The Spoils of Shelling

One of my favorite things to do when I'm at the beach is to walk along the water picking up shells. I've done it my whole life as I grew up on the coast and have always lived next to the ocean. The only exception being the 4 years I was in college. For me, I can't imagine living anywhere but next to water. I'll take a lake when it isn't the sea!

Last February we spent some time down in Mexico by the sea. It was a wonderful 10 days in sunshine when the rest of my world seemed to be covered in snow. You can see my favorite little lunch spot here where I grabbed a fish taco (or two, or three) along with a cerveza for lunch. Yum. Then off to the water to comb the shore for some shells. I could seriously do that forever.

Anywho, I did bring back quite a collection of local shells off the beach where I spent my afternoons just walking through the lapping waves. Did I mention that it was wonderful? And the best part is that many of the shells had a natural hole in them, which is perfect for beading. A beader's little secret.

Months later, I grabbed some of those shells, along with a piece of suede and some seed beads, and got stitching. The suede made for the perfect band to attach my shells and beads into. I also included some trade beads that look and feel like mud, which were the perfect complement to my design.

The suede feels soft and comfortable on with this bracelet. And the ball clasp was the perfect choice to tuck up under your wrist and not take away from the drama of the shells. I left it just a little loose so it would have some sway to it and give that wonderful sound of shells cascading. 

I included it in the last issue of Bead Chat Magazine and posted a picture on my Facebook page. I sold it inside of a day, and then another friend asked if she could buy it. So I needed to make a second one, which surprised me as I really wasn't expecting that kind of response for my little beach boho bracelet.

Beadweaving :: Tubular Netting

I have a bead book that I've used through the years with dogged eared pages called Your Seed Bead Style by Bead & Button Magazine. I don't use it often, but there are quite a few beautiful patterns in this book that make it worth the purchase.

One that I've meant to try for some time now is by Marla Gulotta called Web of Silver that uses large beads to create a tubular shape with netting up over the top of the pattern. I've always loved how it looked, but never got around to trying it. Until this past summer when I had some time to bead out on the porch of our summer camp. Nothing like beading next to the lake with only the sound of the wind in the trees. I think that might just be my favorite place to create.

I decided to use the pattern as a large beaded bar as making the entire bracelet with this pattern would have been too much, at least in my opinion. It is fairly stiff, which would make it tough to get this thing to bend for a bracelet. The pattern actually uses two of these bars with a large center focal bead. I just went a different way with this one. I added a bit of chenille in a simple silver to finish it up with a small magnet closure. The netting was enough drama by itself so I didn't want to add more to the bracelet.

It does feel really nice on, and has a bit of romance to it. I had this listed in my store for less than a week, and sold it. I wasn't sure it would appeal to many as it has a tad old fashioned, sort of Elizabethan, Renaissance Faire look to it. But it really turned out to be a pretty pattern, and not difficult once you get the rhythm of the stitch.

Beadweaving :: Lentil Beads

At Bead Fest this year I noticed there were many vendors there selling beading patterns. I can't actually tell you if it is more than usual as I don't recall looking for them last year, but I noticed a lot this year. 

One in particular, Bead Dreamers, had us mesmerized for some time looking at all the beadwork. I was shopping with Melinda Orr and Linda Younkman and when we spotted a pattern for two-hole lentils called Lentille. We decided that we'd all give this pattern a try. Linda has been most industrious beading this up in several colors already which you can see over on her Facebook page Lindy's Designs. 

It took us a few attempts to get started as we didn't realize the inside of the bracelet encases the lentil beads as you stack them up in the pattern. But once that was worked out, this actually beaded up very quickly.

The Bead Girl, aka my youngest daughter Anne, went in search of a clasp for the piece once I was done. Not sure I'm loving the sunflower clasp for this, but she was quite insistent that it was perfect. I guess I'll settle for perfect, and I added the clasp to the piece. It really is so much fun to bead with friends even when it is in a virtual way sharing pictures back and forth. 

Beadweaving :: Simple Flat Spiral

I guess I thought I had done a simple flat spiral stitch. I've done so many types of spirals I figured I'd must have. But once I saw the actual pattern I realized that I had never actually done this stitch the right way.

I know I've mentioned this before but I bead like I cook .... I open several books to the same recipe and improvise. So I suppose it is no wonder that I 'thought' I was already doing a flat spiral because the stitched looked ... well like a flat spiral. 

It never occurred to me to look for the pattern because every time I've seen this pattern in a finished product it was with crystals. And most of you who know my style would know that crystals aren't really my thing. 

This month there was a challenge to use this very simple stitch and so I decided to actually read it. And now that I see this spiral with some deep, dark colors .... it is likely one I will use more often. I really loved how these hematite stones look with the whisper of blood red micro beads (size 15 for those that care about sizes). 

Now that cooler weather is setting in, I've got the bead table in full swing. I have several pieces to show you that I'll be posting over the next week or so, so be sure to stop back by.

Anchors Aweigh :: Finding True North

Back in July I saw a post from Rita over at Jewel School Friends for a blog hop. Boy has she been on a roll lately with some of the hottest hops of the summer! This one was featuring some cute little blue anchor beads from Diana of Suburban Girl Studio. 

So what do you call a hop about anchors? Anchors Aweigh of course. I was just a bit curious about the saying ... what exactly is to 'weigh' an anchor? 

Apparently it means to bring it aboard so that it is clear of the bottom of the sea. Therefore the ship is officially underway. I know, I know, I always get side tracked when I start looking for the history. But I'm just curious that way. The other thing I found was that it is commonly misspelled as 'anchors away' which actually means to drop anchor. So don't mix it up or you'll be stopping that ship short!

Ok, on with the hop. When I saw the post over at Rita's blog, I realized "oh hey, I have those beads in my stash!" Yes, I'd been hoarding them. Who wouldn't? I have an entire little chest of drawers full of artisan beads because, well I have a problem with buying every artisan bead I love. I personally don't see it so much as a problem, but my husband does. 

Since I already had the beads, I emailed Rita and asked if I could just join. She is so sweet. She is always expanding her hops to include more people. Love that about her. When I pulled out the beads they of course shouted out to be earrings. But that just didn't seem like much of a challenge for this hop. What I really wanted was to create a piece with a bit of a story .... some well, ahem ... history to it. Yeah, yeah I hear you all laughing.

I remembered these great wood focals that I had from Marie over at Skye Jewels. The ones I have are maps, but I was thinking wouldn't it be great to find a compass? Quick trip to her Etsy, and there it was, and in blue! Check, check! 

I went nautical with shells, pearls, anchors and my newly purchased compass focal. My anchors have a little sway to them. I suppose real anchors shouldn't 'swing' exactly .... but they are 'aweigh!' 

I decided to name my piece True North which depicts navigation through life. So many times we find uncertainty in our journey, but leaning on friends can help steady us when we need it most. The full definition goes like this: True north differs from magnetic north, which varies from place to place and over time due to local magnetic anomalies. A magnetic compass almost never shows true north. In fact over millions of years, magnetic north wanders considerable and occasionally reverses so that the magnetic north pole has been near the geographic south pole at some periods in the earth's history. In the arctic region, a magnetic compass is not very useful. To find true north from a magnetic compass you have to know the local magnetic variation and how it is varying over time. Hence the metaphor. In life's journey we are often uncertain where we stand, where we are going and what is the right path for us personally. Knowing our true north would enable us to follow the right path.

Rita told us to 'let nautical inspiration be your guide as you navigate the end of your summer journey.' That is exactly what I did with this piece. Now for the rest of the hoppers in this challenge:

Guest of Honor and Featured Artist: Diana Ptaszynski  
Diana's Shop: Suburban Girl Beads, Diana's Blogs: Suburban Girl Studio and Art Jewelry Elements

Hostess: Jewel School Friends

The rest of the participating artists: Bobbie Rafferty, Chris Eisenberg, Heather Richter, Michelle McCarthy, Kathy Lindemer, Dini Bruinsma, Cynthia Machata (that's me), Kathleen Breeding, Linda Younkman, Robin Reed, Marla Gibson, Gina Hockett, Renetha Stanziano, Marianne Baxter, Christina Miles, Marybeth Rich, Shai Williams, Cheri Reed, Monique Urquhart, Jennifer Reno, Shirley Moore, Tammy Adams, Melissa Trudinger, Jill Bradley

The End of Summer :: From the Dock

Each year we spend a few wonderful weeks up at a lake in the northern part of the Adirondacks. Its a place to get away, and a place to relax.

We were up over the holiday this past weekend for our annual closing of camp. Our little cabin on the lake is a summer house with no insulation which means we only spend warm weather months there. 

So in the winter we board it up and wait for next year. I'm always sad when we go up to close, but we had an absolutely glorious day on Saturday and enjoyed every last minute out on the porch until the sun set.

By Sunday morning the rains had set in as we got busy with all the various tasks it takes to close up the camp. We did get out for a couple of great pictures before the rain. We had a nice showing of the local birds. My older daughter got a shot of the mergansers sitting on the end of the neighbors dock. And we heard lots of loon calls, which are my absolute favorite.

The girls got a last look at the lake before the cold sets in and the lake completely freezes over for winter. So, until next year...