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Cliff Swain-Salomon Classes via Zoom!  -  Saturday and Sunday, January 16 and 17, 2021

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Cliff Swain-Salomon is an off-the-loom seed bead weaver known for creating non-traditional jewelry shapes and pushing the boundaries of color exploration. After injuring and losing use of both of his hands for over three years, he began beading when a friend recommended he try it as part of his hand rehabilitation therapy. Once he started, he was hooked.

In all of his pieces, Cliff integrates over 30 years of study in multiple fields, including graphic design, painting, as well as apprenticeships with several medicine men and women, exploring sacred geometry and chromotherapy. His art has been featured in several publications and exhibits, including Bead & Button (October 2018, June 2019), Style Magazine, Facet Jewelry, Palos Verdes Arts Center, Conejo Valley Art Museum Show, and California Lutheran University, to name a few. Recently, Toho Beads also invited him to be a featured artist for their 2019 Toho Bead Challenge. The piece he designed for them is currently touring the United States and will continue through Europe before being brought to Japan in 2020 to be added to the Toho Museum’s exhibition. Cliff has won several awards for his work including the People’s Choice Award for Bead Dreams 2018 and Juror’s Selection at Placer Artists Studio Tour.


O'My Necklace - Wait List Only

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A beautiful piece with lots of bling, while not being overstated.  Great to dress up or down. The rope introduces a new type of fringing technique called “pinecone fringe” that creates a beautiful ruffled texture around the rope.

This workshop will be held on the Zoom app.  You must have a laptop or tablet with a camera and microphone and a WiFi connection. Zoom is a free app and easy to download on either a Windows or Apple platform.

Directions and any materials you require will be mailed, so please register early to insure that you receive the materials before the class





Butterfly Lariat  - Sunday, January 17, 2021 - Wait List Only

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"The Butterfly" Lariat Necklace
In memory of Pavel Friedman
The peacock butterfly, is native to Britain and Ireland and can grow up to 70mm. They are nomadic and live mainly in woodland areas and countrysides. While beautiful, I chose to pattern this butterfly due to its spiritual symbolism in many cultures. Butterflies in general are believed to be the spirits of those who have come before us and it is thought that they come to visit us to help us through difficult times in our lives or when important things are happening for us.
Butterflies are also a symbol of transformation. The short life cycle of the butterfly closely mirrors the process of spiritual transformation and serves to remind us that life is fleeting. Other meanings of butterflies include spiritual rebirth, change, hope and life.
I wanted to make this piece very simple, elegant, and not over-embellished. The wings of the butterfly are constructed using Peyote and Brick stitch, and the body is made with a modified Indo-Chinese Box Stitch (that will be taught in class). Its antennas are adorned with gem-quality freshwater pearls. The lariat rope uses a spiral of the same Indo-Chinese Box Stitch, representing the fence that divides the world we live in from ones we dream about—and the butterfly rests there, bridging both sides. Using precious metal-plated seed beads, the rope is woven in opposing spiraling directions, giving it an upward feel. At the end of each lariat is a lampwork Murano glass bead made from Effetre glass cane, famous for its color and quality. They are hand-made using traditions and techniques that have been passed down over centuries from one Venetian glassworker to another.
While the piece looks very straightforward, please know this is an advanced pattern and uses almost exclusively size 15º seed beads. It cannot be woven in any other size beads without reworking the entire design, so please be aware of that before signing up for the class.

We’ll keep you posted! 

Class Prices and Information
Zoom Classes - $90 per session



In Person Classes
1/2 day of classes - $50
1 day of classes - $95
2 days of classes - $180
3 days of classes - $270
​Each additional day - $90



 Please note:  Classes begin at 10:00 a.m. and end at 4:00 p.m. unless otherwise noted.
To register, please call (312) 316-1910 or email citybeads.chicago@gmail.com.  Payment is due at the time of registration and will be refunded only in the event another student can fill your seat.
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