Also check out their huge variety of jewelry making classes held each month. October includes, among many others, PMC, hot glass, enameling, half persian chain maille, pearl and bead stringing, and kumihimo.

They are holding an introduction to PMC workshop tomorrow Oct 10th, so give them a call to see if space is still available

Lastly, they have a bead bead sale planned for November, so I will keep you posted when I hear more.

In their two locations they hold many classes for all ages in Clay, Metal, Glass and Fiber.  This season hold in store very interesting classes and workshops in metal topics such as: Structural Bead Weaving, Fold Forming and Natural Forms in Metal, Colors on Metal, Handmade Felt and Metal in Jewelry and Alternative Materials in Jewelry to name a few, aside from more basics such as Beginning Metal Design and Enameling.

It is a great opportunity to buy jewelry and silver from exciting makers, of course.   But it is also an excellent opportunity for us jewelers to meet and talk with the exhibitors.  For the most part the jewelers and silversmiths will be in attendance to sell their work and to answer questions.  There is usually a wide variety of artists from famous enamelers such as Fred Rich to widely recognized style icons such as Shaun Leane and new up-an-coming young artist sas.

So make sure to take a wonder around the great Goldsmiths’ Hall and meet makers and get inspiration.

The store is a treasure trove of jewelry making supplies from tool to materials.  Located in the Diamond District, I always feel especially in touch with the jewelry world when I go into the building and up the small stairs and emerge into this excellent store.

If you needed another reason to visit, tomorrow’s event provides it.  They are holding beading demonstrations from 2-7pm, where you can ask questions, get advice and of course shop.  Have fun!

Bonus: To celebrate their 10th Anniversary – if you spend $20 you can buy this BeadFreak Tee-shirt for just $1.

Now through September 20th in both locations and online the majority of their stock is 50% off (excluding some items).

I have also been told that for locals, a trip to the stores might help to score some extra special deals as much of the clearance items are moved to the stores for this event.

Don’t miss out!

(the azurite beads pictured above are 50% as well!)

The piece pictured here is made of recycled sterling silver, including bench scraps as well as repurposed rubber and counter tops.

If you need instructions rather than just a social event, try their classes.  They offer beading and wire jewelry classes in a variety of topics which seem to start at the reasonable price of $25.

Projects should be photographed and sent to the editors for judging no later than September 7th.  All entries will be included on the website and the winners will be published in Stringing. For details, rules etc. click here.

This class is intermediate and teaches the following:

In this intermediate class, you will learn to make and embellish fine silver rings and hollow forms. Torch firing, patinas, and stone setting techniques will also be covered. Prior experience with metal clay or art clay silver is required.

However,if you are new to metal clays, she is a friendly and interesting teacher and does offer beginning classes as well, so sign up for the mailing list.  I have taken one of her classes myself, and though I am a trained jeweler, I had never before used silver clay, and really learned a lot and enjoyed myself.

During the festival they are running what promises to be a fun series of classes and events:

The workshop is kicked off Friday evening with a “Learn to Saw” mini-workshop & cocktail party.The fun continues through the weekend with the Found Object Sandwich workshop in the day, and gallery hopping in the evening starting with our own gallery opening at Thomas Mann Gallery I/O.

Thomas is meant to be an enthusiastic and animated teacher and aside from learning to saw correctly being a VERY important skill to master, the Found Object Sandwich (FOS) workshop sounds quite interesting and a good way to turn your own treasures in to wearable art.

Here is a picture of the “Learn to Saw Bench” that Thomas Mann studioFLUX held at the Craft and Hobby Association Winter Trade Show.  Looks like people were having fun!

Thomas is involved with a number of projects, galleries and workshops.  Checkout his website here.

She hasn’t chosen winners for any of the weeks so far so anyone can still leave a comment on the blogposts  to enter to win a free copy of the book.

The blog links are: Fabric Scrap Bracelet, Shredded Junk Mail Ping Pong Ball Necklace, Fabric Necklace,  and Wear Your Collection Bracelet

So hurry on over to her blog, leave comments and fingers crossed for you!

Started by charming Amber Dawn, International Charm day is a day to make, wear,enjoy, share, buy and giveaway charms. Check out the International Charm Day blog for a TON of charm inspiration,tutorials,  links to blogs having charm giveaways and lots more!

Some of the swaps and giveaways you could participate in are:

Julee Herrmann (recently interviewed on CraftGossip!)is hosting a charm swap on her blog,

Life Goes On is giving away 2 charms to lucky commenters.

Tracy from Magic Lantern Musings in Canada is giving away a very colorful charm to one lucky blog reader.

Grace Necklace

Not only is Julee a Jewelry Making Goddess, she is on the Design Teams of ZNE and Hannah Grey; and a proud member of the California Crafters Club of Etsy (cccoe team).  Her work is currently on display at Lafayette Art Gallery, Savvy Seconds in Downtown Pleasanton, CA and Tangerine in Dublin, CA.  She has an Etsy shop for those who aren’t local. and will be vending and teaching some Make & Take classes at the ZNE Art, Paper & Pleasantries show May 2 & 3rd in Dublin, CA. You can read more about what she’s up to on her blog .

How did you start doing jewelry (or bead making) as a business?
I started selling my work when my dear 4 year old little girl asked me, “Mommy, how are you going to wear all of those necklaces?” and at first I really tried to say that I have lots of outfits and I would manage to wear them all at once or a little at a time, but when people kept stopping me and asking me if I sold them I finally got the hint and started selling them at a craft fair in Pleasanton just about a year and a half ago. I also started an Etsy shop at about the same time and have expanded into selling at a few local dress shops, a charming gallery in downtown Lafayette, CA and a gift shop called Tangerine!

Do you remember the first piece of jewelry you ever made?
The FIRST first FIRST piece of jewelry I ever made was a necklace made from Vintage (although I don’t think I called it THAT!) wallpaper. My paternal grandmother taught me how to make wallpaper beads and then string them together like a strand of pearls and I was HOOKED and I still have one! I made some last year and finished them with UTEE… too cool!

You are stuck on a desert island for a year and can only take 5 things to make jewelry with-what would you take?
Just for fun…If I were on a deserted island some place perfect and fabulous and I could only have 5 art supplies they would be:

1: Solar powered Soldering Kit including glass (I say the whole kit is really one supply – like that?), 2: Dries Clear Glue from Art Institute,3:  Art Institute GLITTER (duh!), 4: water colors (I could make my own brushes… well, I *COULD*),5: caulking (you should try it, you may LOVE it!)

What material would you like to work with/or what skill would you like to learn that you haven’t yet?
I would like to learn more metalsmithing type work… I would LOVE to learn to make a bezel, I would love to learn the type of soldering that you do with a torch.

Fairy Tale Bracelet

What do you do when you aren’t making jewelry?
When I’m working, but not making jewelry I am making tiny shrines, teaching workshops on soldering and shrine making, blogging, editing photos and “networking” (a.k.a. Feeding the Facebook addiction) LOL I’m also the wife to a charming young man and Mommy to a brilliant, darling, UBER TALENTED 5 ¾ year old kiddo (not that I’m biased or anything:) and volunteering at her school. In my free time I try to get the laundry fairy to fold the clothes!

Thank you for the interview Julee and letting Craft Gossip readers get to know you a bit better!