Creative Musings

What an honor!

It was serendipity. I became involved with Swarovski Crystal (now officially CrystallizedTM-Swarovksi Crystals) quite by accident nearly 6 years ago. While on a consulting job, I was offered the chance to attend one of their training sessions on Hotfix crystals. I jumped at the chance. It was there I was asked about my work with crystal in polymer clay and with carved eggs. After reviewing my work, I was asked to teach and design as a freelancer with the DIY segment of the company. It' been such a joy and a privilege to work with this company in any capacity and the people are just amazing! I've made so many cherished friendships along the way, not to mention how fun it is to work with so much bling!

I have been given the nod to announce that I am now an official Ambassador for CrystallizedTM-Swarovski Crystals. I was invited to represent the company in this capacity along with a select handful of international designers (including good friends Laura Timmons and Kristal Wick). I'm so thankful for this opportunity to further my efforts in showing as many people as possible ways to create and embellish with crystal. 

I invite all crystal fans to join the Create-Your-Style creative network. It's a wonderful forum to information, education and to make fellow crystal friends. Click on this link to connect to the site: www.community.create-your-style.com

Most recently I have taught for the company in Tucson. I am also coordinating and teaching on their first official crystal cruise (November 2009), which I'm sorry to say is has been completely booked for about a month now, but those interested can visit the www.create-your-style.com website and contact them to be placed on the wait list in the event of cancellations before November.   

I'll be teaching classes with crystal at upcoming venues listed on my website: www.lisapavelka.com 

 

Cabin Fever Clay Festival 09

How wonderful to finally make it to Baltimore after several less than wonderful travel mishaps. Wonderful Donna Dillman-Butler and her hubby Wayne were nice enough to pick us up at the airport even though the plane was over 8 hours late in arriving. Kathryn Ottman, the event organizer not only does a fabulous coordination job, but she picked a great venue too. It even was adjacent to an Outback Steakhouse. My hubby was especially sorry he couldn't come for that reason alone. Most of the event teachers are in the photo above (from left to right: Tony Aquino, Christi Friesen, Kathryn Ottman, Yours Truly, Nan Rocke, Julie Picarello, Lynne Anne Schwarzenberg (in cognito), Kim Korringa, and Jana Roberts Benzon (ala boa). Missing were: Victoria Hughes, Barbara McGuire, Kelly Russell, and Sarah Shriver who showed up later in the festivities).  

It was another chance to see old friends who came as teachers and students, not to mention the making of new ones. The week was totally amazing and as always, I spent way too much money in the store. Mid week, many of us road-tripped it to Polymer Clay Express for more shopping fun and a preview of the new "Dream Machine" clay roller. 

Yet another delightful evening found Sarah Shriver, Haley Hertz, myself and our pals from over the ocean: Alison Gallant (who also attended my London workshop) and Frances White from Ireland searching for some late night dining. When we ran out of our preferred options, it became an evening of Rootie Tootie, Fresh and Fruity hilarity with Sarah regaling us with tales of her childhood IHOP experiences.  

Before heading back, Haley and I had one afternoon following the instructor round table to explore nearby Washington D.C. It was such a treat to be a teacher at this event and my thanks go out once again to Kathryn Ottman at Polymer Clay Fests. As always, more photos can be seen under the gallery section, see Cabin Fever.     

It's off to England...

for the Stitches Trade show. Jones and Company, the distributor of my product line in the UK partnered with JHB International to send me over to teach and demo my line. Friend and fellow designer Haley Hertz accompanied me to assist and for the fun of it. After the first of many harrowing travel incidents (we missed out connecting flight to Birmingham, due to weather), we arrived in London and slowly made our way up towards the center of the country, sans luggage. 

We went shopping for an outfit just in case the luggage never arrived, but it did a day later. Our hotel was out in the middle of nowhere, but we did have a superb pub to eat at each night. The show and classes kept me busy. I did eak out a little time to chat with friends like Suze Weinberg and Wyatt White (Beadalon) and walk the floor. Our Jones and company gentlemen, John, "Polymer Prince" Darren, Stavros and Steven were all great help in the booth and in my classes. The wonderful Darren volunteered to help us get out +300 pounds of luggage to the train station the last day in Birmingham; something he ended up regretting. Our mad dash left us all winded and drenched with perspiration, but we made the train in time. That's another adventure all together. 

Two very tired, hungry and punchy girls arrived in London where the travel adventures continued. Our delightful cab driver John couldn't find Carol Blackburn's address in the Docklands. Darling Carol greeted us weary travelers with a delightful meal and the wonderful company of our co-host Darek and their friend from Japan, Kimio. Their lovely home has amazing views of the Tower Bridge, as did the class venue Carol arranged for my London Clay Guild workshop. That's the amazing and talented Carol Blackburn (our host) with me and Hay and the Tower bridge in the background, just outside of her home. Doesn't it look like your typical Sears portrait studio backdrop? Yes, we really were there and not Photoshopped in!  Thanks Carol and Derek for opening their home to us and the very comfy accommodations! 

What a lovely bunch of "cladies," the London group was! I hope they had as much fun and Haley and I did. It was amazing teaching a class that had a view of the Thames river. One day was left for play and Hay and I set off for the Tube (underground subway). We had a wonderfully exhausting day in London visiting Westminster Abbey, riding the Millennium "London Eye" ferris wheel, seeing Big Ben, Harrods and finishing off our day in one of my favorite pubs (The Duke of York) followed by the stage show of Billy Elliot. Our next day back to the states and onto Maryland continued our travel adventures. Oh does the fun never end! See more pix in the UK Gallery. 

  

Way Behind in blogging, so here's my Tucson update!

 

CrystallizedTM-Swarovski Crystal had another great year in Tucson with a new location. Classes and demos were held at the YWCA. I was amazed at a what a gorgeous and artful facility this was. It was totally transformed by crystals. The joint was jumping! The team from Swarovski really know how to put an event together. An impressive financial and jewelry donation was given to the YWCA by the company. Heading out to the Swarovski Fete on the party bus with (below, left to right: Kristine St. Pierre, Laura Timmons, Haley Hertz, Lisa Pavelka, Andreas Wieser, and Val Hirata).

Work aside, me and my Crystal Chic girlfriends (below from left to right: Kristal Wick, Haley "Hay Hay" Hertz and Laura "Timmy" Timmons were supporting the American Economy and visiting friends exhibiting at the Bead True Blue Show. My dear pal and JHB Marketing Director Guru, Lisa "Slammy" Lambright, came down for one day from Denver to source and check out the show. We won't tell her boss that she had a ball with all the girls too! We even got a chance to enjoy the amazing party put on by Interweave Press. This is one incredible show that takes over the entire city. Where ever you go, there are shows in every venue imaginable and some pretty amazing geological specimens that will wow anyone! Visit the gallery on my blog for more photos of all the Tucson fun.  

Catching Up Starting with CHA

 

I've been on the road nearly non-stop since mid-January for business, beginning with the CHA (Craft and Hobby Association) convention in Anaheim, California. My booth was part of a quad configuration that I shared with JHB International (www.buttons.com) and my friend Kristal Wick for her Sassy Silky and Batik Beauties beads and kits. Her line was launched at the show to a great reception. Our booths were slammed and lots of fun and excitement was had by all.

We were also busy with two workshops for JHB and CrystallizedTM-Swarovski Elements. Thanks to all the wonderful volunteers (photo from the Saturday night class above) who helped out in these workshops! Also, a big shout out to the designers (Bonnie Harris, Haley Hertz, Anne Igou, Sam Katz, and Hilda Walker) who helped out at the booth with demos and taking orders.

I didn't get out much to see the show, but fortunately, friends like Christi Friesen, Suze Weinberg, Traci Bautista, and Karen Thomas were able to drop by the booth. Even the amazing Thomas Mann dropped by for a visit. 

Lisa ("Slammy") Lambright was rocking all the booths and always makes sure that lots of goodies and samples get into the hands or our customers and designers. Plus, she makes everything tons of fun, even when she's writng e-mails in the wee hours of the morning from the comfort of the hotel bathtub. We left for home tired-but-happy, only to turn around in a few days to leave for Tucson and the Gem and Mineral Show. See more photos from CHA in the gallery.