Wednesday morning 10:30 - 11:30 I will be demoing a pave technique and on Friday, as the ending highlight to a great week, I get to attend their very sparkly party. It is always the highlight. I will keep you posted.