Payson AZ Bead Cave

This past weekend I made a trip to Payson AZ, nestled below the Mogollon Rim. It is five hours north of Tombstone and I chuckled to think that I had to go north to get warm. It was 30 degrees and snowing as I left Tombstone, 60 degrees in Tucson and 70 degrees in Phoenix. This was a spur of the moment bead road trip that culminated in a bead cave. I stopped in Sun City and toured the new, beautifully organized studio of my long time friend, Crystal . Then we packed her beads in the car and headed out for Payson. I had never been in that part of Arizona and only knew it as a colored road line on a map. What a gorgeous surprise as we climbed into high country and rounded curves to see valleys laid out below us. It was breathtaking country.

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We arrived at Jo's home and were warmly greeted by her and the bead group already there. We beaded, looked at bead eye candy, shopped for beads, and laughed a lot as we got to know each other. And then we ate.... oh did we eat well at this cave.
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Jo's studio is all windows that look out at the mountains. It was hard to keep my eyes on my beadwork and not just look out the windows. I'm terrible with names the first time I meet a group of people and - some I remember, but don't know how to spell - some I can spell, but don't remember - so I won't embarrass myself by putting wrong names to the faces in these photos. I can claim age-related memory problems - right? They are all a great group of talented people and we shared beading techniques, supplies, beads and lots & lots of raucous laughter. Jo's hospitality was unsurpassed and it was one of the most elegant and comfortable bead caves I've attended in a long time. I can't wait to go back for another round of laughter and good company. Jo, many thanks for being the hostess for this great time.

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~Creativity Notes

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I finally had the time to try out Robin Adkins' "Finger Weaving" and for the first time in a long while actually finished a complete piece at a bead cave.

What a fun way to use up an eclectic mix of odd beads and charms. Somehow, people kept adding odd colored green beads to my mix and my bracelet came out looking like a forest in early Summer. C-Lon cording was the perfect base for this project; stiff enough to weave with crispness; and supple enough to give the finished bracelet a nice hand. Robin's instructions and photos are quite clear and easy to follow. I'm very pleased with the results and see many other possibilities.