16 – 23 June, 2012

Annlee Butler is one of Australia’s most experienced beaders. Her first beading retreat in Fiji in 2011 was a lovely combination of daily workshops, afternoon excursions – and the bonus of a fascinating bit of community involvement. One afternoon she ran a session for a group of local women in Savusavu, all of whom sell handicrafts and beads at the local market. They were eager to learn and grateful for the opportunity – and it proved to be both fun and instructive for the beading group too. Annlee involved them all as teacher’s assistants. She spent that morning teaching them the Dutch spiral stitch, and in the afternoon they all sat round the long table and worked together. It was a great opportunity to get to know the local artists – and to get to know the stitch they were teaching. Have a look at a fuller write-up of the day on our blog.

Beading is a richly rewarding craft, easily accessible to beginners and continually fascinating and challenging to experienced beaders. There is great delight to be had in sitting together making original pieces of jewellery, sharing ideas and designs, and simply taking pleasure in the process of creation. And what’s more, it’s a fabulous holiday with one of Australia’s most experienced beaders as well.

Programme
This 6 day course is designed to take you from inspiration and ideas to finished designs in wearable beaded work. Each day will start with an elementary section. This will then be followed by hands on experiment time using the elementary notes and discussion so each of the students can work on areas that they wish to improve.

And what’s more, it’s a fabulous holiday with as well. During the week there’s time to go into town to see the local market and pick up some handicrafts; to visit the black pearl farm; to walk up the hill, or to have a spa massage. There are organised excursions to the beach and to a local village to see a traditional Fjian meke dance, as well as time to laze by the pool.

Annlee Butler introduces herself:

“Although all my formal training and degrees are in business management and marketing, I found very little satisfaction or creativity in this type of work. About 18 years ago while working long hours and looking after a family I needed to find a way to relax and decided to knot a strand of my grandmothers glass pearls. I enjoyed it so much I was soon looking for more beads. I have grown to love all aspects of seed bead work, including loom work such as Kumihimo and off loom free form techniques like peyote, herringbone, spirals and square stitch etc I have mastered most of the known techniques and a few of the more difficult techniques such as tambour beading.

In 2003 I was invited to the Masterclass at Bead and Button with master seed bead artists Viginia Blakelock and Carol Perrenoud, which took my work from just-for-fun to wearable artwork.

When I returned home it was time to do more with my beads, since then I have been teaching regular classes, designing and selling bead work through local galleries, become a member of the bead society of Victoria and enjoy entering competitions to expand my creativity.

I look forward to spending a creative week with you and experimenting to take your work in exciting new directions also.”

Click icons to see larger images of Annlee Bulter’s beadwork.
Photography by Alex Mullen 0421 187 500.

Detailed Classes Outline
This 6 day course is designed to take you from inspiration and ideas to finished designs in wearable beaded work. Each day will start with an elementary section. This will then be followed by hands on experiment time using the elementary notes and discussion so each student can work on areas that they wish to improve.

Day 1  – Saturday 16 June:
Travel day to Nadi and spend the night there.

Day 2  – Sunday 17 June:
Flights on to Savusavu. The resort is 10 minutes from the airstrip, and you will be there in time for breakfast.
Morning: workshop. Inspiration Day and where to find it, how to make it work in your design, how to focus what you want to achieve with the use of stitches and textures.
Hands on: students would be asked to bring a picture or an item such as a focal bead or finding that inspires them. This will be the start of a project which each student will design and can be continued during the week or taken home to work on.
Afternoon: Tapa (bark cloth) making demonstration.

Day 3  – Monday 18 June:
Morning workshop. Stitches techniques day and making stitches work for your design.
Hands on: Using Annlee’s Sampler book of stitches, make up small swatch samples of beading stitches to keep as a reference. Stitches include: peyote, right angle weave, in both circular and flat, even and odd count, some of the more unusual stitches such as African helix, chevron, St Petersburg chain, and other interesting variations.
Afternoon visit to Savusavu town for shopping.

Day 4  – Tuesday 19 June:
Morning workshop. Components Day. Adding shapes, flowers, and style to your design by the use of components. The different ways to capture a cabochon will also be included in this section.
Hands on: students will stitch a variety of items such as a herringbone tulips, a lilly in herringbone or peyote, small peyote flowers, leaves in Russian style or using peyote stitch, shapes such as triangles and squares. These items can be used in your own design project or taken home to use later.
Afternoon boat / beach outing.

Day 5 – Wednesday 20 June:
Morning workshop. Getting it all together day. Finishing designs with a professional look. Discussion will include how to add clasps correctly, using wire and beads together, working over structures.
Hands on: students will bead over a wooden bead using a choice of right angle weave or peyote stitch and then experiment with adding components or fringing to complete a beaded focal bead.
Afternoon: free time.

Day 6 – Thursday 21 June:
Morning workshop. All that other stuff. This discussion will cover a variety of subjects that will include: how to write good instructions, how to value your finished project, how to market and sell your designs, what judges look for in a competition piece.
Hands on: Annlee will spend time with each student working on any individual projects or subject they need more information on.
Afternoon free time.
Evening drinks at Savusavu Yacht Club and dinner in town.

Day 7 – Friday 22 June:
Morning workshop. Tying up the ends.
Afternoon visit to village for meke (traditional dance).
Evening: class show and final dinner.

Day 8 – Saturday 23 June:
Depart Savusavu at 8.30 am to get to Nadi for afternoon flights.

Cost:
AUD $2,980.00 twin share including flights ex-Sydney / Brisbane
Single supplement: $350

Cost without flight to Nadi: $2180

Non-particiating partners: $1050 (international flight not included)

Program Includes

• Return international flights from Sydney / Brisbane.
• Return domestic flight from Nadi to Savusavu.
• Return airport transfers from Savusavu to Daku Resort.
• 7 nights accommodation at Daku Resort in traditional bures with private facilities.
• Breakfasts, lunches and dinners are provided.
• Course fees.
• Lectures and excursions as indicated.

Program Excludes

• Comprehensive Travel Insurance.
• Optional activities not listed on the program.
• Costs of a personal nature such as laundry, massages, private trips.
• Meals taken in transit at the airport.

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