CHA HERE I COME!

CHA SCHEDULE (Craft & Hobby Association-open only to the trade)

Due to popular demand, here is my CHA schedule next week in Los Angeles.
I am thrilled to announce I have teamed up with JHB and we are launching my new fabric bead lines at the show! Very exciting events!
Please stop by the JHB booth #3031 to see my new beady babies and my new book, Fabulous Fabric Beads.
My fabulous fabric bead lines will be coming soon to my website!

Sun. 25
9:30-12 Batik Beauty Demo JHB Booth # 3031
2-3 Wild Fiber Demo Indy Artist Booth # 1309
4-5 Batik Beauty Demo JHB Booth # 3031

Mon. 26
10-11 Batik Beauty Demo JHB Booth # 3031
12-1 Book Signing (free books while they last) JHB Booth # 3031
3-5 Class-Fabulous Fabric Beaded Bracelet #W075 (you must register)

Tues. 27
10-12 Batik Beauty Demo JHB Booth # 3031
2-3 Wild Fiber Demo Indy Artist Booth # 1309
4-5 Book Signing (free books while they last) JHB Booth # 3031

Wed. 28
10-1 Batik Beauty Demo JHB Booth # 3031

For more info click here: http://www.chashow.org

NEW PROJECTS!

Check out my new article in the Jan./Feb. 2009 issue of Today's Creative HomeArts Club mag coming out soon. I love this publication and club. Very reasonably priced membership and loaded with all kinds of art mediums, ideas and free stuff!

http://www.creativehomeartsclub.com/Articles/ArticleHome.aspx

HAPPY NEW 2009!!!!

In the spirit of giving and abundance I am giving away my book, FABULOUS FABRIC BEADS!!!
I want to declare to the Universe my belief in joy, faith and abundance for the new year no matter what the news tells us! I invite you to do the same...Declare FUN, JOY, CREATIVITY & LUSH ABUNDANCE!

Add a comment to my blog or email me the name of the customer in my blog. Contest ends Jan. 15. Winners will be randomly selected.

Good luck kids!

Hugs & Sparkles,
Creatively Kristal

BEADNIKS MALL OF AMERICA ADVENTURE

I had the pleasure of visiting the newest bead shop in Mpls. last week. I did a booksigning and trunk show. What a blast! I mean literally, it was blasting cold and snow with 30 degrees below windchill! YIKES! Everybody had a wonderful time. Thanks to Shelley the owner for coordinating the event! If you get a chance to stop in, DO! It’s the most beautiful store with all the beading supplies you’d need as well as gorgeous finished jewelry and wonderful staff to help. I’ll be heading out there again this summer to teach a few classes and sign some books!

Customer Cowboy Bob checking out the goods!

Namaste!

WIN A COPY OF MY BOOK!

Gotta love Detroit!
The Detroit News is giving away a copy of FABULOUS FABRIC BEADS!

For their book review and details to WIN, here's the link:

http://detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081213/LIFESTYLE/812130398

OH WHAT A NIGHT...

Well we sure had a great time at my book launch party Friday night!
Thanks so much to everyone who came to help me celebrate my new baby, Fabulous Fabric Beads. We all sipped wine, ate yummies (including home baked cookies from lovely Lisa L.), shopped and enjoyed the gathering of fabulous fiber folks! Especially in these trying times I feel it’s important in our busy lives to stop, smell the roses, eat some chocolates with good buds and celebrate the FAB things in life. It was a blast…

Here are the lucky door prize winners who win FREE Sassy Silky scroll beads!
Mary Scherer
Anna Turek
Laura Lewellen
Dave Milligan
Donna Impey
Gena Bloemendaal
Liisa Wilson
MaryAnn Goetz

My new motto: A hand crafted gift from the heart is the new black.

GUILTY PLEASURES

My latest guilty pleasure is the funniest show airing, Whatever Martha on Fine Living television. Alexis Stewart and Jennifer Koppelman Hutt watch and comment on vintage Martha episodes. It's hilarious! Perhaps it reminds me of my own relationship with my mother and Alexis actually says the very nasty thoughts I've had but would never say out loud! I love it!

My other guilty pleasure is The Rachael Zoe Project on Bravo. The show is in sharp contrast to the global crisis of these days which is why it's kind of fun to have some fluff now and then to keep the edge at bay!

Hands Down, my fav is Project Runway. The finale is tonight and I can't wait. I may even watch it and NOT multitask for a change in honor of the grand event tonight (don't we all bead, sew, knit or scrap while watching these shows or is it just ME??!!!).

What are you all watching these days?

#1 on AMAZON

Whooo-Hooo!

I am thrilled to see my new book FABULOUS FABRIC BEADS, ranked #1 in the Beadwork, Needlework, and Textile Arts categories on Amazon today! As you can see Sage & Gaia are helping me celebrate!

Click here for the Amazon page: http://www.amazon.com/Fabulous-Fabric-Beads-Create-Jewelry/dp/1596680776/ref=pd_ts_b_2?ie=UTF8&s=books

I'm #2 in the Jewelry category just under my dear friend Susan Lenart Kazmer's FAB book, Making Connections: A Handbook of Cold Joins for Jewelers and Mixed-Media Artists.

What a great event in the middle of this global crisis we're all trying to ride out. That's why I feel creativity is even more important these days. We all need to tap deeply into our hearts and remember what's REALLY important to us. It's never the stuff, it's who we love... What better way to express that love than by making them a gift straight from our heart to theirs?

You know, a card or piece of jewelry, a quilt or poem. It doesn't matter what it is as long as you're in the flow while creating it. Feeling the abundant energy of sheer creativity. Is that not the greatest high or what? Some days better than chocolate if you ask me...

So with the intensity of everything that's going on outside our front doors these days, I invite you to stay in your warm, safe cucoon and make some great art! The holidays are right around the corner and no matter your financial situation, you can always create! Step beyond the fears of the day and do something that makes you feel good. Nothing brightens a day more than this simple act of kindness. Let's not forget that first whiff of crayons as we gently opened the box in first grade...

Hugs & Sparkles,

Creatively Kristal

I'M ON MARTHA'S BLOG

How exciting to be on the Crafting Diva's blog! I thought I'd take a shot at it , why not...

Martha is having a blog contest and you ALL can enter, here's the link: http://www.themarthablog.com/2008/09/how-to-create-your-own-blog-let-us-show-you.html

My entry is on Sept. 18 - 12:05pmThere are loads of interesting blogy-ness on her site. Have a gander!

LAST WEEK TO PRE-ORDER!!!

FREE SASSY SILKIES!

Sept. 30th is the last day to pre-order my new book, Fabulous Fabric Beads.

I’ll send you FREE Sassy Silky beads with each order and sign your book if you’d like! Purchase on my website: http://www.KristalWick.com

BOOK LAUNCH PARTY TIME!

Bring your gal pals to celebrate my new book launch
FABULOUS FABRIC BEADS
Create Custom Beads and Art Jewelry

I'll have a trunk show and book signing so come and play!
Friday, Oct. 17th 4pm-8pm
Wine, cheese, chocolate and loads of door prizes!

TACtile Textile Arts CenterTamarac Square at 7777 E Hampden Avenue, Denver, CO 80231720-524-8886
http://www.tactilearts.org

My First Book Review!

One of my favorite websites is http://www.Ormentea.com
and blogs http://shinylittlethings.blogspot.com/

I was thrilled to read Cynthia’s review of my book, FABULOUS FABRIC BEADS.
Cynthia has all kinds of fun events going on. Right now they’re doing a Charm Swap. Check it out! Looks so fun, I’ll have to fit it in my schedule next time!

MARTHA STEWART RIBBONS BEADS

I created these beauties for my new book (you can pre-order on my website http://www.KristalWick.com) and they inspired me to go further and became an entire soon-to-be-launched wedding jewelry line!

I love the color palette of the Martha Steward ribbons for everything wedding! So light and luscious! This 3 strand necklace is pretty formal and you can adapt it and use 1 or 2 strands instead of 3.

That's the fun of designing, isn't it?

MARTHA STEWART RIBBON BEADS

Check out a couple of new designs from my new book, FABULOUS FABRIC BEADS!
You can still pre-order the book, it ships early October, I’ll sign it for you and send you FREE Sassy Silky Beads!!!!

I teach you how to make these GREAT Martha Stewart Ribbon Beads in my book using Martha Stewart Ribbons and then and Swarovski crystals and incorporate them into finished jewelry, mixed media projects or quilt dangles, etc.

Sooooooooooooooo fun with endless options!
Great for a gal-pal party to get ready for your holiday festivities!

BEAD DREAMS

The new October issue of Bead & Button magazine has all the Bead Dreams finalists displayed from the competition this past June. My necklace, Tribal Odyssey, is on page A-12! I had such fun making that piece and am honored to be one of the finalists!

Over 400 Swarovski crystals and pearls, and over 200 of my new Sassy Silky beads, Skinny Silkies. Enjoy the spread and watch the drool marks!

YIPEEEE! Tomorrow is Christmas!

Don’t panic, it’s not really December…You still have 126 shopping days left (now THAT’S frightening!). I just heard from my publisher advance copies of my new book, FABUOUS FABRIC BEADS, arrived today and they’re going to overnight a copy to me! It will be Christmas in my house tomorrow! I wonder if I have time to make eggnog…

I am thrilled beyond belief about my new baby. Since I didn’t choose to have any human kids, I have puppies and books!

You can pre-order FABUOUS FABRIC BEADS from my website: http://www.KristalWick.com
It’ll be shipping in October, just in time to make some FUN holiday gifts for your family and friends!

Tomorrow will be a major milestone in my life-seeing my book for the first time! Once again I am the poster child for living a successful life full of intention and dreams (Oh, and a whole bunch of hard work). All of my dreams haven’t come true yet and some might argue with me on my definition of “success” but I am deeply grateful for the abundant creative life I live. The hurdles HUGE, the rewards even bigger! So don’t forget to dream my fellow blingsters! They do come true!

I wonder how I’m going to sleep tonight….

CREATIVITY GALORE!

I had the fortunate opportunity to take 2 classes recently from one of my favorite mentors, Sherrill Kahn (she's in the middle). If you EVER get a chance to take a class from Sherrill, it's a real treat! Check out her schedule: http://www.impressme.com/. Sherrill taught an entire week here in Colorado. Many new creative ideas from her latest book, Stitched Collage: Creative Effects on Paper and Fabric. It was a blast!Reading Sherrill’s first book many moons ago, Creating With Paint: New Ways, New Materials, was the watershed moment that gave me the confidence to touch silk with a paint brush! I immediately made loads of fabric dolls right from her book and the rest is history. No paint brush has been safe around me and a piece of fabric since! I felt such a connection and warmth from Sherrill as an artist through her books, I hoped we'd meet someday. Well, it happened and I am happy to say we are best buddies and I am grateful for every moment spent with her. She's a true Creativity Angel and I am honored to have the forward in my book, Fabulous Fabric Beads, written by Sherrill. How cool is that?

Here is a picture of Sherrill, Dianne Denholm (formerly of D'Leas) and myself. We took Sherrill on a field trip to see the 1st annual member showcase sale going on at the TacTile Arts Center in Denver until Aug. 16. (http://www.tactilearts.org/). If you’re in the area be sure to check out the Center. It’s inspirational and filled with all kinds of professionally hand crafted art!I will forever love taking classes from really cool artisans who inspire me. Isn't that one of the greatest joys in life? No matter how busy we think we are, it's important to stretch the walls of our "box" and learn something new, feel inspired and meet other kindred souls from time to time. Thanks to Sherrill and those lovely kindred souls in her class!

It's all about the BLING baby...

OK kids, I’m coming up for air….

I am honored to be invited by Swarovski as one of the designers featured in their “Inspiration” book coming out next year. The book and the bling-tacular collection goes on a world wide tour from Paris to Thailand for the next 2 years! I submitted 6 designs to them and the board was split on their favs, one group wanted my lamp, the other group wanted one of my necklaces, so they compromised and I’m creating a lamp with my necklace design as the trim! Takes wearing the lampshade at a party to new heights, don’t you think?!!! It’s a wonderfully challenging endeavor I'm diving deep into these days with little time to come up for a breath. Here’s a picture of the thousands of crystal and pearl bling that will be on the lampshade trim (please don your sunglasses before viewing the photo)! I always feel like a kid in an eye candy store when a box of Swarovski crystals shows up at my door!

I wanted to share the joy with you all….

Bead & Button Show

Back from Milwaukee and the biggest bead show in the world, Bead & Button. I was honored to be a finalist in the Bead Dreams competition with my “Tribal Odyssey” necklace featuring over 200 Sassy Silkies and 1800 Swarovski crystals and pearls!

I taught 2 classes and demoed for Swarovski. It was a FAB time and I thank all my students, especially the brave souls who showed up for my 9am Sun. morning “Church of the Creative Soul” Modern Vintage class! My favorite event was Meet the Teacher’s – such fun to chat with those of you I see so infrequently. Save your pennies kids and plan on coming next summer!

MEXICO MERRIMENT

We just got home from a week in lovely Playa Del Carmen, Mexico. We swam with dolphins, snorkeled almost every day, visited ancient Mayan ruins, and sipped a few tropical foo-foo drinks!

The white sand beaches were beautiful. And all the different shades of the blues of the ocean and sky totally inspired me to mix and explore some yummy color pallets.

Hubby, James, chillin'.

I loved the ruins of Tulum and Chichen Itza.

The stone carvings were my favorite, so artistically inspiring; to think the designs were all carved by hand sooooooooooo many moon ago. You couldn’t help but feel the energy of these sacred sites.

Check out these awsome carvings! I wonder if they used stencils ????

The ruins at TULUM.

The iguanas were EVERYWHERE! Some of them were 5 ft. long!

They were like wild cats scurrying all over the trails. I almost accidentally stepped on them many times…”here kitty, kitty, kitty”

We had a great time!

Stay tuned for part 2, swimming with dolphins!

CRYSTAL CHIX CRUISE 2008

I am so excited to announce our first cruise!

Join instructors Lisa Pavelka, Laura Timmons, Anne Igou and myself for 5 fun filled days of crystal jewelry classes and Mexico! We leave from San Diego Nov. 10 with stops in Ensenada & Cabo San Lucas.

Lisa does polymer clay cruises and they are the BOM! So she's organized a Crystal Chix Cruise and I am thrilled to be a part of the bling-citement!!!

Creating crystal jewelry, sailing and sunshine, a dream come true!!!
For more details visit: http://www.artacrosstheoceans.com/

Sign up now before we sell out!