Beading by the Bay Report

It's been almost 2 weeks since I was in San Francisco teaching at Beading by the Bay, but I still want to tell you all about it. First off, and I think you know this already, San Francisco is my favorite city in the whole wide world, period. And being in California after freezing my buns off in Minnesota for so many months was heaven. Marcia DeCoster and Susan Kazarian sure had a good idea to get this started. Check out this view from my room:

Thursday night was a Meet the Teachers/Dessert Reception at the hotel...uh, yeah, that's what I'm talking about...

Ron Rock--who I'd never met before and who is extremely nice and very talented in addition to having the best name ever--gave a presentation that night on the new Swarovski Elements. I'm a Swarovski ambassador, and I learned more about the company from Ron that night than I ever had! (I know this photo is blurry, but I kind of like it, don't you? Ron is a gesticulator...)

There were major giveaways...big boxes of crystals and books and kits. Plus, the tables were decorated with splashes of crystals and everyone at the table could take what they wanted.

Friday started early with class.

I taught Lilium for three days straight. The exciting thing was that many of the fantastic beaders that attended this retreat actually FINISHED their projects. I get such a thrill seeing students complete my designs (is that goofy?).

The students were wonderful. Really talented, fun, energetic, and patient with the fact that I hadn't taught this project before. Since it was created specifically for this retreat, and they were the virgins for the design, they were all very good about dealing with little typos in the instructions, helping me clarify things, etc.

And tell me, how sweet is this photo?

Another joy about this retreat was, of course, my fellow teachers.

I have adored Marcia ever since working on her right-angle weave book. But I'd never spent any time with Maggie Meister. We became instant pals--she is an absolute delight. I also got to know Susan Kazarian, owner of the Beading Frenzy in San Mateo and co-producer of this event, who is just a doll...really savvy. Here's a photo of Susan with Marcia during one of the prize giveaways during class break:

One night the teachers, Lisa Garoon, and Rachel Nelson-Smith (who I'd never met in person before, even though we gave birth to her book together--what a thrill!) headed over to Huib Peterson's house. I've never seen so much beadwork all in one place in all my life. This man is truly amazing, and if you're a beadworker, you can add him to your worship shrine right this very minute. We had so much fun rummaging around in his trays.

Huib and Jeffrey prepared the most amazing dinner. I think they must have spent 3 days preparing it? It was a Japanese theme with the most unusual and delicious items: salmon with jalapenos, savory meatballs, at least three different kinds of pickle which I know Huib made from scratch, and several different absolutely delicious items that I couldn't get enough of.

Oh, and there was a little bit of saki involved, too...actually, lots and lots of saki....

What an amazing adventure! And the bonus? We've all been invited back for next year at the same time. If you can swing it, definitely make the trip. It was truly one of the nicest retreats I've participated in. Just sign up on the website to receive updates for 2011.

Where in the World is JEANCAMPBELL?

It's been literally WEEKS since I've written a post here. I was off to San Francisco for Beading by the Bay, which was fantastic. Then spent a week in Portland, hanging out and lecturing/teaching for the Portland Bead Society.

I really wanted to share all of my adventures, photos, stories, etc. in real-time because there were so many. But not having a laptop made instant blogging near-impossible. (Saving up for a tricked out MacBook now; the kitty is at $400...just about $1,600 more to go!) Please stand by for full reports later this week.

Anyway, came home and hit the virtual cement, bounced off with a few scrapes and bruises, then put on my Mercury-winged tennies and edited like mad all week. Kate McKinnon has another book in the works, and it's going to be wonderful. Kate is an amazing designer and I like her a whole lot, too. She called me her "Raven-haired Warrior" in her blog last week, so she is at the top of my love list right now... We're just about finished with the edit. Then comes galleys and whatnot, but the hard part is within hours of being done. Hurray!

So, with that long trip crossed off the list and Kate's book just about done, I woke this morning with an utter sense of clarity that I haven't had in a really really long time. I've been so tired, burning the candle at both ends and in the middle, that I've been muddled and floaty. Plus, when Andrew tagged me as a cyborg earlier this week, I think that was the beginning of a huge wake-up call.

The moment of clarity when I opened my eyes today was about what's next, in my career, mostly. We did our taxes this weekend and that's always eye-opening. Though I did okay $-wise, especially as a freelancer in this economy, my expenses were so high that I wasn't as productive financially as I need to be for our family. So I realize I need to give this gig one more year. One more year of fun in my career; this fulfilling career that I have created on my own, but work much too hard on...a career that turns me into a half human/half machine. If at the end of the year things are looking up financially and are less stressful, great. If not, it may be time to look for a real J...O...B... What that would look like, I don't know. We'll see.

So, if you think of it, please send me some good juju every once in a while. This "instructacon" (as someone else called me this week), could use a little head-rubbing from her friends...

Taking off to Bead by the Bay and the River

I've been woefully absent in the blogosphere this week, preparing for my back-to-back trips to San Francisco for Beading by the Bay with Marcia DeCoster and Maggie Meister...

   ...and my lecture and classes for the Portland Bead Society.

Who's the luckiest girl? Eleven days in two of the nicest cities on the planet. Believe me, I'll be saying my prayers of gratitude as soon as I step off the plane from Minneapolis and touch California ground. Though I love and respect the Midwest, there's something about the West Coast that completely rejuvenates me, making me feel whole again. And a trip out West is just what this weary bead warrior needs about now after turning in a major book, editing two magazines, writing numerous essays, and all the while slinging hash and taxiing the rugrats over the last couple months. Oh, I'm not complaining--I thank the powers that be every day for these things, too--but I'm telling you, a break every once in a while, even if it's a working break, is so important. I hope you remember that, too. It's not only good for your health, but for your spirit, too.