Bead&Button or bust and 18 Hands Gallery

I've determined that about a month before Bead&Button, anyone associated with the show develops Bead&Button brain. It's a condition that involves thinking only of the show and forgetting just about everything else. I am very excited about teaching at the show for the first time, seeing my chainmaille jacket in the on display with all the other finalists, and meeting all the lovely people who come out for Meet the Teachers, but I am also looking forward to the post-show recovery of my full brain power.

In other exciting news, two of my pieces were accepted into the Contemporary Beadwork II exhibition at 18 Hands Gallery in Houston, TX. Anyone in the area can check out my Dragon Mother beaded sculpture and my necklace inspired by David Bohm's theory of the implicate order. The exhibition will be on display during the month of July.

Unique aluminum chainmaille jewelry

Big, big update

I am miserable at updating this thing. However, I just received Alyson Stanfield's newsletter about devoting just 15 minutes a day to your art. Why not my blog?

If you're following Kali Butterfly on Facebook, you'll know that my upcoming chainmaille classes were featured on Cyndi Lavin's blog. (Thanks, Cyndi!) I'll be teaching Dragonscale at Bead&Button 2010, (sign up now!), and a Persian Maille class at Lill Street Gallery. If you're looking for a chainmaille challenge, these classes are for you.

Also, I'm happy to report that my piece, "I Always Wanted Claws" will be featured at eXtremities: Exploring the Margins of the Human Body, a featured exhibition during the 2010 Society of North American Goldsmiths Conference in Houston. SNAG is going to be a lot of fun for me this year.

In other jewelry-unrelated news, my paper, "Beyond 'Feminisms': Refocusing the Women's Movement Through the Lens of Liberation" was just published in the most recent issue of Current Perspectives in Social Theory. You can read it at Google Books. Discovering that was almost as cool as seeing my name in print.

Vanessa Walilko
Unique, handcrafted chainmaille jewelry, intricate beadwork, and beaded sculpture

Cornelia Holiday Show

Come to the Cornelia Holiday show on December 5-7 to see my latest chainmaille jewelry and beaded jewelry designs. Those of you who saw my beaded collar in progress last year can see it in all its finished glory this weekend. You'll also be able to take a look at some of my beaded dragon sculptures.

The Cornelia Holiday show runs December 5, 6-9pm, December 6-7, 11am - 5pm and is located at:

The Cornelia Arts Building
1800 W Ravenswood
Chicago, IL 60657

Parking can be a little tricky, so I recommend taking the brown line to the Addison stop whenever possible.

Hope to see you there!

Vanessa Walilko

Handcrafted Beaded Jewelry, Beaded Sculpture and Chainmaille

Artisan 133 Reception Recap

My Friday night reception at Artisan 133 was a resounding success.

Rhonda Popko, my high school art teacher, and I shared the space for the reception. Rhonda did silk painting demonstrations while I worked on my latest chainmaille piece. I think I've decided it's going to be a cropped jacket with high collar. Who knows--these things always evolve.

Thanks to everyone for coming. Everyone seemed excited by my newest jewelry designs, and all my friends were kind enough to take photos with me at the show. Cindy and Beth at Artisan 133 really know how to put together a good show.

Vanessa Walilko

Handcrafted beaded jewelry, chainmaille, fashion and beaded sculpture.

Artist Reception at Artisan 133

Join me at Artisan 133 for an artist reception. I'll have my latest chainmalle and beadwork designs and will be debuting part of my clothing line!

Artisan 133 is located at 133 West Prospect Avenue in Mount Prospect. Hope to see you there!

Vanessa Walilko

Unique handcrafted beaded jewelry, beaded sculpture and chainmaille