VICTORIAN BEAD RETREAT

Day Two: Thursday 10.07.2014

After a long night up with my roomies, I still managed an early start, up at 6.45am to be showered & organised for my first class. This is the first year I have participated as a tutor. I could hardly contain my excitement. So off I went to work off some nervous energy before breakkie, I organised the table arrangements for the morning classes, as well as setting up my own area.
Once everything was all done, I made my way to the mess hall  to enjoy a hearty breakfast starting at 8am with classes beginning at 9.

CLASS SET UP INTRODUCTION TO MICRO SCREWS & RIVETS

I had a class of 6 for my first session,with the ladies all being of varying ages & backgrounds within the world of jewellery design.

We went along very smoothly with all set projects being completed. !!!! Woohoo & yippee. ( I felt so happy & such a sense of achievement) Here I was worried I wouldn't have enough for them to do in the 3 hours. I enjoyed every moment of the class with these wonderful women.

At the same time as my class was running other classes where also being conducted both in the conference hall where I was stationed as well as in the leaders cottage & the big room at the rear of the mess hall.

BEZELLED RIVOLI EARRINGS

 

GLASS BEAD MAKING

Featured above left is a class run by Cheryl McLeod, she was teaching Bezelled Rivoli Earrings, FB page https://www.facebook.com/BeadWeaving (picture from Alida)

Featured above right (picture by Katy Chappelow) there was Lamp working taught by Pauline Delaney https://www.facebook.com/PaulineDelaneyLampworkGlassBeads

We also had Folforming run by Liz Reed of http://www.lizreedjewellery.com/ 

Flower Power Polymer clay class run by Karen Cooke photo's below. Karen to the left & Liz to the right

FLOWER POWER POLYMER CLAY

FOLD FORMING WITH LIZ REED

FOLD FORMED LEAF
PHOTO KAREN COOKE

MICRO MACRAME WITH KAT GRAY

Other classes run in the same time slot where "Micro Macrame' with Kat Gray, "Freeform Wire Bezel" with Terri McDonald, "Working with Earthenware Clay Basic" with Natalie Fletcher-Jones from Peruzi https://www.facebook.com/Peruzi.net

After the morning classes had been completed it was time for a chill & a regroup over lunch. Loads of excited chatter filled the lunch room as we all eagerly discussed what we had done, & off course who's got what next. Little squeaks of excitement & phrases such as "Oh Yah I am in that class with you" could be heard across the room.

We also had a very neat surprise waiting for us at lunch this day. Our retreat organisers had been busily creating goodies bags for all attendees. Loaded with lots of wonderful pieces from our sponsors.

GOODY BAGS RECEIVED BY RETREAT ATTENDEES 

For me after lunch I was in Natalie's  "Toggles/Connectors with Stoneware Clay" class.

I've had the privileged of  previously been taught by Nat & new it was to be a very relaxing class. Designing & sculpting into clay. The 3 hour session simply flew by. 

MID CLASS CLAYING SHOT

MY STONEWARE PIECES
SOME ARE TOGGLES THE REST ARE CABS ETC

Other classes being conducted at the same time 1.30pm till 4.30pm where "3D Beaded Components" with Yvonne Ireland pictured below left (photo Nikki McPhan) "Beaded Triangles" run by Christina Armstrong pictured below right.

We also had "Celtic Knotting" run by Sharon Hutton, a continuation of the "Lampworking" run by Pauline & continuing on from the morning also was "Freeform Wire Bezel" with Terri. Val Spencer-Sun was teaching "Viking Weave with Pearl or Crystals", Liz Reed had started her sessions of "Bezel Set Rings" and Karen was finishing up her all day session with  "Flower Power Polymer Clay"

3D BEADED COMPONENT

SEONA WITH HER
COMPLETED BEADED TRIANGLES
WHICH BECAME EARRINGS

I decided that having a bit of free time between 4.30pm & 6pm (dinner) I would take a wander around the campus to see other classes as they where packing up. The girls in lamp working had been super productive after their session with Pauline. A stroll up the hill to Liz Reed's class where the ladies had been creating bezel set gemstone rings.....soooo delicious. It was the perfect time to catch up & look at all that had been created during class as everyone was relaxed and keen to show off there achievements.

Honestly there was so much creative energy the place was buzzing.

For the evening the retreat organisers had a wonderful themed party planned after dinner, so before we went off to dinner everyone retreated back to their cabins to get all dress up in the theme "Peace,Love Beads'

We were treated to a night of fun & frivolity by first picking a hippy flower from the bag & sitting at the relevant table. This was to encourage us all to sit with new peeps.We also had a  trivia section, a handbag scavenger hunt, best dressed comp & after party karaoke. UH HUH yeap! I did get up and sing a long with a big bunch off girls.......We ROCKED IT teeheeee cough, cough, LOL

Now for a bunch of happy snaps from the night.

ALL DRESSED UP READY TO PARTY

GROOVY SISTERS

WAY OUT MAN!

SOME SILLY TABLE ANTICS

FINALISTS IN THE BEST DRESSED COMP

To be a part of these fabulous retreats simply visit the Retreat website

 http://aussiebeadingretreats.com/

or visit their FB page https://www.facebook.com/AussieBeadingRetreats

VICTORIAN BEAD RETREAT

DAY 1: Wednesday 09.07.14

Up early to finish getting organised to leave for the retreat. Lucky for me, no flying this year as it's based an hour from my home, down in Mount Eliza. A lovely easy drive straight down the Eastlink.

LOCATION OF RETREAT

Taking a moment to squeeze in a workout to calm the nerves & excitement of actually teaching this time round......

Also using this time to visualize in my mind all that I need to take, towels, pillows, hair dryer, chargers..... The list is endless.

However I did manage to become organised & ready to go two hours early. (I did discover once I arrived & unpacked I forgot my supply sheet for class) Oh well...At least I can email this to all students.

After some time filling activities I still managed to arrive before the 2pm check-in. So I chilled out in the car waiting patiently for other retreaters to arrive. The weather was slightly unfavourable but being winter I was prepared. The rain & cold however did not dampen the tranquillity & beauty of the selected venue.

MY FIRST IMPRESSION OF THE VENUE SO VERY LUSH & GREEN

The first person after myself to arrive was Karen Cooke. Karen had the list showing the bunking arrangements, so her & I registered the Retreats arrival & got to sorting out the cabins.

Slowly people began to trickle in & the buzz of the retreat had begun.

Once I was settled in my cabin I was off to help Sharon H with workshop area set up,  a lovely large conference area with kitchen/ stage & bathroom facilities. After the initial base setting up was done it was time to meet my roomies & take some time to wander & chat & put some faces to names.

MARY-ANNE & ALI

  

NAT & ANGIE

Late afternoon had come around & it was time to set up for the mini market. This was to take place after dinner.Where those who create & sell  kits, lamp work,ceramics & supplies all had the opportunity to sell their wares. Pictured above are Natalie from Peruzi http://www.peruzi.net/ as well as Angie who runs Chicky Babe Beads http://chickybabesbeads.com.au. To the right is a snap of both Mary-Anne & Ali Kelly who are both lamp workers.

After Mini-Market set up, with a majority of us all having arrived, it was time for our organisers Alida & Nikki to give us all a big warm welcome. This included a lovely welcoming speech from one of the YMCA camp organizers.

With the formalities out of the way it was time for dinner, I had certainly worked up an appetite during setting up time :-). With dinner complete some where heading off to get the Mini Market under way. Whilst others headed up to the area for those who wanted to sit & create. 

With no real plans at this point I happened to wander into the area where the Resin class was above to take place. As luck would have it I was able to partake. Our teacher for this class was Sue Connors from https://www.facebook.com/pages/SueNique-Designs/357352558207

MY POURED PIECES

DURING CLASS SHOT

A fabulous class with what looks to be great results. De-Moulding happens around 24-48 hours after we pour & then it's a butt load of finishing. 

With Resin class finishing around 9ish, I decided to head up to the big conference room for a bit more of a chit chat & see all the designs out for the challenge.

Each retreat has a theme & this one was "Flower Power"

CHALLENGE PIECES

CHALLENGE PIECES

CHALLENGE PIECES

Some absolutely magnificent work . With such a lot of wonderful ideas & creativity.

Phewwww what a day!!! Time for bed..so I thought LOL...... My cabin mates and I were up chatting & getting to know each other better till the wee hours. The sheer excitement of being here at the retreat was too great.

Looking forward to tomorrow.

The next retreat takes place in January in Canberra http://aussiebeadingretreats.com/
If you would like to be a part of the Aussie Bead Retreats please follow the links to the web pagehttp://aussiebeadingretreats.com/ & FB Page, https://www.facebook.com/AussieBeadingRetreats

All images & projects featured here in this Blog & on the Aussie Bead Retreats site are protected by IP laws of Australia. Photo's used have been done so with the permission of those who have taken the photo's.