I'm in Bay City Mi. I have strung beads for a long time...but really want to get into the more intricate beading projects. I've delved into lampwork at bit, but don't have a great place to do it. I love all kinds of art. My sister owns a bead/art store in downtown Bay City. It's called 'The Blue Between'. If you ever take one of those chartered bus trips to downtown Bay City's 'Antique Row'...you'll find here along the way.  Her store is truly worth the trip. Her name is Sandy and her partners name is Chris. They will soon be teaching lampwork in their store, when they're finally all set up for it. She takes in art from others (local artists) on consignment...and everytime I take a trip to her store (well,,it's really not a trip, so to speak...it's just across the bridge) I just cannot get over the amount of creativity that is housed in that little store! She's a lampworker, her partner's a lampworker, Chris' husband is a lampworker, Sandy's husband is delving into it....her stepson is a metal artist, yadda yadda yadda!  If you get to her shoppe, check out the 'Mermaid' Altered art boots. Those are mine! I actually hope that they don't sell, because I need the ego boost (over and over) that I get, when Sandy tells me what customers have had to say about them. (I know, I'm bad)

Anyway, it would be nice to meet other beaders from the area, and maybe form a club, or whatever you would call it!  Get together and share beading stories, check out each others projects...whatever. I think that that would be great fun!

My name is Susan and I liive in Traverse City. I grew up in Flushing, Michigan until i moved up north 6 years ago. Iv'e been beading and dabbling in polymere clay for about a year.  I would love to take a class in working with metal clay, or just learn more about different techniques.  I have sold a few pieces just by wearing my jewelry, and have had a great response. family and friends tell me to start selling some of my pieces. ( especially my husband since I have 50 necklaces and many more earrings and bracelets )  I'm an artist at heart. I had taken watercolor classes, and self taught myself oils and acrylics.This is the first time I've responded to a forum, I usually just read them for tips and entertainment

Greetings,

 I am on the west side as well; GR to be specific.

I am new to jewelry as a 'return-on-investment-hobby'.  I took a class for college credit last winter from a local metalsmith [alas his last semester teaching] and cannot seem to leave the wire alone.  I have some very cool copper cable I am fiddling with all the time, I just have not hit on a product *I* like well enough to promote so most of my work in that cable is probably classed as prototype.

 Since I am also a novice weaver I like to think of myself as a WeaveSmith.

 WBF 8)