We love Galentine's Day! The idea of an inclusive holiday that allows you to embrace friendships and celebrate best friends is so appealing. A holiday should not only be celebrated by those who have partners! As kids, we all had that little bit of stress when we wanted to share a Valentine's gift with a sweetheart. That was too much hassle. Let's enjoy the wonderful gals in our circle and let them know how much they have enriched our lives! We started celebrating Galentine's Day a couple of years ago. Last year, we partnered with Jesse James Beads and made it a real party. This year, we went global! We invited designers from the UK, Hawaii, and all around the States to create and be merry! If you missed the fun, now is your chance to see what we made during the big celebration!
Here is a little history on Galentine's Day - if you are unfamiliar. NBC's Parks and Recreation gave us this cute holiday idea. In 2010, Amy Poehler’s character, Leslie Knope, announced the date (February 13th) as a day for joining with friends at breakfast and celebrating the love of friendship. The idea was such a hit that the holiday took on a life of it's own. It is no longer a subplot on a sitcom but is now a real and exciting way to give thanks to your favorite girlfriends. It is a day for ladies to celebrate ladies. Trading handmade gifts was one way to show your appreciation to the gals that have stood by your side through thick and thin. Honor your friends. Write them an essay about how much they mean to your or simply give them a small token of your bond. Handmade jewelry is a great way to spoil your sisters!
Did you join the Galentine's Day 5 Hour Bead Around the World Event? We collaborated with Jesse James Beads and staged a global beading party. Check out these exciting jewelry demonstrations! It was so fun to gather and get creative!
Finished Jewelry Designs From Our Galentine’s Day Bead Around The World Jewelry Making Event
Galentine’s Day Bead Around The World Jewelry Making Party
Check out the amazing video above for all of the excitement and good times we shared with our favorite gals!
This year, we wanted the event to feel unique and different from our last celebration. We thought a globetrotting party would be the perfect way to give the party a special spin. We started out in the UK with designer Jem Hawkes. We bounced on over to the east coast of the United States and watched Kay Goss work her magic with Soft Flex Craft Wire. Kristen Fagan and Brittany Chavers made jewelry in the American Southwest. And finally, we set sail for Hawaii and learned how to use Apoxie Sculpt with creative mind Christi Friesen. Sara Oehler hosted the event. We think it was pretty fabulous. And we managed to capture all of the excitement in a single video!
Last year, we celebrated Galentine's Day over two nights. It was a blast! Soft Flex Company's Sara Oehler and Sarah James, of Jesse James Beads, hosted the big event. Designers Wendy Whitman, Brittany Chavers, and Kristen Fagan gave us amazing jewelry making demonstrations. If you missed the fun, make sure you check out the recap blog, below:
Finished Jewelry Designs From Our Galentine’s Jewelry Making Party
So many inspirational designs! Challenge yourself to a new jewelry making medium this year. Apoxie Sculpt is perfect for crafting pendants and jewelry components. Soft Flex Craft Wire is amazing for wire wrapping gemstones, creating ear wires, jump rings, and so much more. Expand your jewelry making talents! These fabulous teachers offer easy to follow instructions.
Galentine’s Jewelry Making Party Host: Sara Oehler
Hosting this years Galentine's Day event was so much fun! Sara Oehler got to spend quality time with amazing designers and was inspired to create her own jewelry. While the spotlight was on the star of each segment, Sara got to stay in the shadows and make her own jewelry using the same kit. She is a true stealth beader! Here is one of her ideas. The kits for this event are sold out, but we thank you for supporting our small businesses. If you would like to add beads or beading supplies to your crafting toolkit, make sure you visit the host companies: Soft Flex Company and Jesse James Beads.
Galentine’s Jewelry Making Party: Jem Hawkes
UK designer Jem Hawkes is always a treat to watch. She is a masterful wire worker. Want to learn how to sculpt and shape Craft Wire into amazing jewelry? Jem is a phenomenal teacher! She first cast a spell on us when she joined us for a Halloween Trick or Treat beading party with Jesse James Beads. Learn how to weave a little magic with wire!
Galentine’s Jewelry Making Party: Kay Goss
Kay Goss is a true original. Born into a beading family, she traveled the world with her mother, looking for the perfect beads. She is the captain of two exciting bead stores online, Beadorea and Star's Beads. Follow her on Facebook for creative live shows and learn how to embrace a wonderful life of jewelry appreciation!
Galentine’s Jewelry Making Party: Kristen Fagan
Kristen Fagan is the free spirited beader of Soft Flex Company. She is an author, painter, crafter, and jewelry maker. She loves to seek the divine in the daily and experience art with open arms. She teaches us to accept the faults in our crafts and turn them into part of a design! Her live show airs every Monday on YouTube.
Galentine’s Jewelry Making Party: Brittany Chavers
Brittany Chavers, of Turquoise.Street, is a prolific creator on YouTube. She became a serious designer on her channel almost four years ago. You can find exquisite and daring jewelry designs in her videos. She is unafraid to tackle new beads and ideas. Enrich your life with Brittany's wonderful sense of color and style!
Galentine’s Jewelry Making Party: Christi Friesen
Christi Friesen has the vibrant soul of childlike wonder and infectious imagination. When she is not teaching students how to shape Apoxie Sculpt and PMC, she is turning her daydreams into adorable reality. The cutest Merlings and Ghoulies haunt her hallways. You can purchase her amazing art works and gremlins on her site.
Look At The Amazing Jewelry Our Friends Made!
We gathered a small assortment of fun Galentine's designs from our Facebook group. VIB is a great place to visit. It is an online bead gathering. It is a place to chat and meet new friends. It is a great way to stay social. You can learn a new tip or technique daily. You can get inspired by the gorgeous jewelry designs other people in the community post. You can also get your own jewelry gently critiqued if you want pointers on how to make your designs really stand out. We love wallflowers and chatty designers alike. Lurk or showcase your talent. You are going to love our fun club.
Designed by Soft Flex VIB Studio Member: Sherry Meyers
Designed by Soft Flex VIB Studio Member: Melonie Sharno
Designed by Soft Flex VIB Studio Member: Stacy Leigh Meissner
Designed by Soft Flex VIB Studio Member: Rebecca Foster
Join our Facebook group – VIB. Stay in the know. Stay up to date. From our bead shows to our video shows and sales, you can stay in touch with us. The community is full of artistic and helpful beaders and crafty people. Inspire and be inspired. Share your pictures and get the beading bug from others!
Visit the Soft Flex Company YouTube Channel!
Blog contributor Thomas Soles loves Jazz Age writers and crunchy french fries. His favorite gemstones are Lapis and Pietersite. His favorite hobby is day dreaming. And his favorite mustache is Freddie Mercury's. As you can see, he has a healthy (or possibly unhealthy) sense of humor. You can write to him at Thomas@SoftFlexCompany.com