"Designer Inspired" Series
New York City--Get Inspired. Create!
Maggie Meister
May 17 - 22, 2011 UNDERWAY--AND HAVING A GREAT TIME!
This Beadventure is all about learning to translate inspiration into design. Maggie Meister, the leading artist that brings ancient frescoes and mosaics into the design of her beadwork, will lead our discussion and workshop.
To gather inspiration, we'll visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art, visit high-end department stores, and shop the Jewelry District. We'll then have a workshop that brings all of this together as we learn about process and techniques from Maggie. It's a unique opportunity for experienced beaders that want to take the design process to the next level.
Itinerary
Day 1. Tuesday, May 17
Arrive in New York City in time to join us for dinner. Our home for this Beadventure is the Radisson Martinique Hotel on Broadway, which is conveniently located in the Garment/Jewelry District. The 
Martinique is a magnificently restored Beaux Arts Landmark occupying an 1898 building designed in the French Renaissance style. Our Midtown Manhattan hotel is within walking distance of many New York City attractions, landmarks, transportation—and most important, bead and gem wholesalers!
We will gather in early evening at the hotel for group introductions. We then will head out to dinner (on Beadventures) at which Maggie will introduce us to the inspiration/design process that we will be experiencing together.
Day 2. Wednesday, May 18
This Beadventure is about working with Maggie Meister on how she translates inspiration into her beautifully designed beadwork. To help inspire each of us, we have a jam-packed day planned as we explore the work and creativity of others.
We will visit a museum with special focus on jewelry and textiles. We’ll visit a great button store that has wonderful vintage buttons. We’ll also try to carve out time so you can visit boutiques and galleries that may have caught your eye along the way during the day. Free time in the evening to enjoy New York City.
Day 3. Thursday, May 19
We’ve been inspired, so now we will spend the day in the workshop, which will be held at the world-famous Beads by Blanche in New Jersey. During our workshop Maggie will further explore translating your inspiration into design. The day also will include a presentation she has developed about her inspiration and personal design work over the years. We'll return to the City in late afternoon and you will have another free evening to enjoy New York City.
Day 4. Friday, May 20
You've been inspired, thought about design, so now we’ll spend the day shopping at several wholesalers and shops to find the materials you will want to use as you translate your inspiration into your work of art. Along the way you will find beautiful pearls and gem stones at great prices, along with trims and buttons, Another evening free for you to enjoy New York City.
Day 5. Saturday, May 21
We'll continue to enjoy all that NYC has to offer today. On our last day together there will be lots of choices and we will design the day around what the group wants to do. We will enjoy a farewell dinner together, sponsored by Beadventures.
Day 6. Sunday, May 22
Depart New York City with your creativity inspired by an incredible bead artist and city!
The above schedule may be changed as new opportunities present themselves!
About Maggie's Special Project for NYC . . .
"I am really excited about this Beadventure opportunity and the Designer-Inspired Series. The inspiration for my designs is found in antiquity--whether it is a museum, an archeological ruin, mosaic or architecture. My hope is that you will become inspired by your passions and learn to interpret them with those wonderful little seed beads.
Here is a photo of my new project – Boudicca – and the brooch that inspired the piece.
About Boudicca
This necklace was named for the warrior queen of the Iceni tribe in ancient Britain who led a revolt against the occupying Roman Empire in around 60 AD. The Roman historian Tacitus describes this fiery woman in detail.
The brooch that was the starting point for this piece is found in the Metropolitan Museum in New York. It is Roman and estimated to have been made around 100 - 300 AD. It is made of enamel and metal and the description from the museum follows: “Millefiore enameling was widely popular in Gaul, where it was often used to decorate disk brooches and vessels. In this technique, the artist fuses together glass rods of different colors. The multicolored rods are then cut into cross sections, which are placed in a metal base and heated sufficiently for them to adhere. The result is an intricate pattern of flowers and checkerboards.”
My interpretation to designing Boudicca was to bezel semi-precious stones and join them together with brick stitch.
Tiffany – What will these pieces become???
This project will give you some insight into how I approach translating inspiration into jewelry design. Here are two photographs of mosaics found in the Tiffany Room in the Metropolitan Museum, which inspired 
components on which I now am working. I am not yet quite sure what they will become – earrings?? Bracelet?? Necklace?? But that is part of the fun (and frustration!) for me. Sometimes I start with a definite idea and find it does not work so I keep the components and explore different ideas, which is the stage I am at with Tiffany!"
About Maggie Meister . . .
Maggie began beading after “coveting” a pair of earrings worn by her son’s teacher. Maggie signed up for a bead class and has never looked back!
A move to Naples, Italy in 1998 changed her life forever. The rich, lively culture of the Neapolitan people and the ancient mosaics, frescoes, and jewelry designs are a major source of inspiration for her designs. She has studied at the Mosaic Art School in Ravenna, Italy and learned the ancient traditional methods of creating mosaics. This has added to Maggie's unique ability to create beadwork translated from the designs of frescoes and mosaics seen on the floors and walls of abbeys, monasteries and ruins.
Maggie teaches workshops nationally and internationally in Turkey, Germany, and Italy. Her work has been shown in Milan and Naples and has been featured in BEADWORK Magazine, BEAD & BUTTON Magazine along with others. She also is the tour leader for all of our Beadventures to Italy! To learn more about Maggie, visit her website at Amphora Designs.
A note about this workshop . . .
This is the second in our "Designer Inspired" series. These special Beadventures are a unique opportunity to work with leading bead artists to learn about their approach to design--what inspires them and how they translate that inspiration into their work. These workshops are for those that want to take their work to the next level.
Trip Cost
$2195 (US Dollars)
Includes: Workshop with Maggie, five nights hotel accommodations (shared room; single supplement available at $900), welcome and farewell dinners, ground transportation, site visits
Does not include: Airfare, other meals, beverages, beading supplies
Payment Terms: $300 deposit to hold spot; balance due 90 days prior to start of Beadventure (see Terms and Conditions for more information)
Bring
Task lamp, extension cord, beading supplies
Activity Level
New York City is a walking town, so bring comfortable shoes!