New Class on CraftEdu

Hello Everyone!

I have been home for a few weeks now and loving it. I have been organizing and cleaning! I can actually work in my studio with two working tables. I also have an idea of my inventory - imagine that.

Tomorrow I have a new workshop going up on CraftEdu (www.craftedu.com). Mosaic Chain Cuff is now an online class. This cuff was inspired by an ancient mosaic motif. What I love about the CraftEdu format is I can offer this workshop in three sessions so that everyone can concentrate on one portion of the workshop at a time. Check it out tomorrow and join my community page at www.craftedu.com.

The website for Beading by the Bay is up - www.beadingbythebay.com. I had such a great time last year with Marcia DeCoster, Jean Campbell, and Susan Kazarian and all of the gals who attended. I am looking forward to next March. My project is called Olivia and is inspired by the gold crowns worn in ancient Rome - big surprise, huh?

Today it is off to clean out the attic. I started the other day and found 3 kilos of vintage Venetian beads!!! Who knows what I will find today!

Ciao,

Maggie

West Coast Tour!

Every summer I visit some spots on the West coast to teach and do shows. I love coming to Seattle. I was in town to do the Bellevue ArtsFair and stayed with my dear dear friends Kathy and Peter Dannerbeck. Kathy helped me at the show - I don't know how I could ever do it without her. She is the best! I got to see a lot of old friends - thanks for coming by!

After the show, we went up to Peter and Kathy's beautiful home on Camano Island. What a great place to unwind and work. The views of Puget Sound are breathtaking. I spend the day making more inventory for San Francisco and then wine on the deck at sunset where we sit and solve all of the world's problems - you can all rest easy now! We had dinner one night with friends of Kat's and Peter's. Jeannie & Barry made a wonderful dinner and we sang old pirate shanty's - yes pirate shanty's - until the wee hours.

Tracy Stanley came up for a visit and lunch. I always love spending time with her. She brought her dog, Bogart. Corbin (Kathy's dog) and Bogart became great friends. After lunch we beaded and I actually saw Tracy work with seed beads again!!!!! She was one of my first teachers for beadweaving but then became a master with wirework. It was fun to see her with those little beads.

Tomorrow it is off to Newbury Park to teach at Creative Castle and see one of my favorite people - Carole Tripp. Although I hate to leave here, I am excited to see Carole and Roger and the gang at Creative Castle!

I will also be posting new classes on CraftEdu in the next few weeks - Mosaic Chain Cuff and probably Castellani Necklace.

Ciao for now!

Maggie

Project for Ireland

I have been busy working on projects for the book and for the Beadventure (www.beadventures.com) in Ireland in September. I finally finished the necklace called Macha. I am looking forward to returning to Ireland to see Cheryl and teach for Beadventure. My first trip to Ireland was with Beadventure some time ago so it is a special place for me.

I also just finished another project for the book called Artemisia. I know the earrings are large but I just love big earrings! They were inspired by the inlaid Cosmati floors found in the churches here in Italy.

Two classes are now on CraftEdu (www.craftedu.com) - Scepter Beads and Coin Pearl Earrings. More projects will follow for this online workshop website. Donna Kato has done a wonderful job putting this all together.

I am returning home tomorrow refreshed and with new ideas - can't wait to get in the studio!

Ciao for now!

Tracy & Maggie In Italy

Hello Everyone! What a great trip Tracy Stanley and I are having in Italy. It took more than a volcano to keep Tracy and my Beadventure group from coming. Tracy taught a wonderful workshop in Montefiridolfi in Tuscany. We stayed at a lovely villa/winery and had a great group of people. I fell in love with Siena and the history behind the Palio. We met with Dario Castagno (author of many books about Tuscany) and had a delightful time.

Tracy and I are now in Naples and just returned from Pompeii and Oplonti with Aldo. I am so enjoying seeing designs and motifs from a metal artist perspective (Tracy not me).

Pictures to follow soon. Tomorrow it is off to downtown Naples and then off to Capri!

Maggie

Italy!

I arrived safely in Napoli after quite a bumpy flight across the pond. Those of you who know me, know how much I enjoy flying! I hope it is better going back! It is so great to be here at this time of year. I am staying at my friend Giulia's beautiful home and having such a wonderful time. Her home is decorated beautifully for the holidays and I wish I could bring a group here at this time of year as there is a special feeling in the air as Christmas approaches. Giulia raises Siberian Huskies and there is a new litter! They are darling and I will try to post a photo of these little beauties!

The weather is crisp and cool during the day and cold at night. You can smell the wood fires burning in the homes and it just sets the mood. It has been great seeing friends and and having those traditional Neapolitan meals with them. Very relaxing. Lest you think all that I am doing is playing, I have been working on the book and making new pieces. I seem to get quite a bit done while I am here.

Today after a lunch with Giulia's family, I am off to Rome for my course that begins tomorrow. I am looking forward to this and to seeing Rome at the holiday season.

More later,

Maggie

Okay, so I am not so great at keeping up with the blog thing! I will give it another try. After a rough Autumn, things are finally settling down. Thanks to everyone for all the birthday wishes on Facebook. It was so great to hear from everyone. I had a great birthday. I was driving home from the Holiday Craft Show in Morristown, NJ where I had a good weekend. I met some wonderful people. I fell in love with the work of Elizabeth Rubidge - among many others! Her felted scarves are just wonderful. I had to have one for my birthday! Take a look at her website: www.feltedgarden.com. I just love my new scarf - very chic and warm!

On my drive home I was accompanied by my favorite artist Sting. His new CD is just lovely and certainly put me in the holiday spirit.

During the Fall, I had some great teaching gigs starting with Iowa. I had such a good time with the gals there. Fran is a wonderful cook and hostess! I had fun with the gals at Crystal Creations in Florida and again in New York with Beadventure and Sherry Serafini! What a great group - I had a blast. Last but not least, I was with the Great Lakes Beadworkers Guild in the Detroit area. They are one of the best bead societies in the country and I had so much fun seeing old friends and making new ones.

I am busy and will continue being busy into the next year writing a book for Lark. I am so thrilled to be doing this book. It is a challenge but I am enjoying the process. The book will be out in September of 2011 and as I said this is a real thrill for me. I have been developing many new projects based on historical jewelry, mosaic patterns & knots and architecture. What a great experience.

Tomorrow I am off to ITALY!!! I am going to Naples to see friends and then to Rome for a micromosaic course. I have been playing with micromosaics with seed beads for years and I have wanted to learn the technique for the past 10 years. This is a dream come true for me. I hope to have time to post some blogs while I am on my trip. Of course, I am most looking forward to spending time with my Neapolitan friends, wine and good food in the evenings.

I wish everyone a wonderful holiday season and hope to post more soon.

Maggie

Buon Giorno! I have been up since 4:30 a.m. for the third morning in a row! I love to see a pretty sunrise but this is ridiculous.

The pictures above are the projects for the Beading by the Bay Retreat in San Francisco in March, 2010 with Marcia DeCoster, Jean Campbell and me. Here is the website for all the info you need: http://www.beadingbythebay.com. Thank you Marcia with helping me with the directions on how to post the photos and link.

Today is a busy day. I am off to Iowa tomorrow to teach at Your Design Ltd. I am looking forward to returning. I had such a lovely time last year with all the gals. So today I am printing, collating and packing.

I just finished a lovely book, The Glassblower of Murano by Marina Fiorato. Good read, particularly if you have been to Venice and Murano. The author really captured the city.

Off to pack!