New Knitting and Crocheting Instructor at Michaels

I am thrilled to announce that I am the new Knitting and Crocheting Instructor at Michaels starting October 1st.  I got a call from the Instructor Co-ordinator yesterday telling me that they were losing their Knitting and Crocheting Instructor at the end of this month and would I be interested in taking over.  I jumped at the opportunity!  This was what I had wanted all along.  I'm still their Jewelry Instructor, too.  It will be an interesting feat of co-ordination trying to teach it all while doing my job as an engineer, practicing karate, and allowing time for my family's various extra-curricular activities.  I know I'll love it!

New Trunk Show Designs

Here are some pictures of my latest trunk show designs.  More coming in the near future.

Latest Jewelry Creations

I just finished a 3 hour Open House at Michaels to promote my jewelry making classes.  It went pretty well.  I brought some of my latest creations to show off.  I will also be bringing these items to display at Chinook Fabrics in High River, Alberta on July 16th as well as giving a knitting session (topic to be determined).

Knitted wire and bead bracelets:  top - tiger eye, middle - fluorite, bottom - amethyst

Pharaoh Watch Pendant and Necklace

Here is my latest creation.  My husband gave me this gorgeous Pharaoh watch pendant on a necklace many years before the kids were born.  As years went on, the plating on the chain came off and I reacted to the nickel content in the chain.  For a couple of years now, I kept meaning to make a new necklace for it.  I gradually gathered beads I liked and decided to go 3 tiers on this one.  I’m very pleased with the results.

New Tudor Roses and Teaching at Michaels

It's been really busy lately.  I just started last week as a jewelry instructor for Michaels in Oakville.  I gave my first demonstration on Friday night.  I had planned to make a necklace, but I finished it too quickly, so I improvised a coordinating set of earrings.  I'm very happy with the way it turned out.

I will be teaching classes Tuesday nights from 6:30-8:30 in June and July.  I still have to determine more classes beyond that and perhaps come up with some summer classes for kids.  I have launched a Facebook page now (https://www.facebook.com/Francesca.Gougeon.Designs) for Françesca Gougeon Designs to cover both jewelry making and knitting.  Françesca Gougeon Designs on Ravelry is only for my knitting patterns.

Other exciting news, I got the newest Tudor Roses!  I'm so thrilled!  It's a gorgeous book and I love the bits of history in it.  I thought it fitting to photograph me holding it while wearing the Katherine Howard sweater I knit from the first Tudor Roses.