Cynthia Rutledge - July 14-16 via Zoom!
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Cynthia is a contemporary seed bead artist and educator, specializing in peyote stitch and off‐loom weaving techniques, with an emphasis on developing sculptural unsupported shapes in beadwork. As an educator (over 25 years), Cynthia shares her expertise on the road for most of the year. Her work has been exhibited in national and international shows, many books and publications including her first solo book, “Timeless Beadwork Designs”, which became available in January 2016.
“My path to being an artist has always been driven by my desire to create something that is beautiful to me. I bead for myself, to satisfy my desire to create, to feed my soul. That others admire my work is a gift. If they see something in my work that appeals to them, that calls to them, then I am blessed indeed, as maybe they can see a glimpse of the part of me that is just following my heart.” -- Cynthia Rutledge |
Friday, July 14 - Apollonia - Architecture meets Fine Jewelry
Born in 1857, Sotirio Bulgari hailed from a small village in northern Greece. For generations this area was known for its exceptional silversmith art, a refined skill that had been passed from father to son since the Byzantine Era. Bulgari moved his family to Rome and opened his first jewelry store in 1884. The store quickly built its reputation for luxurious, exceptionally well-crafted Greek and Roman-inspired jewelry designs. As part of a renovation in the 1930's, the logo was updated to Bvlgari, which used the traditional Roman alphabet. WWII played a big part in the transition of materials used for their designs, moving from silver to gold was just one of the many adjustments that the brothers at the helm of Bvlgari had to conquer, placing the jewelry house into the high jewelry market. Bvlgari's vison of beauty always begins with Rome itself. Architectural designs, along with colored stones, draw from the cities' ancient mosaics and gems, polished like the smooth surfaces of its epic marble sculptures. Each creation echoes Rome's timeless art and exuberant spirit.
Apollonia is inspired by Bvlgari's masterful use of Roman architecture as a muse. In this case, I am using the imagery of the Italian baroque ceiling from The Palazzo dei Penitenzieri in Rome.
This set consists of a pair of earrings and a necklace. The main components are cubic right-angle weave (CRAW) and peyote stitch bezeled pear CZs using seed beads and fire polish beads. Three 6mm CZs are bezeled and attached to the bottom of the pear bezels for interest. For the earrings, an embellished pearl cabochon component hides the earring post and clutch. Dramatic to say the least! The necklace has the same center component attached to a light and airy right-angle weave (RAW) variation chain, ending in two beaded pearl buttons and connector.
Skill level: Intermediate to advanced. Students must be comfortable with CRAW, RAW and peyote stitch.
Apollonia is inspired by Bvlgari's masterful use of Roman architecture as a muse. In this case, I am using the imagery of the Italian baroque ceiling from The Palazzo dei Penitenzieri in Rome.
This set consists of a pair of earrings and a necklace. The main components are cubic right-angle weave (CRAW) and peyote stitch bezeled pear CZs using seed beads and fire polish beads. Three 6mm CZs are bezeled and attached to the bottom of the pear bezels for interest. For the earrings, an embellished pearl cabochon component hides the earring post and clutch. Dramatic to say the least! The necklace has the same center component attached to a light and airy right-angle weave (RAW) variation chain, ending in two beaded pearl buttons and connector.
Skill level: Intermediate to advanced. Students must be comfortable with CRAW, RAW and peyote stitch.
Saturday, July 15 and 16 - A Rose by Any Other Name
William Shakespeare said it best in Romeo and Juliet, with Juliet commenting that, “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet”. Basically, meaning that it did not matter that Romeo was of a family that was a rival with Juliet’s family.
The same circumstance comes to mind involving the families of Napoleon Bonaparte and the then known Marie-Joséphe Rose de Tascher de la Pagerie during their courtship, marriage, coronation, and consecration. The Bonaparte family thought that the match was unsuitable as Rose was older, had been married before, and had two children. Rose’s family were sugarcane plantation owners from Martinique and although wealthy, they had no connection to the upper-class station of the Bonaparte’s. There was a lot of tension, arguments, and hatred that ensued.
Upon their marriage, Napoleon decided that “Rose” was not an appropriate name for his new bride, so he renamed her Josephine. When they were both crowned, she would forever be known as Empress Josephine of France.
Josephine was not well educated, but she was a supreme hostess and a fabulous dresser. With her Emperor on her arm, Josephine’s great style embodied the couple’s political power, station, and honor. Napoleon was said to have commented that “I win the battles, but Josephine wins hearts”.
She is thought to have been instrumental in creating a rage over a style of necklace called a swag. There are many portraits of the Empress wearing this style of necklace. The necklace usually had a center component, two components on either side with all connecting to two or three strands of chain or set diamonds that swagged between the components.
A Rose By Any Other Name . . . is inspired by this delicate necklace style. The central component is a bezeled oval CZ, encircled with set stones, with a pearl drop. The side components use the same size of oval CZs but are encircled with pearls. The two strands are a variation of CRAW (cubic right-angle weave) for an open, textured look. Pearl cabochons are bezeled and embellished as they work up the sides of the necklace ending in a bar closure.
The same circumstance comes to mind involving the families of Napoleon Bonaparte and the then known Marie-Joséphe Rose de Tascher de la Pagerie during their courtship, marriage, coronation, and consecration. The Bonaparte family thought that the match was unsuitable as Rose was older, had been married before, and had two children. Rose’s family were sugarcane plantation owners from Martinique and although wealthy, they had no connection to the upper-class station of the Bonaparte’s. There was a lot of tension, arguments, and hatred that ensued.
Upon their marriage, Napoleon decided that “Rose” was not an appropriate name for his new bride, so he renamed her Josephine. When they were both crowned, she would forever be known as Empress Josephine of France.
Josephine was not well educated, but she was a supreme hostess and a fabulous dresser. With her Emperor on her arm, Josephine’s great style embodied the couple’s political power, station, and honor. Napoleon was said to have commented that “I win the battles, but Josephine wins hearts”.
She is thought to have been instrumental in creating a rage over a style of necklace called a swag. There are many portraits of the Empress wearing this style of necklace. The necklace usually had a center component, two components on either side with all connecting to two or three strands of chain or set diamonds that swagged between the components.
A Rose By Any Other Name . . . is inspired by this delicate necklace style. The central component is a bezeled oval CZ, encircled with set stones, with a pearl drop. The side components use the same size of oval CZs but are encircled with pearls. The two strands are a variation of CRAW (cubic right-angle weave) for an open, textured look. Pearl cabochons are bezeled and embellished as they work up the sides of the necklace ending in a bar closure.
Additional Information
Class Prices and Information
Zoom Classes - $95/day
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.
Class Prices and Information
Zoom Classes - $95/day
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.