Valentine Bead & Jewelry Show

Date: 2012.01.25 | Category: Uncategorized | Response: 0

Saturday & Sunday, February 11 & 12, 2012 – 10 am to 5 pm
10910 Katy Freeway, Houston, TX 77043 (next to the Room Store)
We will line the hallways with jewelry artists, bead makers of all kinds, sellers of fine art and wonderful handmade gifts.  Perfect for the man or woman who is looking for a completely original Valentine gift.  This is a Glass Art & Bead sponsored event, and we hope you’ll stop in and say hello to Pam and all the artists who show their art in our store.  We also have a new expanded area called “Spare Moments”, where our jewelry artists can hold classes.  We are planning jewelry classes all weekend and you can read about the ones we have already planned below.  We’ll post more as they are available.  Of course we will demonstrate the art of making lampwork glass beads all weekend.  And yep, there will be food and drink and music.  And candy, lots of chocolate candy.  Yummy.

There is a man who sits under the huge dinosaurs at the Museum of Natural Science, and makes hearts from dinosaur bones.  No kidding.  He cuts and polishes dinosaur bones, creating the most beautiful heart pendants.  His name is Pat Napolio and he will be one of our visiting artists at our 3rd Annual Valentine Bead & Jewelry Show.  Pat will have his whole set up and will be demonstrating and making his hearts all weekend.

Make a Magpie Bracelet

 Instructor:  Joanne Mann, Jewelry Designer
Saturday & Sunday, February 11 – 12, 2012, 11:00 am to Noon
A contemporary version of the traditional charm bracelet, this fun bracelet is uniquely you.  Using beads and charms, create a one-of-a-kind statement bracelet.  The cost includes the bracelet, your choice of 4 beads (more available for purchase), and headpins.  Students are encouraged to bring their own beads and charms to add to the bracelet.  Joanne will have some tools, but students are asked to bring round nose and chain nose pliers, if they have them.  Class cost:  $25.00

Make your own Ear Wires and Clasps

 Instructor:  Rikki Mitman, Jewelry Designer & Mixed Media Artist
Saturday and Sunday, February 11 – 12, 2012, 1:00 – 4:00 pm
What better way to finish your unique handmade jewelry than with ear wires or clasps that match perfectly?  If you can use pliers and hammers, you can do this too – and your work will say “professional designer” from start to finish.  You will learn to make three clasps: Simple, Latching, and Folded; a Figure 8 clasp loop; three ear wires: Secure Kidney (these are the ones that hook closed), French Hook, and Spiral Front; and Coiled Earring Studs.  Students should bring round-nose pliers, chain-nose pliers, a ball-peen hammer, and steel bench block or small anvil.  Some tools/anvils will also be available to share for those who don’t have them.  Class will be taught using copper wire.  Cost is $35.00.

Make a Lampwork Heart Bead Necklace

 Instructor: Liz Bunn, Lampwork Bead Artist
Saturday and Sunday, February 11 – 12, 2011, 1:00 – 2:00 pm
And where would Valentine Day be without a beautiful handmade heart necklace?  Liz Bunn, famous for her stunning lampwork beads, is
teaching a basic necklace beading class, featuring her lampwork heart pendants.  You’ll learn how to make a necklace similar to the ones above. 
Cost:  $30.00.

Lampwork Bead Demonstrations

 Rikki Mitman & Liz Bunn, Lampwork Bead Artists
Saturday & Sunday, February 11 – 12, 2012, Ongoing demonstrations
Our Valentine show wouldn’t be complete without our artists demonstrating how they make lampwork glass beads.  It’s fascinating to watch them work in the torch flame, and see how they create their unique beads.

If you are interested in attending any of the above classes, please reserve your space by emailing Pam at pam.pickering@comcast.net.  You’ll receive up-to-date information about the classes about a week before the Valentine Show, and you’ll pay the artist directly when you arrive for the class.  The dinosaur bone polishing and the lampwork bead demonstrations will be on-going and don’t need reservations.  If you want to be a vendor at our show, please contact Pam.

Don the traveling bead maker . . .
Don will be showing our art at local shows throughout 2012.  He loves to have customers come and visit with him in his booth.  To talk with Don and see what new and astounding beads he’s come up with next, please visit . . .

1st Saturday Arts Market
Saturday, February 4, 2012, 11:00 am to 6:00 pm
548 West 19th Street, Houston, TX 77008 (in the Heights)
This is a wonderful market for artists and patrons alike.  Food, music, art and great people make this a destination on the first Saturday of every month.  Don will be sharing a booth with Steve Sellers, a friend and master silver jewelry designer.

40th Annual St. Francis Art Show
Friday, February 10, 2012,  6:00 – 9:00 pm “Preview Party”
Saturday, February 11, 2012, Noon – 9:00pm
Sunday, February 12, 2012, 11:00 am – 4:00 pm
345 Piney Point Rd., Houston, TX 77024
Don will be at this wonderful show, even as we throw our own Valentine Bead & Jewelry Show just across I-10.  Besides seeing our latest art, you can also see what some of our other family members are doing.  Marion Howard (our sister-in-law), will be showing her canvases, and Don’s brother, George Howard, will have his stunning photography.  Don will be at the St. Francis Art Show the same weekend as our Valentine Show, so make a point to visit us both!  We are only about 10 minutes apart.

Thank you so very much!

Date: 2011.12.17 | Category: Christmas Extavaganza | Response: 0

What a wonderful weekend we had at our 9th Annual Christmas Extravaganza!  The entire mall was filled and it was obvious from all the smiling faces and gift bags that both shoppers and stores and artists and vendors all had a great time.  It was so nice of people to tell us just how much they enjoyed themselves.  Of course, Don’s margaritas contributed to the merriment for sure.  And if you watched one of his lampwork bead demonstrations or Mike’s watercolor demos, you couldn’t ask for better entertainment anywhere.

Because last weekend was so much fun, we’ve invited all the artists and vendors to come again this weekend.  The Market Place management, and especially Chris, very kindly offered the free space in return for all their help in drawing new customers to our eclectic little mall.  We hope that you will come and support them, and all the special stores we have at The Market Place.  And be sure to stop in and see Don and me at Glass Art & Beads.

9th Annual Christmas Extravaganza All Over Again!
at The Market Place, 10910 Katy Freeway, Houston, TX 77043
Friday, Saturday and Sunday, December 16-18, 2011, 10 am to 5 pm

Special Christmas Hours at Glass Art & Beads
Thursday & Friday, December 22 & 23, 2011, 10 am to 5 pm
Saturday, Christmas Eve, December 24, 2011, 10 am to 2 pm

If you missed last weekend, here’s a taste of what you missed . . .