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We also received a giant pile of brand spanking new Winter/Spring workshop schedules.  We worked our butts off on this one and we have a really great selection of returning favorites as well as new classes.  Check it out here… And as usual, call us or come into the store to sign up.  You know the drill!

Finally, a gentle reminder that we are one of the giddy sponsors of the super-fabulous and fun Crafty Wonderland this weekend.  If you should find yourself there–and you really SHOULD find yourself there–stop by our booth and say hello.  We’ll have copies of the new class schedule hot off the presses!  Have a fantastic weekend everyone!

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Check out their statement about this new endeavor, as well as a mini-gallery of what they’re offering:

Marcie Stone and Greg Hanson (aka Hanson Stone) are pleased to announce they have Greg’s beautiful lampworked glass beads, buttons, cabochons, and glass jump rings and Marcie’s antique and vintage beads, buttons, sequins, sew-ons and handmade pine needle baskets, beaded necklaces and earrings available in their space at Dāva Bead and Trade.

You can expect to find an assortment of bakelite, glass, shell, metal and vintage plastic buttons for your craft and collecting endeavors.  Stop in often as the collection for sale will be continually changing.

Marcie has been creating pine needle baskets and beaded jewelry since the 1970s.  She has been collecting and selling antique and vintage beads, buttons and embellishments since the late 1970s.

Greg started working with borosilicate glass in the early 1980s.  He is also an accomplished wire and bead artist.

Marcie and Greg belong to the Portland Bead Society, Portland Button Club, Oregon State Button Society, and the National Button Society.  They are avid collectors of paperweight, antique shell and bakelite cookie buttons.

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We’re very excited to host our first ever art camp for kids this summer!  It focuses on wearable objects of beauty created by various techniques such as beading and wire work, felting, print making etc.  It promises to be loads of fun!  I asked Lynzee to write a little something introducing herself and explaining a little bit about the camp.  Check it out:

“I love teaching! … and I love kids, so I am really looking forward to the summer wearable art camp! I have been a grade school art’s teacher at the International School here in Portland, as well as worked for ‘Children’s Healing Arts Project‘.
My hope is that the Wearable Art Camp here at Dava will give young ones a good start in how to make all the basics in the accessory department!  I will provide a wide array of mediums to work with as well as let the students make requests and help to guide the direction of the class.  Each young artist will  reveal a theme in their art that will have a chance to unfold during our week together.  I love to share creative concepts with young minds!

All supplies are provided and we’ll offer a healthy snack during the time they are in class.  If you’d like to sign your child up for the camp, you can do so either in the store or online.  We look forward to hearing from you!

Here’s to a creative summer!

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Bead crochet is one of those skills that always inspires awe in me.  The feel of it.  The look of it.  The perfection of the stitch.  The way the tiny seed beads line up and fit together like perfect little peas in a pod.   If you feel the same way and have been chomping at the bit to learn this skill, we have a 2 part class starting this weekend taught by our friend Sharon Hanson.  You can check out her website to see more of her work and read a little bit about her here:

http://www.knot-cha-cha.com

I asked Sharon to tell us a little bit about herself.   Thank you Sharon!

How long have you been making things and what was your first interest in this area?

At age nine, an aunt taught me how to crochet and my mother taught me to use her sewing machine and to embroider.  Up until that time I had been enthralled with playing dress up in my mother’s cast-off accessories. Now, new worlds of design opened as I learned to sew, crochet, and embellish my own accessories. In high school, I taught myself to knit from a book, and in college discovered a love of beads. New techniques and skills keep presenting themselves for learning—like felting, spinning fiber, and plying yarn with beads.

What/Who inspires you?

Originally it was my mother who inspired me and encouraged me to make pretty little things to wear. Later theater and costume history studies added the inspiration of many wonderful eras of dress. The most inspirational periods for me are the Victorian and Edwardian eras, the roaring twenties, and the thirties.

What is your favorite medium to work in?

Fiber and beads.

What do you do when you are feeling “stuck” creatively?  What helps you get back into the creative mode?

Generally there is the opposite problem. Too many ideas come too quickly. A few years ago I started a design notebook in which I sketch ideas and make notes about design ideas and production steps. It helps keep me sane.

Do you have any rituals that go along with your creative time?

While designing new pieces I generally work in silence in a meditative frame of mind in which I experience a kinship with the materials and the construction methods being used. When I am working on more production-oriented tasks like making things for my business, Knot-Cha-Chá!™, I like listening to world music like Spanish flamenco, Portuguese fado, and tango vals. You might also find me working while watching old Ginger Rogers-Fred Astaire movies.

What is something you think people would be surprised to know about you?

Well, perhaps it would not be a surprise to you, given the name of my business, but I am an amateur social dancer who enjoys doing waltz, tango, foxtrot, swing, cha-cha, salsa, and disco dancing. I love searching for a fabulous vintage dress to wear out dancing and then designing my own accessories to go with it.

Don’t miss the chance to meet Sharon and learn this wonderful skill!  Here’s the 411 on the class starting this Sunday:

Learn to fashion a circular rope of crocheted cord and beads into a bangle bracelet. Class will be taught in 2 sessions, giving the student ample time to completely finish their piece.

Prerequisite:

Basic crochet knowledge including ability to work a chain stitch and a slip stitch. Experience working with thread and a small hook is helpful but not required.

$70, Two 3-Hour Days

• Pt 1: Sunday, February 27, 11:30am – 2:30pm
• Pt 2: Sunday, March 6, 11:30am – 2:30pm

Preregistration is a must!  See you soon!

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We feel very lucky to have such a wonderful enameling instructor in Lolly Jamerson.  She teaches the not-to-be-missed Enameling I and Enameling II: Cloisonne classes here, and new this term is an Enameling Lab which is (for experienced students only) free time in the studio with Lolly on hand to assist you in any enameling-related project you can dream up.   There is one coming up VERY SOON Saturday, February 12 from 10:30-4:30.  There are a few spots left, so give us a call to snap those up!

Lolly is a multitalented artisit and you can see her work and learn a little bit about here at her web site:  www.lollyjamerson.com

She has also kindly answered a few of my goofy questions about her creative process.  Check it out…

How long have you been making things and what was your first interest in this area?

I have been enameling since taking a class at the Cleveland Institute of Art in 1986 and declaring it my minor.  I really loved the medium and have been exploring it ever since.

What/Who inspires you?

I am very inspired by many artists and certain periods of time such as the Victorian era and the Arts and Crafts era.  Lalique and Tiffany are very important influences for my work as well as painters and illustrators from those periods such as Mucha and Klimt.  I collect antiques and am always inspired by the ornate designs from the late 1800′s to the organic designs and nature themes used in the Art Nouveau movement.

What is your favorite medium to work in?

My favorite mediums to work with are paints and enamels.  I also love doing mixed media pieces incorporating vintage paper, cloth and found objects.

What do you do when you are feeling “stuck” creatively?  What helps you get back into the creative mode?

When I am feeling stuck, I spend time with my art books and go see either current shows or visit my favorite pieces at the Art Museum.  I also do lots of writing in my sketchbooks about ideas I am trying to cultivate.  Going for hikes is always thoroughly inspirational and gives me some head space as well.

Do you have any rituals that go along with your creative time…music you listen to, and/or something you like to drink or snack on when you are making jewelry?

I always listen to music in my studio.  Music is such an integral mind/body experience and it really helps me open up to be in a creative space.  I really love and appreciate music and some of my favorite styles are rock, funk, blues, jazz and reggae.

Thanks for playing along Lolly.  In addition to her Enameling I and II (Cloisonne) classes, there is an another Enameling Lab happening on Sunday May 22nd.  We hope to see you soon!

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