Fun with goodie bag packing and then the opening ceremonies
The SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS Create Your Style cruise may be over, but the excitement of this amazing creative adventure lingers on! Well over one hundred students from locations across the globe converged on the Norwegian Star for a week of fun, sun and most of all, crystal creativity!
Time to get beady!
Students were divided into class groupings with either Nick Regine (aka: The Professor of Crystal) and Ambassador Diane Fitzgerald, or in a rotation with Stephanie Dixon, Val Hirata, Tammy Honaman, and myself. We were honored to have Bead Style magazine editor, Cathy Jakicic, aboard attending classes and inspiring everyone on behalf of Kalmbach publishers and organizers of the Bead and Button Show in Milwaukee this coming June.
Loop d'Ombre Bracelet and Iris Earrings
I taught the Loom d'Ombre crystal bracelet project which is versatile and can also be used as a necklace.Thanks to the generous donation from Beadalon, of the Big Eye needles that I love, beading at sea was even easier. Some students were able to complete both the bracelet and the bonus Byzantine chainmaille "Iris" earrings in class and others met up with me outside of class to work on this fun and flirty project made possible by the generosity of Blue Buddha.
Ron and Cindy Wilson of Dreamtime Creations and other cruisers enjoying the festivities
The week began with goodie bags chock full of cool tools and supplies from Fire Mountain Gems and other companies. Students received generous kits of crystals and sponsored materials in each of their classes, but the swag didn't end there. During the trend presentation (given by Marlene Kohlhofer of SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS), everyone received another loaded goodie bag from Cindy Williams of Dreamtime Creations.
Diane Fitzgerald teaches her cute paperclip earrings while others work on their design challenges.
Outside of class, participants divided their tim between relaxation aboard ship, excursions and shopping ashore (with stops in Belize, Roatan, Costa Maya, and Cozumel Mexico) or with continued creativity in the conference room through free styling or in teams working on the design challenge.
Free Crystal Inspriation books for everyone. Thanks Kalmbach!
Kalmbach sponsored an Ambassador book signing where everyone received autographed copies of the new Crystal Jewelry Inspriation book featuring projects by many of the SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS Ambassadors. Demonstrations by NIck Regine, Stephanie Dixon and Dian Fitzgerald were also conducted during the book signing event.
1st Place Challenge Winners with their very heavy swag bags of crystals and other goodies.
The last night ended with drawings for dozens of door prizes and judging/announcement of the three winning teams participating in the design challenge. Many of the ladies attending were previous Polymer Paradise and Crystal Chix cruisers. It was a wonderful opportunity to meet new friends too. The amount of talent among the students (both amateur's and professionals alike) was jaw-dropping.
Ladies from Downunder show how it's done!
A huge thanks to Kim Paquette who organized and hosted the event, making it a smashing success.Everyone left for home with their suitcases bulging with crystals and more, but the best take-aways are the memories of this amazing week at sea. Be on the lookout for a video presentation of cruise highlights and a make-it-take-it segment Rick Boghosian taped of the "Professor of Crystal" (Nick Regine) and me on how to create the bonus chainmaille earring project, featured in my cruise workshop kit
In a nutshell, the perfect opportunity for fun, relaxation, adventure and most of all, creativity!
View more cruise photos in the "Anchors Away" Album on this site. You can learn more about upcoming creative cruises including the Polymer Paradise cruise with polymer clay luminaries Christie Friesen, Maureen Carlson and myself at: Art Across the Oceans.