NEDbeads

Creating a Labyrinth

2012-02-16T04:43:00.008-05:00

Those of you who follow my blog know that I have a hard time with the tutorial side of the beading world... creating them, I mean- it's definitely easy for me to buy them from others! But I have been trying hard lately to move myself in that direction, in order to share what I have learned through my beading play times.

While making the Sugar Plum Purse, I had a heck of a time coming up with a strap for it, and just couldn't settle for any of the straps I had seen or learned, so I started playing around with right angle weave. I wanted to match the rectangular focals, and so the chain needed some rectangular bits in it. It was pretty, but not too strong, so I went through and reinforced every single stitch, until it acted like a chain, folding on the 'links', rather than curving. After posting the purse on The Beadsmith page and here on my blog, I had a few requests to write up the chain as a tutorial.

Pretty as it was, I felt like it was too small of a project for a whole tutorial on its own, so I sat down to see what I could make with the chain that would be a bit more substantial, while still showing the original pattern. I thought that stacking the chains atop one another would look nice, but when I tried it, the symmetry made it look much too rigid for me, so sat and stared at it for an hour or so before wondering what would happen if I staggered the units. I really liked how that looked and decided to go with it. I wanted to show how versatile the pattern was, and so made three of them in different widths and colorways. (I HATE making more than one of anything, so that is one of the really hard parts for me as a designer; by the time I've made three I never want to look at it again. Earrings are worse. Unless they're embroidered.)

Sherwood is the photographer, not I, and so I was so proud to take the tutorial photos on my own and get the whole thing done by myself. HUGE feeling of accomplishment, even though wild dromedaries could not drag out of me just how many photos it took of each step to get a clear one that I was happy with (around 12). I knew I wouldn't get any that I was happy with of the finished work, so Sherwood did take those shots, and he did his usual outstanding work.

If you would like to make one of these Labyrinths, you can find my tutorial for sale here.

I've also been wanting to put a new page on my website, featuring the work that others have done with my tutorials. It's delicious to see what colors others choose, and how style can change a design. There are a few wonderful beaders out there that have taken a tutorial and changed the design around to come out with a whole new project, and I really treasure those, it makes me so happy to have given them a starting point from which they were able to leap off on their own. So if you've made on of my projects, I would love it if you would email me with a clear, crisp photo of your piece, the title if you've given it one, and your full name. If you'd like to include a link to your own shop, or your blog, feel free to drop that in too and I will include it if I have room. My email is nedale67@gmail.com.

Last but not least, I am trying to figure out which tutorial to write up next and would welcome any comments on the photos below; which one would you like to see as a tutorial?? Once I get the votes in and choose the one to do, I'll draw a name from the votes for that project, and then I'll send that person a free tutorial once it's done. :) In descending order, they are: Gypsy bead embroidered earrings, Climbing Rose, and Triple Twist.

Happy Happy Happy Nancy!!!

2012-02-02T08:12:00.006-05:00

Yes, I am dancing around and thrilled down to my shoe soles! I had the incredibly wonderful news yesterday that one of my necklaces has been juried into Lark's newest 500 series book, 500 Jewelry!! If you haven't checked this out already (how could you not, with beaders linking to it every which way on Facebook and blog alike??), make sure to go to Amazon or your nearest book store and earmark this book for your future purchase and enjoyment. I am humbled and honored and amazed to be included in this compendium of wonderfully talented ladies and gentlemen of the beading world. Congratulations to everyone who juried in!!!!!

When I received my notification, my jaw hit the floor and then I had a huge burst of adrenaline, and spun around the kitchen laughing so loud my dogs came running to find out what was up. Later on, once my joy had settled into a nice warm spot in my chest suspiciously close to where a heart should be, I found myself thinking back on all of the people, beaders and not, who have encouraged me to keep beading, especially when I felt like it wasn't worth it, or that my pieces were never going to be 'good enough.'

My gratitude for this help and support then brought to mind how rampant thievery is affecting our beading communities. At nearly the same second I got my notification of acceptance, it was posted online that one of Sue Horine's amazing pieces of art had been stolen right out of her shop. All month long, there have been people finding more and more of their patterns, tutorials or designs being flagrantly copied or sold without their permission, design credits not given... on and on.

Let me explain how the one leads to the other in my (decidedly odd) head: Without the support and generosity of my friends, and my fellow beaders, especially those who were quite well known, I could not have learned enough about beading to make a go of anything I made. Several of these beaders were kind enough to teach me things free of cost, so that I could advance myself through stitches or projects that would show me tension or needle control, or how to get those beads to line up the right way. Some of the teaching included tutorials and/or patterns that they normally had for sale, and would have sold me; they certainly didn't have to give them to me. These same people could most certainly at least hesitate in our current environment of thievery, to share the same things they shared without a qualm years ago, and I wouldn't blame them in the least. Giving something freely, or having it forcibly wrested from you... I worry that with all of the stealing and underhanded dealing going on, that we may, as a community, start to withhold the knowledge we have in our attempts to stem the tide. I have attempted to pay it forward always; to teach anything I know (within reason) freely, to share techniques and stitches and tips and tricks... and I will keep on doing so, and most of the beaders I know will, as well. But there is only so much that the designers as a whole will take, and it frustrates me to know that the thieves will eventually make it very hard for the beginning bead artist to get where they need to go.

If you see Sue's beautiful necklace out there anywhere, whether being worn or offered for sale, please identify the person and report the theft. Here it is:

And I leave you with a photograph (taken by my wonderful husband, of course) of Regency, the necklace soon to be published:

Squeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!

Diamonds are Forever...

2012-01-05T19:38:00.004-05:00

I'm a huge James Bond fan (Sean Connery will never be replaced), but that isn't actually why I used that for a post title... I've made a new bracelet - the first beadwork from NEDbeads for 2012! I'm quite excited about it because I had a horrible week or so after Christmas where the muse Went Missing.

This is my second piece for Beadsmith, using one of their wonderful Elegant Elements clasps. Once my muse returned from her little vacation (why couldn't I go too?) I had a few ideas. Finally. I also used silver plated size 11 Metal seed beads, also generously provided by Beadsmith, which are brandy new to me - and I really love how they sparkle. The 15s are sterling plated, and I used freshwater pearls and Swarovski crystals.

I made little diamond components that consist of four units of RAW, two beads per side, and then filled each unit with a tiny seed pearl. I added a cross over on top of the work with a 3mm crystal, and edged each component. Then I connected them all together with larger pearls and more crystals. I really like the jagged edges on this, I think it looks like white mountains.

Getting everything to STAY in the shape of diamonds and not sag all over the place was a bit of a challenge - but this is why I adore Fireline. If you use enough passes, it will keep anything from moving around, lol!

Currently I am working on making another of these (or a variation) in a different color way, because although this looks quite bridal, I think it would work in other ways as well. And I still want to fiddle with it, so the design can't be quite finished yet.

I would like to really really thank Steven and Charlotte for giving me the opportunity to work with these fantastic clasps, it has been fabulous and I am very honored to have been included in the group. Hope you liked the results!!

From Our Home to Yours

2011-12-24T08:44:00.003-05:00

SEASON'S GREETINGS

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

MERRY CHRISTMAS

and a HAPPY NEW YEAR!

with love from Nancy,

Sherwood,

Teddy, Nikki, and Sydney

May your days be filled with light.

(photo credit unknown)

My Sugarplum Purse

2011-12-19T06:08:00.007-05:00

A while back, my Facebook friend Steven of The Beadsmith, contacted me and asked if I would like to use two of The Beadsmith's new Elegant Elements clasps in my designs. Of COURSE I said yes, these clasps are astoundingly gorgeous - and ever more so in person, with a heft and feel that only a fine clasp can give you. They are 23kt gold and rhodium plated, with Swarovski crystals and pearls, YUM. The designers who were chosen were able to choose the two clasps they would like, and then have free reign over what to create with them.

The Swarovski motif on the antiqued gold clasp inspired the design for the focal bits, and then from there, it seemed that a plainer background would make the focal panels stand out more. I bezeled around the clasp itself, and around a large Swarovski jet nut rectangle on the reverse, using right angle weave with tiny little 2mm round crystals and 15s as embellishments. Then came the sorting of the panel sections and the framing. The panels are entirely beaded in 4-6 backstitch in 15s, and the frames are bronze 11s and 4mm crystals for the reverse focal, and 3mm crystals for the clasp focal.

The background is a combination of size 11s, size 15s and size 8s, all in metallic plum iris and bronze accenting throughout. I've only used two bead colors/finishes for the entire thing, but the direction of the rows of beading and the variation of the bead sizes can make the illusion of color differences. One of my goals in this project was to see how well I could imitate a fabric's feel/look using beads. In person, the background beading reminds you of corduroy, due to the changing bead sizes, while the flat panels of 15s seem more like velvet. In order to get such a different texture, the thread had to be different as well as the bead sizes - the focal panels were beaded with Fireline, which leaves a perfectly smooth, even finish, tight to the backing. The background was beaded using purple One G thread, so the beads have more movement and do not sit as tightly to the backing, despite identical stitches.

So, the corduroy-like bits are softer and more flexible in the end, while the focal panels are quite stiff and unyielding. I felt that this also helped to protect the focals themselves from coming loose or moving around while the purse is manipulated, moved, opened or closed. (Side note; I always always always use Fireline in my embroidering and HATED using the thread instead. But I did like the resulting 'fabric' so it was worth it. If you embroider only with thread yourself, I recommend trying out the Fireline yourself on something to see if you like it. It is extraordinarily useful for making straight or curved lines that will not move around on you while you bead!)

The sides are closed using a variation of right angle weave/netting, but are so densely beaded that nothing short of bobby pins will escape (and those might not). Weaving it closed results in a small gap between the two edges, so that more items will fit inside the purse - if I had beaded side panels, it would be too wide, and if I had sewn it shut with no beading, it would be too thin. The clasp design dictated all of it, especially width and depth, so that it would flow. At the tops of the sides, there are two loops, which are used to attach the strap. The loops fold into the inside of the purse invisibly, so that it may be used as a clutch rather than a shoulder bag if desired.

I struggled a lot over the strap, as I could NOT decide if it should have one, or exist just as a clutch. I finally resolved that having a removable strap would make me the happiest - so then the challenge was to come up with one that matched the overall design, and wouldn't be too noticeable - it needed to flow with the rest of it. The 32" strap is modified right angle weave/ladder stitch, made with Fireline, reinforced over and over, so that despite its delicate look, it's very strong and sturdy. It acts like chain links when moved about because I stitched it so tightly; I had considered edging along the length, to give the strap a more solid appearance, but I liked the drape of the 'chain' so well that I had to leave it alone. At the ends of the chain, it switches to peyote stitch for the last two and a half inches, to provide a stable setting for two sets of snaps per side; these are used to close the strap around the loops on either side, so that it can be used as a shoulder bag.

I really really really loved working with this clasp. I can't wait to start on the next project - but I have to, as I have two Christmas gifts that I have to make this week. :) If you'd like to drool a bit, head over HERE to check out all the gorgeous varieties of Elegant Elements clasps. Also, make sure to stop by The Beadsmith on Facebook and like their page and look through the new photo album that holds the glorious work of international bead artists designing with more of these fantastic clasps.

I'll leave you with some of my newer creations (as I haven't blogged in quite awhile!) and wishes for a wonderful holiday season, and a fruitful and fulfilling new year.

Maze

Triple Twist

Garnet Garden (sold)

Slaying Dragons (design by Cynthia Newcomer Daniel) and Pink Filigree Necklace

A Reminder - Thank you to Patty L for reminding ME

2011-11-22T13:01:00.003-05:00

Be Thankful For...
by Author Unknown

Be thankful that you don't already have everything you desire,
If you did, what would there be to look forward to?

Be thankful when you don't know something
For it gives you the opportunity to learn.

Be thankful for the difficult times.
During those times you grow.

Be thankful for your limitations
Because they give you opportunities for improvement.

Be thankful for each new challenge
Because it will build your strength and character.

Be thankful for your mistakes
They will teach you valuable lessons.

Be thankful when you're tired and weary
Because it means you've made a difference.

It is easy to be thankful for the good things.
A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are
also thankful for the setbacks.

GRATITUDE can turn a negative into a positive.
Find a way to be thankful for your troubles
and they can become your blessings.

* * *

(Original Post at LoveMyArtJewelry Blog.)

Silver

Mishka

Sunny

My best friends. I miss them. I'm hugely grateful that I had them for awhile, they taught me love and patience and all the good things.

ColorPlay Ropes - Cubic Right Angle Weave

2011-10-24T17:21:00.009-04:00

I've had a few people ask me about my ColorPlay necklaces, and I thought I would just write up a quick how-to for those who might be interested in trying it.

First off, if you aren't familiar with cubic right angle weave, or haven't tried it before, I HIGHLY recommend watching the free tutorial by fellow Bead Maven Heather Collin. Click HERE for the link, you won't regret it at all, I think this is the best tutorial I've seen on this stitch. Practice a bit to get comfortable with the stitch, so you're familiar with how the beads sit. The 'top' and 'bottom' of your cube consist of horizontal beads (holes side to side), and all of the 'side' beads are vertical beads (holes up and down).

One of the reasons I call these ColorPlay is because I just sit down and play with a bunch of bead soup. Mix up a pile of your favorite colored beads in all shapes and sizes. You will need to have, at minimum, size 11s (doesn't matter if they're cylinders or rounds), size 15s, size 8s, and some accent beads. I have included in mine; large (16mm+) gemstone beads, freshwater pearls, crystals, cube beads, triangle beads (from size 11 all the way up to 6s), bugle beads, hex beads, just about anything in my stash. (It's harder to work with crystals because of the sharp edges, but you can include them as well, just reinforce your stitch.)

Once you have the colors and beads you're happy with, begin a cubic right angle weave rope; start with a few cubes of 11s. I use 11s for almost all of my horizontal beads, as I feel they make a nice sturdy base for the accent beads. Once I have a few units of 11s down, I start mixing up the vertical beads.

Units: For my ropes, I use 2 size 15 beads as one for my vertical beads; so I will pick up two 15s, an 11 and two more 15s to start my unit. Then I add two 15s and an 11, two 15s and an 11, and finally one 11 in the last stitch. You will end up with a unit that has size 11 beads across the 'top' and 'bottom' and two size 11 beads as each 'side' bead. Do several units this way, and then switch to another kind of bead for the vertical beads. Use 1 size 8, one 11, one size 8 and make a unit that way, or a bugle bead, an 11, and a bugle bead. I use ANY of the beads for the vertical beads and just play with it. (You may want to reinforce your stitches with the bugle beads, and I wouldn't use really long ones as they tend to twist inside the units and are more likely to break your thread; stick with the shorter, little ones, they match the 15s units better.)

You can also start a unit on your base of 11s, and gradually increase the size of your beads to make your rope wider; use an 8, a 6 (or a 4mm bead), and an 8 and complete your unit using those beads. Make the next unit with all 6s. To taper it back down, make one unit with a 6, an 8 and a 6 as your beads, the next unit with an 8, an 11 and an 8, and finally back to just 11s.

Here and there, I add single larger beads as accents. To do this, I will pick up my large bead, and one 11. Go back through the larger bead, skipping the 11 and leaving that on top of your large bead. Bring your needle back through opposite side of the base bead as though you have made a stitch, and through into the next base bead. Go back up through the large bead and add a size 11, and back down through the large bead. Bring your needle through the base bead you exited from, and through the next base bead. Repeat this two more times, so that you have four 11s on the top of your large bead. Finally, come back through the large bead and exit one of the 11s (it doesn't matter which one). Go through each of your 11s to turn them into a circle - and now you have the base to begin a new unit of cubic RAW and continue your rope.

To make your ends look neater by the larger beads, you can add some 15s or 11s around the connection points, if you'd like. Coming out of one of the 11s that you used to connect the larger stone, string one 15, and pass through the next 11 - repeat around the circle and then go up through the large bead and do the same to the beads you used to connect there. In the photo of my Sand and Sea bracelet below, I actually connected the lamp work bead with 8s; I added 3mm crystals in between each of the 8s at the connection points.

Some freshwater pearls will not have holes large enough to make this number of passes. To connect them firmly, I exit a base bead, string the pearl and two 11s, and come back down through the pearl, and then through the base bead again. Go through two more base beads, until you are at the bead opposite the one you strung the pearl from, then go back up through the pearl and add two more 11s. Back down through the pearl and the base bead you started from. Go through the pearl and circle the 11s. Line up the 11s on the top of the pearl with the ones on the rope; pick one of the beads you DIDN'T use to string the pearl, and string enough 15s on your thread to reach the size 11 bead that corresponds to your top 11; go through the bottom 11, back up through the 15s, and weave through the top 11 you started from. Weave through to the opposite bead on top of the pearl, and repeat this by adding another strand of 15s down this side of the pearl. This way, each of the 11s is connected top and bottom, and your pearl won't wobble on your rope.

To add strands of beads, like I did with my olive and gold necklace, string the number of beads you would like, and end it with an 11; skip the 11, and go back down through the strand of beads, and through the 11 you started from from the opposite side, as if you had completed one stitch. (Don't pull these stitches super tight, or it will kink up on you as an end result; just snug it up.) Go through the next base bead and repeat; do this a total of four times, so that you have four strands of beads, each ending in an 11. Go back up through the last strand you've made, so that you are exiting the end 11. Gather your strands in your non dominant hand, and needle through the 11s on the ends of the strands to turn the 11s into a circle; that is now your base to begin the next cubic RAW unit and continue your rope.

All of my ropes have been 24" or longer, so I haven't added any clasps to them. To connect your ends together, use one end of your rope as the 'bottom' of your unit, and the other end as the 'top' of your unit. All you do with this is add the side beads; add a bead, go through the corresponding bead on the bottom, and add a bead before going through the top again. You will only need to add one bead for the second stitch, and one for the third. You don't have to add any at all in the fourth stitch, just circle stitch through the four beads that are already there and knot and end your thread.

That's it! Just play with it and have fun, no rules. :)

(I hope this was clear, or at least vaguely clear... if you have questions, feel free to leave them in the comments and I will do my best to answer them.)

Things I Have Discovered (or Rediscovered) This Month

2011-09-28T17:46:00.005-04:00

There's actually quite a list. In no particular order at all...

There is colored Fireline out there. Yes, that's what I said; COLORED FIRELINE!!!!!!! You can find it here: SparkleSpot. I want one of every single one, preferably in lifetime supply.
I can, in a pinch, use One G thread. Yes, I can. It is better than Nymo, at least for me. But I don't have to like it.
It's ok to have time when I can't design, and it's ok to really enjoy beading a project designed by someone else. Especially when that someone else has immense talent. (Thank you, Helena Tang, Rachel Nelson Smith, Cynthia Newcomer Daniel, Heather Collin and Sabine Lippert.)
I will never, ever, ever stop learning things, and it's a fabulous and magical part of being who I am.
I empathize so much with people I care about that I can make myself physically ill with it.
I don't like getting older and slower.
I am a lurker. I read a TON of blogs, but don't always comment. Mostly don't comment, actually... I'm NOT a stalker, I swear! :)
I can be a lot like Kreacher; won't won't won't WON'T!
I'm rather fond of toast.
Fall is my favorite time of year, even if my skin doesn't agree with me. (My skin hates fall, and gets dry to the point of cracking open... and just gets worse with winter.)
There are a lot of things about myself that I don't want to face.
I think my favorite stitch is RAW, closely followed (so closely it's tripping over the other)by bead embroidery.
I can make it through an entire visit to the dentist. I could NOT have done that even two months ago - thanks to my friends for some awesome support.
Things matter too much to me. (Not just physical things... but things. You know.)
Purple and bronze/silver/copper make a color rut for me... but I'd love to stay there forever. With occasional forays into green/blue and green/purple/blue. And garnet. And topaz, too - or maybe mocha hues... Maybe I'm not in a rut after all, lol.
I like my feet and I like my hair and I intensely dislike everything in between.
I need to find a way for it to be ok when I am stuck; because then, I most likely won't be stuck anymore.
I have wonderful, amazing, compassionate and generous friends. Most of you are online and I haven't met you - and it doesn't matter a bit.
I love everyone's work - from the beginner's 'failure' to the most advanced design, every single one was a labor of love and comes from something sacred in each person. Even the pieces that I find to be visually unappealing, appeal to me on another level. The only exception to the rule is a piece that is cruel or mean with intent. And that's damn hard to find in the beading world (but not impossible, unfortunately). I get frustrated with myself and others when I/they compare their work to another's - we're all supremely different!
Maybe there is hope for me....

Flooding

2011-09-03T19:58:00.003-04:00

Vermont got hit pretty well with Irene. Not as badly as some states, obviously, but bad enough. I feel terrible for those in other states and towns who had it even worse than we did here, those who completely lost their homes, businesses and loved ones. Here, we lost roads and bridges and some buildings... but we didn't have very many fatalities, and for that I am so thankful. Sherwood and I are among the very, very lucky people whose homes were not affected in the least. We were stuck here for a day, as the road washed out completely to our south, and a bridge and the secondary road were both destroyed to our north. But we were able to maneuver the very next day, when some roads were repaired enough to travel on, and others were found to make a maze around the ones that were closed. We live above a dam, and our home was built very high above the meadow which becomes a lake when they back the dam up. No chance of floods. But our 'main' town to the south got hit very badly.

Today we had to go and remove everything that could be saved from my father's apartment, which was flooded. Not only did it flood and get covered in mud, but 70% of the mud and flood were contaminated by sewage. Every single thing that had been on the floor, or touched by mud or water would have to be thrown out. Dad would lose almost all of his furniture (we were able to save the dining room table and chairs) and a lot of his possessions. Sherwood and I were expecting that we would be doing most everything, because although the woman who called from the complex said that there would be some volunteers, we figured they would be stretched pretty thin. The complex and the state and fed were providing the pods, the boxes, the tape, the paper to wrap things in, the dumpsters, etc. So, we donned some old clothes and drove down, wondering how we were going to get it all done in the allotted time, as there are only so many things I can clean quickly enough (everything has to be out by Monday at 5PM) and only so much you can pack in a day.

What an incredible experience it was. When we got there, a volunteer had already brought my Dad to his apartment, and there were no less than fifteen people helping him to pack things up. Such a whirlwind! Someone taping up the bottoms of boxes and setting them out, someone else taping up full ones, someone else bringing the boxes outside, several someones packing things, everyone pitching in to throw away what needed to go, someone tagging all the boxes with Dad's name and apartment number, and people carrying things everywhere. There were FEMA trucks, Red Cross trucks, ServePro trucks, storage pods, dumpsters... and everywhere, mud mud mud. Some of the volunteers took the time to introduce themselves by their first names, or were wearing name tags, but others were just helping and too busy. A few of the people told me that they had come from neighboring states, and I swear to you that the entire synagogue up the road from the complex had come out to help; every. single. person.

What had taken us two or three days to move in, everyone had moved out in THREE AND A HALF HOURS.

Sometimes, I get cynical. I get to thinking, in my depression, that there isn't a lot of good left in people, sometimes not in the whole world. Today was one of the days (and I've had a few in my life) when I am proved so wrong, and am so happy to be taught again that there IS GOOD out there. In a scene of devastation, there were people who were carefully wrapping figurines and curios for people they never met before, people who were carrying boxes and boxes of someone else's prized possessions, and they were doing it with respect and love. There were people who spent their own money - not state or federal money - to buy drinks and food and hand them out to others who were working and tired and thirsty. There were people circulating just to see if each tenant was ok, or if they needed anything at all, more help, more boxes, a place to sit, some shade, someone to talk to. There were people making sure that the medications were set aside to go with the elderly or ill, to make sure that toiletries and food were packed to go with them rather than into the pods. Everyone was addressing my Dad by his first name, and being respectful and caring, and asking me gently when it was during Vietnam that he had served. Someone went and got my father water, a soda and a piece of pizza before he even had time to think of being hungry. One of the local volunteers from Dad's town offered to bring all of his laundry to her home and wash it for him and bring it to him when it was done. She also offered to take care of his houseplants, and place them outside the Jewish community center, where they would be fed and watered until he finds a new place. She's going to give him a bed that she has, a chest of drawers that was her brother's, and has a desk she would like him to have as well, because hers looks just like his did. She got my contact information; I don't think I ever knew her name. I was stopped as we were leaving and offered an ice cold soda from a woman I've never met before, who was helping one of my Dad's neighbors clear out her apartment. I was hugged. I was blessed by more than one person.

My Dad is staying in a motel, at least until the 9th, but he now has some of his personal things with him, and knows that his other things are safe and secure and waiting for him.

In truth, my father, Sherwood and I were blessed by every single person there. I came home tonight tired, muddy, dirty and famished... but my soul is singing. I don't think that there will be many people who read this blog who would have been there today, but if you were one, or if you have ever selflessly given of yourself to someone who needed your help but didn't know you, THANK YOU SO VERY VERY MUCH.

Nikki's Giveaway Winner!

2011-07-29T21:04:00.004-04:00

Teddy just couldn't decide. So Nikki decided to step in, and she picked the winner this time, which is fitting, since the sale was all for her!

Congratulations to Sally Anderson, who made a purchase from my shop. Sally, let me know your favorite color combination, and I will make you a customized ColorPlay necklace!!

Thank you to EVERY SINGLE one of you who helped us! Nikki is happy as heck and playing like mad, and she has a clean bill of health from the vet, who says she is healing perfectly.

I'll post a picture of Sally's necklace once it's done. Have a great weekend, all!

Update on Nikki's Sale

2011-07-26T08:30:00.004-04:00

Nikki and Frog

WOW!! I am so overwhelmed by all of the support and generosity that you have all shown to Nikki and I. When I had the idea for the sale, I was hoping that we would be able to raise enough money to pay half of Nikki's vet bill ($325 of the $750+), and that was my goal. The sale has been going since Saturday afternoon, only two and a half days now, and you have all helped me so much that I've actually exceeded that goal!!!

I cannot tell you what it means to me that you've all reached out to me, and how wonderful it feels to know that I will be able to make a really good payment to the vet for Nikki's care. This has been acutely stressful, being so scared for her, and trying to find a way to make sure she was able to have the care she needed and still be able to meet the payments. As tight as things are financially, for everyone, it is even more touching to me that you would reach out for us the way you have.

Nikki is doing really well! She's been playing with her favorite frog toy, barking cheerfully, and gone back to being able to chew her food and her dental chewy sticks. She has another vet appointment later on this week, to check out her extraction sites and make sure she's healing well, but from all indications, she's well on her way to being her old self.

I'm going to leave the sale going until Thursday evening, so if you would like something for 50% off, you'll still have an opportunity to snag something. Just convo me on Etsy or write me a note in Facebook, and I will change the price of the piece for you.

Teddy choosing the name for my last giveaway

In my first post, I said that if we met the goal, I would have a Thank You Giveaway for those who purchased a piece in my store or who shared my link - and so I will!! Friday night I will get Teddy to draw a name for us from the long list of people who have supported me so much, and that person will get a custom ColorPlay necklace in their choice of colors. I will make it 16" - 22" long; you get to choose the length. (If you haven't seen any of my ColorPlay series, there is an Olive/Gold version in the shop, and several different ones in my FB photo albums, check 'em out and think of what colors you would like if you win!)

THANK YOU so very much, both to those who purchased something, and to those who shared my blog link and showed their concern in many ways. Love you guys, ya know?

50 % OFF Sale for Nikita

2011-07-23T14:04:00.004-04:00

My little pomeranian Nikita Bean was pretty ill last week. She had several problems with her teeth that needed emergency treatment, and as a result, Sherwood and I are facing a veterinarian bill of over $750.00. So, I'm having a sale at NEDbeads on Etsy, and anywhere else you happen to see my work (other than the Sharon Arts Center in NH), to try to meet some of the bill. Everything in the shop and in my photo albums is on sale for 50% off. Because I am offering the sale to friends and blog followers only, I'm not going to go and re-price everything in the shop; I'm going to ask that you contact me through Etsy if you would like to purchase an item, and then I will change the price for you before you purchase it. If you are interested in something that isn't in the shop, but that you've seen on my FB page in one of my albums, let me know and I will give you a price on that, as well. Right after I finish posting this, I'll be going to the albums and marking which things have sold, so that you can tell if it's available. Please spread the word for me if you have time, either on Facebook or on your own blog, it will help out an awful lot.

If I can make my goal of meeting half of the bill this way ($325) then I will also be having a draw-from-the-Teddy giveaway for those who made purchases, and for those who spread the word for me (make sure you leave me a comment here if you shared my blog link), so not only will you get your piece half off, you might get a freebie, too!

So if you've been looking to get something lovely for a huge deal, now's the time! Nikki and I say THANK YOU!! :)

New Work

2011-07-14T11:10:00.005-04:00

Galaxy

I've been absent for quite awhile this time, no blogging for over a month. Time to get on here and say something!

It's amazing to me what happens when you start something with zero expectations. I began this whole necklace as a play time... no thought of where it might go, just sitting and playing with beads. I started with Linda Roberts' gorgeous dichroic cab, and decided I would double bezel it, and see how it went and what I could add to the peyote. It ended up very dimensional, and I loved it. (To double bezel, I peyote around my cab as I normally would, and then start another line of peyote directly next to the cab, and bezel around the bezel, where I can then decide if I'd like to bring it in and snug it up to the first one, or bring it out with a flair, which is what I decided to do here.) I'm really enjoying doing the double bezels, as there are so many effects you can come up with when you have that extra dimensional piece.

The whole process started to be about layers. Almost every cab has parts beaded into it that stand out and up from the work, very spiky and organic. The fringe (which I don't really think of as fringe, it's more like tiny spikes) is made up of size 6 beads, bali silver discs, and copper beads. There is a ton of metal in this piece, even though it doesn't show up in your face; most of the sterling and copper are hidden here and there throughout. I've layered pearls and metals over backstitched beading, and put something on top of something else to see what happened.

After finishing Linda's cab, I just started adding things where ever they seemed to fit. It just grew and grew. The silver 'cab' that is the main focal was a pendant, and I clipped the ring off of the top and bezeled around it after mounting it on ultra suede. There are amethyst cabs, beads and carved leaves and onyx beads and cabs as well. I used some Swarovski chatons in the front as well, and spiked them out. Every bezel and bit of beadwork is different than every other one on the piece, mainly because I was playing, and then because I really liked how it looked.

I'm still not sure if I'm happy with the back, where the netting finishes the ends and leads to the clasp. (That copper toggle was fabricated by Hodgepodgerie on Etsy, in case any of you are looking for some lovely handmade clasps. She's wonderful to work with and very quick with your order.) I like the netting, I'm just not so sure it fit with everything else, despite the spiky fringe on it. After a whole day's worth of fiddling, I did decide to let it lay and leave it be.

On a more personal note, I didn't intend to name this 'galaxy' at all. During the work process, I had a very bad bout with my depression, and I fully intended to name it after how I was feeling at the time; Inner Darkness. I felt like I was trying to portray how I felt despite the play with the beads, but it just sounded so damn pretentious. And then, when I posted a teaser photo on FB, one of my friends commented that it was like looking into the universe. That made me grab onto Galaxy, and I felt much better sending it out without the depression attached to it.

I haven't put it up for sale as of now, as I am having a very hard time with pricing it. It's hard, I think, to price things that were cathartic to you, and that feel personal on such a level. On the other hand, it's very unlikely that I would wear it myself, so.... I also have two more new pieces that will be photographed very soon, and I'm looking forward to sharing. One of them is my latest ColorPlay necklace - this time in Golden Olive. Yum!!

In other news, the Mavens have come back from our vacation/hiatus, but we are sad that Christina of Good Quill Hunting has decided to concentrate on her solo business and has left the group. I do the website and so on, and I am going to be taking down her incredible gallery of work, which is personally sad to me. I hope you will all continue to follow her on her journey; make sure to keep checking her website, her Facebook page, and her blog! We wish her the very best of luck.

We're working away on something fun for all of our followers, and I've just finished my own Meld... heh, heh - we're not telling yet what a Meld might be, but I think you'll like them!! I think it will be fun for EVERYbody, but I also think it will be extremely helpful to beginning designers out in the beading world. Stay tuned for more. (I hope to be able to post a picture of my Meld soon.)

We have also been toying with a new idea for the blog, and I am hoping we can start this next Tuesday, so make sure to check that out, too.

Do Over Challenge

2011-05-25T09:33:00.006-04:00

Hi All!

Jeannie Dukic started a blog hop in April, where she sent us one piece of jewelry she had made a long time ago, and asked us to change it up into something new. I loved the idea, and so I asked for her to send me one of her pieces. It was great fun to take her necklace set and put my mark on it - thanks so much for the challenge, Jeannie!

This is what she sent me:

And this is what I did with it:

I used most of the beads, but the wire work didn't work for me, or the chain, so I decided to do a cubic right angle weave rope to hold everything together. I also added beads to the metal filigree beads to incorporate them a little more seamlessly - they were really sticking out without the beading added to them. I hope Jeannie likes what I came up with - my MIL sure does, she was thrilled with this set on Mother's Day!! I feel badly that my picture isn't a better one, but I had to take it myself, Sherwood wasn't available, lol.

Make sure you check out the other links below, to see what other beaders have done!!

Sally of Wire Worked
Dagmar of Kokopelli Design
Donna
Lisa of Lucid Moon Studio
Christine of One Kiss Creations
Erin of Treasures Found
Leslie of Mad Maggie Designs
Shannon of For My Sweet Daughter
Niky of Silver Nik Nats
Diane Hawkey
Barbe Saint John
Elisabeth of Beads for Busy Gals
Lori of Pretty Things
Linda of Linda’s Bead Blog and Meanderings
Jamie
Pam of Ferrari Originals
Patty of My Life Under the Bus
Nancy of Ned Beads
Kim of Kimmy Kats
Marci of Moose Petals
Jeannie http://site.jkdjewelry.com/blog/

Thoughts On Many Things

2011-05-20T11:22:00.010-04:00

I am feeling so blessed today, and so grateful.

Things have been going better than I have any right to hope for. For me, this is an amazing feeling - and anyone who reads this who also suffers from depression will know just what I mean. This morning I went out and snipped a bloom off of my lilac bush, and deposited it in a little tiny candle holder by my beading space so that I can smell it and see it while I blog and bead.

Lilacs were my Mother's favorite flower and they always make me think of her... today that doesn't make me grieve or feel sad. It's more like a tiny hug from Mom. I've been reading a lot lately, and that is also a legacy from her; she was an English teacher (sorry about any grammar mistakes - they're definitely NOT inherited) and introduced me to a life long love of reading.

I am at work on a new necklace, and am hoping that one of the ideas I have come up with is a new one... I haven't seen it before (I think?), so I am crossing my fingers. Even if it has, I really like how it looks. (I'm a tease - no pictures yet, lol.)

I've been a busy little bee, I've made three sets of earrings - unheard of for me, as I rarely make earrings - and made a tutorial for one set, finished a looooong awaited UFO, have made a few sales, and have been raking my yard like crazy. Autumn in NE leaves some BIG piles of leaves behind, and if you don't get them in the fall, you'll be working like mad in the spring. Guess who didn't rake this fall?? And it's been very hard to grab the seconds of sunshine in order to rake them, as well - today is the eighth day in a row with rain. But when I have had the chance to be out there, it's been wonderful, and just cool enough so that the work doesn't seem so much like work. And Spring is doing it's job, despite the rain; my friends on FB seem to all be perking up, sounding more like themselves, and excited over their work and play. My dogs are also waking up from the sleepy winter, and have been playing and chasing each other, and having a lovely time (LOL) in their baths. I am not so much looking forward to spring cleaning, but I know it's coming on.

Untitled Earrings

Draconia (UFO finished!!!!)

My husband has picked up his former career (on the side of his regular job) and is photographing again, and I am sooooo happy for him. He loves photography more than most anything (but genealogy), and his excitement and happiness to be doing what he loves again is another thing to be thankful for. He's had a very rough couple of years with incredibly intense and debilitating headaches, and this year they have eased a little, allowing him to enjoy things again.

The Bead Mavens have been on hiatus - but still busy, and still blogging every week with a free tutorial. The rest seems to have done us all good, and given us more energy and creativity than we had before, and the ideas are brewing for what we'll be doing next. Almost everyone has come up with new tutorials and patterns for their shops (even me!!!!), and I thought I would share a few of my favorites, in case you all have missed one or two. Linda has been creating the most awe inspiring art, and I have to share a little of that, too. Onward, to links and pictures!!

Mikki has come up with beautiful beaded snap closures for beadwork, and made a tutorial of them. I think these are the coolest and cleverest snaps. If you'd like to make them, you can find them here.

Christina's new bracelet pattern is one I really love, too, it's called Bridging the Gaps, and it's new on her website.

Cynthia's Fairy Ladder Bangle was created for the Vernal Visions challenge, and she has a tutorial for it on her Artfire shop. What a wonderful thing to share the making of such a beauty.

Heather's Mad Rings 3 in 1 Tutorial is selling like mad - and I know why, they're magnificent.

Callie has a new tutorial as well, for a delicate and lacy bracelet called Lotus Flower.

Linda's new work just blows my mind as always. I'll let it speak for itself.

And my new tutorial is for my Lila Earrings, and if you'd like to make a pair, you can find the pattern here.

Things that have new homes:

Sophisticate Necklace

ColorPlay Version #2

I hope that everyone has some time today where they can feel some of the beauty in the world around them. Thanks for stopping by, and reading my ramblings!

April's Bead Journal Project Piece- Late!

2011-05-02T20:10:00.003-04:00

OOooo!! I hate being late!! However, it is better than never in many cases. I finished my quilt square on May first, but we didn't get to photos until today. Here 'tis. I've been having some fun lately including filigree bits in with my embroidery. I really hadn't done it much at all before, as I tend to like precious metals much much more than base metal... but I am becoming quite fond of brass and copper, both. So I bet you'll be seeing some more! If you haven't yet, you should come and check out all the other gorgeous beadwork being done in the Bead Journal Project.

I am also taking part in a new blog hop, the Do Over Challenge hosted by Jeannie Dukic. She's sending us a piece of jewelry that she made in the past, and challenging us to make something new and 'better' with it. I thought this sounded like a ton of fun, and joined up right away. Sign ups are now closed, but there will be a blog hop on May 25th to reveal what everyone has done with their pieces. Stop by Jeannie's blog, it's a cooooool place to hang out and right now she has a fabulous post up on color!

Have a great night, all!

Horn of Ammon and Artbeads' What's Old is New Again

2011-04-28T08:24:00.005-04:00

Good morning! I am so thrilled to let everyone know that I have been accepted into the Artbeads Design Team! I have admired the beadwork of all of the artists involved with this, and have been inspired by many of them, so I was mega excited when I was told I would be able to participate. The beady challenge this time was to create something to the theme "What's Old is New Again."

I really loved what Mikki Ferrugiaro made - her ha'penny farthing necklace was just so perfect! I set out on a search around the house to find something old of my own that I could bead up... and couldn't locate one object that seemed right or that inspired me. I sat down and just pondered on 'old.' Happily, rocks and fossils crossed my mind quickly and I found some perfect examples in my stash. Since I adore embroidering around cabochons, this solution pleased me no end.

I chose an ammonite fossil and a honking big Boulder Opal that I have been hoarding forever, and a Swarovski crystal that just needed to go with them. The ammonite is actually a cephalopod from wayyyyyyyy back, which went extinct somewhere around the same time as the dinosaurs, so I felt that it was, indeed, old. Pliny the Elder had named ammonites ammonis cornua (in 79 AD, my G!!), Horns of Ammon, due to their resemblance to rams' horns - and the fact that the Egyptian God Amon was usually depicted wearing such headgear, and I loved the name, so now I had my title, too. Then came the fun part - I got to go to Artbeads and find some beads! Their button was perfect for my clasp, and the Swarovski crystal air blue opal pendants were out of this world, and the brass drops had to be included, too. I modified the brass components by taking the larger part of the drop off, and sanding down the edges of the small bits left over to use alone. After all of the embroidery and embellishment, I decided to go with simple for the strap, and used a version of my Trellis rope.

The absolute best part of creating this was watching all the varying bits come together and become something cohesive, because at the beginning it felt like I was just grabbing odd bits and beads and hoping they would work together somehow.

I've also managed to finish two other projects recently, one of which was a UFO that has been sitting for almost a year; Sunrise. This one has a sunstone focal, and the pendant is reversible as the bezel is open on both sides. The rope is a version of my ColorPlay ropes in cubic right angle weave.

ColorPlay Versions I and II. (Version II has already found a new home with the wonderful and talented Juls of Julsbeads!)

And, Sands of Time was made during March. I can't tell you how much I lovelovelove this cabochon!! (And thanks to Robynne for the help with naming it!)

I've also listed quite a few new things in my Etsy shop, NEDbeads, stop by if you have a minute!

Artbeads has provided me with materials free of charge for review, and have not compensated me in any way for my opinions or product endorsements.

March Bead Journal Project

2011-03-20T12:54:00.003-04:00

So. I think this one is pretty self evident. I woke up 3-11-11, saw the posts on FB, and ran to the TV. I started crying as soon as I saw the footage and went to wake my husband, feeling almost the same as I did on 9/11. It didn't matter that it wasn't in America, and that it wasn't terrorists to me, the loss of so much life, human, floral and fauna, devastated me.

Over the next few days, I read many, many blog posts and status updates that shared my sorrow and my feeling that the Japanese people were doing amazing, heroic things to cope with their incredible losses. One of these blogs, by my friend Nefer Kane, led me to fold an origami crane, a tiny little thing to do... but I encourage you to visit her website and read this post, and fold a crane yourself if you are so inclined.

Having folded my crane, I still felt that I needed to create something. I think many of us feel that we must create when we feel strongly, I don't think I'm alone in that at all. My husband and I discussed what would work for me... and we eventually came to the Bead Journal Project. I feel that this square is perhaps not as technically pleasing or precise as it should be; but I was distressed while I made it, and there was a sense of urgency while I was making it, that it HAD to be done quickly... so I just went with it. The feather above the flag represents a great many things, not only in different cultures, but person to person as well. In my case, I meant for it to represent hope, lifting of both spirits and difficulties, courage, and perseverance. Nobility was also something I thought of over and over; not in the sense of society classes and castes, but nobility of human spirit in times of disaster.

Unearthed

2011-03-10T10:24:00.007-05:00

Good morning, all! I feel rather pretentious as I sit down to write this: I don't normally think of a theme or have a specific intent while beading away, the beads just put themselves where they want to be. And while that did apply a little with my new cuff, not as much as usual... so it happened like this;

Whilst browsing online (I should NEVER be allowed to do this while I have money in the bank, NEVER), I came across Beverly Ash Gilberts' site with her glorious bead soups. I could not possibly leave the site without buying something. The soups are just mesmerizing, and I had to pick more than one, too, of course. But this one in particular struck me, called Cafe Au Lait. HAD to have it. Yet, it didn't remind me at all of the name she chose for it. I sat down with it spread out on my bead mat when it came and stared at it for awhile, because the colors were just amazing to me.

What to do with it? I know her mixes are just perfect for freeform work, but I wasn't in the mood.... the more I stared the more I wanted to embroider with it, but I couldn't think of how it would look laid out. I went to The Stash and combed through my cabochons, looking for one that perfectly matched the teal in the accent beads and actually FOUND one (I was so excited, I had been sure I would need to shop more - such a hideous trial that would have been, too, lol). I took my lovely cab (I don't know what the mystery stone is, I am only positive it isn't turquoise) and plopped it down in the middle of the soup and then used my hands to scoop the beads around it until it looked like it was half buried. And that was it; all of the luscious shades of brown looked like fertile dark earth in layers of strata to me, and the accents of moonstone and teal were like jewels found on an archeology expedition. My whole focus on the cuff became the intention of 'burying' these beautiful beads in such a way that people would be able to see these as unearthed treasures half buried in the ground of some ancient site. And so it became Unearthed, before I was even fully begun.

About a day later, as I was happily excavating, I saw Andrew Thornton's blog post for his word of the week: this week's word is Ancient. So I am going to post this to Andrew's comments for that post, I can't resist. It feels like everything worked in conjunction for this cuff to happen, and that I wasn't alone while making it, it's kind of incredible. I know it may not be the most gorgeous or sparkly of my cuffs, but I think it's my favorite, because of how it came together.

Being a sneaky, teasing sort of person, I posted my cuff to Facebook last night without announcing the name, because I really wanted to see if I had succeeded, if anyone else would see what I had seen while making it. I really love all the different interpretations I got in response, some of them were just wonderful, and gave me the opportunity to look at it from different perspectives. Some of my favorites were:

‎"...late autumn... when there is but a hint of color left in the leaves..." - Robynne

"It is similar to Hopi Indian beadwork that is very spiritual. In Navajo rugs with similar patterns, there is a beginning and a physical outlet within the design for the spirits within the pattern." - David McKinney

"Sort of reminds me of treasures in wet sand. That matte brown along the edge and in the cabs is great." - Kim Spooner

"Tamed Wilderness.. I think.. Its raw, and beautiful and you tamed it..." - Diana Curtis

"My gut response to it was something like 'Dream Path'. I think it looks like the paths that some people walk in China for natural reflexology." - Jeri Kennedy

"...beach with pebbles and blue sea." - Jan Fly

And I was amazed at how many people included the earth in all of it's variations in their interpretations, I am thrilled!! It is really touching to me that I was able to conjure part of what I had intended. I know, I know it's just a cuff - but it was more than a cuff while I was making it. Thanks to all of my friends for responding with your reactions to it!! And now, off to start the next Super Secret Project, lol!!

Have a great day!

We have a winner!!!!!

2011-02-28T10:23:00.003-05:00

For those of you who follow my blog regularly and were here for the last giveaway, you know that Teds is my random winner-picker-outer... for those of you just joining in, this is my Pomeranian, Theodore H. Bear, and he loves to be part of the action (any and all action, mind you). So, Teddy snuffled up our winner this morning (and tried to breakfast on it, as well):

I'm happy to announce that Teds picked Melinda LeBarge from the slips on the floor! Melinda, thanks so much for supporting handmade and for entering my little giveaway!! Melinda's favorites were my Thistle Meadow bracelet bangles, but I'll have to run and chat with her to make sure that's what she'd like to choose for her prize.

Thank you to every one of you who purchased from my favorites, for supporting your choice of artists, and your support that you give me, as well! Please do come and try again with my next giveaway, which will be sometime next month or the month after!! Have a fantastic week!

February BJP, Maven Made and my Giveaway

2011-02-20T11:51:00.006-05:00

Good morning to you! Glad you could stop by!

I wanted to post my February Bead Journal Project Piece and catch up a bit... I wasn't too original this month with the BJP; I did a heart, of COURSE, everyone (almost) does hearts for Feb...but I couldn't resist. I think I've come to the conclusion that the final product (a purse) will be made up of these 'quilt' squares. I began with the idea of doing something different each month, design wise, but I've had a lot of fun trying out these quilt patterns, so I think I'll continue.

I've also completed a few new pieces. One is a set for a very dear friend and return customer, and I am happy as heck to let you know that she really liked it:

The other is a spiral necklace I named Cobalt Tear, which includes a lampwork bead that I've been hoarding - I fell in love with it and hadn't been able to think of how I wanted to show case it for a long while. But I like how it turned out, especially the 'bead cap' bit that was the result of one of those little mistakes that turn into happy endings.

I hope I'll get some more entries for my Giveaway, as well!! Please do check out my last post and see the details, I'm keeping it open for entries until the 28th!!

The Bead Mavens (a group of lovely beaders I belong to, for those of you who didn't know already) are holding a spring challenge with a TON of awesome sponsors donating prizes, so if you haven't been to look at it yet, stop by the website for the entry rules. I have yet to start my Vernal Visions piece, but I have some yummy ideas that include some flowers...!

Each of my teammates have been busy, and I thought I would share a bit of their hard work with you here...eye candy!!! Enjoy! (And if you're interested in purchasing any of their work, or any of their patterns, stop by the website as well, for links to each of their shops.)

One of Mikki's newest flatwork designs - I love this one SO much!!

One of Cynthia's newest bracelets - my favorite colors!

A WONDERFUL new idea in rings by Christina - these ROCK!!

And a brooch made by Linda - another one of my favorites! Her brooch was made earlier during the winter; Linda is working on a Secret Project and I can't share yet, but make sure to keep your eyes peeled, it's going to be STUNNING!!!

Have a fabulous day and an even better week!!

Wanna Play Favorites?

2011-02-04T14:04:00.002-05:00

Hi all. I'm depressed. So, to cheer myself up, I want to have a giveaway. I love giving things away, I'm odd like that.

Here's what I'm giving away: something from one of my shops, whether it be my Etsy shop or my Artfire shop, worth LESS than $150. The winner gets to choose their own prize from the stock in my shops.

You'll have until February 28th to get in entries.

The rules:

Leave me a comment here on my blog telling me which of the items in my shop(s) UNDER $150 you like best AND:

Go to my favorites on Etsy (or on Artfire) and shop from My Favorite shops; make a purchase from any one of the shops I heart (no matter how much the purchase may be) and you will get a shot at winning. Make sure that you come back here and leave me another comment, telling me from which shop you made your purchase.

Purchase a tutorial or a beaded item from one of the Mavens from any of their shops or websites, get another shot.

None of the ladies and gentlemen in ANY of the shops (including the Mavens) know that I am holding this giveaway, and no one is reimbursing me or giving me any kind of incentive to hold this contest.

Have fun shopping and good luck, I hope to see whole bunches of entries.

Spaces

2011-02-03T05:18:00.003-05:00

I finished another cuff!! I am so happy that I made another one - it's been awhile - but I'm not very happy with how it turned out. I think I should have done something differently, but I can't put my finger on what. It's had a good reception, and people seem to like it, but I'm very lukewarm on it, myself. I keep wondering if the crystals on the edges of the cabs are what are bothering me, or if it's the fact that I think my embroidery seems messy, due to the unrelenting black. I think I was a little crazy when I made it; it's almost all size 15 seed beads and took forever.

I'm thinking on whether I should list it in one of the shops, or send it to the gallery this month when I pick up my October's Goddess necklace from it's display at the Members' Exhibition. Or maybe it should go to New England Beads to hang out...

Now I'm off to start a new project; making a necklace and a cuff for one of my bestest friends on Facebook!! She has sent me some drop-dead gorgeous cabs and crystals to work with and given me complete artistic license to make whatever comes to mind... she's a wonderful lady!

Bead Journal Project January 2011

2011-01-29T16:51:00.004-05:00

Hi all!! I am so excited to show off my very first BJP piece!! I finished it last week, but we didn't get to take the photo until today.

I'm thrilled that I've committed myself to this project this year, and very excited that I think I have chosen a way that will enable me to keep that commitment. I am planning on making a 2"x2" square each month, each with a different motif or pattern, and then combining all of the squares at the end of the year to make a bead embroidered purse. I'm going to use the color black as a unifying element throughout, and possibly brass or bronze as the accent.

This month I chose a green and blue palette, and made a 'quilt square' pattern. It was harder than I thought it would be, especially to get the lines straight and even. But I am enjoying how it has turned out, and have also enjoyed getting materials out to work on throughout the year. Fun!! Also very fun is looking at all the gorgeous works that others have been making for January. Do click on the LINK and go see what everyone has been doing!

In other news, I finished a bangle bracelet with Sand Opal Swarovski elements in it, and I am soooooo in love with this crystal I can't tell you. I kept the colors to a minimum and just used bronze and matte gold for the setting, to show off the crystals better. I called it Regal. And, wonder of wonders, I actually made a pair of earrings for a change, to match!!

Now, on to thinking of February's square, and finishing the new cuff I've started.

Mistakes, Self Doubt and the Ah-HAH Moment of the Week

2011-01-09T15:50:00.002-05:00

I make mistakes. LOTS of them. And lots of them in beadwork, too. I once read of a beading artist who said something along the lines of ‘I won’t sell it unless it’s perfect.’ And I went ‘Huh??’ because I haven’t made one single thing that I think qualifies as perfect. Starting out, I made even more mistakes...tension mistakes, bead choice mistakes, color mistakes, you name it. And I was determined that my piece WOULD be perfect, darn it, or it would go in the mass of tangled bead remains that I keep in case I should ever need that particular bead again. Needless to say, the outcomes were not perfect. I was just starting to learn!! High expectations, indeed. And that set me up for the inevitable self doubt, where one starts to wonder if one can, in fact, make anything at all. I would sit there, sulkily picking at my very visible knots, and think myself into inaction. I had lovely visions of all the things I wanted to create. Ah...but they wouldn’t materialize! Ok, then, I couldn’t come up with a design on my own. Well, then, I better get to practicing.

So then bead books, bead magazines, bead-related web sites, pattern sales, ANYTHING that was published was fair game (as long as it was ethical - I learned quickly that I didn’t care for myself too much if I strayed across that line). I made projects. I messed them up. I made them again. I did one project in Beadwork magazine no less than TEN TIMES over until I was pleased that I had finally figured out the directions. (Um, that one’s actually pretty funny, as it turned out that they had meant to print one direction differently and made a correction/apology in the next issue - by which time my TEN TIMES over project had already revealed the mistake to me...)

I was obsessed with learning to increase and decrease peyote until I could make something 3 dimensional that was self-supporting. I did tutorials and book projects until they were coming out of my ears. Tokia Bridges, Julia Pretl, anything and everything I could find. (Proof is in my Vessel gallery on my website - almost none of them are my own design.) I made Christmas ornaments from patterns bought on Paula Adams’ site. (They were all gifts.) I made beaded beads. Many many vessels and ornaments and beads later, it finally clicked and I understood that a bead placed HERE would not only make it smaller, but would either pooch the beadwork out, or pull it in. Big huge sigh of accomplishment, and I happily made three or four of my very own designs. And then, of course, once it was thoroughly learned, I got bored.

This happened with most stitches. I would obsess, do a few hundred projects, finally get to making my own designs, and get bored. And through every single one of my little rabid stitch obsessions, I made mistakes. It took me years to finally stop cussing and start paying attention to the fact that every mistake taught me something else; pay more attention to where your thread path leads and exits; break the darn bead if it’s ten miles back from where you are currently instead of ripping out YARDS of beadwork (and go back and add the proper bead later); make a knot when you’ve completed a bit you’re particularly happy with; slow down; try a different bead, etc etc.

At some point, I stopped doing the projects, although I continue to get the books and magazines. I read through the projects now to understand how the artist got the effect that they created, and I pay the most attention to the bits that are labeled “NOTE” or “Artist’s Tip.” And I love what artists are making; but now I just want to make something that their project inspired, or make something completely different... Although I must confess, I am still obsessing - over freeform peyote, which has me bamboozled. I’ve made two bracelets (my own designs) and I am still voracious for more technique information, more hints, more tips. I look at freeform peyote and fondly wonder if it came about from a mistake: “Crap! Look at that! I used the wrong color for at least an INCH while I was watching that TV show.... wait, what if I add this? And then maybe this other size?? Hey! That’s COOOOOOLLLLL...”

And I still make mistakes. Nowadays, I hide them better, that’s all. Or I manage to incorporate them into the design (I LOVE bead embroidery!!!!), or, as a last resort, I go back and fix ‘em. And I finally LIKE them a little. It’s OK with me that I make the mistakes, I don’t mind learning from them, or having to go back and try again. I can take up some beads, make a complete mess, and go ahead and start again without the level of frustration I had before. Because now, by some magic, and a lot of practice, I can at long last create what I see in my mind. And to me, that is amazing and thrilling and, to quote my Mom, ‘the cat’s ASS!!!!!!’ (By which she meant awesomely incredible.) So that was my ah-HAH moment of the week. It took forever, but I’ve learned enough to feel comfortable trying things and not having them work every time. Wow. This made some of that horrible self-doubt recede into the background, at least for now. Freedom!!

In particular, I was so happy with my newest bracelet design, Black Ice. I had this vision kind of floating around happily in my head...not very well defined (my muse doesn’t work that way - I don’t get detailed schemata, I get fuzzy visuals with no details), but just THERE. It wouldn’t go away. I worked two whole other projects (maybe three) while it drifted around... and then I found my faceted laborodite stones and knew what I wanted to achieve, because I have desperately been wanting to play with my Swarovski 8mm chatons, but was so uncertain I would be able to make it come to life. I had never before tried to come up with a bezel out of my head, I had always bezeled according to directions from others’ projects. So I played around, and played around some more, and finally decided to turn to the stitch I have been working with the most lately, herringbone. And wow!! There they were! And off I went. When it was finished, I was over the moon happy with it. “I saw that in my head!! Look!! Now it’s sitting there on the table!!”

While I was working on Black Ice, another idea came along and hit me upside the head, and now I am working on a piece with Right Angle Weave. And it’s working!! It may come out just the way I saw it... can you tell I’m grinning??!

Masters - Handmade Division Team Talk About Blog

2010-11-15T12:00:00.003-05:00

November's edition of the Etsy Handmade Division Team's Talk About blog is focused on masters of your trade with whom you would like to study. What a marvelous theme!!!! Who doesn't have people that they really look up to and aspire to in any craft?! And, of course, I am thrilled to have a chance to talk about those ladies (and gentleman) who I consider to be beadweaving masters.

First is Ann Tevepaugh Mitchell, who creates the most amazing figures out of beads that I have ever seen. Ann evokes so much emotion with her art that it leaves me breathless. Her colors, her 'found' objects, her mastery of peyote; all combine to form something above and beyond. Her realistic human figures are made with beads combined with materials such as stones, glass bottles, and shells. My absolute favorites are Kosovo and Refugees. In Refugees, the bugle beads used to convey the burdens that the figures carry are so bristly that you are sure that if you touch, you'll get pricked. In Kosovo, you can almost feel the soft wooliness of the fabrics she has shown in beads. I would be honored to study under Ann, an incredibly visual and tactile artist. If you haven't seen Ann's work, I encourage you to get a copy of Lark's Master Beadweaving book, which includes Ann, as well as other 35 more amazing bead artists.

David Chatt would have to be my next Master - not only is his beadwork incredibly architectural, but he chooses the coolest things to bead!! Artist in Residence is my absolute, hands-down favorite piece of his. The fact that the house opens up, and the way it opens up, and the chair that sits within - !!!!! And of course, his Breakfast Set; who but David would think to bead eggs, bacon, toast (complete with pat of butter), napkin, et all??! And it all looks yummy enough to dig right into. He blows my mind.

Then there is Linda L. Jones. Her color work is brilliant. Her work is also very tactile, with bumps and ridges and large beads that you just want to caress (many of these polymer clay beads are her own originals as well)...and the shading in some of her embroidery pieces makes it look as though you could jump right INTO the work and find yourself in a completely different world. Her work Radiance is so subtly full of grace that at first you don't notice it, you are just completely blown away with the quality of the beadwork...but the longer you look, the more you feel.

NanC Meinhardt is another Master I would adore to learn from. Her use of form and color make me want to jump around and celebrate. And frequently ask "How did she DO that?" too. Some of NanC's pieces are kind of warm and fuzzy; here I am thinking of her Fable Vessel, where some of the fringing looks almost like yarn, while other's are hard, spiky and almost angry (Sssssssnake springs to mind). One of the many things I admire is NanC's complete and utter abandon with her beads. How I would love to let my beads take me there!

And that is the common denominator amongst all three of the people I chose to highlight today; their work makes me feel: whether I am giggling, hungry, angry or trying to hold back tears, their pieces all emotionally affect me. For me, that has always been what true Art is about - it makes you feel, it touches you; you don't look at it, like it, and move on - you come back to it time and again either in the physical world or in your head, and you think on it, because it made you feel. I'm going to leave you with one of Linda's pieces, but I'm not going to say how it affects me; you have to feel on your own.

Don't forget to check out all the other team members' blogs to read about their Masters, too!!

Andes Cruz: http://www.andescruz.wordpress.com/

Tosca Teran: http://www.nanopod.wordpress.com/

Rickson Jewellery: www.Ricksonart.blogspot.com
Beth Cyr: http://www.bCyrJewelry.blogspot.com
Lisa Hopkins Design: http://www.lisahopkinsdesign.blogspot.com
Sand Fibers: http://www.sandfibers.blogspot.com
Purified: http://www.purifiedart.blogspot.com

Emily Watson http://www.nocoloratall.tumblr.com/
Thomasin Durgin: http://www.metalriot.blogspot.com
WATTO Distinctive Metal Wear http://www.wattoonline.blogspot.com

Pink Crow Studio: http://www.pinkcrowstudio.typepad.com/

Bead Mavens, Ice Queens, and Time

2010-11-03T11:55:00.003-04:00

Wow it's been a long time since my last blog post. I think the whole thing around losing Honeybutter (previous post) got me more depressed than I thought it did. I've also been busy busy busy with a whole lot of different things, including a once-a-week blog post for the group I am now a part of : The Bead Mavens! I just now realized this morning that I hadn't blogged about becoming a member. The group is chock full of wonderfully, phenomenally talented beaders and I am very very proud to be included among them. It has been a lovely experience, getting to know each of them (and some of them even better than I knew them before), and to see what we can learn from one another as we try to share with others the knowledge and experience we have ourselves. Part of the fun of the group has been getting a challenge up and going, and the first one we've issued publicly is called Ice Queen; it's an invitation to make something beady in an icy, glamourous theme and have a chance at winning the considerable (and growing) prizes that we've had donated. (Some of these prizes include: gift bags from Artbeads, a store coupon for Kandra's Beads, dichroic glass goodies, cabochons, and some beady goodness from Kelly Angeley of Beadologie on Etsy, to name a few.) If you haven't visited yet, come and see us on our website, our forum, our Facebook page and our blog - and enter the challenge!!! You can also see what the Mavens have created for pieces for the challenge, although we aren't eligible for prizes ourselves.

It seems like time has just been flying past for me this year, I can't believe it's almost time for Thanksgiving again. I've had so many projects going at once that I've lost track of some of them and am sure I'll find the bits and pieces here and there as I try to play catch-up this next week or so. Right now, after finally finishing my Winter Flowers necklace for the Mavens' Ice Queen, I have to get to work on a cuff I've promised to one of my wonderful cabochon suppliers.

And clean the house, and brush the dogs, and try to figure out supper, and put away the load of beading supplies that are hiding my desktop again, and.... well, you know. If I didn't have a nasty cold (which I generously shared with my husband), I would most likely be getting things done much more quickly.

Stealing

2010-10-15T13:39:00.006-04:00

Nah, I'm not talking copyright or designs. One of my necklaces is gone. I know I transported it to the gallery, but it's just gone, and right before they were going to feature my work, they contacted me to let me know that although they had this one necklace, they didn't have the other, but it was listed among my pieces, and did I know where it was? So I looked. Maybe I had taken it to the other store? Thinking that I might be losing my marbles, I checked at the other store that has my things on consignment. Nope, not there. I feverishly dug through my entire beaded stash. Maybe I had left it behind by mistake? Nope, not there. It is, in fact, nowhere.

Well, it IS somewhere. Most likely with the person who took it.

I'm not angry. Isn't that odd? I don't blame the gallery, or the other store, or myself. I blame whoever walked away with it. But I'm still not mad. And I have no idea of where it was stolen FROM, I am only sure it didn't walk out of my home, as we are hermits and no one ever comes to visit.

What I am, is really sad. I loved that necklace. It was my first attempt at free form right angle weave, and had the most awesome one of a kind (aren't all stone cabs one of a kind?) honey onyx cabochon as the focal. And cool fringe. And really nice colors, soothing, lovely colors that reminded me of honey, and cream and butter and pound cake... I was proud of it.

You know what makes me saddest, though? I was thinking of giving it as a Christmas gift to my friend's mom if it didn't sell. Because she really liked it. No other reason, just because. I love how someone's face lights up when you give them something you know they like, something they really wanted. A really long time ago, I was selling some barrettes I had beaded, they were in the shape of hearts (3 across), and there was one that was all rainbow colors. It wasn't an expensive piece, because I was just starting out and didn't have access to semi precious stones yet, the fringe ends were only 8's. I was only asking for $35. So there I am, hoping against hope that someone will like one of them enough to buy it... and along comes a mother and daughter. Obviously they were not wealthy; they were wearing clothes that had seen a lot of use, and the mom's handbag was really worn. The daughter, a girl of perhaps 6, stopped to look at the things on the table, and her eyes just LOVED that rainbow barrette. Her mom let her look for a minute and then told her that they really had to get going. As they walked off holding hands, the little girl looked back, right before they turned the corner. And I couldn't stand it, so I did a quick-walk after them, and gave her the barrette. How she smiled! It made my whole week.

The whole reason for the above story is this: if the person that took it had come to me, and told me that they loved it, but that they didn't have the money for it, was there any way that we could work something out... I would have given it to them. I would so much rather have given it to them.

Silly, to sit here and cry over something like that. But there it is, I can't help it.

Talk About Blog - Handmade Division

2010-10-14T09:48:00.004-04:00

It's time for the October Handmade Division Talk About blog post, and our topic this time is how we acquired the skills that we have today. Instead of rehashing my older post, where I discussed how I had actually come to beading, I thought that this would be an excellent opportunity to talk more about how I found the skills and how I use them differently now.

Brick stitch was the first stitch I learned, and the ONLY one I learned directly from another beader. Once I had the stitch down, I swear I spent two solid years making brick stitch earrings, brick stitch bracelets, and just plain old swatches of it. During those two years I looked for every book known to man (back then - and there weren't that many) to try to find more stitches. I longed and ached and NEEDED to learn peyote, I was amazed at how other beaders could make it into so many different shapes - especially and above all, self-supporting vessels!! My entire goal in life at that point was to make a bowl or a box or an urn...anything that would hold something else and be entirely made of these gorgeous little tiny seed beads. And it was HARD. It looks so simple, on the diagrams. You just skip over a bead. How could this be so difficult????? I couldn't get the tension right, I couldn't get the beads to lay right (I was using only czech beads at that point), I couldn't figure out how to shape it....and there were NO books that explained how you went from skipping a bead to making it hold together with increases and decreases and how that would make all the difference. It took me two and a half years to finally get proficient enough in the stitch to feel that I had made something that I liked. This seems incredible to me now; most beaders who talk about it these days say that peyote was the first stitch they learned. And there are so many examples of how to do it!! You can't pick up a beading book that doesn't have instructions for not only the stitch itself, but how to do those darn increases and decreases!!! I still struggle with free form peyote, and was sooooooo proud of my first bracelet...well, you all know that, I posted Mystic Pathway everywhere I could! I think that it is still hard because I still don't have confidence in my basics; to get everything to line up, before branching out into unknown waters. I know I can do it; but I don't have confidence in doing it.

Because of all the trials, tribulations and time involved, I think that I value peyote stitch more than the others that I have learned. When you really really have to WORK for it, you are so much more pleased with your results. I love my bead embroidery, but it comes so easily. Freeform work there is simple, I just pick the beads and let them decide where they want to be - and this has been said of freeform peyote, but it just doesn't work the same way for me!! It curls where I don't want it to, it tightens up in the wrong places and drives me nuts when the beads try to tell me where they want to be, as they don't arrange themselves in the same way at all. I would love love love to make a freeform necklace with peyote stitch. It's one of my goals for myself this year.

I have been working on using Beverly Gilbert's book, Beaded Colorways, as a sort of stepping stone in this. Using her three bead netting technique as a base, I have an easier time shaping my piece before beginning to add some peyote in here and there. The bracelet I made recently as part of a trade is my first one; and I can still see where things are curving in a way that I don't care for. But you watch! I'll want it to curl so that it will drape nicely as a necklace, and it will stay perfectly straight, you wanna bet?! I'm not giving up, nope. I am going to keep at it and see what happens - after all, it sure took a long time to get to the basics...

And I had a thought about perhaps using some fibers in as well, and maybe that will make some more of a difference. And, it may help to simply let other stitches creep in there amongst the others...

Make sure you stop by the other team members' blogs to see what they have to say!!!

Andes Cruz - http://andescruz.wordpress.com/
Tess Norberg - http://www.nova-designs.blogspot.com/
Jaime Pickering - http://bellabijoujewellery.blogspot.com
Purified - http://purifiedart.blogspot.com
Nancy Dale - http://www.nedbeads.blogspot.com
Jewelry by Natsuko - http://jewelrybynatsuko.blogspot.com/
Sand Fibers - http://sandfibers.blogspot.com
Alice Istanbul - http://istanbuldesigns.blogspot.com/
Thomasin Durgin - http://metalriot.blogspot.com
Susan Moloney - http://susarto.blogspot.com
Beth Cyr - http://bcyrjewelry.blogspot.com
emily watson- http://nocoloratall.tumblr.com/
Tosca Teran- http://www.nanopod.wordpress.com

October's Goddess and Fall in New England

2010-10-05T07:30:00.003-04:00

Autumn is finally here, and I couldn't be happier! I adore this season, it has always been my absolute favorite. The leaves are starting to change (a little early), and the breeze is crisp and lovely. Time for gourds and pumpkins to make their yearly debut on the neighbors' porches, and for me to start making some pies, stews, and roasts.

I have been a busy busy beader! I just finished October's Goddess, and it is now on display at New Enland Beads in Keene, NH. I cannot tell you how happy I was to get this project finished, or how many times I had thrown it into a box of UFOs, completely disgusted with it... for some reason, I had the hardest time finding a way to complete the design, and was furiously rearranging components over and over and over...well, you get the idea! But I was in love with the colors, and the bead soup I had made. It was interesting, really, in that it seemed as if this necklace was pushing me to finish it (instead of me pushing myself), and it wouldn't leave me alone. No matter what project I was working on, it would keep popping into my head and whispering at me that it MUST BE MADE. It's been going on for months, and I was starting to wonder if I was suffering from multiple personalities! So the last time I took it out of the box of UFOs, I sat down and - you guessed it - started rearranging the components, and voila! This time, when I put them down, they seemed to fit. (Even though that same exact arrangement had looked completely horrible the last 20 times I had tried it.) I instantly began making connections, terrified that I would lose that 'right' feeling, and pretty soon it really started to come together. Then I added the strap bits and sat back... and began hating it immediately, finding connections that I felt just didn't work, etc. I decided that it must be shorter. I cut apart the straps and then put them back together. I still hated it. I made myself finish the clasp, and put the rest of it together, seething. Finally, having gotten it together at long last, I gave a huge sigh, slung it over a display and left the room. (Thinking as I left that I didn't HAVE to ever go back in there, lol.)

The next morning, I steeled myself and entered the room. I looked at it sternly... and was quite surprised that I actually liked it. Squinting at it from various angles, I found myself thinking that it wasn't as bad as I had thought it was. After twenty minutes of staring at it, I convinced myself that it was actually pretty. I put it on, to test weight and see how it felt around the neck, if anything dug in, etc - and ended up wearing it for three hours. The more I wore it, the less I disliked it, and the happier I felt with it. It was comfy! It didn't move so much that it ended with the focal up around your ear when you moved around yourself! It wasn't too heavy! The fringe wasn't too long!

So...here it is. Finally and at long last. And I love it:

I have now started on the cuff for my wonderful friend, Lynn Berry, who won my giveaway, and so far I really really like the design - oh please I didn't just jinx myself - and I have had my first sale at the Sharon Arts Gallery, which has me all in a dither. I've been invited into a new group of beaders - all of whom I love - and am thinking of opening a new shop, this time on Artfire (I would continue my Etsy shop as well). I even have two new ideas for beady things running around in my head... So I am still busy busy, and am having a grand time.

Autumn is awesome!!!!!

NEWS!!!!!

2010-09-24T13:22:00.002-04:00

I am so excited!!! Margie Deeb has included my Dark Carnival Cuff in her new PDF download!!! Her new booklet is entitled "Instant Holiday Glam" and is chock full of lovely beadwork and delicious palettes to inspire you. Please come and check it out!! You can order your own copy here. Believe me, it's worth it!!! Margie has been soooo nice to me, and if you aren't familiar with her, I encourage you to meet her on her website (www.margiedeeb.com) or her Facebook profile.

Also, Lynn Berry, the winner of my giveaway, has contacted me and let me know that she is thrilled to have won, and that she would like her cuff to be in purples, which thrills me, as I love to work with that color. This afternoon I will be off to the bead store, to buy some supplies to make sure it turns out lovely for her!!

Have a wonderful weekend, and bead on!!

We Have a Winner!!!!!

2010-09-19T19:29:00.002-04:00

We have a winner in my blog giveaway!!!!!!!!!

I went ahead and did it normally this time, and used the "True Random Number Generator" on my Google search - and the number that showed up was number 42!!! The winning follower is LYNN BERRY!!!! Who also happens to be a friend of mine on FB, so I am pretty excited to be making a cuff for her!!! (I'll let you know her response and her color choices in a little bit...) THANK you to everyone who followed me, and stay tuned, this is NOT going to be the only giveaway, I promise!!

Inspiration

2010-09-15T17:26:00.011-04:00

I am SO late!! I should have posted this last night or this morning - to my team mates, sorry!! The Handmade Division Team Blog topic this month is Inspiration, and where we find it. This is a huge subject!!!

In reading over some of the other lovely blogs, and in the past years' reading of blogs, I notice that soooooo many people say they are inspired by nature...so my answer is boring - nature!! In my case, it is almost always plant life rather than animal, but to be specific - TREES inspire me!! Can you tell??

However, I am also inspired by emotions:

This little vessel was made during a week when I was very angry - and I thought that flames represented that for me. During a different time frame, I made this other vessel, and named it Serenity, which is how I felt then...

AND I am inspired soooo often by the work of others. The amount of fantastic beadwork out there is amazing, as is all of the jewelry and art created that we get to view on the web. Sensory overload!! But here are three of my favorite ladies who inspire me most:

Mikki Ferrugiaro

Linda Jones

And Julie Harper

There are wayyyyyyyy too many pieces from each lovely lady to post them all, but take my word for it that they are all amazing. To check out more of the goodness click on their names, and you will get whisked away to their shops and/or Facebook pages.

There is so much inspiration in the world that the easier question for me to answer would be; what DOESN'T inspire you!! Since I am sooo late getting this written, however, that's as much as I have time to squeeze in. Just so's you know, if you aren't with me on FB, I also have had the glorious luck to have a gallery (The Sharon Art Gallery in NH) accept my work and feature me in October! Yay!!! I am thrilled!!

Now, to make sure I have business cards, notes and tags for the pieces, on and on and on... wow, I guess I better get to work!!! (Instead of working on that new cuff I'm in the middle of. )

See you soon!!!

And please check out the other team members' blogs!!!

Andes Cruz: http://andescruz.wordpress.com/
Susan Moloney: http://susarto.blogspot.com/
Alice Istanbul: http://istanbuldesigns.blogspot.com/
Rebekah Meddles (Lunasa Designs Jewelry):http://lunasadesigns.blogspot.com/
Jewelry by Natsuko http://jewelrybynatsuko.blogspot.com/
nanotopia: http://nanopod.wordpress.com/
Bella-Bijou Jewellery http://bellabijoujewellery.blogspot.com/
Beth Cyr http://bcyrjewelry.blogspot.com/
ArtJewel Designs: http://www.artjeweldesigns.blogspot.com/
Lisa Hopkins Design: http://lisahopkinsdesign.blogspot.com/
Thomasin Durgin http://metalriot.blogspot.com/
Abhaya Fibers http://abhayafibers.blogspot.com/

Two Giveaways and a Going Out of Business Sale (NOT mine!)

2010-08-21T21:02:00.002-04:00

Hey hey!! I just wanted to make sure everyone got the word - I posted on Facebook, but apparently forgot to actually put it in my BLOG, that I am trying to reach 100 followers, and if I get to that number, I am going to host a little NEDbeads giveaway: The random winner will be able to choose their own width and color and I will make that winner a cuff!!! (Retail $250-$400.) Like this, or completely different, up to the winner!!!

There is another giveaway going on at Plumrose Lane, Sharon Henry's site. Oooo - you really want to get in on this one, I promise!! Several prizes, not just one, AND she is having a Going Out of Business sale at her shop, as well, with incredibly reduced prices on her gorgeous pieces!!!

Speaking of which, if you go and shop, please leave a note that you learned about her sale from me - and I get an extra chance to win something!!!! Thanks so much, here be the link to Plumrose Lane, and then you can link to her shop from there....

What has it done for YOU??

2010-08-20T13:26:00.003-04:00

I should be beading. Yup. But I have been feeling terribly contemplative as of late, and thought I would share some of my pondering. In fact, I feel like I HAVE to share some of it!

So, what have I been thinking about? Beads, of course. But also a lot of self analytics, apparently - although I had no idea I was doing that. I learned some stuff. It's kind of cool stuff. Wanna know?

Stuff:

Beads have made it possible for me to be more outgoing! I feel like I can share my feelings and even some of my thoughts through my beadwork. I have found out that I work with fairly specific color combinations depending on my mood. I have always hidden anything emotional (unless it's good) from habit - but I have been sharing through my pieces for years things that I haven't been able to vocalize.

Beads have let me break out of my hermitage, even if it is mostly vicarious. I can't make friends IRL - it's amazing if I am able to smile and grunt monosyllables if I actually meet someone face to face. But through beading and the internet I have made friends with people from ALL OVER!!! And I can talk (type), and mostly don't grunt. All good! I have even been able to relate to someone closer than that - I can talk on the PHONE with some of my new friends!! To me, this is a huge step, and has taken place gradually over the last two or three years. And beading did that for me!!!! I have met the most amazing, talented, gifted, smart, funny and fabulous people through it. I have even been able to take part in a group setting for the first time since 9th grade, something I could NOT have done three or four years ago. I would have had to leave the room - usually in tears. I actually sat down and beaded as part of a group - with other bearers - for two whole hours (Twice!!!!!!) and only needed two breaks.

Beads have shown me that a lot of my limitations were set by myself FOR myself. I can commit to something and follow through! (I have such commitment issues you wouldn't believe it; I have trouble even committing to a dr.'s appointment, don't even ask me about relationships, I am floored that I have been able to commit to my husband.) I can stretch out creatively. I can make decisions. I can even find my own style and voice - something I could never never do with my creative writing (short stories and even one novel length piece). I have a voice?? Honest??This amazes me. This is so new to me. I think I am starting to figure out who "Nancy" is. Because of beads!!!!

I made my first successful attempt at freeform bead weaving (have I mentioned that about a billion times in different arenas? oh well!) and found out that I have to have borders still - I can't make something without some kind of surround. Which is also very true of me, personally. I have been struggling and struggling with all sorts of things, religion, weight, perspectives, etc etc - and I am trying VERY hard to break free of limitations and restrictions that I have put on myself, or feel that society has put on me*. (*Which feels a little like a cop out...) However, I found that I was comfortable with small breaks in the surround on the bracelet...so there's hope for the rest of it, right?! Right!! Hope makes me smile.

Beads have saved my sanity and helped me overcome some of my anxiety and a LOT of my depression. The lovely rhythm of weaving or embroidering soothes my soul.

They allowed me to have a (small) bit of ego. I have become comfortable (in the last six months) with calling myself an artist.

They have allowed me to be lots of things I like; curious ("how did you do that? How do you stitch that together?"), generous (I give away beads sometimes and have given beadwork gifts a LOT), sharing ("I did it by doing this."), even (my God) mentoring someone else, knowledgeable ("HOW many books have you read??? No!"), focused (I can sit at the bead table for hours and hours - with breaks, of course, to stretch), and (see above) enlightened.

I can't remember what I did before beading. Whatever it was, it wasn't enough.

I think that a lot of what I am talking about applies to any artisan in any fine craft. Beading, leather working, metal working, lamp working, crocheting and knitting, sculpting - you name it. I would LOVE to hear about how others have been enlightened or changed by their craft. There are two beady ladies in particular that I am asking to respond to this - either on here, on Facebook, or in their own blogs - Linda Jones (yes, THAT Linda Jones, the incredibly artistic creative fabulous gorgeous woman!) and Julie Harper - who creates so MANY amazing and awe-inspiring pieces in so MANY media!!! Ladies, I would dearly love to hear about your experiences.

In fact, I would love to hear from everyone!! If you have a blog, and you decide to blog about this, let me know!! I will be there in a flash! I will post your blog address! I will kiss your feet! Well, no, probably not. But I will have a great big toothy grin.

PS - the photo at the top is called Woodland Floor, and is a piece of freeform right angle weave, covering a humble rock from a nearby stream.

Handmade Division Team & Blog

2010-08-14T21:56:00.006-04:00

Howdy do! I am back again, even if it has been a bit since I've written....

I was fortunate enough to be invited to a new (for me) Etsy team this last month!! I am very excited to announce that I am now a member of the Handmade Division Team, and let me tell YOU, this is one hugely talented team of artists. One of the cooler things that I really like about my team so far is that they give you a topic to blog about once a month, which is fantastic, as sometimes I just can't think of anything to write about. This month, the topic was irresistible for me: Something I would like to create that I don't currently have the skills to do. How do I pick just one?!

Ha! Well, my first priority, I think, would be working with wire. How I would love to be able to include wire wrapped bezels, little curly cues and so on into my work!!! I already add chain here and there to my beadwork, but wire would open up sooooo many possibilities. At the moment, I can't even properly construct a wrapped head pin for an earring! Honest. I can make a loop. Period. And I love trees and leaves and vines in my jewelry, so how cool would it be to be able to use seed beads on some wire to make little tendrils? Or wire leaves with little dew drop briolettes in there?? Making your own clasps and headpins? Learning that lovely 'herringbone' wrap that I have seen in some gorgeous jewelry on Etsy?? Oh, YES, I would loooooooovvvvvveeee to learn wire work. But, finding the money for the tools and wire in order to practice and perfect?? It may have to wait a little bit....and then I have to find someone patient enough to guide my fumbling hands around the tools and wire for a bit... But at some point, I WILL get there!!!

Since joining the Handmade Division Team, I also met a wonderful lady named Delias Thompson, who makes astoundingly beautiful sterling jewelry that I have a horrible horrible time resisting - in fact, I immediately asked her if she would trade with me so I could get my greedy little hands on one of her necklaces and a ring to go with it... and she liked one of my cuffs. So guess who now has a stunning necklace and a ring to drool over??!!! ME!!!!! I still feel that I got the best half of this trade, for sure! Please come and see more of her work at her shop !

And Delias chose my Mocha cuff for hers!! (I was soooo happy to have it go to such a wonderful home!!)

Please do come and check out both the team Facebook Page, and also all of the others on the team who blogged this month: (And don't forget to visit their shops for some MAJOR eye candy!!)

Lisa Hopkins Design: http://lisahopkinsdesign.blogspot.com/
Jewelry by Natsuko: http://jewelrybynatsuko.blogspot.com/
Beth Cyr: http://bcyrjewelry.blogspot.com/
ArtJewel Designs: http://www.artjeweldesigns.blogspot.com/
Abhaya Fibers: http://abhayafibers.blogspot.com/
Purified Art: http://purifiedart.blogspot.com/
Nova of Sweden http://nova-designs.blogspot.com/
Bella-Bijou Jewellery: http://bellabijoujewellery.blogspot.com/
Pink Crow Studio: http://www.pinkcrowstudio.typepad.com/
Sand Fibers: http://sandfibers.blogspot.com/
Alice Istanbul: http://istanbuldesigns.blogspot.com/
Thomasin Durgin: http://metalriot.blogspot.com/
Moxie & Oliver: http://moxieandoliver.blogspot.com/
Andes Cruz: http://andescruz.wordpress.com/
Tosca Teran http://nanopod.wordpress.com/
Delias Thompson http://deliasstudioinc.blogspot.com/

Teddy's Choice!

2010-07-18T20:40:00.003-04:00

We have a winner for the Sisterhood of the Traveling Beads!! It's a bit later than noonish - sorry - but Teddy has made his decision, with Nikita Bean looking on to prevent any cheating. The winner of the Box O Beads is Hannah Rosner of Good River Gallery!! I will post a link to Hannah's blog when she gets back to me with her address, so you all can go and get another chance at it. Thank you all for playing along and for following my blog.

I would have saved the winning piece of paper....but he ate it! (As well as one more...)

Sisterhood of the Traveling Beads

2010-07-11T16:20:00.008-04:00

Surely you have heard of this Sisterhood? If not, here's a quick review:

Heather Powers of Humblebeads (www.humblebeads.blogspot.com) began this lovely swap by having a giveaway on her blog. If you commented and/or passed the word on either through your blog, Twitter or Facebook, you were given a chance to enter to win the box of beads and findings that she had put together, for only the shipping fee ($9!!). Then you were to take whichever beads you chose and replace them with items of equal or greater value than the ones you took, and blog about the beads yourself and have another giveaway, so that the next person could do the same, for the price of shipping. And what a large box it is!!!

Well OF COURSE I entered!! But, Mikki Ferrugiaro, of MFD Beadwork Originals (http://www.thebeadedcarpet.blogspot.com), won the first round. She then blogged about it, and offered the next chance to win - and OF COURSE I entered!! And, WOW, I won!!! So my chance came. I was so excited, and could not wait to get the box and see what was there...and there was a LOT!!

So now, it's MY turn, and I get to pass the box on to someone else! I am almost as excited about passing it on as I was to get it - I can't wait to see what the next person thinks about the contents!

I am enclosing a few photos so that you can see what you'll be getting for the $9.00 shipping fee:

This is a shot Heather's goodies!!

This is a shot of Mikki's goodies (but it is smaller now, I just HAD to have some of her handmade beads - I left a few, though!)

And this is my contribution. Lots of seed beads in 11, 15, 12, and even 16, some 8s, some crystal, some heist, and a few handmade polymer clay cabochons by some extremely talented ladies for those of you out there who like bead embroidery. Also some freshwater pearls and some stones.... And I may put a few beaded beads in there as well, as Mikki did, because I thought that was VERY nice of her!!

So, for any of you who would like a chance to have this stash and add to it after you make your choices, and pass it along to the next one: leave a comment and your email address on my blog, or on my Facebook page, and I will pick the winner in a week's time. (July 18th at noonish.) I will pick my winner in the timeless fashion of placing names in a hat (or something similar), shaking it up, letting my dogs nose through it, and seeing which one sticks to Teddy's nose. So it will be impartial.

(And this is Teddy, in case you don't already know him!!!!)

Let the comments begin!!!

HUGE bead giveaway!!!

2010-06-22T17:05:00.003-04:00

I haven't blogged in ages! But I had to!! If I pass this on, I get entered into the contest below!! Do come and check it out!! (And I promise I will try to write an actual, honest to goodness blog boost by this weekend!)

Denise Yezbak Moore of Rusty Roxx Jewelry is having a humongous give-away on her blog: 7.5 POUNDS of beads will find one OR six lucky new owners!!!!! Your comments on her blog page will help Denise decide whether she will have one winner - or six! All you have to do is follow her blog, and leave and comment and/or repost her contest on your blog!!! WOW!!! Come and look and see what she is giving away - it's amazing!!

http://deniseyezbakmoore.blogspot.com/2010/06/best-bead-give-way-ever.html

Now, off to enter for me!!!

Been Busy

2010-03-30T21:22:00.007-04:00

Well!! Here I am again; I had intended to blog every week this year, and life just keeps getting in the way!! But I have finally found a spare minute again, so I thought I would try to update the blog with what I have been up to. I finally finished my Dryad necklace - and (GASP) entered it into BeadDreams 2010!!! I am so excited to have entered into such a prodigious competition, and I can't wait to see all that entered their pieces in as well. Please come over to my website and check out the rest of the photos of Dryad, I love to have company!!

Dryad took quite awhile to visualize and make, and so I have been doing some smaller pieces since. But I already have another idea (or two) for more pieces on that scale, and am itching to get at them, so it won't be long now until I hunker down over some more embroidery. For now, I have been concentrating on some beadweaving. I made a smallish bracelet (no pictures yet) with three lengths of Russian Spiral - all in 15s!!! When using all the same size beads, rather than putting larger ones in, the spiral looks quite a bit like delicate netting - especially when done with the smaller beads. I really enjoyed making it, and am thinking of another, longer bit that could be a necklace.

THEN, I found a fabulistic free pattern on Sabine Lippert's website!!! Sabine is a friend of mine on Facebook, and she is truly amazing. Not only is she a creative genius with beads, she is also a doctor! When I asked her how on earth she found time to bead, she said she spends every spare minute either beading or thinking of beads (this sounds suspiciously like me!). She has been concentrating on the beads in the last three years, with incredible results. Some of my favorite patterns and works from Sabine are a combination of right angle weave and peyote stitch; once you make one of these projects, you find that the components are so versatile that you'll be playing with it for weeks!! I think she has a very distinctive flair to her work, and that her personality shines through her beadwork. Sabine likes to combine different and unusual beads and finishes in her work, such as Raku elements with Swaorvski crystals. As if all of this were not enough - she has already written and published a beading book!!! (Perlenkueche - the book is only available in German at the moment, but Sabine's illustrations are so clear that most beaders would be able to follow them without the written instructions.)

Above are a few of my favorite bracelets Sabine has made. The first two photos are of Network, a gorgeous cuff that really grabbed my attention. I LOVE how she made the netting over the peyote base, and the colors just drew me right in. The third photo is one of her newest weaves, and this one is called Golden Ivy. She also made a silver one titled simply Ivy. I love how they curve and flow, and how the components really do make you think of dainty little leaves. The next photo, below, is Sabine's Maze Lace bracelet - and this is the pattern that she has FREE on her website - isn't it GORGEOUS!!!!

And now, this is my variation of her pattern. I chose to use bright copper, bright silver and matte black for a palette, and added tiny little cube beads into the diamonds left open in the weave. I had the absolute BEST time weaving this - the steps in it just have the smoothest rhythm to me. If Sabine doesn't mind, I may make another as a gift for a friend... this pattern is addictive!

Sabine has soooo much more for you to look at, both patterns (free and for sale), her book, her blog, and her website. I really encourage you to go and look, and find a pattern for something you would like to create, too! Website: www.trytobead.com. Blog: try-to-be-better.blogspot.com. And her Etsy shop: www.trytobe.etsy.com . Have fun browsing!

Olympic Beading

2010-02-18T07:29:00.005-05:00

Have you been watching the Olympics? I have. As a matter of fact, I think I have been watching way too much of the coverage. There I was this morning, edging a piece of bead embroidery for the huge collar project I have been working on, and I have sports casters running through my head: "...and here comes the favorite of the underdogs, NEDbeads, and I'm just not sure she's going to have the staying power to make it through here, she's been having some shaky stitches in the last few practice runs, no, wait, that was a good stitch there, and again, but NO, there, that was a sloppy one, you have to have much more concentration and determination when you're up against the greats like Sherry Serafini, she's losing ground now... but she may be able to get the bronze if she can get her game on..." And so on.

The collar is coming along. I am creating it in pieces of embroidery, and then linking them together. I only have two components, fringing and a clasp left. So I can almost see the finish line from here! It seems to be taking a very long time, to me, but then I am seeing it come together just as I saw the idea in my mind the first time, and that is a treat. I LOVE being able to come up with a visualization of something and then create it - something I was never really able to do when I was drawing or writing. To me, sculpting something with beads comes much more easily.

I've had a busy week thus far, and forgot several things along the way - calling a friend (oops, still not done), getting the laundry done, staying upright while walking the dogs outside on the ice. However, a skinned and bruised knee is not enough to keep me from beading! (Just put the foot up, angle sideways, and there you go! Not particularly comfy, but it works.) At the very least, I did not fall ON the dog, which is a blessing, as she is a Pomeranian, and would have squished.

Speaking of Olympics and beading (which I was before), I wanted to introduce those of you who aren't familiar with her to Leinaala Mitchell, of BellaBeadjeweled. If there was such a competition, Leinaala would be right there in the top spots. Her work is incredible. She works with deep, rich jewel tones with precise workmanship and produces sumptuous and organic works of art. She is a self taught artist who has been beading for years, and she says that she beads intuitively, letting the pieces grow as they wish. I had to include a few of her works here, my favorites:

Pictured above are her lovely Tango Earrings, the incredibly detailed Mermaid's Ransom, and the gorgeous, organic, and voluptuous Hidden collar. I have such respect for Leinaala as an artist, and she is a wonderful friend, as well, and a member of the Etsy Beadweavers Team. If you have to see more (and I can't imagine anyone who wouldn't want to), you can visit her at
http://www.BellaBeadjeweled.etsy.com, http://www.BellaBeadjeweled.1000markets.com and http://www.LeinaalaMitchellArt.com .

As for me and my collar, keep thinking trees. Lush, dark green leaves and crystals, pearls...you get the idea! I hope to have another teaser picture soon, but in the meantime, here is a photo of my other favorite tree-related beadwork, Mighty Oak, which features a terrific bead by Lloyd Osborn:

Now, back to the collar. "...and she may make it yet, she only has a couple of curves left to finish this piece..."

Life Lately

2010-02-10T12:34:00.010-05:00

I did not have a hard time picking something out to blog about this week; just the reverse, I was only trying to figure out which of the ten things I had on my mind to include!! I was included in Mortira's awesome blog this week, where my Serenity Vessel was featured with a lot of other really wonderful artists, which I thought was pretty exciting, AND I was featured in an Etsy treasury listing, which was terrific! Unfortunately I was not able to figure out how to get a link to show you the treasury, but you can see the blog here:

"http://inspirationalbeading.blogspot.com/2010/02/poster-sketch-beads-potions-and.html"

Please visit Mortira at her shop:

"http://www.etsy.com/shop/sagescupboard"

I bought two new beads (of course!!) at Hannah Rachel's shop, Good River Gallery, on Etsy:

Is that not GORGEOUS??!! I love her beads, but especially her florals. The other I purchased is also a flower. But I wanted to include some of her other work. She does amazing and intricate beadwork and I had to include a picture of one of my absolute favorites of hers, Toas Sunset:

I am thinking of which new things I would like to list on Etsy this month, possibly a few more of my vessels. More of my necklaces would be good, too. I have noticed that I don't have very many earrings included anywhere...I haven't made any in ages, so I should be thinking about that, too. And, of course, I am in the middle of two large collar projects as it is, and have three cuffs in mind to start...I don't have enough hands! It would probably be helpful if I would stop shopping Etsy quite so much, as I seem to find something new that I HAVE TO HAVE every week! No, I don't buy them ALL...really. Honestly.

This week I have also spent a lot of time grooming and caring for my dogs (Nikki, Teddy, Sunny & Sydney) . I realized that I had not added photos of them in my blog, and so planned to correct that today. So, here are a few of my favorite ones:

This is Teddy (Theodore H. Bear), who just turned 4 today!

This is Nikki (Nikita Bean)

This is Sunny Bear

And this is Sydney Belle

These guys are such a huge part of my everyday life that I had to include them this time. Teddy is my shadow, Nikki is the Princess, Sydney is very much like a huge cat ("Pat me when I ask, otherwise LEAVE ME ALONE, thanks."), and Sunny is my husband's dog. The chows like to hang out, the pomeranians want nothing but playing and attention at ALL times - including beading times! It is a challenge to bead with a Pomeranian on your lap...

Dogs, beads, shopping, laundry, housework...life goes on!!

Beading Away and a Few Favorites

2010-02-03T10:21:00.008-05:00

Hello again! Here I am, sitting at my kitchen table, watching the rain fall from the gutters onto my deck. I am surrounded by beads, and had to make a place for the laptop. Pearls, gemstone chips and beads, seed beads in all sizes, bugles, crystals, flip tops and strands and baggies and a huge pile of bead soup in glorious hues of green, bronze, gold, browns and topaz, with a tiny hint of Montana Blue here and there. Coffee sits at my elbow. Doesn't it sound fantastic?! But instead of beading, I am blogging...at the moment!

I am working on a long project now, something that I expect to take me about a month to finish, as long as my muse doesn't desert me. It will be a collar, eventually, but right now it sits in separate components. I have one component almost finished and have started the second. There are at least five more to go, before assembly will begin. Whew!! The photo at left is the one that I have posted on my Facebook page, as a teaser - it shows part of one component in the middle of its creation. (At least that is the largest one, and the one that is almost all done!!)

This particular design came to my mind about eight months ago and has been percolating ever since. It all started with a pendant made by the wonderful Chris Kapono at MandarinMoon on Etsy. I was browsing her amazing shop, which is chock full of her polymer clay art, and there, low and behold, was a leaf pendant! I HAD to have it, but wanted to know if she could remove the bail, as I desperately wanted to use it as a cabochon. And off it went!! Pretty soon I was begging Chris to make me cabochons of all kinds, and asking her (nagging her, I think) if she would make me some more leaves. Fabulous being that she is, she some really wonderful ones for me...I hope you will be able to see the results soon - in about a month!

I am also in the middle of a different choker, more on the lines of Honeybutter, but in different colors and with a quite different feel to it. That one hasn't got any teaser photos, yet, but as soon as I can get my beautiful cabochon (it's on its way now!) attached to it, I will do some.

For anyone who checks this out and isn't familiar with her, I wanted to include Carol Dean Sharpe in my blog today. Carol Dean has been creating art her whole life, and started beadweaving in 2004. An amazingly talented artist, she is consistently prolific and turns out peyote stitched cuffs and patterns at an astounding rate, given the amount of work involved in just one of her pieces. She creates all of her own original patterns, and has a crisp, yet flowing style. I have added two of my absolute favorites here, with Carol Dean's gracious permission:

Her Red Bargello Hearts Cuff, and:

Her Golden Scrolls Cuff, which includes a gorgeous hand made button. Carol has been an incredible friend for me since I have been on Facebook, and she is so supportive and generous. Please visit her shop at www.sandfibers.etsy.com. She is having a 3 for 2 pattern sale right now in both her Etsy and Artfire stores, and for anyone who wants to weave themselves a stunning cuff, this is an excellent opportunity to grab some really beautiful patterns!!!

I also wanted to include here two cabochons that I just purchased (and they came in the mail yesterday!!). I LOVE them, and HAVE to show them off:

These were handmade by Cindy at ccvalenzo, also on Etsy. (Can you tell that I am a huge fan of the artists on Etsy??!) She produces gorgeous pendants, earrings, cufflinks, barrettes and more with her dichroic glass, and graciously agreed to remove the bails and make these two into cabochons for me! I got onto Cindy from Sandy Spivey, who made this stunning necklace with her cabochon:

And, I just barely realized that I bought the same cabochon as Sandy did!!! So that one will have to be for me or for a gift, and I will just have to make something for sale with the other one!! (POOOOOOOR me!!)

Beading as Therapy

2010-01-20T18:34:00.005-05:00

This time I am pretty late in getting my blog going, it is already after six in the evening! I struggled all day to come up with what I wanted to say this week, and was finally helped along by a friend on Facebook (thanks, Sheila!!) who suggested that I write about how I started beading. The beginning is a little depressing to read, you may want to skip a paragraph!

I suffer from chronic depression and a disabling panic condition, which resulted, years ago, in needing to have a case-worker help me out each week, so that I could go to the grocery store and so on, as I could not go alone. (Thank God, I am better than that now, and am able to get out usually without help.)

But she did more than help me with that, and this lady was SERIOUSLY cool!! Janet was her name, and she was fun and funky and just the most cheerful woman I had ever met. She seemed to love her job, and I know for a fact that she must have helped out more people than her employer ever knew. She wore great printed dresses and birkenstocks and socks, and wore her black hair long, sported gorgeous jewelry and hummed Grateful Dead songs when she was thinking. Her jewelry, as I am sure you can guess, was mostly beaded - and mostly beaded by her!! One day while we were visiting, I asked her about a pair of particularly long and elegant earrings she had on, and that's where it started. Janet took them off and handed them to me, and then explained that she had made them herself, and how. They were brick stitch dangle earrings with long fringe, ending in pretty iridescent blue drops. Before the week was over, I had purchased seed beads, bugle beads, drops and earring findings, and Janet showed me brick stitch. I was completely blown away and lost forever into the bead world.

I don't know if she knew, but she started much more than a hobby for me. I hope she knew - I tried to tell her, but before I knew it she was gone. Apparently she had left work in a hurry, and no one seemed to know where she went from there. Beading became my passion, my calling, and the most effective tool for therapy that I had ever had before. The calming, methodical stitching eased my panic and helped me to escape the long depressions. Not only that, but I was then left with a beautiful result - something pretty to wear!! I determined that I would learn as many stitches as I could, and that I would get GOOD at something. If I could, I would get GREAT at something!! It was wonderful to have a goal. Being able to attain that goal, learning more and more, and getting better as I went, went a LONG way toward helping me along.

One of my main aims was to get great at peyote stitch. I LOVED that you could shape it, that you could get beads to hang together ON THEIR OWN, and stand as sculptures, or beaded beads, or fabric, or...anything!! I worked and worked, and boy was I bad at it at first...but it got better, and better, and before I knew it, I HAD it!! And loved it. I still adore peyote, but these days the tension seems to get to my tendonitis (in my working thumb, of course), and so I am working mainly with other stitches. And now, low and behold, there are MORE stitches that let you make and shape sturdy beadwork sculptures, and I am getting good at those! It seems that the things you can learn are endless...the combinations are endless...and the things you want to make are endless. Beading makes every day an adventure, whether it is a good day, a bad day, a sad day, or even an angry day. I bead through whatever I am feeling at the time, and sometimes come out with some surprises for myself.

Two things that were beaded during different moods and times in my life:

The first image is a vessel, and the second is a paperweight. I had fun with them both, mostly because I had no plans to conform to- they could turn out to be anything they wanted to be, I was just beading to feel better!

So....my little story on how it all started, and how it continues.

Beaded Bangles & EBW Friends

2010-01-13T12:52:00.007-05:00

Here I am again! This last week has been pretty devoid of beading - a horrible thing for me - but I thought I would tell everyone a little bit about my new beaded bangles that I am offering for sale on Etsy. I am so proud of these!! I have seen many different designs for bangles that include an armature of some kind, such as a rubber cord (Marcia DeCoster) and brass rings (Lisa Kan), and some that are completely beadwoven...but I don't think any of them are made the way I made mine (I hope, anyway!) and I was extremely happy to have thought it up!

I started with two ropes of cubular right angle weave, stitched them together with a strip of right angle weave, finished the other side by adding another row of right angle weave, this time of beads AND swarovski crystals, then joined the ends, and VOILA! a beaded bangle that keeps its shape really well, and is flexible enough to slip over the hand without stretching out. (I used fireline for the whole project, which means people would really have to TRY to break it!!) I really enjoyed the process of creating it in my head first and thenn translating it into beads. Since I am sharing my technique - if not in detail - I ask that anyone who tries it out, please give me credit for the design in your description of your piece.

I also decided that I would really like to include some of the members in my Etsy Beadweavers Team in my posts, so I am going to add in a few things here and there this year about their designs and shops. We have the most incredibly talented group of beadweavers EVER!!

This week I would like to introduce those of you who aren't familiar with her, to Patricia at Silver Dragon on Etsy.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/SilverDragon

This is just one of her lovely designs, I encourage you to follow the link above to her shop!

And I just have to include my friend Linda Jones in this, as she is a huge inspiration to me and has been a great support through some hard times in the last few years. She has the most amazing color sense, and stupendous amounts of creativity. You can find her lucious work at:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/wildwickedbeads

And a tease; just a sample of what she is capable of:

I am hoping that the coming week will yield much more time to bead, I am starting on a new right angle weave collar, which I have been thinking of for awhile. I also have a bead embroidered collar in the works, and have almost collected all the various beads and cabochons to start on that one. (Think of woods, forest, cool, quiet, shimmery woods in the late evening...)

I wish beady blessings to everyone, and hope that the coming week brings you everything you need! See you next Wednesday!!

New Custom Order Done

2010-01-05T13:13:00.013-05:00

But first, I just have to tell you about a give away that is going on NOW, friends!! Carol Dean Sharpe, of SandFibers, is having a lovely give away from her blog site to celebrate 1000 sales in her Etsy shop!! Please do enter, Carol is an amazing bead artist and you will be sooooooooo glad you did: http://sandfibers.blogspot.com/2010/01/first-sand-fibers-1000-giveaway.html

The first photo above is of my first right angle weave collar. I loved the bead colors and was trying to think of what I wanted to use them for, and then suddenly I found this lovely honey onyx cabochon on Etsy, and HAD to get it; this was the result!!

I have been working away trying to get an order done for two months now - it took longer than usual because of the holidays, and having to find time to make a few gifts as well. My customer is fantastic, and a very sweet person. She sends cabochons that she has collected to me, along with a few beads that she would like included in her jewelry, and then gives me complete license to make whatever I feel looks good. Who could ask for more?! This time, I am making something small to give to her with her other items as a thank you for all of her business and for a gift she gave to me with her last order. The cabochons she provided this time were really gorgeous, and her color choices were terrific! Usually she prefers the asymmetrical look to things, but one of the cabs just screamed at me that it had to be symmetrical, so one cuff sports the same design on both sides. I made up for it by making sure the other was as she likes it and that the necklace was as well. I am a little nervous that she may not like the symmetrical one as well as the others, but I just couldn't get it to work any other way. When we were finally able to get some photos of finished work, I was SO pleased to be able to share them at last!! I named this one Painted Desert:

The next one is the asymmetrical one, which I think she will like more, named Copperclad:

And here is the necklace, Moonrise, which is in a new direction for me creatively, which made it even more fun to make:

I should be shipping these out to her this week, and crossing my fingers that she will like them all!!

All in all, it was a really hectic set of holidays this time, and I am relieved that it is over with finally. Now I am trying to get back into my normal scehdule and find some time to clean up the house and so on after all the ruckus. I am finding it a little harder than usual to get my creativity up and going, although as I type I am looking at a nice bead soup on my bead mat in dark blue and purple iris colors with some silver thrown in, and a dichroic cab...maybe I will get there sooner than I think! But it's hard to choose, as I also have a large pile of custom made polymer clay leaves and cabs (by Chris at Mandarin Moon on Etsy - check her out, she is AMAZING) that are waiting for me to begin my second embroidered collar...

I had some good news in that I have been accepted into the Etsy Beadweavers Team, which I had been thinking of trying for all last year, and I am THRILLED to be part of it now! It is a wonderful new way to feel involved in the beading community, and they have been excellent to me, giving me a very warm welcome, hearting my shop (Thanks!!) and generally answering any questions I have had. Please do search for the EBW tag on Etsy and see all of the gorgeous things being made by the members!!

I am also looking forward this next week to updating my website with some of my newer creations and maybe changing the style a little on the overall composition of the pages. But for now, I better get going on that housework!

A Wonderful Couple of Months

2009-12-15T04:57:00.002-05:00

Well, it has certainly been a LONG time since I blogged! I am making one of those nasty new year's resolutions early: I will blog once a week!!! I have been busy busy, and that is one reason why I haven't been on here. This year, things finally took off a bit for me, and I have been soooooo excited! I have made some sales on Etsy, and garnered a wonderful, come-back customer who has actually asked me to make her some custom things since the first sales. She provides beautiful cabochons and a small sample of beads so I will know what she would like for her color scheme, and she then gives me full creative license to do whatever I feel looks the best: what better customer could there ever be??! She now has a staggering 12 cuffs made by me!!!

More wonderful news came to me when my local bead shop asked me to provide more of my work for their Christmas displays. Of course, I grabbed the opportunity and brought quite a bit. After a week or so, I had to go and get some things for one of the custom orders, and as I walked up to the store, I got a huge surprise; they had put my work in their front window, closest to their door, all dolled up and looking so nice!! I was astonished that they had made my things their center of attention, and just so pleased! They are wonderful people and run a fantastic shop. If you are anywhere near Keene, NH, please do stop by and see their wares at Earth Treasures on Main Street! (These folks are also the ones that took my first Beady Bags to sell for me - my little bead kits.)

Then I find a hugely talented and very sweet seller on Etsy who makes the most original and beautiful polymer clay pieces ever. I asked her in a convo if she would make me some poly cabs to use in my things, and she graciously took it on and tried it out. She came up with some amazing cabs for me, and has been making a few now to sell in her shop. She made a few leaf cabochons as well, which I immediately feel head over heels for, and I asked if she would make enough leaves and leaf beads for me to create a whole necklace (collar) and she did!! I just received them in the mail yesterday and they are wonderful, as usual! Her prices are consistently great, and her work is amazing. Please visit her shop at Etsy; her shop name is MandarinMoon, and you will be thrilled when you see her things!! (And thank you LOTS, Chris, if you read this!!)

On to even more good stuff! I have made a few Christmas gifts, of course, and in the process came up with what I think (I hope!) is am original way to make a bangle bracelet with right angle weave. I am in the process of photographing them, as one is a gift, and will post them soon. I also created a collar necklace entirely out of RAW, my first one ever, and was very pleased with it in the end - also waiting for photos.

I am on FaceBook regularly, and have made some amazing friends there. Two ladies especially have been really lovely and supportive to me over the last two years, and I put together small packages of beads and assorted baubles for them to play with and sent them out. Yesterday one of the parcels arrived at its destination, and the wonderful woman I sent it to was very happy with it. That made my whole day, that I had been able to give her a smile for the day, as she has not been feeling very well lately. It is so terrific when you are able to make someone feel good!!!

I also sent in an application to be accepted into the Etsy Beadweavers Street Team, and was accepted this week!!! I am extremely excited to be part of such a hugely talented and creative group of people, and they gave me such a warm welcome to the group. I am really looking forward to the challenges and the team support this coming year. Please do go to Etsy and search EBW to see some truly spectacular beadwork. (I even added a few things this month and you might see one of them!!)

And, finally, on a non-beady note, I heard from my father the other day that his doctor put him on a new inhaler medication and he said he was breathing better than he has in years (asthma and emphysema) which just made my entire week. He has had such a hard time these last few years, and he sounded much better and said he was able to get around town much easier than previously, and I am so grateful and thrilled. AND my husband gave me an early Christmas gift this week, a gorgeous sterling silver cuff bracelet with "Love Life and Be Brave" written on the front of it. I adore it, haven't taken it off for a minute, and really appreciate the sentiment on the front; boy, do I need to try to be brave!!

Thanks to all of my wonderful friends who supported me, and you know who you are! Best wishes,

Nancy

Lampwork Obssession

2008-12-04T15:37:00.007-05:00

Ok, so you decide that you want to buy a lampwork bead for your next necklace. You go looking on the net for that bead, that perfect, one of a kind bead that will just fit your ideas right down to the ground..... my I say, "HA!" You will come away with at least three to start with. Soon, when you look around, your work space is littered with these gorgeous works of art, and you are bewildered. "Where did they all come from?" you mutter to yourself. There must be about twenty of them, right there, and you know there are more, which you have carefully labelled and put away for future use. What happened to that one bead that you were looking for? I can tell you - you found it, and then you found one more, and one more, and...well, no, you really shouldn't spend quite that much on ONE bead, but...JUST one more!

Have you been here? If you haven't, you have not yet contracted Lampwork Bead Lust. Hope you don't, if you haven't; if you do, you will soon be forced to mortgage your home and sell your car. Then you will be down so low, you might even be considering asking for a loan from your in-laws to keep your addiction satisfied. I guarantee you will need to cut up those credit cards.

Now, I am not complaining (although it sounds like it!) about the price of lampworked beads. The artists who make these should get every penny of their purchase price, as each bead is a little work of art in its own right. And these people are TALENTED! No, I am not complaining on the pricetag - I am more worried that I cannot stop buying them! I am hopelessly and completely hooked. I cannot stop myself from going to Etsy and searching for Floral Focal Beads. Or just Focal Beads. Or Organic Focals. I cannot stop myself from going to Ebay and searching for those things all over again. I cannot seem to stop myself from bidding on them, or asking sellers questions about them, or drooling over them. Most of all, I can't stop buying them and then waiting impatiently for the mail to come. My poor husband is so sick of going to the post office. (Don't be silly, I can't go myself, I am BEADING.)

I have to show them off; here are some of the beads that I have bought, or that my client bought, that I have worked with or that are waiting for me:

Mighty Oak Focal by Lloyd Osborne.

Floral Focal by Koi Creek.

Floral Focal by Bits and Baubles, Etsy.

Ocean Oil By Shari Slonski, Ebay.

Jeweled Desert by ElysiumBeads, Etsy.

Aren't they gorgeous? Could you have resisted? I can't possibly put photos of all of them up here or the blog would go on for ages. But I have to find some way to resist...I can't keep on buying and buying! But maybe just one more...

Snowbound and Harvest

2008-11-15T10:17:00.005-05:00

Wow, what a busy week! Between all the errands and housework, somewhere in there I found some time to bead, and my husband found the time to take the photos. I have completed one new necklace which I entitled "Snowbound" after the name of the beautiful lampwork bead that adorns it. This is simply spiral stitched, with three bevelled onyx beads and a beaded toggle to finish it. The lampwork bead was made by That Bead Girl, and I found her on Ebay, if anyone else wants to look - she is a wonderful artist.

A also managed to make a small bracelet using a filled netting technique which is new to me, and lots of fun. I will have to make another one, and think of something more blingy to make it with - although think that all crystals would be a bit too much. I used freshwater pearls in lavender and threw in some 3mm crystals for contrast here and there and used sterling for the clasp. I think this looks vaguely wedding oriented, which is definitely off beat for me!

Lastly, I came up with another cuff (of course!), and this one actually has a bead as the centerpiece rather than a cab. I believe that this is an agate, but did not think to write down the name of it when I purchased it. During the making, I kept thinking of fire, but when I was done I felt that the colors were more autumn than burning, so I named it Harvest. The picture at the top of my blog shows it full front, so I include a picture from the side:

I used less 15s in this one than in the last two, and put in two cubic zirconia crystals which I adore. I also had just gotten in some really gorgeous size 1 bugles, which I decided fit in there great.

This week has really been full of design and inspiration challenges, as well. It seemed that every time I turned around I was questioning what I had started, and wondering if the colors worked, or having problems with the next step. For two days I have been wandering through my bead collection (HUGE!) and sorting and organizing, in the hopes that something would hit me over the head and say "Create with me!" I took a grip this morning and have started gluing up the next cuff, but am still feeling creatively stuck. I am hoping that the muse will return VERY soon! In the meantime, the focal beads have arrived for two more of the commissioned necklaces, and as soon as the supporting beads arrive, I will be getting started on those. (These focals include the big, intimidating, expensive focal - so everyone cross their fingers for me, please!)

On! On with the beading!

Long time, No blog!

2008-11-08T13:09:00.007-05:00

I did not realize until today how long it had been since I wrote here, and boy do I need to get going! I have since finished two more necklaces and a new cuff. The cuff is my favorite, I had a wonderful time making it and was sorry when it was finished, even though I couldn't wait to wear it!

Lavender Dreams : This is the second commissioned necklace, and I made matching earrings to go with it. These gorgeous lampwork beads were handmade by Kandice Seeber of Air and Earth Designs, which my friend fell in love with. I love them as well, and think that they go great with the gold findings. Please visit my website for a closer look at this so you can really appreciate Ms. Seeber's work!

Deco : This second necklace's fate is so far undecided. It may be for my commission, or my friend may elect to have me create a different neck piece with a different focal. This is a stone bead rather than a lampwork bead, and I had to make it into a pendant as it was soooo heavy. It is rhodochrosite bead, with faceted onyx and crystals. I decided to call it Deco, although I am still not sure that I am happy with the name.

Oceans : This is the cuff!!! I love this cuff, did I mention that? I am keeping it, I think, as I could not bear to part with this one. I am hoping that I will find another Blue Lace Agate cabochon somewhere (anyone seen one?) so that I can make another one to go out into the world. The cab is surrounded by crystals and the two side cabs are Labradorite. This has so many different kinds of beads on it that it would take a whole page to list them, so I haven't. I have side views of this on the website, as they are both different and asymmetrical.

I also have completed my first pair of woven earrings in a year, and put them up on Facebook and the web site. They were fun to make, but really easy, so they gave me a break from the complexity of Oceans, but they took no time at all! I am thinking that I may make some more, whether they be metal or woven, as I am thinking of listing a few things on Etsy to just kind of dip a toe in the water.

I have also had a local store owner offer to have some of my pieces for sale in their shop this week, which thrilled me beyond belief! I may actually be on my way, and I am so excited about it!

First Commission Necklace Finished and My Web Site

2008-10-28T16:31:00.003-04:00

First, I have to say thank you to all the lovely comments I have gotten on my bracelet and a BIG thank you to bead maven Linda Jones for introducing me to everyone!!!!

Then I have to put down that I finally finished commission necklace #1 (there are five now), and that I had a great time making it. I also finished #2, but do not yet have pictures, that will be coming soon. I am calling it Caramel Cream for now; when it finds its new home, they may well call it something else. This rope is a version of three drop peyote, using 15s and size 11 triangles. The lampwork focal bead is from Milminedesigns, which has plenty more lovely creations in there if you visit Etsy.

I have put a link to my web site on here, so that if anyone would like to see more of my work, they can just click to visit! Please come and look, let me know what you think, and I love feedback, email me if you have suggestions!

Commissions aside, I have fallen completely in love with making these embroidered cuffs, and see many in my beading future - as a matter of fact, my husband is really starting to worry about the cost of cabochons about now! Off to bead...

Coral Romance is done!!

2008-10-26T13:29:00.004-04:00

Well, it took a week and a half, but the cuff is done!!! I am thrilled with it, and hope that everyone else likes it as well. It had a fossil coral centerpiece and some smaller peices of fossil coral on the sides as well, with freshwater pearls and crystals, and mostly size 15 seeds - boy did THAT take awhile!!!! This one was harder to compose than Gypsy, and gave me some challenges along the way, including redoing the center and redoing the edges twice, but I really do think it was worth the frustration. When I visited my favorite local beadstore, the owner commented (it was in progress at that point) that he thought it looked like royalty; but when I finished it, all I could think of was that it looked romantic, as if it belonged on the arm of some lovely in a period novel, hence the title.

I have also just completed one of my custom ordered necklaces, but my husband said I should wait to post the pictures, as the lady that it is eventually intended for (they will be Christmas gifts from my friend to her family) might see it before she should! It is quite nice, even though I felt that it was a little too like one of the necklaces I had already made. I am hoping that they will be quite pleased with the result.

So now I am on to the next of the five commissions, and thinking (of course) of the next cuff or necklace to embroider...too many projects, not enough time!!!!

Commissions!! Mighty Oak Focal!! Heaven!

2008-10-15T07:09:00.002-04:00

I am not planning on writing every day, but I had to post today, HAD to. My best friend has commissioned me to make FOUR necklaces for her to give as Christmas gifts this year, and the necklace she chose is one that I love to make. Even better - each one is to be different, so there will be NO boring repetitive colors, etc, and we are looking forward to sitting down together to shop on Etsy for some gorgeous focal beads to get started with. What more could a beader ask for??

A focal bead that she has had her eye on for herself for weeks now, of course!!! I have purchased one of Lloyd Osborn's beautiful focal beads; it is titled Mighty Oak, and has the most beautiful tree on it, which wraps lovingly around the bead. I have a special love for all older trees, especially the really gnarled and ancient trees that you see with huge trunks and limbs that grow every which way but straight up. This is definitely one of those trees, but it is still young enough to be full of greenery, bursting with life, so majestic. I seriously cannot wait until this arrives so that I can begin designing with it (and fondling it, of course).

Now i have to bone up on focals and the best way to use them, as it has been a long long time since I did any stringing...but maybe it won't be strung...maybe I should weave something to set it off....lots of fringy things, some leaves - hey, maybe Lloyd would make some leaves to go along with it!!!!

Blogging? Me? Nah....

2008-10-14T12:00:00.000-04:00

Well, that was how I started out. But then, after the website, and the facebook page...well, I started to think that it might be a good idea after all. I saw some really nice blogs by other bead artists, and thought to myself, "Self, that looks like it would be great, and not too hard to do!" On the other hand, would it take time away from beading??? Because that is the main focus of my world most of the time, when I am not taking care of my home and my family - which includes four dogs. The website took some (not a lot, as I do not do all the work on it alone), then facebook took some; maybe this would take too much...? I decided it could not hurt to try it and see how it went. So, I will foray briefly and see how it all goes. At the very least, I should learn something (and no day should ever go by without learning something), and have a chance to show off yet more photos of my passion - BEADS!
So I have started with a photo of my newest cuff as my 'portrait' and am going to add in here the in progress photo of a peyote stitch bracelet that I am test beading for the lovely and talented (and funny and wonderful) Linda Jones:

Linda designed this pattern and posted it on her blog and I fell in love with the colors and the way that it works off itself. I am looking forward to finishing it so that I can post the picture on facebook with kudos for her.

In the meantime I am thinking and pondering the design for my bead embellished purse, which I think may be the next project to start on, since all the Christmas ornament gifts are done...but I could start another cuff like Gypsy...or make a necklace...or go through my whole bead stash...