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1. “Art, Spirituality & the Creative Process”

1-3 day class & seminar

This is a class that explores the interrelationship between art, spirituality and the creative process. It is both didactic as well as experiential. It includes a slide presentation, lecture, discussion and a variety of experiential opportunities, depending on the length of the venue. Possibilities include making a mandala, a beaded prayer pouch, prayer beads, beaded chakra necklace or brooch, Spirit dolls and beaded vessels.

This all-day class is focused on the Ndebele Herringbone stitch from South Africa. The beginning of the class will be devoted to learning the stitch in its flat and tubular forms. In the afternoon, students will make a fun pair of earrings that have an interesting spider-web effect. Perforated brass ear clips are filled in with size 8 seed beads, then a 'web' is spun around the perimeter utilizing the flat form of the Herringbone stitch along with increases. Featured in Beadwork Magazine, April '01.

Students will learn the Herringbone stitch in its flat and tubular forms in the morning. In the afternoon they will make a cuff bracelet with beautiful freshwater pearls and learn to embellish it to make it a design of their own inspiration.

This class will focus on the off-loom beading technique from the Xhosa tribes of South Africa known as the Double-faced Scallop Stitch. To create the double-facing, each row is worked in both a forward and reverse direction. As in some of the Zulu tribe stitches, the connections in this stitch also pass through a bead, loop around a thread from a previous row then pass once again through the same bead to secure the stitch. Students will create a beautiful heirloom necklace in an original Wendy Ellsworth Design or a design of their own choosing.

This project was featured on the cover of Bead & Button Magazine's April 2000 issue. Participants will learn to make a Gourd (Peyote) Stitch bezel around a cabochon of their choice and surround it with a Gourd Stitch ruffle made by radical increases. This is a signature design by Wendy Ellsworth.

Tiny feet deserve these soft, supple beaded baby moccasins. Students will use the Back Stitch to bead their own design onto the surface of the leather and learn an easy stitch for finishing the exposed edges once the moccasin is hand-sewn together.

Students will create a free-form bracelet using a variety of sizes, colors and types of beads. Variations of the basic Flat Gourd (Peyote) stitch give a 3-D sculptural effect to this one-of-a-kind project. Previous experience in Gourd Stitch is helpful.

If you have been having trouble breaking out of your comfort zone in working with color choices, this class is for you! You will end up with a free-form Gourd Stitch bracelet and how it gets made is the surprise.

Participants will learn how to make a beaded vessel in a spiral twist design using size 6 seed beads and 4mm cube beads in either a 4-bead or 12-bead pattern. The Flat Circular and Tubular Gourd Stitch with increasing and decreasing create its free-standing shape. The techniques lend themselves to a variety of irregular shapes so each one is unique and fun to make.

Learn how to bead on leather by making a small, wearable fringed leather pouch with your own bead design. These often display a power animal or bird that is significant for the owner and can be filled with special talismans for protection.

This project is focused on helping women reconnect with their Wild Woman archetype, the innate instinctual Self or Psyche. At its deepest meaning it is the practice of knowing one’s soul and intuitive Essence. Through story telling, music, guided imagery and the making of a highly embellished soft leather purse, students will access this Wild Woman archetype.

Two stitches from the Zulu tribes of South Africa will be taught in this class: the Square Tube and Double Helix. They will be combined into one necklace in a color palette of each student’s choosing. Further embellishment will complete the project.

1, 2 and 3-drop Gourd Stitch will create this adorable lidded basket. It begins with Flat Circular Gourd Stitch and works upward into 3-drop Gourd Stitch. The lid is embellished with freshwater pearls and is removable.

Students will use a wide variety of seed beads and other beads to weave free-form vessels in the Gourd Stitch. Each vessel begins in the center with the Flat Circular Gourd Stitch and works into Tubular Gourd Stitch. Each one is unique and fun to create. Previous experience with the Gourd Stitch is a pre-req.

Participants will choose a painting and design some type of body adornment based on their inspiration from the painting. They need to bring a copy of the painting to class, a drawing of their design and all materials needed to create the item of body adornment during the period of the class. Body adornment covers a wide range of possibilities, including hair ornaments, hats, necklaces, body armor, clothing, etc. Beads will be the primary element along with other media as well.

Come along on a bead safari to visit the Zulu, Ndebele and Xhosa tribes of South Africa. A multitude of their beading techniques will be explored that can be used to make a variety of jewelry and sculptural forms. These techniques will include the Zulu Square Tube and Double Helix Stitches, the Ndebele Herringbone Stitch in its flat and tubular forms, along with the Xhosa Double-Faced Scallop Stitch and Chevron Stitch.

Students will learn to create wonderful tactile SeaForms using the Flat Circular and Tubular Gourd Stitches with increasing and decreasing as well as the Ndebele Herringbone Stitch in its tubular form. These can be built up in sections to make larger forms that look so real you’ll feel as if you just took a trip to visit the Great Barrier Reef!

This class will focus on the off-loom beading techniques known as the Gourd, Brick and Herringbone Stitches. The basics of each stitch will be taught so that they can be used in a free-form manner. The emphasis of the class will be on applying these techniques to free-form, sculptural designs in objects of body adornment such as necklaces and bracelets or in making 3-D baskets or vessels.

This 3-day class will focus on the off-loom beading technique known as the Gourd or Peyote Stitch. Participants will utilize this versatile stitch to make a lidded basket, a spiral twist vessel and a free-form 3-D vessel of their own design. Each of these begins with Flat Circular Gourd Stitch and works into the tubular form of the stitch. Increasing, decreasing and 1,2 and 3-drop Gourd Stitch will be covered along with surface embellishment.

21. African Safari Necklace 2-3 days

Using variations of the Herringbone Stitch, this lariat-style necklace is approx. 65" in length. Wrapped around rattail cord, it includes 3 different flowers all in Herringbone Stitch and multiple colors, sizes and types of beads. A lamp-worked bead or dichroic cab provides a focal point. Multiple increasing and decreasing in Herringbone Stitch create its undulating shape.

22. Summer Passion Flower Brooch/Bracelet

An element from my "Summer Passion Necklace", this project is formed in two layers using two sizes of beads worked in Herringbone Stitch. Multiple increases in multiple colors create its circular shape and a lamp-worked bead nestles into the center.

27. "California Dreamin' Necklace" 1-2 day class

Class Description
Evocative of lazy, sun-filled days lying on a California beach, listening to Mama Cass, this lovely necklace is really fun to make. Starting from a ladder stitch base, the rest of the necklace is worked in herringbone stitch. Multiple increases create the central spiraling element which has a lovely freshwater pearl tucked into its center. The necklace strap is worked in tubular herringbone stitch. By changing the color sequences of the beads, students can easily customize their own work of art.
Intermediate - Advanced Skill Levels

28: "Polygon Weave Necklace"  1-2 day class

Class Description
Polygon Weave is another of the African Zulu stitches. This class covers 3 of the many variations that one can use knowing the basics of this type of polygon weave. Introduced by Valerie Hector in Ornament Magazine, I have designed a 3-strand necklace that is made using a wonderful assortment of vibrant colors in size 11 seed beads. All skill levels.