WELCOME SPRINGTIME!

With this season comes a great deal of change in my world as I’m sure most of you are experiencing in your lives as well. Change...bummer…or is it a time for creativity?

I’ve been pondering this question as I'm experiencing a very bumpy chapter in my life right now and change isn’t always a friend to me! With change usually comes pain and discomfort in readjusting to a new world; a world I perhaps have not embraced quite yet and don’t really feel very comfortable with…

This time of major upheaval in my life includes a divorce and moving my studio/living space which has truly tested my inner strength among many other things! So when I hit “the wall” dozens of times, I turned to my passion, the juice of creativity and wallowed in it, bathed in the uplifting energy that only true creativity provides.

Isn’t crafting & creativity the caulk, the filler, for this painful heartache void? Haven’t I turned to creative expression whether it be writing, art or music in every difficult time of my life; when my father died I made a mini memory book necklace honoring his life. When I lost my favorite pet many moons ago I created a garden mosaic embedding some of her favorite toys in the cement.

Divorce is sad, that’s a fact but change is simply opportunities never put in front of us before. The magic is in what we choose to do with these opportunities. Freeze up in fear and negativity or flip the switch and pour the pain into a creative endeavor filled with wonder and gratitude for the many blessing we have in our lives such as the sweet morning song of a robin, really terrific friends or the juicy kiss from a favorite pet. I invite you to join me in this springtime celebration of following your bliss and leaving all undesirable emotions, feelings, negativity and energy outside your studio doorstep. Take a deep breath and step into the creative vortex that we all crave and honor. It’s within each one of us…Dive deep!


Creatively Kristal


Upcoming Events:

International Quilt Festival Chicago
Workshops, Book Signing & Trunk ShowRosemont, IL http://www.quilts.com

Resin Buttons & Baubles Workshop-Thursday, April 16, 9am - 12pm
Fabulous Fabric Beads Workshop-Thursday, April 16, 2pm - 5pm
Embellish it!-Friday, April 17, 9am - 12pm
Wild Fiber Beads - Sampler-Saturday, April 18
Batik Beauties - Sampler-Sunday, April 19
Location: Donald E. Stephens Center, Rosemont, IL

Check out Kristal's Bling Blog on http://www.KristalWick.com
"Chocolate is my birthstone" Kristal Wick

CHA NEWS!

WOW! What a great time. Way more inspiration and creativity than can fit in this noggin I tell ya! It was a blast and my feet aren't even close to the ground yet (or recovered!) JHB launched my new fabric bead lines and they were a great hit!

My corner of the JHB booth.

New Sassy Silkies and Batik Beauties!

Showing cutie patooties Candy Cooper and Cathie Filian my new book, Fabulous Fabric Beads. 

Cathie Filian and Steve Piacenza of Creative Juice. They were loads of laughs!

My dear friend Sherrill Kahn. Love her to pieces!

TV taping for Craft TV with PattyWack.

Lisa Pavelka my booth buddy and clay goddess!

Such a creative gaggle of gals! Linda Augsberg, me, Katie Hacker and Candy Cooper. A whole lotta talent in that bunch! We could get into all kinds of beadie trouble...

The wonderfully creative Claudine Hellmuth!  We both LOVE Puppy Bowl!

Waiting in line for my book signing. Thanks for your patience!

I like to use my favorite magical purple pen...

Fun Tim Holtz!

Me with Dee Gruenig, Sherrill Kahn and Barbara Beck.

The extraordinary Fernando De Silva and Wyatt. Love these guys!

The line for Paris Hilton. She was launching her own scrapbooking line.

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!