The WE ART THE PEOPLE FOLK FESTIVAL 2011 was terrific!!!!! I had several people, both vendors and attendees tell me that this was the best organized year ever for the festival. Also heard some folks say this is their favorite Abq. festival!! This is a great mid September tradition for OFFCenter and hopefully will be for years to come. The kids area was hopping all day long with beautiful hats and pin wheels emerging from the art making tent, children having fun with hula hoops, and being thoroughly entertained by Pink Elephant and Clan Tynker! The group paper tube sculpture and giant coloring book/painting canvases were great.... can't wait to see the new OFFBags made from the canvas. Come shop for one in the OFFCenter retail shop in the studio! I got a fantastic henae design on my entire arm and enjoyed seeing lots of lovely painted faces walking all around the park. Thanks to all the dancers and musicians too for creating such a festive day. It's a gift to see all the art vendors and witness the enormous variety of creativity in our community. Yea for Chami and all the other folks who worked so hard to make the 2011 We Art the People Folk Festival happen so wonderfully! Better and better each year :) Hope to see lots of fun 2011 Folk Fest pictures here and on the website soon!

Stitching with Sequins Workshop -- Feb. 14

Saturday, February 14, 10am – 1pm

Mary Tafoya will help you solve the mysteries of sewing sequins to fabric using several different stitches, with and without beads: spot stitch, lines, scales, and floral motifs.

In this class, you will work on fabric and felt to create a sampler of stitches that Mary has explored and discovered over several years studying old European, East Indian and Asian surface embellishment and embroidery.

Mary Tafoya is a nationally known beadwork artist, teacher and writer whose work has been featured in numerous books and exhibitions. Currently, she works in various media and creates a line of recycled jewelry for her online shop. http://www.marytafoya.etsy.com/.

Be sure to bring reading glasses if you need them!

Cost: $35. Scholarships are available. Registration required. 12 person maximum. Call 505-247-1172

Twisted Wire Jewelry Workshop, Saturday Jan 31

MARY TAFOYA PRESENTS TWISTED WIRE JEWELRY, SAT. JAN 31

Learn the foundation steps of a twisted wire jewelry project. In this class, we'll make at least two pairs of earrings using beads, charms and fine wire. A fun and satisfying project for teens to adults.We'll go through each step together, with tips for making variations, and each student will receive a handout with step-by-step instructions. Once you get the hang of these basic steps, you can use extra long lengths of wire and lots of different kinds of beads to create not just earrings, but other jewelry projects and art embellishments.This project is great for using up leftover beads.

Cost: $35. Scholarships are available.

Please call early to reserve. Space is limited. 505-247-1172

SUPPLY LIST

• A few small beads or charms, or use what's available at OFFCenter.
• You'll need about 10 beads for each pair of earrings. Leaves,
  flowers, and colorful round beads work great.
• At least two pairs of earring wires, or use what's available in the class
• Very fine craft wire (26 to 28 gauge) (some wire will be provided until we run out!)
• Scissors, if you have them
• Jewelry pliers, if you have them
• Jewelry wire cutters, if you have them