Native Peoples Series :: Symbolism

As part of my quest to work with patterns and colors that are inspired by Native American beadwork, I am also looking at bringing in items found in nature. 

Luckily for me, my friend Christine is slightly obsessed with hunting rocks. And she is kind enough to share them with friends. This one is from the shores of of the Susquehanna River in Tunkhannock, PA. She pointed out that it looks like the African continent, and I totally agree with her there. Isn't it cool?! She did a slight embellishment with paint, and then drilled a hole. Absolutely perfect for beading!

I started this necklace before the earrings, which I posted yesterday. The set is inspired by the colors she painted on the rock. I used the same diamond shape in both the earrings and the bale at the top of the rock. I also used leather to complete the necklace.

I did look up the significance of using a diamond in the pattern and found that it represents time and space as complimentary elements. It is like the partnership between night and day with the center point representing dawn. Dawn marking an awakening to new understandings. I do love the poetry of the old meanings. The simplicity and the honesty still work today.

Native Peoples Series :: Color

I know I've been a bad blogger this past week! No great excuse other than life gets in the way sometimes.

I have, of course, continued to bead. When things get hairy, beading just kind of relaxes me. Lately I've been feeling like working with simple colors and simple patterns. I've been wanting to make some beaded fringe earrings, and finally pulled out some rusty reds with white for accent. 

I spent a fair amount of time reading about Native American beading this summer. One of my favorite books is by David Dean Beading in the Native American Tradition. 

In looking through lots, and lots of traditional Native American designs I've noticed there are some basic color pallets. David Dean notes that traditional beads were made from shells and natural dyes and pigments. So colors were earth tones like reds, yellows, oranges, purples and greens. He says that while tribal people were impressed with all the colors of glass (the Europeans brought over to trade with) the one that they were most fascinated with was blue because they had difficulty producing it from natural dyes and pigments. In addition, many considered having beads in light shades of blue was like "owning a piece of the sky." Therefore blue was most valuable for trading.

I've been playing with color in my patterns. Looking for that tribal feel. I do like an earthy, rustic red as it feels authentic to the colors available to native people.

Cabochon Hop :: The Sultan Look

Sally of The Studio Sublime asked if anyone was game to work on cabochons? I have really been wanting to understand how to work with beaded bezels this year, and so I signed up. Sally also set up tutorials for us to walk through to help learn the basics, which I'm so glad that I did take the time to learn these few simple stitches. I did take my time, followed all the directions... including letting my glue set for at least 24 hours! I am not all that patient when it comes to letting glue dry, but I forced myself to follow each step. I even used exactly the right materials like lacy stiff stuff for the backing, AND then glued (again!) yet another finishing touch over the top; a suede backing.

Once done with my simple bezel, I was trying to decide if I continue to follow the basics which would have led me to create a beaded bale for a necklace. But predictable just isn't me. I took a left had turn at this point. I wanted to create an "organized freeform" piece (as I've started to call this style). A perfectly done bezel, but with a soft weave for a bracelet and silk accents. The band stitch here is actually a zig zag stitch that I created in 4 pieces, and then 'zipped' up; or stitched together. The silk runs along the sides, which I then did simple stringing around giving it a 'twisted rope' effect for edges. I finished with a braided loop to close around a Deco flat button that my friend Christine gifted to me; which I LOVE, LOVE! (yep, double love). I think this bracelet has that 'sultan' look to it, and it feels like a comfy old cotton T-shirt on.

Beaded Bezel :: Letting Light Through

Wednesday is Sally's hop for cabochons, and I do have another one to show you. But today I thought I'd show you the one I started way back last Spring. I was visiting with my friend Christine from One Kiss Creation and I asked if she'd explain how to bezel around a stone so I could leave the back open. I had this agate that I really wanted to leave open so the light could come through and show off how gorgeous the stone center is. So she helped me understand how to decrease with bead sizes; cinching up the pattern. 

The tricky part with this stone is that it is thin and flat and I kept having the entire edging slip off the stone. Sigh. Grumble, grumble (this is a PG-rated blog, I'll leave the actual words out). I decided that I'd add just slight bracing across the stone and found that the entire bezel tightened up immediately. The other thing that I've been playing with lately is freeform, and I have to say that it has really relaxed me about bead work. And helped me understand that it is more important how the beads come together than pretty much anything else! 

This piece came together so nicely; I was really pleased in the end. A week ago a friend of mine was over at the house and saw this and immediately put it on claiming "it was going home with her." And it did. I have to say it did really look wonderful on her.

Pearls :: Blog Hop :: A New Beginning

So a very interesting thing happened to me during this hop. I started off thinking that I'd make one pearl bracelet, and decided that it wasn't reflective of my style. But the really interesting thing is, I didn't realize that I had a style until recently.

I think one of the most difficult things for me as a designer has been trying to figure out what materials, patterns and colors really reflect a distinct look for me. I like so many styles, and I'm game to try just about any new design or technique that crosses my path. But as a designer, I have come to realize that I do need to settle on what exactly shouts out ... "oh yes, that really does look like her." 

Sometimes identifying what isn't what you want is just as important as identifying what is perfectly you. I was lucky enough to experience exactly that at Bead Fest. I didn't know it at the time, but realized later that I'd had a moment in time that was very defining. 

I was wearing a bracelet at Bead Fest that I'd made just before the show. I actually don't wear much jewelry, so the fact that I had on a bracelet is serendipitous. I figured that I was at Bead Fest and I might as well show a few pieces off. 

I had designed a pearl and onyx multi-layered bracelet (above right). It has soft grey pearls and matte onyx rondelles. But the interesting thing is that while I was out one night, a fellow blogger said to me "that bracelet just doesn't look like your style."  And I thought 'huh, I have a style?" 

I think sometimes it is so much easier for someone else to notice these things way before you do yourself. Even if it is about me. I'm just too close to it I guess.

All of this got me thinking. And I am so glad that someone was honest enough to say that to me. Because the more I thought about it, the more I realized that there were definite styles, patterns and techniques that I gravitate toward. 

So when I started to think about what comes easily to me, those patterns and materials that just flow when I start to create. The ones that I don't even have to give a second thought to ... that's when it hit me. I realized that I at least know what comprises my style. And pearls are definitely in the repertoire. But still I was struggling to put a name to it. Here's the fun part. I asked a friend, Christine of One Kiss Creation - you'll see her listed below, if she'd help. It took her about 2 seconds and she said it's "ethnic boho" ... OMG, that's it! Thank you Christine!  I am making a promise to myself to embrace and stick to my style once and for all, now that I know what it is!

Blog Hop :: Ears to You

Amy over at Copper Diem is such a kind soul, always working on ways to give back. I had the pleasure of meeting Amy in person at Bead Fest this year. She is one crazy lady! (I mean that as a compliment!) So much fun and energy; it was a blast to get to know her.

One of the things she is continually doing is giving earrings to a group called Ears to You. If you don't know who they are ... they tell you they "bring smiles and hope to cancer patients one pair of earrings at a time." It is a way to help women and girls feel more 'normal' and beautiful at a time when they are adjusting to hair loss.

This particular hop is dedicated to young girls who are currently going through treatments. So our challenge was to make earrings that were more youthful and fun. She asked us to create a couple of pairs of earrings. But here's the thing. I have 2 girls, so I'm always playing around with a fun pair of earrings for my girls. And what happens is that they pick some, and not others. So I end up with lots of extra pairs. This stash here was just sitting in a box in my studio. I thought what a great way to get these off to someone who might want them! So you'll see 'girly' pink, crazy Halloween, dainty butterflies and ladybugs, and just sparkly dangles. Don't forget to check out all the other bloggers participating back over on Amy's blog.

Focusing on Life :: In Motion

I had a hard time with this prompt for some reason. Partly because I didn't get a chance to take the picture for the prompt over the weekend, and needed to do it during the week. Therefore I only had my iPhone with me. And as efficient as it is ... it is auto-focus. Thus it is hard to get something 'in motion.'

Nonetheless, I decided I wanted to try to include a shot of the many NY Taxis that drive people from place to place around town. They are always there, and always in motion. And just for a little fun, and since my iPhone can take videos, I took one in the elevator as I rode it back up to my office. Enjoy the ride!

On the Bead Table :: Tilas

After Bead Fest, it is hard to know where to start with digging in to the stash. So I thought I'd warm up with a simple little design of tilas and micro seed beads. Nothing too fancy, but sometimes the simplicity of a piece is enough.

I picked up a bunch of brass connectors at the show, which I knew was going to fit right into my repertoire. I think these give the piece that Egyptian feel; fit for a queen. Hmmmmm, maybe that's what I'll have to call this one: the Cleopatra Cuff.

I've got some earrings that I made that match this cuff that I'll be sharing this weekend in Shel's Pearl Blog Hop. Be sure to stop back by and check them out.

Focusing on Life :: Twos

Everything seems to come in twos at my house. When you have 2 girls, close in age, you can't very well buy singles. Everything comes in doubles. So when Sally asked us to think about things that comes in twos .... my quick answer is ... my girls. 

Here you have 2 girls, sitting on a 2-seater couch on 2 devices, separated by 2 pillows (of course, they couldn't be touching each other - that is way to bothersome). Yep. Everything comes in doubles. You should have heard my husband this morning talking about the credit card bill. So sue me. I went back-to-school shopping for 2 girls. Yikes!

I will be a little delayed again this weekend in getting around to everyone's posts. But I'll check in later in the weekend!

Bead Fest :: Final Thoughts on Laughter

That is likely going to be one of the things I remember most about my first trip to Bead Fest. All the laughter. It was contagious. I think leading up to the event there is so much anticipation, and then let all these lovely bead ladies loose in a room together and you get a rush of energy where the chatter is seemingly endless. Oh, and then there is all the giggling that ran late into the night. We even managed to be so loud in Melinda Orr's suite that the manager kicked us out and down to the lobby. I felt like college kids getting in trouble.

My daughter managed to snap this picture of Linda Landig, and I just love how it captures her smile. Yes Anne, my 10 year old, was hanging with the bead ladies for the weekend. And made quite a few friends. I went back through pictures and manage to find Anne photo bombing a few of them. There she is jumping in right over Genea's head ... that's my girl! Not that she was alone. There were plenty of other photo bombers around. I think the queen is probably Amy.

I love how I caught this action series of Linda Younkman unsuspectingly. She was snapping pictures, only to find I was taking pictures of her! Once she realized it, we did a picture of the two of us taking pictures of each other. As I said ... pure silliness when you get this many bead ladies in a room. Or a patio as the case may be.

It was great meeting people in person after only knowing them through blogging. Like Sandi Volpe. She was too much fun to hang out with and just chat about the events of the weekend. And then there was Genea and Staci (I'm not sure I ever saw one without the other all weekend long). And I met Lea Avroch, and Sue Kennedy, and Anne Gardanne, and Jan Onipenco, and .... just so much talent all in one place. Truly an amazing weekend.

Bead Fest :: The Mother Load

Yes, the Mother Load. I don't think I've ever seen so many beads all in one place before. My poor friend Linda Younkman was looking frazzled and on overload when I found her Friday afternoon wondering around Artisan Alley. She had already been there since the night before, so she had hours of shopping in before I met up with her. I really don't think I was much help because, well I'd only just started!

I got my bearings on Friday, and saved most of the 'loot shopping' for Saturday. So here is how it went down. It's not pretty my friends. I can't remember the names of all the shops, it is sort of like that hang over after a college party where you have no idea what happened the night before but you find a card in your pocket. I have a stack of cards from various stores visited in my shopping flurry, but if you ask me which one I got at what stand of beads ... I'd be hard pressed to remember how to piece the events together. I did at least label the beads so you know what they are. I was simply in LOVE, and I mean BIG LOVE with these jasper focals. Look at the colors in the Red Creek, or Sonora Sunset ... or how about the fine details in the lace. What about those drilled rocks with the turquoise inset? How friken cool are those? Yes my little focal friends I have plans for you. What? you don't talk to your beads?

Ok, moving on. There were these amazing strands of matte druzy. Holy cow are they cool. And I found the charlotte cut seed beads tuck away in a far corner of a store. Score! I just love these seed beads that I bought by the 'hank' ... oh yea, look at me going all technical on my bead terms. I really loved the heshi I saw everywhere and I did pick up some great titanium ones. Who knew I needed titanium? I even found heshi beads in turquoise and lapis. 

But then I could not forget about my first love. Seed beads. I spent quite a bit of time here. I even lost my posse as they gave up all hope of me making it out alive. I did eventually emerge with quite a large stash of new seed beads the likes of which even Sally Russick seemed impressed by. Ok then, job well done.

Bead Fest :: Swapping Beads (& Things)

One of the things about getting this many of us together in one place is that we're all pulling out beads and talking about them. And well, one thing leads to another and before you know it you've got some swapping going on. One of the big ones is Diana's of Suburban Girl Studio which she does every year. Her's is exclusively for Artisan beads (don't try sneaking in anything other than beads made by hand!) It is a fun swap, with an enormous amount of talent sitting around a table. Truly amazing to glance around and recognize all those people and faces you've been blogging with! I posted this picture on CBC last week and had a lot of fun watching people comment and identify all the faces! A really great bunch of people to meet!

I did do a fair amount of swapping all weekend long! I was shopping with my BCM (Bead Chat Magazine) crew Melinda Orr and Linda Younkman most of the weekend and then pulling out the stash once we were back at the room! Here is just a little bit of the loot. We went just a little crazy over all the charms! I mean at $3 a bag ... how could you go wrong? So we each picked out favorites and then swapped and traded later. Even my daughter got in on the action running back and forth between the three of us trying to entice us to drop one of the bags she'd found into our baskets. She was work'n it! And for good cause. I've already made several pieces for her with the charms since we got home. She had a motive. A girl after my own heart!

Linda brought a little extra stash of trade beads. Aren't these great! And she made these sweet muslin bags to drop stash into. Because a girl's gotta have a bag for her stash! We've been talking about packaging over at BCM for the last week or so, and Linda has been working on what she wants to use for her shop. These are just so cute and really fit the look of her store. There is a great piece in this month's BCM magazine by Natalie McKenna you should be sure to check out if you're working on packaging for your shop.

Ok, now Melinda. Darn you Melinda! I was perfectly happy with my beads and thread ... but then you had to go an introduce me to leather! I am completely in love with it. It is working its way into a lot of my designs lately. And then when we met up Melinda brought her stash. Are you crazy?! Opening up all that wonderful stuff in front of Linda and me? Yea, I went home with a nice new mix of leather from Melinda's shop Orrtec!

And as if that wasn't enough, I had to pick up more at the show? What have you done to me Melinda? Look at these gorgeous melon and bay blue leathers ... and they are so soft! My daughter, struck again throwing in her 'camo' .... she's in a phase. Sigh. Notice the camo clasps I bought to match. Yea, I gave in. I was so proud of my little bead shopper! She shops like a pro that one. 

Bead Fest :: Walking Through Artisan Alley

Bead Fest was an amazing experience. I've never been, and I was really looking forward to meeting all my friends in person. My first day I spent most of my time walking through Artisan Alley meeting all those amazingly talent people who make the beads I love!

I had my personal photographer (my 10 year old daughter) with me who was very politely going up to people and asking if she could snap their pic. She got quite a few takers. But I can see that she and I were distracted by all the beads and didn't take as many as I would have liked! To see the rest, try this month's Bead Chat Magazine where we pulled in lots of pictures from the event. Above is Staci of Staci Louise of Artisan Accents, Diana of Suburban Girl Studio, Sue from Sue Beads and Jenny Davies-Reazor

And for a little show and tell, these are just a few of the gorgeous beads that came home with me. There were these awesome Roku faces by Amy and Daniel Mealey of XAZ Bead, and these super fun beads by Genea of Genea Beads (which I actually won in a swap - yay me!). I love this cool octopus by Karen Totten of Starry Road Studio which my daughter picked out for herself. She reminded me yesterday that I better get crack'n on making her necklace with 'her' octopus. And I just love these little head pins from Sandi Volpe. She shared these with quite a few of us, which was so sweet of her. They are so cool, and I know exactly what I want to do with mine. I'm just still looking at them a bit longer before I do that!